• Defence Notes

  Japanese exporters slowly gear up

  1st December 2015

  Japanese defence manufacturers are slowly appearing on the international stage as companies take advantage of a loosening of the country’s tight regulations regarding military sales. …

• Military Logistics

  PLA to field replacement 4x4

  25th November 2015

  The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) is ready to introduce an updated 4x4 vehicle – with BJ80J nomenclature – into the armed forces. This month the upgraded …

• Defence Notes

  UK force deployment at risk

  21st November 2015

  The underlying basis for UK defence policy – to deploy forces strategically – is being undermined by technology and tactics adopted by potential adversaries. In …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Dubai 2015: 3D printed UAV turns heads

  11th November 2015

  Constructed almost entirely out of 3D printed materials, the Stratasys and Aurora Flight Sciences’ UAV technology demonstrator equally turned and baffled heads. Taking pride of …

• Defence Helicopter

  Lockheed's Sikorsky acquisition imminent

  5th November 2015

  Lockheed Martin has received the final regulatory approval required to close its acquisition of Sikorsky Aircraft from United Technologies, Lockheed Martin announced on 3 November.  …

• Naval Warfare

  US invokes UNCLOS in Spratly patrol

  29th October 2015

  After numerous recent hints the US Navy (USN) finally conducted a much-anticipated freedom-of-navigation (FON) patrol in the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea on …

• Defence Helicopter

  India’s LCH to receive production go-ahead

  11th November 2015

  India’s indigenous Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) is set to receive production approval before the end of November, after the project originally commenced in 2006. Having …

• Naval Warfare

  D&S 2015: DSME pushing into Thai market

  3rd November 2015

  Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) say the delivery of a 3,600t frigate to the Royal Thai Navy (RTN) is on schedule, as the company …

• Land Warfare

  New CBRN protective suit unveiled

  28th October 2015

  Radiation Shield Technologies has introduced the Demron ICE full-body suit that protects against chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear (CBRN) and viral threats, it announced on 27 …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  GPEC 2015: Chinese UAV makes international debut

  22nd October 2015

  Chinese UAV company Hui Mingjie made its international debut at GPEC Asia in Kuala Lumpur with its six rotor UAV the focal point of its …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  PLA reveals amphibious ambulance

  16th October 2015

  The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has inducted a new-generation amphibious ambulance, it emerged in mid-October. The new design, approved by the PLA’s General Armaments Department, …

• Defence Helicopter

  Taiwan training UH-60M rescue crews

  9th October 2015

  Taiwan’s National Airborne Service Corps (NASC) has started transition training on its new Sikorsky UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters. Twenty crewmembers – 12 pilots and eight …

• Defence Helicopter

  Helitech 2015: Bell CEO Garrison positive despite global market dip

  8th October 2015

  The worldwide helicopter market is facing a ‘challenging’ period as oil prices remain low and demand for new aircraft reduces, Bell Helicopter CEO John Garrison …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  India offers private sector UAV blueprints

  30th September 2015

  India is one of the world’s largest importers of UAVs, but in an effort to boost its domestic industry and spur technological advances, the government …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  China takes wraps off Wing Loong 2

  21st September 2015

  The Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group (CAIG) took the wraps off its second-generation Wing Loong MALE UCAV at the Beijing Air Show from 16-19 September.  Powered …

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 ...