• Uncrewed Vehicles

  FLA programme completes Phase 2 tests

  26th July 2018

  DARPA has completed Phase 2 flight tests for its Fast Lightweight Autonomy (FLA) programme, demonstrating advanced algorithms performing real-world tasks without human assistance. The programme …

• Special Operations

  Rheinmetall receives laser light contract

  6th July 2018

  Rheinmetall has received a contract from Germany’s procurement authority to supply a lightweight, assault rifle-mounted laser light package for German Army special operators, the company …

• Defence Helicopter

  US SF and Boeing ink Block II Chinook deal

  29th June 2018

  As expected, the US Army has brought forward the acquisition of new MH-47G Block II Chinooks for its SF and has inked an initial deal …

• Defence Helicopter

  Mi-35M for the Russian Federal Security Service

  2nd July 2018

  Russia's Federal Security Service (FSS) has begun recapitalisation of its attack helicopter fleet with next-generation day/night-capable models to help with border security in the troubled …

• Special Operations

  NFM Group launches new load bearing design

  2nd July 2018

  Norwegian protection specialist NFM Group has launched the latest product in its family of Thor load bearing solutions, designed to provide operators with a modular …

• Land Warfare

  USMC Amphibious Combat Vehicle Goes to BAE Systems

  19th June 2018

  BAE Systems secured a US Marine Corps contract to produce the new fleet of Amphibious Combat Vehicles (ACV 1.1). The award announcement, made 19 June, …

• Defence Notes

  Deadly strikes hit rebel south Syria after assault on city begins

  27th June 2018

  Deadly air strikes hit rebel-held towns across southern Syria on 27 June putting three hospitals out of service after the government launched a Russian-backed push …

• Land Warfare

  Knight's new 5.56mm LAMG enters LRIP

  20th June 2018

  Knight's Armament Company's (KAC) new 5.56x45mm NATO Light Assault Machine Gun (LAMG) has now entered low-rate production, with larger calibre variants expected soon. Sources at …

• Land Warfare

  Raytheon to continue TOW production

  15th June 2018

  Raytheon has received a $129.9 million contract modification from the US Army to continue production of the TOW weapon system, the company announced on 12 …

• Special Operations

  USSOCOM announces ISOF Range Day

  14th June 2018

  United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) has outlined plans to hold an International Special Operations Forces (ISOF) Range Day in January 2019. The event, which was …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  FLIR launches Black Hornet 3 nano-UAV

  11th June 2018

  FLIR Systems has launched the Black Hornet 3 nano-UAV for militaries, government agencies and first responders, the company announced on 5 June. The next generation …

• Defence Helicopter

  Klimov to develop new rotorcraft engine

  12th June 2018

  Russian engine-maker Klimov has revealed details on its new research and development programme undertaken within the frame of the so-called Advanced Helicopter Engine (AHE) initiative. …

• Land Warfare

  Chinese arms deliveries to Africa put on hold

  15th June 2018

  France, Britain and the US on 14 June 2018 put a hold on a request from the Central African Republic (CAR) for UN Security Council …

• Special Operations

  SOFIC 2018: SOF partner capabilities in the spotlight (video)

  28th May 2018

  With the overlap between USSOCOM’s International SOF Week at SOFIC 2018, planners across multiple special operations organizations conducted an International SOF Capabilities Demonstration in, on …

• Land Warfare

  CAR asks UN to approve China arms deliveries

  12th June 2018

  The Central African Republic (CAR) has asked the UN Security Council to approve deliveries of Chinese-made armoured vehicles, machine guns, tear gas grenades and other …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  BMD-4M

  Programme Background Since 2017, 11 battalion sets of the BMD-4M have been delivered to units of the VDV in addition to 27 located at the ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  BTR-MDM Rakushka

  Programme Background Since 2016, 11 battalion sets of BTR-MDMs are known to have been delivered to units of the VDV in addition to 12 platforms ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  ZAHA (Turkey)

  Programme Background The Turkish Navy has need of a tracked amphibious assault vehicle to support ship-to-shore beach landings carried out from its TCG Anadolu-class Landing ...

• Fighter - naval

  Future Naval Fighter China

  The PLAN started development work in 2011 for the Type 075 with the aim of increasing the "vertical" amphibious assault capability, with the mountainous East ...

