• Defence Notes

  Airbus A400M programme assessing autonomous landing

  23rd November 2018

  Airbus is currently evaluating the feasibility of adding an autonomous landing capability to the A400M Atlas turboprop in a move that could potentially provide existing …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  E2E SATCOM UAS-I node flies

  14th November 2018

  E2E has successfully completed an over-the-air flight test of its newly launched UAS-I satellite communication node for UAS. E2E is developing the solution in order …

• Special Operations

  US Navy goes for MOHOC

  22nd November 2018

  Illustrating the proliferation of special operations technology throughout more conventional force components in the US Department of Defense (DoD), the US Navy Expeditionary Command has …

• Digital Battlespace

  Augmented reality to set sail on UK Type 23s

  22nd November 2018

  Augmented reality (AR) glasses could be in action on the bridges of the Royal Navy’s Type 23 frigate within two years as the first step …

• Defence Helicopter

  DARPA advances OPV flight trials

  14th November 2018

  The US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and Sikorsky recently trialled technology that can turn any helicopter into an optionally piloted vehicle (OPV), with …

• Naval Warfare

  HMAS Canberra conducts FOCFT for Tigers

  25th October 2018

  The Royal Australian Navy’s landing helicopter dock ship HMAS Canberra has conducted first of class flight trials (FOCFT) for the Tiger ARH helicopter, the navy …

• Defence Notes

  US indicts 10 Chinese over scheme to steal aerospace tech

  31st October 2018

  The United States indicted 10 Chinese, including two intelligence officers, over a five-year scheme to steal technology from US and French aerospace firms by hacking …

• Military Logistics

  Additively manufactured metal component to be trialled

  18th October 2018

  The US Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) has approved the first metal component created by additive manufacturing for shipboard installation, the US Navy announced on …

• Naval Warfare

  Euronaval 2018: France marches on with naval ambitions

  22nd October 2018

  With France's military embarking on a series of modernisation programmes the naval service has its focus on providing for its future requirements under a variety …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Airbus conducts MUT test flights

  4th October 2018

  Airbus has carried out a series of manned-unmanned teaming (MUT) test flight campaigns to demonstrate the ability to control unmanned systems from a manned aircraft. …

• Digital Battlespace

  Leonardo steps up Miysis DIRCM testing, eyes more exports

  15th October 2018

  Leonardo’s Miysis directional infrared countermeasures (DIRCM) system has undergone testing by the UK Ministry of Defence in collaboration with Thales UK, demonstrating that a capability …

• Land Warfare

  Patria introduces autonomous capability for AMVs

  27th September 2018

  Patria and partner Diehl Defence have developed a new fully digitalised autonomous variant of its Armoured Modular Vehicle (AMV) 8x8 vehicle, the company announced on …

• Military Logistics

  LCA Tejas in air-to-air refuelling trials

  17th September 2018

  The Indian Air Force (IAF) has successfully carried out a mid-air refuelling wet contact trial with the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas MK-1, the Indian …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Sonardyne, Guidance Marine partner for UV navigation

  18th September 2018

  Sonardyne has partnered with Guidance Marine for a project that will help unmanned autonomous vessels navigate even when they lose access to global navigation satellite …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  AAD 2018: Milkor diversifying in the defence market

  21st September 2018

  Known for its origins in grenade launchers, defence manufacturer Milkor is expanding its portfolio on the ground and in the skies, Phuti Jackson Mampa, CEO …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  Project Vixen [UK]

  Programme Background Project Goal The Royal Navy uses Leonardo crewed Merlin (AW101) helicopters fitted with CROWSNEST pods to provide airborne early warning capabilities for carriers. An early ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - HALE

  Akinci [Pakistan]

  Programme Background 'Brotherly Ties'  On 14 January 2022, the Pakistan government unveiled its first-ever National Security Policy. As reported by Shephard, the policy emphasised 'brotherly ties' with ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) Project [Japan]

  Programme Background Requirement The Japanese Coast Guard (JCG) operated a few dozen Chinese-made UAVs that conducted SAR and surveillance activities. The drones performed well and ...

• Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  Camcopter S-100 [Greece]

  Programme Background Trails A 2 August 2021 Schiebel press release announced the company had demonstrated the Camcopter S-100's capabilities to the Hellenic Navy. The UAV was ...

• Sealift/replenishment vessels

  Multi-Purpose Vessels (MPVs) [India]

  Programme Background Requirements The units will perform multi-role support functions such as maritime surveillance& patrol, launching/recovery of torpedoes and operation of various types of aerial, ...

