• Defence Notes

  Brunei’s defence budget rises

  15th March 2016

  Brunei’s defence budget will grow nearly 5% in 2016-17, as announced by the Brunei Legislative Council last week. The total defence budget amounts to BN$564.7 …

• Naval Warfare

  Philippines wants more patrol aircraft

  4th March 2016

  As a way of getting more maritime patrol aircraft in the air, the Philippines is planning to buy new aircraft and lease retired aircraft. These are both …

• Defence Helicopter

  Singapore Airshow: Airbus prioritises Aussie Tiger problems

  20th February 2016

  Airbus Helicopters is making the Australian Army’s troubled Tiger Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter (ARH) programme a top priority, the company insisted at the Singapore Airshow. Philippe …

• Defence Notes

  India’s blue-water ambitions

  13th February 2016

  The Indian Navy’s international fleet review, held off the Andhra Pradesh coast and featuring 75 warships plus 24 international warships, sent out a loud message. …

• Defence Helicopter

  Singapore Airshow: Bell building momentum with trifecta

  10th February 2016

  Despite an industry downturn, much of it driven by the oil and gas segment, Bell Helicopter ‘had a good year’ in 2015. Although the OEM …

• Naval Warfare

  Malaysia to allow armed guards

  3rd February 2016

  With Southeast Asia the worst region globally for piracy attacks last year, one new course of action taken by Malaysia is to permit armed guards …

• Naval Warfare

  Maritime crime rates tread water

  2nd February 2016

  Maritime crime statistics for 2015 were largely unchanged compared to the previous year although the number of hijackings was down last year, according to annual …

• Naval Warfare

  China tests controversial SCS airstrip

  11th January 2016

  Garnering vociferous regional objections, China landed a first aircraft onto its new 3,000m-long airstrip at Fiery Cross Reef in the disputed South China Sea on …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Vietnam unveils indigenous HALE

  24th December 2015

  Despite outsiders knowing little about Vietnam’s UAV developments, local media revealed in December that the country was developing its largest vehicle yet, a HALE platform. …

• Naval Warfare

  Taiwan inaugurates South China Sea facilities

  15th December 2015

  With international attention focused on Chinese reclamation of reefs in the South China Sea in recent months, Taiwan has inaugurated new harbour facilities on Taiping …

• Naval Warfare

  Vietnam launches new OPV

  4th December 2015

  Vietnamese shipbuilder Song Thu Corporation launched an offshore patrol vessel (OPV) destined for the country’s coast guard on 30 November. Based on a Damen 9014 …

• 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. …

• Land Warfare

  Vietnam chooses Israeli SAM

  30th October 2015

  In the latest sales success for Rafael’s SPYDER surface-to-air missile (SAM) system, Vietnam has emerged as a buyer of the Israeli weapon. Confirmation of Vietnam’s …

• 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 …

• Naval Warfare

  US warns of Chinese reclamation

  24th August 2015

  The US expressed ongoing consternation over the scale of Chinese land reclamation in the South China Sea in a recent Pentagon report. The Department of …

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 ...