• Training

  Gabriel manufacturer looks to Asia for co-production

  7th July 2020

  The Singapore-based subsidiary of Italian aircraft manufacturer Blackshape is seeking industrial workshare partnerships in Asia for its Gabriel-TP turboprop light aircraft. ‘Blackshape is willing to …

• Defence Notes

  UK needs to decide – is it in or out of Asia-Pacific?

  21st August 2020

  The UK RN seems determined to deploy a carrier group in the Asia-Pacific region in 2021, as the first operational deployment of HMS Queen Elizabeth. …

• Naval Warfare

  Singapore sets up USV flotilla, but some projects delayed

  30th June 2020

  Due to COVID-19 and supply chain disruptions, a handful of Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) programmes are delayed by up to a year. In his annual …

• Naval Warfare

  African customer orders pair of OPV 45s

  9th July 2020

  An unnamed African navy has ordered two OPVs from Israel Shipyards. The OPV 45 vessels will be equipped with Israeli technology such as day/night observation sensors …

• Naval Warfare

  Burning hull of USS Bonhomme Richard leaves amphibious ready group capability gap

  14th July 2020

  As efforts continue to bring under control a fire on board the USN’s USS Bonhomme Richard, the financial and military implications of the potential loss …

• Defence Helicopter

  ​Boeing wins major Apache Guardian FMS order for Morocco

  26th June 2020

  Morocco will become the 17th country to acquire the Boeing AH-64 Apache, under a $439.18 million FMS contract for 24 AH-64E helicopters. Boeing expects deliveries …

• Air Warfare

  Japan to have world’s second-largest F-35 fleet

  10th July 2020

  The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) in the US gave a green light on 9 July to a Japanese request to purchase 105 Lockheed Martin …

• Digital Battlespace

  SE Asian airborne data links have a long way to go

  3rd July 2020

  Despite numerous modernisation programmes in Southeast Asian air forces, their true data link capabilities still have a long way to go to reach Western standards. …

• Digital Battlespace

  Singapore F-16 photo-recon capability breaks cover

  28th May 2020

  Recent imagery reviewed by Shephard confirms a long-range oblique photography (LOROP) sensor capability on Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) F-16s. The images depict twin-seat …

• Defence Helicopter

  Japan orders its first series UH-X helicopters

  10th June 2020

  The Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA) in Japan has placed orders for the first six production UH-X helicopters for the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force …

• Defence Notes

  India and Australia forge closer maritime co-operation

  8th June 2020

  Australia and India elevated their bilateral Strategic Partnership of 2009 to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership through a virtual summit held between Prime Ministers Scott Morrison …

• Defence Helicopter

  Apache operators gain lifecycle support

  22nd May 2020

  Small US-based company Integration Innovation Inc was awarded a $8.31 million contract modification by the US Army on 21 May under the International Apache Technical …

• Military Logistics

  First two MMF tanker aircraft set to arrive in June, says NATO

  19th May 2020

  The first two Airbus A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft to be purchased by the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) will arrive in the …

• Digital Battlespace

  Custodio Technologies secures role in Singapore’s SLADE programme

  23rd April 2020

  Custodio Technologies, the Singapore-based subsidiary of Israel Aerospace Industries, has been awarded a role in the Smart Learning Analytics for Digital Crime (SLADE), the company …

• Special Operations

  Special forces need tools to fight ‘wars on the horizon’, says USSOCOM chief

  13th May 2020

  The Commanding General of US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) has highlighted how SOF must be suitably equipped to handle a trio of ‘wars on the …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - micro, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Parrot Anafi (Singapore)

  Programme Background On 7 February 2022, the Singapore Army posted photographs on Facebook that showed the Anafi UAV used as training devices in a five-day ...

• Maritime patrol

  Maritime Patrol Aircraft (Singapore)

  Programme Background Deployed from Changi West airbase, and jointly operated by the RSAF and Republic of Singapore Navy, the ageing Fokker 50 fleet is primarily ...

• Amphibious assault ships, Landing platform docks/dock landing ships

  Landing Ship Tank Replacement [Singapore]

  Programme Background Requirements Singapore needs to replace its four in-service Endurance-class ships, which will be retired in the late 2020s. In 2014, Singapore announced the ...

• UAS: communication systems

  UAS: communication systems | Vesper [Singapore]

  In September 2024, the Singapore Army announced on Facebook that it had acquired the Vesper drone from Vantage Robotics in collaboration with the Defence Science and ...

