• Digital Battlespace

  EW Singapore: Vietnam introduces indigenous radar

  11th January 2017

  Vietnam, typically dependent on Russian military technology to equip its armed forces, recently unveiled a new indigenous 2-D UHF radar system known by the nomenclature …

• Defence Helicopter

  AHM achieves G Inspection

  3rd January 2017

  Airbus Helicopters Malaysia has carried out a G Inspection of a Southern Vietnam Helicopter (VNHS) AS332 L2 helicopter, the company announced on 29 December. VNHS …

• Training

  MilSim Asia: Thais train on submarine simulator

  11th January 2017

  The Royal Thai Navy (RTN) is preparing for the arrival of its first S26T submarine from China through the use of a Submarine Command Team …

• Defence Helicopter

  Russian Helicopters' after-sales approach in Asia

  13th January 2017

  Russian Helicopters’ marketing has been targeting the after-sales sector in Asia, where it sees a good potential for growth, Shephard has learnt. The business of …

• Naval Warfare

  Maritime crime drops but threat persists

  11th January 2017

  Maritime kidnappings now represent the biggest threat to seafarers after the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) reported that incidents of piracy dropped to their lowest rate …

• 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 …

• Defence Helicopter

  The year ahead: The Asia-Pacific region

  5th January 2017

  Within the Asia-Pacific region the year just passed was pretty much dominated by the machinations of one country – China – and there is little …

• Land Warfare

  Analysis: AAV7 - remaking a legacy

  3rd January 2017

  The LVT-7 (Landing Vehicle Tracked) when first fielded by the US Marine Corps in 1972 was vast improvement over its predecessor the LVT-5.  It was …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  China seizes, returns USN glider

  20th December 2016

  On 20 December China quietly returned the US Navy's UUV that it had brazenly seized five days earlier in the South China Sea. The platform …

• Naval Warfare

  Japan donating large patrol boats to KL

  17th November 2016

  Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe confirmed on 16 November that his country would donate two decommissioned Japan Coast Guard (JCG) patrol boats to Malaysia. The …

• Defence Helicopter

  Indo Defence 2016: Boeing looks to leverage Apache sale

  3rd November 2016

  Boeing is eyeing Vietnam as the next potential regional opportunity for its military rotorcraft, after getting a ‘foot in the door’ in Indonesia. The company …

• Defence Notes

  Indo Defence 2016: ASEAN defence spending on the rise

  27th October 2016

  It is becoming clear that Southeast Asia is expanding its influence in the global defence industry. Recent data suggests that the upward trend in military …

• Naval Warfare

  Philippines leases patrol aircraft

  27th October 2016

  During President Rodrigo Duterte’s visit to Japan from 25-27 October, the Philippines signed an MoU and letter of arrangement with Tokyo to lease five TC-90 …

• Military Logistics

  Bangladesh orders C295W

  12th October 2016

  Airbus Defence and Space announced on 11 October that it had taken receipt of another C295W order, this time from the Bangladesh Army. Airbus said …

• Naval Warfare

  ADAS 2016: L&T seals deal for Vietnam boats

  19th September 2016

  Something concrete stemming from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Vietnam was the signing of a contract for four offshore high-speed patrol boats for …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Fighter - multirole

  Next Generation Fighter Aircraft (Vietnam)

  Programme Background Requirement The Vietnam People's Air Force (VPAF) operates an ageing fleet of Su-22 aircraft as well as Su-27s and Su-30s. According to expert commentary, ...

• Frigates

  Third Hamilton Class Cutter [Vietnam]

  Programme Background On 25 August 2021, US Vice-President Kamala Harris disclosed the news on a visit to Hanoi, Vietnam, that the Vietnam Coast Guard's (Canh Sát ...

• Transport

  C-130J [Vietnam]

  Programme Background Requirement Vietnam’s interest in acquiring the C-130J reflects a broader effort to modernise its air transport fleet, which was previously dominated by Russian ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | C-130J [Vietnam]

  According to a July 2024 Reuters report, the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defence is in advanced discussions with the United States to procure Lockheed Martin’s C-130J ...

• Data links

  Data links | C-130J [Vietnam]

  According to a July 2024 Reuters report, the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defence is in advanced discussions with the United States to procure Lockheed Martin’s C-130J ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | C-130J [Vietnam]

  According to a July 2024 Reuters report, the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defence is in advanced discussions with the United States to procure Lockheed Martin’s C-130J ...

• Frigates

  Future Russian Built Frigates - Batch 3

  Programme BackgroundA total of four Russian built Gepard-class light frigates have been built and are in service with the Vietnamese Navy. The design was intended ...

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

  ScanEagle 2 (Malaysia)

  Programme Background Maritime Security Initiative (MSI) programme The RMN received the ScanEagle 2's thought to be provided by the US under the Maritime Security Initiative ...

