• Land Warfare

  China reveals secretive HQ-19 ABM

  1st August 2016

  In an unprecedented move, China revealed its HQ-19 anti-ballistic missile (ABM) in footage aired on China Central Television (CCTV) on 24 July. This is the …

• Land Warfare

  Can Type 96 tank fill PLA ranks?

  12th August 2016

  The Type 96 (ZTZ-96) tank is already an important platform in the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), and its latest version could form the future backbone …

• Digital Battlespace

  Warp speed for Beidou constellation

  28th July 2016

  Last month China’s State Council released a white paper outlining its national Beidou (which translates as Compass) satellite positioning, navigation and timing system. But it has …

• Defence Helicopter

  Between a rock and a hard place

  10th August 2016

  In the face of domestic insurgency and an increasingly belligerent China, updating or replacing military helicopter fleets in the Philippines has become a matter of …

• Naval Warfare

  Taiwan rejects South China Sea ruling

  25th July 2016

  Taiwan expressed disappointment over the ruling handed down on 12 July by the Permanent Court of Arbitration concerning territorial disputes in the South China Sea. …

• Naval Warfare

  China rolls out AG600 amphibian

  25th July 2016

  The AG600, a new amphibian aircraft from the China Aviation Industry General Aircraft Company (CAIGA), enjoyed its official rollout from a factory in Zhuhai, southern …

• Defence Helicopter

  FVL aims to avoid mistakes of the past

  8th August 2016

  The US military has been in no rush to decide whether it stays entirely with helicopters or adopts more tiltrotors from 2030, but next year …

• Naval Warfare

  Where to now in South China Sea?

  19th July 2016

  Predictably, China reacted furiously to the Permanent Court of Arbitration’s (PCA) decision handed down on 12 July against its maritime claims in the South China …

• Defence Notes

  Farnborough 2016: Wrap up with Tony Skinner (video)

  15th July 2016

  Editor-in-chief Tony Skinner looks back on an eventful week at Farnborough International Airshow 2016, including news that the UK will commit billions of pounds to …

• Defence Helicopter

  Farnborough 2016: FLIR unveils new LD turret (video)

  15th July 2016

  FLIR Systems has unveiled a new product for rotary-wing aircraft at this year's Farnborough International Airshow, called the Star Safire 380-HLDc. Andrew Saxton, director of …

• Naval Warfare

  Philippines awaits new cutter and frigates

  26th July 2016

  Documents were signed at Coast Guard Base Alameda, California on 21 July to hand over a decommissioned Hamilton-class cutter to the Philippine Navy (PN).  Boutwell …

• Training

  Farnborough 2016: Air warfare training goes 5th gen (video)

  21st July 2016

  Cubic Corporation CEO and president Bradley Feldmann spoke to Shephard at this year's Farnborough International Airshow about the company's air warfare training solutions and how …

• Defence Helicopter

  Farnborough 2016: Thales Scorpion HMSD for LAH

  15th July 2016

  South Korea’s Light Armed Helicopter (LAH) will be equipped with the Thales Scorpion helmet-mounted sight and display (HMSD), with the helmet selected for the programme’s …

• Naval Warfare

  Farnborough 2016: UK prepares for next stage of 'Seedcorn' (video)

  19th July 2016

  With the purchase of nine P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft now confirmed by the UK government, British personnel stationed overseas as part of 'Project Seedcorn' …

• Digital Battlespace

  Farnborough 2016: The future of naval weapons (video)

  14th July 2016

  At this year's Farnborough International Airshow, Shephard spoke with Michael Ryan, the deputy programme manager at Naval Air Systems Command's (NAVAIR) Precision Strike Weapons office. …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

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

  Garmoosha [UAE]

  Programme Background First Contract In an interview with Shephard at the Dubai Airshow 2021, Faisal Al Bannai, CEO of EDGE, stated the development of the ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  S-70M Black Hawk [Indonesia]

  Programme Background On 23 August 2023, Lockheed Martin announced that Sikorsky had signed an agreement with PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI) for a strategic partnership in ...

• AEW&C

  GlobalEye (1-3) [UAE]

  Programme Background The GlobalEye is a modification of Bombardier's Global 6000 jet aircraft fitted with the S-band Erieye Extended Range (ER) radar and mission system ...

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

  Reach-S [UAE]

  Programme Background At the Dubai Airshow 2023, held in November, EDGE Group announced that the UAE Armed Forces had acquired 100 units of the Reach-S, ...

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

  HT-100 [Undisclosed]

  Programme Background At the Dubai Airshow 2023, EDGE Group announced that it had accepted an order for six HT-100 drones. The drones will be supplied ...

