• Land Warfare

  Vilkha missile system completes testing

  1st May 2018

  The Ukraine-built Vilkha missile system has completed final testing, Ukroboronprom announced on 25 April. The missile has been under development for the Ukraine Army for …

• Land Warfare

  Swedish CV90 begins 120mm mortar firing trials

  1st May 2018

  BAE Systems Hägglunds has commenced firing trials of the CV90 120mm Mjolner self-propelled mortar (SPM) system which is being developed under a Swedish Defence Materiel …

• Defence Notes

  China to hold military drills in Taiwan Strait

  18th April 2018

  China was scheduled to hold live-fire drills in the Taiwan Strait on 18 April, flexing its military muscle after warning Taipei about seeking independence or …

• Defence Notes

  US-backed Kurdish fighters resume anti-IS ops

  8th May 2018

  A US-backed Kurdish-led alliance in the week started 7 May launched a new offensive against holdouts from the Islamic State group in eastern Syria, an …

• Digital Battlespace

  Canada advances vehicle communications modernisation

  1st May 2018

  The Canadian Army is moving steadily forward with a C4I modernisation effort that will see it replace increasingly obsolete systems fitted to its armoured fighting …

• Special Operations

  International SOF Warrior Competition concludes

  9th May 2018

  Special operations units from around the world competed in the latest iteration of the annual Warrior Competition at the King Abdullah II Special Operations Training …

• Defence Helicopter

  Dutch AH-64E delivery schedule revealed

  3rd May 2018

  The Netherlands is planning on receiving its 28 strong fleet of remanufactured Apache AH-64E Guardian attack helicopters over a two and half year period beginning …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Scrutiny falls on British Army EOD robots

  30th April 2018

  As the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) introduces its new counter-IED robot, the Harris T7, the army has had time to reflect on its previous …

• Defence Helicopter

  Quad A 2018: BAE wins missile warning contract

  26th April 2018

  BAE Systems has secured a contract worth up to $97.9 million to develop a missile warning system that will protect US Army aviation pilots and …

• Defence Helicopter

  SOFEX 2018: Upgraded Cobra on the prowl

  8th May 2018

  An upgraded variant of the Royal Jordanian Air Force’s (RJAF) AH-1F Cobra attack helicopter is on display for the first time at SOFEX 2018. The …

• Defence Notes

  India intends to place fighters farther east

  11th May 2018

  India’s Andaman and Nicobar Islands are in a key strategic location astride the western approaches to the Malacca, Sunda, Lombok and Ombai Wetar Straits. To …

• Defence Helicopter

  PDR of T901-GE-900 engine complete

  27th April 2018

  GE Aviation and the US Army have conducted the Preliminary Design Review (PDR) of the T901-GE-900 engine, the company announced on 25 April. The engine …

• Training

  US Army seeks SOF helicopter trainer

  25th April 2018

  The US Army is conducting a market survey to assess the viability of procuring a Multi-Use Helicopter Training (MUHT) facility for use at Fort Campbell, …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  British Army continues search for robot tech

  25th April 2018

  As the British Army continues its pursuit of robotic technologies the service is gearing up for the Army Warfighting Experiment (AWE) - Autonomous Land Warrior …

• Land Warfare

  DSA 2018: PLA fields integrated rifle/grenade launcher

  11th April 2018

  The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has fielded on a limited basis the QTS-11 individual integrated combat system. The new weapon, in the hands of a …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Fighter - multirole

  J-10 [China]

  Programme Background The aircraft performed its maiden flight in 1998 and entered service with the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) in 2004. According to ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | Future Naval Fighter China

  China is planning to deploy stealth naval fighter aircraft with vertical take-off landing capabilities to operate from Peoples Liberation Army Navy (PLAN)'s future Type 075A class ...

• Data links

  Data links | Future Naval Fighter China

  China is planning to deploy stealth naval fighter aircraft with vertical take-off landing capabilities to operate from Peoples Liberation Army Navy (PLAN)'s future Type 075A class ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  Air: Helmet-mounted displays | Future Naval Fighter China

  China is planning to deploy stealth naval fighter aircraft with vertical take-off landing capabilities to operate from Peoples Liberation Army Navy (PLAN)'s future Type 075A class ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | Future Naval Fighter China

  China is planning to deploy stealth naval fighter aircraft with vertical take-off landing capabilities to operate from Peoples Liberation Army Navy (PLAN)'s future Type 075A class ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | Future Naval Fighter China

  China is planning to deploy stealth naval fighter aircraft with vertical take-off landing capabilities to operate from Peoples Liberation Army Navy (PLAN)'s future Type 075A class ...

