• Naval Warfare

  UK forward-basing trend expands as Medway heads to Caribbean

  27th January 2020

  As the UK RN’s River-class Batch 2 OPV HMS Medway heads out on its transatlantic journey to take up station as Atlantic Patrol Ship (North) …

• Training

  PLA is forced to alter its recruitment cycle

  30th January 2020

  The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) recently implemented important changes to the PLA’s recruitment processes, moving its intake of conscripts from once per year to twice, …

• Defence Notes

  Raytheon receives $768 million for AMRAAM production

  6th January 2020

  Raytheon has received a contract from the US Department of Defense for Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) Production Lot 33. The $768.2 million contract, awarded on …

• Defence Notes

  Opinion: Make or break time for UK defence

  18th January 2020

  For the British Armed Forces, 2020 began with an abrupt start as the aftermath of the strike by the US military on Iranian Qods Force …

• Defence Notes

  Singapore to set up permanent fighter detachment in Guam

  10th December 2019

  The governments of Singapore and the US signed an MoU on 7 December that will see the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) set up …

• Naval Warfare

  Bangladesh receives two Chinese frigates amidst modernisation drive

  23rd December 2019

  In a handover ceremony at the Shenjia Shipyard in Shanghai on 18 December, the Bangladesh Navy (BN) took delivery of two former Chinese Type 053H3 …

• Training

  Exercise Matilda concludes in Australia

  9th December 2019

  The Australian Army has completed two-week training exercise, Exercise Matilda, with the Singapore Army at Gallipoli Barracks. Soldiers from 8th/9th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (8/9RAR) …

• Special Operations

  Singapore special ops gets new command centre and UAVs

  4th December 2019

  The Singapore Special Operations Task Force (SOTF) has inaugurated the Special Operations Command Centre (SOCC) as the country’s armed forces evolve to deal with changing …

• Land Warfare

  Singapore to test missiles in India

  26th November 2019

  The Singapore and Indian ministries of defence inked a letter of intent on 20 November, concluding an MoU to facilitate the use of India’s Chandipur …

• Naval Warfare

  Vietnam launches submarine tender

  6th December 2019

  Vietnam launched the navy’s first submarine rescue vessel on 4 December, a timely step given that the Vietnam People’s Navy has been operating Kilo-class submarines …

• Naval Warfare

  Naval Group opens Singapore R&D centre

  22nd November 2019

  Naval Group opened a new Research and Development (R&D;) centre in Singapore on 21 November.The centre will focus Naval Group’s strategic naval defence research in …

• Defence Notes

  Defence Insight: Future market forecast (Air)

  18th December 2019

  The military fixed-wing sector was dominated by aircraft in 2019 with F-35, next-generation fighter aircraft and AWACs awards hitting the headlines.Lockheed Martin’s F-35 is the …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  ST Engineering sets up Israel subsidiary

  26th November 2019

  Singapore Technologies Engineering (ST Engineering) has established a wholly owned subsidiary in Israel, the company announced on 21 November. Called ST Engineering (Israel) Smart Cities, …

• Training

  I/ITSEC 2019: Lockheed outlines F-35 training and maintenance infrastructure

  3rd December 2019

  Running parallel to the physical development of the F-35 fighter programme, platform manufacturer Lockheed Martin is continuing to work to provide the services operating the …

• Military Logistics

  D&S 2019: Unimog relaunches itself in Asia

  19th November 2019

  Asia-Pacific countries have traditionally been serious users of the Mercedes-Benz Unimog 4x4 truck, but the company has not enjoyed many recent sales successes in the …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Invincible Class (Type 218SG) (5-6) [Singapore]

  In March 2025, the Singapore Ministry of Defence (Mindef) announced it would acquire two more submarines to complement its four Type 218SG Invincible-class submarines. Speaking to ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Invincible Class (Type 218SG) (5-6) [Singapore]

  In March 2025, the Singapore Ministry of Defence (Mindef) announced it would acquire two more submarines to complement its four Type 218SG Invincible-class submarines. Speaking to ...

• Submarines: conventional, attack

  Invincible Class (Type 218SG) (5-6) [Singapore]

  Programme Background Timeline In March 2025, the Singapore Ministry of Defence (Mindef) announced it would acquire two more submarines to complement its four Types 218SG Invincible-class ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | Maritime Patrol Aircraft [Singapore]

  Singapore requires a replacement platform for five Fokker 50 Maritime Enforcer Mk.2 aircraft. The total programme cost for five long-range maritime patrol aircraft is estimated to be ...

• Data links

  Data links | Maritime Patrol Aircraft [Singapore]

  Singapore requires a replacement platform for five Fokker 50 Maritime Enforcer Mk.2 aircraft. The total programme cost for five long-range maritime patrol aircraft is estimated to be ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | Maritime Patrol Aircraft [Singapore]

  Singapore requires a replacement platform for five Fokker 50 Maritime Enforcer Mk.2 aircraft. The total programme cost for five long-range maritime patrol aircraft is estimated to be ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | Maritime Patrol Aircraft [Singapore]

  Singapore requires a replacement platform for five Fokker 50 Maritime Enforcer Mk.2 aircraft. The total programme cost for five long-range maritime patrol aircraft is estimated to be ...

• 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 ...

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.  ...

• 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 ...

• Heavy machine guns, Helicopter guns, Naval guns

  50MG

  The STK 50MG, formerly known as CIS 50MG, is a heavy machine gun developed and manufactured by ST Kinetics (formerly Chartered Industries of Singapore) in ...

• 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 ...

• 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, ...

• 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 ...

• Submarine-launched torpedoes

  Torped 613/617

  The Torped 613 is a heavyweight torpedo used by the Swedish Navy submarines. Torped 617 is the export version of the torpedo utilized by the ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• Air: Integrated Defensive Systems

  All-in-Small

  The All-in-Small is a Self-Protection System (SPS) manufactured by Elbit Systems and designed for use in military and commercial fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters. It is marketed as ...

• 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 ...

• Patrol boats

  Independence Class (LMV)

  The Independence-class Littoral Mission Vessels (LMV) have been built for the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) to replace the ageing Fearless-class patrol ships. Eight vessels have ...

• 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 ...