• Naval Warfare

  Analysis: Waters rage in South China Sea (Part 2)

  14th December 2016

  In Part 1 of this analysis, Shephard looked in some detail at Chinese and Taiwanese reactions to the Permanent Court of Arbitration’s (PCA) ruling on …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  I/ITSEC 2016: Elbit introduces B-SIM for Hermes 900 HFE

  21st November 2016

  Elbit Systems has contracted Bagira Switzerland to supply the B-SIM, an arena and image simulator, for its Hermes 900 HFE multi-payload unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), …

• Training

  I/ITSEC 2016: ECA looks to land sim domain

  24th November 2016

  While probably best known for its work in the maritime domain, ECA Group will attend this year’s I/ITSEC in Orlando, Florida, showcasing its latest work …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Rustom II takes maiden flight

  17th November 2016

  Although long delayed, the Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully carried out the maiden flight of the Rustom II medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) UAV on 16 …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Monaco installs UAS countermeasures

  21st November 2016

  The principality of Monaco has installed a counter-UAS system to protect the city against threats posed by small unmanned aircraft.  The system has been operational …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  SUAV flies with DAA radar

  11th November 2016

  Echodyne has announced on 8 November the first successful test of an airborne Detect and Avoid (DAA) radar onboard a small unmanned aerial vehicle (SUAV), …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  UK nears end of Protector road

  17th November 2016

  The acquisition by the UK of the next generation Certifiable Predator B (CPB), which will be known as Protector when in service, has moved a …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  App to the future

  15th November 2016

  A new British company believes it has a solution to one of the major challenges to expansion of the unmanned aircraft industry - air-traffic control.  …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Altarnative power for C-Astral Bramor

  7th November 2016

  Alta Devices will work to further integrate its thin film solar technology into the newly unveiled Bramor ppX-LRS long range solar UAV, following the successful …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Zhuhai 2016: T333 UAV unveiled by Beijing company

  2nd November 2016

  Beijing-based Zhong Hang Zhi Technology (ZHZ) exhibited a new coaxial dual-rotor UAV dubbed the T333 at the biennial 11th Zhuhai Air Show, along with an …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Zhuhai 2016: China reveals Cloud Shadow UAV for export

  31st October 2016

  The Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) unveiled the first high-altitude, high-speed fixed-wing UAV available for export by China at the 11th Zhuhai Air Show, …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Zhuhai 2016: Chinese-American UAV helo weaponised

  3rd November 2016

  A fully weaponised military variant of the V750 rotary-winged UAV, the QY-1, was on display at the 11th Zhuhai Air Show held from 1-6 November. …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  New Neo V2 to continue radiation testing

  1st November 2016

  California-based unmanned systems designer and manufacturer Flycam UAV is continuing its nuclear test programme with the US Nuclear Corp, while also eyeing future developments in …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Future of military UAVs set to soar

  2nd November 2016

  It is not a surprise to most within the defence and aviation industry that the use of unmanned aircraft has increased and is set to …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Zhuhai 2016: Quadrant covers all sectors

  2nd November 2016

  There was absolutely no shortage of businesses hawking a bewildering array of UAVs at the 11th Zhuhai Air Show in China. Quadrant Space (Tianjin) Technology, …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - small

  Intra-Theatre Lift [UK]

  Programme Background  Relationship to the Heavy Lift Challange The Royal Navy (RN) embarked on the Heavy Lift Challenge, now called the Heavy Lift Capability (UASHLC), to explore ...

• Military UAS - mini

  Mini UAV (Bulgaria)

  Programme Background The Bulgarian Army wants to procure UAVs to enhance the organic tactical ISR capabilities of its ground forces. According to Bulgarian media, a ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  Mi2 Challenge [USN]

  Programme Background Requirements The USN wants a UAV to be flown in austere environments without dedicated launch or recovery equipment; since it would be launched ...

• Military UAS - small

  Small UAV (Bulgaria)

  Programme Background The Bulgarian Army wants to procure UAVs to enhance the organic tactical ISR capabilities of its ground forces. According to Bulgarian media, a ...

• Military UAS - micro, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Parrot Anafi (Singapore)

  Programme Background On 7 February 2022, the Singapore Army posted photographs on Facebook that showed the Anafi UAV used as training devices in a five-day ...

• Military UAS - micro, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Render Safe Sets, Kits & Outfits (RS SKO) - UAV (US)

  Programme Background Definition The RS SKO provides capabilities needed for Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) teams to render safe US and foreign ordnance and improvised explosive ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing

  Fixed-Wing VTOL UAV (Malaysia)

  Programme Background Tender Issued As reported by Shephard, on 18 June 2021, Malaysia issued a tender for fixed-wing hybrid VTOL UAVs.  Requirement The tender stated that Malaysia required ...