• UAS: flight control systems

  UAS: flight control systems | Vesper [Singapore]

  In September 2024, the Singapore Army announced on Facebook that it had acquired the Vesper drone from Vantage Robotics in collaboration with the Defence Science and ...

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

  Orbiter 4 (Singapore)

  Programme Background Contract Announcement Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen announced the acquisition during the Ministry of Defence (Mindef) Committee of Supply debate on 2 March 2022. Following ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Landing Ship Tank Replacement [Singapore]

  Singapore needs to replace its four in-service Endurance-class ships, which will be retired in the late 2020s. The country has already announced the intention to replace ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  CH-47F Chinook (Singapore)

  Programme Background In July 2020, photos have emerged on the internet of the first Boeing CH-47F Chinook destined for the Republic of Singapore Air Force ...

• Military UAS - micro, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Vesper [Singapore]

  Programme Background On 6 September 2024, the Singapore Army announced on Facebook that it had introduced the Vesper into service. The social media post confirmed ...

• Frigates

  Multi-Role Combat Vessels (1-6) [Singapore]

  Programme Background Requirements Singapore is planning to replace its current ageing Victory-class corvettes, which are due to leave service in 2025, with an equal number of ...

• 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

  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 ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - mini

  Ship-Bourne VTOL UAV [Singapore]

  Programme Background Multi-Role Combat Vessel  The Republic of Singapore Navy will retire its class of six Victory-class corvettes and replace them with a new platform ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  Hunter IFV [Singapore - Forecast]

  Programme Background Development of the Hunter began in 2006 and was assisted by Singapore's Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA). At least five variants of the platform ...

• 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 ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Air: fixed-wing flight simulators

  Singapore BWC

  The Singapore Basic Wings Course (BWC) is a 20-year service contract awarded to Lockheed Martin in November 2006 to provide the Republic of Singapore Air ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - mini

  Veloce-15

  The ST Engineering Veloce-15 (V-15) is a hybrid fixed-wing UAV with four rotors for vertical lift and a tail-mounted two-bladed pusher propeller for horizontal propulsion.  ...

• Self-propelled guns

  Primus

  The Primus 155mm/39cal tracked SP artillery system is the result of a six-year development effort between the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), the Singapore Defence Science ...

• Land: battle management systems

  ARTEMIS BMS

  The Army Tactical Engagement and Information System (ARTEMIS) is a battle management system in service with the Singapore Army. Designed for applications between the Platoon ...

• Minehunters

  Bedok/Koster/Landsort Class (MCMV 47)

  These classes started life as Landsort-class minehunters, manufactured by Karlskronavavert, a subsidiary of Kockums. Some seven of the Landsort class were manufactured for the Swedish ...

• Land: soldier modernisation systems - national programmes

  ACMS

  ST Electronics is supplying the Advanced Combat Man System (ACMS) to the Singapore Armed Forces. The basic system is already in service with three battalions, ...

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

  Veloce-60

  The Veloce-60 was a fixed-wing UAV first displayed by ST Engineering at Singapore Airshow 2020. It had VTOL capabilities with a rear-mounted piston engine to power a ...

• Corvettes

  Victory Class

  The Republic of Singapore Navy's Victory-class corvettes have been in service for almost a quarter of a century and in 2009, a life-extension programme for ...

• AEW&C

  Global 550 CAEW

  The G550 CAEW aircraft is a Gulfstream G550 adapted for AEW&C;, EW and ISTAR missions in Australia, Israel, Italy, Singapore and the US. The base platform is ...

• Armoured engineer vehicles

  Bionix AVLB

  ST Kinetics developed the Bionix Armoured Vehicle-Launched Bridge (AVLB) based on the chassis of the Bionix APC, to meet the requirements of the Singapore Armed ...

• Air: air combat simulators

  M-346 GBTS

  CAE is the preferred simulation provider for the Leonardo Aircraft M-346 advanced jet trainer and is currently developing a range of training systems for customers ...

• Air: Integrated Defensive Systems

  All-in-Small

  All-in-Small is an SPS designed for use in military and commercial fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters. The integrated EW suite comprises an EW controller, a digital ...

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

  Infiltrator

  The Infiltrator UAV is produced by Ziyan Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Company. It has been designed with the same configuration as a standard helicopter and can ...

• Guided munitions

  Hatchet

  Orbital ATK is developing the laser-guided Hatchet miniature weapon that supports platform integration on both unmanned and manned aircraft. Hatchet’s design meets the requirements for ...

• Land: battlefield and ground surveillance radar

  Cymbeline

  The Cymbeline is a phased-array, mortar-locating radar that detects the flight path of a mortar bomb at two points in its trajectory as it passes ...