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

  ScanEagle 2 (Philippines)

  Programme Background MSI ProgrammeThe Philippines are receiving the ScanEagle 2's thought to be provided by the US under the Maritime Security Initiative (MSI) programme. This ...

• Trainer

  Trainer Aircraft (1-12) [Vietnam]

  Programme Background After years of operating Russian-built military equipment, Vietnam is more willing to procure US-supplied equipment following the lifting of the arms embargo in ...

• Military UAS - small

  Indonesia - ScanEagle 2

  Programme Background As part of a large scale programme, Indonesia was set to receive eight ScanEagle UAS drone Insitu provided by the US under the Maritime ...

• Frigates

  Hamilton Class Cutter [Bahrain]

  Programme Background Very little has been said about the transfer of an ex-Hamilton-class cutter to Bahrain, but it is one of the final two to ...

• Military UAS - small

  Vietnam - ScanEagle 2

  Programme Background The Vietnamese Coast Guard are receiving the ScanEagle 2's thought to be provided by the US under the Maritime Security Initiative (MSI) programme. This ...

• Tanks

  T-90S/SK (Forecast) (Vietnam)

  Shephard estimates that Vietnam may have a requirement for up to 200 T-90S/SK MBTs to modernise its tank fleet. Minus the 64 that were already ...

• Data links

  Data links | T-6 Texan II [Japan]

  In December 2024, reports indicated that the Japanese Government selected the T-6C Texan II as the new trainer aircraft for the Japanese Air Self-Defence Forces. ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Corvettes

  Tarantul V Class (Project 1241.8)

  The Project 1241.8 class, also known as the Tarantul V class or Molniya-class, is the newest variant of the Tarantul class, which is a development ...

• Man-portable missile systems

  HN-5

  The HN-5 is a first-generation passive IR-homing MANPADS, produced by China, that reported to be reverse engineered from the Soviet Strela-2 (US DoD designation SA-7, ...

• MPVs - 4x4, Reconnaissance/patrol vehicles

  HMV-420P 'Mosquito'

  The HMV-420P 'Mosquito' 4x4 AFV is a modernised development of Cadillac Gage's Vietnam War-era Commando APC. It has been adapted for use by the Royal ...

• Land: air defence radar

  Vostok-E

  The Vostok-E is a two-dimensional radar manufactured in Belarus by KB Radar. It is designed to detect aerial platforms using modern solid-state technologies. The radar ...

• Artillery rockets

  AccuLAR

  The AccuLAR rocket is the latest member of IMI's AccuLAR precision rocket family.  The AccuLAR rocket is a GPS fused variant of LAR-160, with 14-40 ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  XTC-02

  XTX-02 is an indigenous APC being developed in Vietnam. Its presence was revealed in August 2022 when leaked photographs published on social media has shown ...

• Tanks

  T-54M/M3

  Produced by Vietnam's state-owned Z153 plant, T-54M (formally T-54B cải tiến - "improved") is a major upgrade to the T-54 main battle tank, including a new fire control computer, an ...

• Frigates

  Hamilton Class

  The Hamilton-class cutter was originally the largest class of vessels operated by the US Coast Guard (USCG) before being replaced by the Legend-class. 12 cutters ...

• Patrol boats

  Project 10412

  Project 10412 is an export variant of the Russian Svetlyak-class multi-purpose patrol vessel built by both Vostochnaya Verf Shipyard in Vladivostok and the Almaz Shipbuilding Firm. Designed for littoral ...

• Military UGVs

  aunav.NEXT

  The aunav.NEXT, first presented in November 2013, was developed in collaboration with the Spanish National Police Corps for countering IED and CBRN threats. In March ...

• Fixed wing aircraft engines

  PT6A-34 turboprop

  The Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-34 turboprop is a development of the PT6 engine which first flew in 1961 and entered service in 1964. The ...

• Crew-served grenade launchers

  MK19 grenade machine gun

  Originally developed to provide the USN with an effective weapon to arm riverine patrol craft during the Vietnam War, the MK19 grenade machine gun has ...

• EO/IR systems, Sea: ship surveillance and fire control systems

  iSea-40HD

  The iSea-40HD is part of the iSea family of compact observation systems designed for maritime environments. It features a thermal camera with continuous optical zoom, ...

• Frigates

  Gepard 3.9 Class (Project 11661E) (Batch 2)

  The Gepard 3.9 class (Project 11661E) is one of the Russian Gepard class export variants. Four of Gepard 3.9 vessels are currently in service with ...

• Frigates

  Gepard 3.9 Class (Project 11661E) (Batch 1)

  The Gepard 3.9 class (Project 11661E) is one of the Russian Gepard class export variants. Four of Gepard 3.9 vessels are currently in service with ...