• 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 ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  A330 MRTT (4-5) [UAE]

  Programme Background United Arab Emirates Air Force had a requirement for three tanker aircraft. Boeing confirmed that the UAE sent an official request for three ...

• Military UAS - mini, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Sky Mantis (Ukraine Aid) [UK]

  Programme Background Reuters Report Speaking to Reuters in March 2024, Evolve Dynamics stated that about 100 Sky Mantis drones were flying in Ukraine, highlighting a ...

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

  Heron Mk 1 Replacement [Singapore]

  Programme Background Ahead of the Singapore Airshow, the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) outgoing chief, Major General Kelvin Khong, stated that the service would ...

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

  Wing Loong II (Saudi Arabia)

  Programme Background  Contract Saudi Arabia was planning to buy Western-made UAVs such as Predator or Reaper. However, Missile Control Technology Regime (MCTR) imposed restrictions on the ...

• Frigates

  Type 054A/P (Pakistan)

  Programme Background Contracts Pakistan has ordered four frigates from China under the Type 054AP programme, which refers to the vessels being based on the Peoples ...

• Maritime patrol

  Challenger 650 ISR - UAE

  Programme Background In February 2019 at IDEX, the UAE announced that it will procure a new special mission aircraft with an option for the second ...

• Submarines: conventional, attack

  Hangor Class Submarines [Pakistan]

  Programme Background Timeline Chinese media first reported that the Pakistan Navy had agreed to buy eight modified Type 039B submarines in April 2015. The contract ...

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

  MQ-9B [UAE]

  Programme Background Requirement The programme is required to meet current and future threats faced by the UAE by proving ISR, target acquisition, locating submarines and counter-land and ...

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

  Hermes 450 Replacement [Singapore]

  Programme Background Ahead of the Singapore Airshow, the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) outgoing chief, Major General Kelvin Khong, stated that the service would replace its ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

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

  AR-2000

  Unveiled by the China National Aero-Technology Import and Export Corporation (CATIC) at the Dubai Air Show 2023, the AR-2000 is a large rotary-wing drone designed for ...

• VD200

  The VD200 is a tail-sitting VTOL UAV which is able to transition to fixed-wing horizontal flight. The UAV was displayed by CADI, a subsidiary of ...

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

  SW-1

  The fixed-wing SW-1 is designed to perform tactical ISTAR missions. It was displayed at the Airshow China exhibition in November 2012. 

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

  Sky Archer

  The Sky Archer is a short-endurance unmanned quadcopter designed for military use. It weighs 38kg and can reportedly carry two 50mm recoilless rocket launchers. 

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

  TD220

  The TD220 is an electric, coaxial dual-rotor UAV manufactured by Zhong Hang Zhi (ZHZ). The aircraft, which debuted at the 2014 Singapore Airshow, is designed ...

• Self-propelled missile systems

  Sky Dragon 12

  Norinco presented a model of the FK-1000 short-range SAM system at Airshow China 2012 and unveiled the newly-named Sky Dragon 12 at Africa Aerospace and ...

• Awing-F100J

  Awing-F100J is the latest UAV from Tianjin-based Quadrant Space (Tianjin) Technology and was displayed at the 11th Zhuhai Airshow in China for the first time ...

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

  WJ-500

  WJ-500 is a stealthy subsonic UAV with a low radar signature and the appearance of a cruise missile with very short mid-mounted control surfaces. It ...

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

  WJ-600

  First revealed during the 2010 China Airshow, the WJ-600is a large-scale baseline UCAV manufactured by China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation and is a maritime ...

• Transport

  Y-20

  Xi'an Aircraft Industrial Corporation launched the development of the Y-20 strategic transport aircraft in 2006. The Y-20 incorporates a high-set wing, T-tail and rear cargo-loading ...

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

  Wing Loong 10

  The Wing Loong 10 is a HALE UAV, known as the WL-10 in the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) and formally known as the Cloud ...

• Awing-F20

  The Awing-F20 is a fixed-wing UAV designed by Quadrant Space (Tianjin) Technology. The platform was displayed at the 11th Zhuhai Airshow in China, alongside other ...

• Air: aerial targets

  TL-8

  The TL-8 is a target drone that can be used to simulate second- and third-generation fighters, cruise missiles and other targets in weapon testing and ...

• Awing-H100J

  The Awing-H100J is a rotary-wing UAV designed by Quadrant Space (Tianjin) Technology. The Awing-H100J was displayed at the 11th Zhuhai Airshow in China, alongside other ...

• Military - USVs

  SeaFly-01

  The SeaFly-01 USV, developed by Beijing Sifang Automation, was showcased at the 11th Zhuhai Airshow in China in November 2016. Phase one tests of the ...