• 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 ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  AAV7A1 RAM/RS (Japan - 2nd Batch)

  Programme Background The Japan Ground Self Defense Force (JGSDF) has procured the AAV7A1 RAM/RS to equip its Amphibious Assault Brigade formed in 2018. Tasked with ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Landing Platform Docks [India]

  In August 2021, the Indian Navy issued a Request for Information (RfI) for four LPDs, resurrecting an earlier failed effort to acquire large amphibious assault ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Medium Landing Ship (9-18) [USMC]

  The US Marine Corps is looking to develop a new platform to bridge the gap between its large assault ships and smaller landing craft. This ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Medium Landing Ship (9-18) [USMC]

  The US Marine Corps is looking to develop a new platform to bridge the gap between its large assault ships and smaller landing craft. This ...

• Landing platform docks/dock landing ships

  Ivan Gren Class (Project 11711)

  Programme Background The Ivan Gren-class (Project 11711) large amphibious assault ships (LST) have been designed for the Russian Navy by Nevskoe Design Bureau to undertake landing operations ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  KAAV II

  Programme Background The Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN) operates one Dokdo-class amphibious assault ship and has launched another to support provide operational lift for the ROKMC. ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Assault rifles/carbines/shotguns

  AK-12

  Kalashnikov publicly unveiled the AK-12 assault rifle in January 2012. The AK-12 uses the same gas-operated long-stroke piston system as previous Kalashnikov rifles. A 5.45x39mm ...

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

  SKAT 350

  Based on the Supercam 350, the SKAT 350 is a mini fixed-wing UAV manufactured by Kalashnikov Concern JSC. The drone was revealed in early 2024, ...

• Assault rifles/carbines/shotguns

  AK-19

  The Kalashnikov Concern unveiled its developmental AK-19 assault rifle in August 2020. Compared to the AK-12 assault rifle upon which it is based, the AK-19 ...

• Individual grenade launchers

  GP-34

  Kalashnikov designed the single-shot GP-34 40mm underbarrel grenade launcher for use with the company’s 5.45mm, 5.56mm and 7.62mm assault rifles. The sight allows the firer ...

• Assault rifles/carbines/shotguns

  AK-101/103

  The AK-100, or Century series, applies modern production techniques to the legacy AK design. The 5.56mm AK-101 and 7.62mm AK-103 are full-length assault rifles. Forearm, ...

• Light machine guns

  RPK-16

  Kalashnikov unveiled its 5.45x39mm RPK-16 light support weapon at the Army 2016 exhibition. Intended to supersede the RPK-74 light machine gun, the RPK-16 can be ...

• Assault rifles/carbines/shotguns

  AK-15

  Developed under the Ratnik modernisation programme, the AK-15 assault rifle was first unveiled in 2016. It is designed for elite units and law enforcement and ...

• Assault rifles/carbines/shotguns

  AK-200

  The AK-200 family of assault rifles and carbines was developed by the Kalashnikov Concern for export customers and domestic law enforcement agencies. Designed as an ...

• Pistols

  PL-15

  The PL-15 is a double-action-only pistol chambered for the ubiquitous 9x19mm parabellum cartridge. Developed by firearms designer and target shooter Dmitry Lebedev and manufactured by ...

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

  Legionnaire E33K

  The Legionnaire E33K is a small fixed-wing UAV developed by Kalashnikov Concern. The drone is designed for various tasks, including cargo carrying.  An electric motor powers ...

• Military UAS - mini, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Karakurt

  The Karahurt is a Russian tube-launched rotary-wing platform manufactured by Kalashnikov Concern. It bears visual similarities with SpearUAV's range of drones and has been designed ...

• Light machine guns

  RPL-20

  After testing with the RPK-16 light machine gun uncovered several issues with the design, Kalashnikov initiated development of the new RPL-20 light machine gun to ...

• Weapon sights for night use (image intensifiers)

  PCS-5/5M GABRO

  The PCS-5/PCS-5M passive NVD is a lightweight telescopic sight designed for use on portable weapons. It can be used for battlefield observation, detection and target ...

• Assault rifles/carbines/shotguns

  BR18

  The BR18 is a compact mission-configurable weapon system built by ST Engineering Land Systems. The BR18 has a patented forward ejection system and is one of ...

• Light machine guns

  Negev NG7 LMG

  The 7.62x51mm Negev NG7 is a further development of the Negev 5.56mm light machine gun and was adopted by the IDF in 2012. The NG7 can ...