• Digital Battlespace

  Fifth-generation platforms do not equate to fifth-generation capability: RAAF

  12th February 2020

  Despite the technological leap that fifth-generation military capabilities can bring to the modern battlespace, potential countermeasures to individual platforms ensure that a networked approach is …

• Air Warfare

  Singapore Airshow 2020: Japan to form an ‘aerospace’ force

  5th February 2020

  The Japanese government is to change the name of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) to the Japan Aerospace Self-Defense Force as early as Fiscal …

• Air Warfare

  Singapore Airshow 2020: Viper and Gripen dogfight for Manila deal

  5th February 2020

  Philippine Secretary of National Defense Delfin Lorenzana confirmed in December 2019 that his country had downselected the Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 70 Viper and Saab …

• Training

  Singapore Airshow 2020: Indian Navy rotary training may migrate to light twins

  6th February 2020

  When the Naval Utility Helicopter (NUH) replaces the Alouette, will basic training also migrate to light twins? This question was recently posed by Shephard to …

• Air Warfare

  Singapore Airshow 2020: Malaysian air force grapples with fighter shortages

  5th February 2020

  Gen Ackbal Samad assumed command of the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) on 3 January, making him the fifth chief who will have to grapple with …

• Air Warfare

  Singapore Airshow 2020: Taiwan pioneers with its F-16V programme

  5th February 2020

  Taiwan has accelerated the transition programme of its F-16V Viper fleet, with nearly two dozen pilots qualified to fly this newest version of the Fighting …

• Naval Warfare

  Singapore Airshow 2020: Malaysia to convert to maritime surveillance aircraft

  5th February 2020

  The Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) will convert three of its seven CN-235 transport aircraft into unarmed maritime surveillance platforms under a US-funded programme. Work is …

• Naval Warfare

  Singapore Airshow 2020: India moves on arming nuclear submarine

  5th February 2020

  The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully test-fired India’s first submarine-launched ballistic missile, the K4 SLBM, from underwater on 19 January. Measuring 10m long …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Singapore Airshow 2020: ROKAF stands up Global Hawk unit

  5th February 2020

  The Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) established a new reconnaissance squadron in late 2019, to coincide with the arrival of the country’s first RQ-4B …

• Air Warfare

  Hub-and-spoke approach for USAF in Asia-Pacific

  5th February 2020

  The US Air Force (USAF) is adapting its air and cyber operations in the Asia-Pacific region to a more distributed approach given that the location …

• Naval Warfare

  Asia-Pacific submarine proliferation creates parallel market in counter-subsurface capabilities

  5th February 2020

  Submarine proliferation continues to be significant factors for operators, industry and planners in the Asia-Pacific region, as a burgeoning demand for such capabilities is driving …

• Defence Notes

  F-35B: The unprecedented capabilities Singapore always wanted

  14th January 2020

  The US announcement of a sale of 12 Lockheed Martin F-35Bs to Singapore has finally put a stop to a year-long debate as to which …

• Defence Notes

  Singapore requests F-35B from US

  10th January 2020

  The US State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale of F-35B Short Take-Off and Vertical Landing (STOVL) aircraft to Singapore. …

• Naval Warfare

  BRI investment, SCS claims could hit China's military development

  4th February 2020

  China’s slowing economy, and financial pressures arising from its massive investment in its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and construction of military facilities in the …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Upgraded Heron given longer legs

  29th January 2020

  In an expansion of its unmanned portfolio, Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) plans to unveil a new member of the Heron UAV family at the Singapore Airshow …

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 ...