• Military UAS - small

  Penguin C (Latvia)

  Programme Background In 2018, the Latvian MoD signed an agreement with Latvian companies UAV Factory and Atlas Aerospace to procure UAVs for the LNAF. Under ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing

  Family of UAVs [Bangladesh]

  Programme Background RfP The Bangladesh Army released a 106-page tender document to gather information about different platforms that would enable the force to "standardise" its UAV ...

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

  UAV Tactical Level [Norway]

  Programme Background Request for Information (RfI) In September 2022, the Norwegian Defence Material Agency (NDMA) launched a request for information in preparation for a possible ...

• Military UAS - small

  Small UAV (Colombia)

  Programme Background Many of the Colombian military's UAVs are operated by the Colombian Air Force, but the Colombian Army has also employed several different types ...

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

  Corvette UAVs [Angola]

  Programme Background In February 2023, at NAVDEX 2023, Shephard reported the Abu Dhabi Ship Building (ADSB), part of the EDGE Group, had signed a €1 billion ($1.06 ...

• Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - small

  Small VTOL UAV (Denmark)

  Programme Background 2020 Tender In January 2018, Denmark's three main political parties signed the Danish Defence Agreement, a cross-party defence white paper covering the period ...

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

  Heavy Lift VTOL (HVTOL) (Forecast) [US Army]

  Programme Background USMC In September 2021, Kaman unveiled its Kargo UAV, which had been specifically designed to meet the requirements of the Joint Tactical Autonomous ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  VTOL UAV (ROKA)

  Programme Background All branches of the Republic of Korea Armed Forces are placing a large emphasis on the procurement of unmanned systems to improve ISR ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

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

  AR5

  First announced in October 2012, the AR5 is a MALE UAS designed for SAR, surveillance and maritime patrol missions. The AR5 can be flown manually or commanded ...

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

  ARX

  Unveiled at Xponential 2024, the ARX is a fixed-wing drone developed by Tekever.  It features common electronics and software with other Tekever drones. Unlike those ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - small

  AR2 Carcará

  The AR2 Carcará is a hand- or catapult-launched mini-UAV designed to support search and rescue, surveillance and patrol operations in amphibious and maritime environments. It is ...

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

  AR4

  The AR4 is a hand-launched mini-UAS designed for rapid mobile deployment. Manufactured by Tekever, the UAS is suitable for both military and commercial ISTAR applications.  A ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - small

  AR3

  The AR3, or AR3 Net Ray, is an autonomous small-UAS designed to support land-based and maritime missions, including communications support, infrastructure surveillance, ISTAR and pollution monitoring.  Manufactured by Tekever, ...

• Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - small

  VTOL UAV

  The Defence Technology Institute launched the VTOL UAV R&D; project in cooperation with the Naval Research and Development Office, Royal Thai Navy and private sector ...

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

  MCOM UAV

  The Mundo Compuesto (MCOM) UAV is a fixed-wing UAV designed to provide surveillance during both day and night for military and security force users. It uses ...

• Universal UAV

  Universal UAV is designed for multiple missions in the field of surveillance and reconnaissance, monitoring forest fires or fisheries. It consists of a carbon-fibre composite ...

• UAS: Integrated systems - uncrewed

  UAV TRS

  Celestia’s UAV Tactical Recovery System (TRS) assures controlled and safe landing of a UAV at a pre-designated GPS location. It can be deployed on command ...

• Air: UAV simulators

  UAV Simulators

  Elbit Systems has developed simulation systems to train personnel in UAV operation, from generic UAV training for initial screening procedures up to full mission, high-fidelity ...

• Air: UAV simulators

  UAV Training

  Resource UAS offers a range of UAV training, from foundation courses to live flying on a range of aircraft. Each can be tailored to suit ...

• Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - small

  QTP-UAV

  The Quad Tilt Prop UAV (QTP-UAV) is an electric platform that is designed to provide VTOL capability with high-speed horizontal flight. 

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - small

  E-UAV

  In October 2021, the Jordan Design and Development Bureau (JODDB) unveiled the E-UAV at the Artificial Intelligence Defense Technology and Cyber Security Exhibition and Conference (AIDTSEC). The UAV is ...

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

  Berkut UAV

  In February 2022, Aerovehicles presented the Berkut MOBPY UAV at the Silvio Pettirossi Air Base of the Paraguayan Air Force. The UAV has been designed ...

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

  Tactical UAV

  Unveiled at DSA 2022, the Deftech Tactical UAV is an indigenously developed platform based on the Aldura Mk1. The platform is aimed at the Royal Malaysian ...