• Uncrewed Vehicles

  CybAero to deliver three UAS in August

  29th June 2016

  CybAero and Chinese company Jolly have agreed that three UAS ordered by Jolly will be delivered in August 2016, CybAero announced on 27 June. The …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Chinese V750 grows arms

  24th June 2016

  China’s military UAV efforts continue to advance, with the most recent revelation surrounding an armed version of the V750 rotary-winged platform. Photos on the Chinese …

• Naval Warfare

  Taiwan airs impressive shipbuilding ambitions

  27th June 2016

  The Republic of China Navy (ROCN) Program Office recently announced in Taipei a major indigenous development programme spanning ten vessel types. It represents a desire …

• Training

  Upgrade of Woomera test range launched

  29th June 2016

  Raytheon Australia is the beneficiary of an AU$297 million (US$219 million) contract as Australia seeks to upgrade its Woomera test range. After remediations and improvements …

• Land Warfare

  India finally approves M777 buy

  28th June 2016

  India finally cleared the sale of 145 BAE Systems M777 lightweight howitzers on 25 June, capping an acquisition that started an agonising ten years ago. …

• Military Logistics

  First Y-20s delivered to PLAAF

  17th June 2016

  The People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) received its first examples of the Y-20 transport aircraft built by the Xian Aircraft Industrial Corporation (XAC) on …

• Land Warfare

  China targets further Thai arms sales

  13th June 2016

  On the back of a recent sale of VT4 main battle tanks (MBT), China is making a major push to sell further armoured vehicles to …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Pakistan outed as Wing Loong 2 user

  20th June 2016

  Pakistan has emerged as being yet another user of the Chinese-built Wing Loong MALE UCAV, courtesy of a crash on 18 June. What is even …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Predator C flies with MS-177 sensor

  20th June 2016

  General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA‑ASI) has conducted successful flight tests of its Predator C Avenger developmental UAV featuring an MS-177 Electro-optical/Infrared (EO/IR) sensor from UTC …

• Naval Warfare

  Philippines welcomes first research ship

  14th June 2016

  The Philippines Navy (PN) welcomed its first ever oceanographic research vessel upon its arrival in Manila on 10 June. At its commissioning in San Diego …

• Training

  AIDC readies new AJT for Taiwan

  20th June 2016

  A programme to meet Taiwan’s need for a new advanced jet trainer (AJT) started soon after President Tsai Ing-wen assumed office in May. The Republic …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Chinese UCAVs proliferate unexpectedly

  10th June 2016

  Chinese UCAVs capable of deadly armed missions have been turning up in odd places in recent times, including Kazakhstan and Myanmar. Kazakhstan displayed a Wing …

• Defence Notes

  NZ White Paper looks south and north

  9th June 2016

  The New Zealand government has outlined a 15-year modernisation plan through the release of its Defence White Paper on 8 June. Originally due last year, …

• Digital Battlespace

  Taiwan creating cyber force against China

  6th June 2016

  Taiwan’s new government plans to set up a cyber force command, an independent unit with its own chain of command, to conduct cyberwarfare. Its command …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  China’s unmanned plans for SCS

  31st May 2016

  Unmanned technology is set to play a pivotal role in Chinese monitoring of the South China Sea, where Beijing has been robustly claiming territory and …

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 ...