• APCs/IFVs - 4x4, Reconnaissance/patrol vehicles

  Multi-Role Vehicle (Protected) (MRV-P) Package 1 (UK)

  Programme Background Requirement The MRV-P programme was intended to procure replacements for a diverse fleet of 4x4 and 6x6 vehicles purchased during the wars in Iraq ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  RQ-7B Shadow v2 Block III (USA)

  Programme Background The first iteration of the Shadow UAS, the Shadow 600, was first introduced in 1992 and since then Textron has had a longstanding ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - mini

  DEF129 Small UAS Plus [Australia]

  Programme Background Requirement The army wanted up to 17 SUAS+ systems with a life of six years. The tender said the UAV would be issued ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  Hermes 900 StarLiner [Switzerland]

  Programme Background Contract Information In September 2015, under the Reconnaissance Drone System 15 (ADS 15), the Swiss Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport (VBS) awarded ...

• APCs/IFVs - 4x4

  4x4 Armoured Vehicle [Estonia]

  Programme Background The Estonian military wants to replace its fleet of soft-skin troop transports with 4x4 and 6x6 armoured vehicles. This will improve the survivability ...

• Loitering munitions

  Loitering Munitions (Forecast) [Germany]

  Programme Background Three Systems In April 2023, Germany reportedly ordered three different loitering munition systems to further assess their suitability for use by the German Armed ...

• APCs/IFVs - 4x4

  4x4 Armoured Vehicle (Unknown)

  Programme Background The Estonian military wants to replace its fleet of soft-skin troop transports with 4x4 and 6x6 armoured vehicles. This will improve the survivability ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  V-Bat 128 (Canada)

  Programme Background Requirement Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC) is seeking a platform for the CCG that will significantly expand its surveillance range during search ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  Heavy IFV [Poland]

  Programme Background Requirement Due to the perceived threat from Russia and the conflict in Ukraine, Poland has accelerated and expanded its plans to modernise its ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  TAPAS BH-201 [India]

  Programme Background Requirements As of late 2023, the Indian tri-service plan was reportedly to acquire 155 indigenously produced MALE UAVs alongside 31 MQ-9B drones from General Atomics (GA-ASI), ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Military UGVs

  Mission Master XT

  Part of Rheinmetall's Mission Master family, The Mission Mater Extreme Terrain, or Mission Master XT, is a rugged UGV designed to accompany troops in challenging environments ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  Tigon

  Hanwha Defense Systems selected DSA 2018 in Kuala Lumpur as the location to unveil its Tigon 6x6 armoured wheeled vehicle. The company conducted a fortnight-long ...

• Matternet M2

  The Matternet M2 quadcopter UAV has been certified by the Swiss Federal Office of Civil Aviation for full logistics operations over cities. The platform is ...

• Special operations vehicles

  VOS-APP

  The Arquus VOS-APP is a 6x6 support vehicle currently under trial with the French SOF. Acting as a replacement for the 1970s-vintage ACMAT VLRA, the VOS-APP is the ...

• Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  KUS-VT tiltrotor

  The KUS-VT is a tiltrotor UAV that first flew in October 2013 and was exhibited at ADEX 2013. The aircraft is designed to have a ...

• Armoured engineer vehicles

  M1150 ABV

  The M1150 Assault Breacher Vehicle (ABV) project, launched by the USMC in 2002, is a joint programme to meet the requirements of both the US ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  HQ-60

  Similarly to other platforms in the L3 Technologies Hybrid Quadrotor (HQ) and Fixed-Wing Rotator family (see separate entries) of VTOL fixed-wing UAVs, the HQ-60 has ...

• Air-launched ASW torpedoes, Ship-launched torpedoes, Submarine-launched torpedoes

  MU90

  The MU90 is a lightweight torpedo manufactured in collaboration between Leonardo, Naval Group and Thales. It is a fire-and-forget torpedo that can be launched from ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  Mojave

  Unveiled in December 2021, the Mojave is a MALE UAV in development by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI). It is based on the avionics and flight control ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  Archer

  The Archer is a short-range UAV being developed for India by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).  Based on the Rustom I and inspired by Bayrakar's ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  Flamingo Mk3

  The Flamingo Mk3 entered production in July 2017 and is based on the Flamingo Mk2. The Mk3 has been designed to provide a 65% increase ...

• Air: Electronic Attack - Jamming

  Miysis DIRCM

  Leonardo’s Miysis Directed Infrared Countermeasure (DIRCM) system provides high power, all aspect protection against modern and legacy Infrared Man-Portable Air Defence Systems (IR MANPADS) for ...

• Loitering munitions

  Mace

  Mace is a loitering munition developed by UAC, a Czech-Ukrainian company that is a subsidiary of DeViro. The electric-powered, catapult-launched UAV can host various warheads, including HEAT, thermobaric and ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  United 40 Block-5

  The United 40 was unveiled at the Dubai Airshow 2011 and is a MALE UAV with a twin-wing configuration and a hybrid turbine-electric engine. The ...

• Mine-protected vehicles

  Phantom 380-X1

  The Phantom 380-X1 is a 4x4 multipurpose armoured vehicle produced by Thailand's Panus. It is powered by a six-cylinder turbo engine with an undercarriage capable ...