• Corvettes

  Jiangdao Class (Type 056)

  Programme Background The Type 056 corvette is referred to by the Chinese as the new-generation light guided-missile frigates. They have been built for the People's Liberation ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | S26T (2-3) [Thailand]

  The Royal Thai Navy were in the process of acquiring up to three new submarines derived from the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) Yuan-class (Type ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | S26T (2-3) [Thailand]

  The Royal Thai Navy were in the process of acquiring up to three new submarines derived from the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) Yuan-class (Type ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

  Rapid Minelayers Procurement (1-4) [Taiwan]

  Development and Procurement Four new rapid minelayers are being built for the Taiwanese Navy in a bid to counter the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

  Rapid Minelayers Procurement (5-10) [Taiwan]

  Programme Background Requirements The revelation of a Chinese bridge-barge landing system for amphibious operations, designed for a Taiwan invasion, has underscored the need for Taipei ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Kalyani M4 (India)

  Programme Background In the wake of border clashes with the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) in 2020, the Indian Army has accelerated several of its ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  UH-60M Black Hawk [Taiwan]

  Programme Background The Black Hawks are intended to defend against potential threats from China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA), as they possess rapid response capability in ...

• Frigates

  Jiangkai II Class (Type 054A)

  Built by Hudong-Zhonghua shipyard and Huangpu shipyards the frigates were first seen being constructed from 2005. The class is referred to as the workhorses of China's ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  VP1/Type 89 (Nigeria)

  Programme Background The Nigerian Army has an ongoing need for new armoured vehicles to replace losses incurred in its conflict with extremist organisations operating within ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• AEW&C, Transport

  Y-8

  The Y-8 (Yunshuji-8) medium-sized transport and multirole aircraft was developed by Shaanxi Aircraft Corporation and is based on the Soviet Antonov An-12. More than 36 ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Type 19 8x8

  The Type 19 8x8 is a family of vehicles developed for use by the People's Liberation Army (PLA).

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  Z-8

  Developed by Changhe Aircraft Industry Group, the Z-8 (known also as Z-18) is a derivative of the AC313 civil helicopter, which is itself a copy of ...

• Submachine guns

  CS/LS2

  Norinco’s CS/LS2 is a 9mm bullpup SMG designed for use with a suppressor. It has been in service with the People's Liberation Army since about ...

• Fighter - multirole

  J-8

  The J-8 (NATO reporting name Finback) is a multirole fighter domestically developed by China. It has design similarities with Soviet MiG-21 and Su-15 aircraft.  The ...

• Armoured engineer vehicles

  Type GCZ110

  Norinco announced in 2014 that it had completed development of the Type GCZ110 armoured engineer vehicle based on a modified Type 79 tank chassis equipped ...

• Air: COMINT and ELINT systems

  KZ-800

  China National Electronics Import and Export’s (CEIEC) KZ-800 is an airborne Electronic Intelligence (ELINT) gathering system believed to be in widespread use onboard People’s Liberation ...

• EO/IR systems

  Loong Eye LE380

  The Loong Eye (Dragon's Eye) LE380 is a two-axis stabilised gimbal incorporating EO/IR sensors, laser designators, and laser rangefinders. Originally developed by the Luoyang Opto-Electro ...

• Military UAS - small

  Sky Saker FX400A

  The Sky Saker FX400A is a fixed-wing drone manufactured by Norinco. Capable of hosting both ISR and attack payloads, such as the Blue Arrow 7 ...

• Fighter - ground attack

  J-16

  The J-16 is a multirole fighter developed by China. It is based on the J-11 air superiority fighter, itself a licence-built version of the Russian ...

• Main battle tanks

  VT2

  The 125mm-armed VT2 tracked MBT, which was unveiled at DSA 2012, is the export version of the People's Liberation Army Type 96A. As of early ...

• Medium/general-purpose machine guns

  Type 80

  The Type 80 is a general-purpose machine gun (GPMG) manufactured by Norinco in China, based on the Soviet PKM. Certified in 1980, it entered PLA ...

• Air-launched ASW torpedoes, Ship-launched torpedoes

  Yu-11 lightweight torpedo

  Yu-11 is a Chinese-made surface and air-launched lightweight torpedo to defeat submarine threats from long distances.

• Fighter - multirole

  J-10

  The J-10 (NATO reporting name Firebird) is a multirole fighter developed by China to replace second-generation J-7 and Q-5 aircraft. The aircraft is also known ...

• Military UAS - HALE

  BZK-005

  The BZK-005 is a Chinese-made HALE UAS that debuted at Airshow China in November 2018. The platform is designed for wide-area ISR tasks, and in ...