Defence Notes

Clashes rage in Libya despite UN truce call

8th April 2019

Fighting raged south of Libya's capital on 7 April despite a UN call for a two-hour ceasefire, as forces of strongman Khalifa Haftar and the …

Defence Notes

Erdogan says Russia missile deal to go ahead after US suspension

8th April 2019

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on 5 April vowed to go ahead with a deal to purchase Russian missiles despite Washington's suspension of Turkey's participation in …

Defence Helicopter

Mi-26T2V completes preliminary flight tests

5th April 2019

Russian Helicopters has successfully completed preliminary flight tests of the Mi-26T2V helicopter, the company announced on 3 April. The aircraft is being prepared for delivery …

Digital Battlespace

Russia receives sixth upgraded A-50U

5th April 2019

Rostec's Vega Concern and the Beriev Aircraft Company have supplied the sixth modernised A-50U airborne early warning and control (AEW&C;) aircraft to the Russian Air …

Naval Warfare

Russia opposes US plan for more NATO ships in Black Sea

4th April 2019

A US proposal to send more NATO ships to the Black Sea to ensure safe passage for Ukrainian vessels and deter Russia is viewed ‘negatively’ …

Naval Warfare

Indian Navy receives CMS for aircraft carrier

3rd April 2019

The Indian Navy has received the combat management system for its indigenous aircraft carrier, the Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced on 29 March. The …

Defence Helicopter

Russian Army inducts four Mi-24 helicopters

2nd April 2019

A newly-formed army aviation brigade of the Russian Army stationed in Sverdlovsk region of the Central Military District has inducted four Mi-24 attack helicopters into …

Defence Notes

US suspends F-35 programme deliveries to Turkey over Russian arms

2nd April 2019

The US said 1 April 2019 it was halting all deliveries and joint work with Turkey on the F-35 fighter jet program after the NATO …

Loitering munitions

Switchblade 600 (Ukraine Aid) [US]

Programme Background $300 Million USAI (1 April 2022) On 1 April 2022, the US DoD announced a $300 million military aid package for Ukraine following ...

Military UAS - micro, Military UAS - rotary-wing

Golden Eagle (NATO Member)

Programme Background2022 Russian Invasion of UkraineFollowing Russia's invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022, the usage and effectiveness of micro and mini UAV platforms in the ...

Loitering munitions, Military UAS - micro, Military UAS - rotary-wing

Drone40 (Ukraine Aid) [Australia]

Programme Background In August 2022, the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI), a think tank, held a podcast with Ukraine's ambassador to Australia, Vasyl Myroshnychenko, in which ...

Military UAS - mini, Military UAS - rotary-wing

SkyRanger R70 (Ukraine Aid) [Canada]

Programme Background On 19 February 2024, the Canadian Defence Minister, Bill Blair, announced that the country would donate more than 800 SkyRanger R70 UAVs to ...

Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - mini

RQ-35 Heidrun (Ukraine Aid) [Germany]

Programme Background Delivered Units On 19 April 2022, Oryx reported that Denmark had given Ukraine 25 Sky-Watch's Heidrun mini-UAV units as aid following Russia's invasion ...

Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

Heavy Lift Helicopter [Philippines]

Programme Background Procurement from Russia In November 2021, Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana confirmed that a contract had been signed to acquire 16 Mi-171 heavy ...

Military UAS - micro

Drones (Ukraine Aid) [Australia]

Programme Background In April 2024, while in Lviv, Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles announced a new AU$100 million military assistance package for Ukraine. This reaffirms ...

Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

Bayraktar TB2 (Aid & Discounted Units) [Ukraine]

Programme Background Pre Invasion Units The Ukrainian Army purchased 12 TB2 units in January 2019 for a reported $69 million. Deliveries began in June 2019, ...

Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

Bayraktar TB2 (Pre-War) [Ukraine Navy]

Programme Background Ukrainian Army The Ukraine Army purchased 12 TB2 units in January 2019 for a reported $69 million.  Contract According to Ukrainian Navy Commander ...

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, ...

Loitering munitions

Switchblade 300 (Ukraine Aid) [US]

Programme Background Presidential Drawdown (16 March 2022 & 13 April 2022) On 16 March 2022, President Biden announced $800 million in security assistance to Ukraine through ...

Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

Bayraktar TB2 [Latvia]

Programme Background Factory Visit On 7 June 2021, Baykar's official Twitter account announced that the Latvian Minister of Defence, Artis Pabrikis, had visited the Baykar ...

Frigates

Admiral Gorshkov Class (Project 22350) (1 - 8)

Programme Background The Admiral Gorshkov-class is to consist of between 15 to 20 stealth frigates being built the Severnaya Verf shipyard in St. Petersburg for ...

Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - small

Puma 3 AE (Ukraine)

Programme Background Military Aid - $300 Million On 1 April 2022, the US DoD announced a $300 million military aid package for Ukraine to "bolster Urkaine's capacity ...

Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - mini, Military UAS - rotary-wing

Vector / Scorpion (Contracted) [Ukraine]

Programme Background Previous Orders & Donations On 29 March 2022, the US Embassy in Warsaw announced that Quantum Drones had donated an unknown quantity of ...

Loitering munitions

Phoenix Ghost

Manufactured by AEVEX Aerospace with input from the USAF, the Phoenix Ghost is a VTOL capable loitering munition revealed by the 21 April 2022 announcement of ...

Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - small

Shark

The Shark is a fixed-wing catapult launched ISR UAV developed by Ukrspecsystems.  The platform's development began following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and within ...

Transport/tanker aircraft

Il-78M

Based on the Il-76 transport, the Il-78 convertible tanker/transport aircraft first entered service in 1974 and was followed three years later by the improved Il-78M ...

Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

Bayraktar TB2

The Bayraktar TB2, or Bayraktar-2, is a medium-altitude long-endurance UAV developed and manufactured by Baykar. The platform can conduct ISR and armed attack missions and has a ...

Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

Orion / Orion-E

The Orion, sometimes called the Inokhodets, is the first Russian-manufactured MALE UAV that has been designed to carry out a wide variety of military surveillance applications. Russia has ...

APCs/IFVs - tracked

BMP-1

The BMP-1 (Bronevaya Maschina Piekhota-1) is a tracked amphibious IFV that was developed in the Soviet Union during the 1960s.  Entering service with the Soviet ...

APCs/IFVs - 4x4

KamAZ-43269 Vystrel

The KamAZ-43269 Vystrel (originally known as the BPM-97) is a 4x4 armoured vehicle based on the proven KamAZ-4326 4x4 military truck chassis. Although development started in ...

Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - mini

Eleron-3 (Series)

The Eleron series comprises several variants, including Eleron-3 (T23E), Eleron-3SV, Eleron-B, Eleron-10 (T10D and 10E) and Eleron-10SV (T10). The Russian Armed Forces use Eleron-3 aircraft ...

Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - tactical

Orlan-10/10E

Developed by the Russia-based Special Technology Center, the Orlan-10 is a medium-range UAS with many variants, such as the 10E, an export version introduced in 2017. The ...

Military UAS - micro, Military UAS - rotary-wing

Mavic 3 (Series)

The Mavic 3 is a rotary-wing UAV manufactured by DJI designed for commercial aerial photography and video capture. It has a Hasselblad L2D-20c two-camera payload, omnidirectional obstacle sensing, and ...

Loitering munitions, Military UAS - fixed-wing

Gerbera

The Gerbera is a rudimentary Russian UAV manufactured by Gastello Design Bureau.  The drone's body is made of radar-absorbent foam, and the platform is reportedly available ...

Tanks

BMPT

UVZ developed the BMPT Fire Support Combat Vehicle, nicknamed Terminator by the company, after studying the Russian Army's performance during the Chechen War. Designed to ...

Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - tactical

Spectator M/M1

The Spectator is a Ukrainian UAV series jointly developed by OJSC Meridian, a subsidiary of Ukroboronprom, and the National Technical University of Ukraine (KPI). The Spectator M1 is the ...

Loitering munitions

KYB

The KYB, or Kub, is a loitering munition manufactured by the  Zala Aero Group.  The platform features a flying-wing design with a pusher propeller. It is designed to deliver ...

APCs/IFVs - 8x8

BTR-70

The BTR-70 is an amphibious 8x8 armoured personnel carrier originally developed for the Soviet Union's armed forces. Produced in the Soviet Union from 1972 until ...