• Defence Helicopter

  Lockheed to produce more M-DSA kits

  4th October 2016

  Lockheed Martin will produce additional Modernized Day Sensor Assembly (M-DSA) upgrade kits and spares for US Army Apache helicopters under a $49.3 million contract announced …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  AUSA 2016: Textron unveils Synturian

  4th October 2016

  Textron Systems used this week’s AUSA 2016 event to debut and launch its new ‘Synturian’ family of unmanned system support products.  The Synturian family is …

• Land Warfare

  US Army exercises JLTV option

  28th September 2016

  The US Army has exercised an option for the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) programme with Oshkosh Defense, placing an order for $42 million, it …

• Training

  Rheinmetall wins German Army training contracts

  30th September 2016

  Rheinmetall will modernise and expand technology at the German Army Combat Training Centre (GÜZ) under a series of contracts announced by the company on 29 …

• Land Warfare

  AUSA 2016: BAE unveils Next Generation Bradley concept

  4th October 2016

  BAE Systems has unveiled a demonstration vehicle platform at AUSA 2016 that incorporates a number of potential concepts and subsystems for a possible Next Generation …

• Land Warfare

  ADAS 2016: Aselsan achieves first A100 export

  29th September 2016

  During the second ADAS 2016 exhibition in Manila, Shephard received further details of Aselsan’s sale of A100 night vision devices to the Philippines. The Turkish …

• Land Warfare

  AUSA 2016: Mobile firepower plans emerge

  27th September 2016

  The Mobile Protected Firepower (MPF) programme is one of the few new ground combat vehicle acquisitions being currently pursued by the US Army.   MPF …

• Defence Helicopter

  AUSA 2016: Helicopter engine replacement for the future

  26th September 2016

  The replacement of the T700 engine onboard the UH-60 Black Hawk and AH-64 Apache, through the Improved Turbine Engine Program (ITEP), remains a longer-term option …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  AUSA 2016: Army to lease robot mules

  26th September 2016

  The US Army may expedite its plans to field so-called ‘robotic mules’ – or unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) – that can carry soldier’s equipment on …

• Land Warfare

  MDM 2016: Lockheed Martin delivers first modernised TACMS missile

  29th September 2016

  Lockheed Martin has announced delivery of its first modernised Tactical Missile System missile (TACMS) to the US Army from its facility in Camden, Arkansas.  Formerly …

• Defence Helicopter

  AUSA 2016: L-3 brings the light

  4th October 2016

  Demands from military users across Africa, South America and the Middle East have led to L-3 Wescam’s development and launch of its new MX-8 multi-sensor …

• Land Warfare

  AUSA 2016: New light binos see into the dark

  4th October 2016

  Harris has launched a new lightweight night vision binocular – the F5032 – to meet a gap in the market. A spokesperson from the company …

• Special Operations

  AUSA 2016: Colt launches new SF rifle

  5th October 2016

  A new short-barrelled rifle (SBR) 5.56mm variant of the M4 rifle – called the SCW0923 – has been launched by Colt. The rifle is designed …

• Training

  Australia flies EC-135T2 helicopter

  27th September 2016

  The Australian Defence Force has flown for the first time a new EC-135 T2 twin-engine helicopter acquired as part of its Helicopter Aircrew Training System (HATS) …

• Land Warfare

  AUSA 2016: Suppressive fire concept to be to be unveiled

  30th September 2016

  Control Solutions will be unveiling its design to provide the current inventory of open manned turrets with a new remote suppressive fire (RSF) capability. According …

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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• Corvettes

  Shadhinota Class (Type C13B)

  The Shadhinota class (Type C13B) corvettes are a platform based on the Type 056 Jiangdao class used by the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), built by the ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  J-22 Loyal Wingman [China]

  Background J-20 Loyal Wingman In 2024, at the biennial Zhuhai air show in southern China, the FH-97A was displayed, a drone designed to, among other things, ...

• Submarines: conventional, attack

  S26T [Thailand]

  Programme Background The Royal Thai Navy has been in the process of acquiring a new submarine for a number of years. They formally selected China's ...

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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 - fixed-wing, 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 ...

• Air-to-air missiles, Surface-to-air missiles

  TY-90

  TY-90 is a multi-purpose, short-range, IR-guided, tactical surface-to-air missile developed by China to defend against helicopters, fixed-wing aircraft and cruise missiles at low and super-low ...

• 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 repel submarine threats from long distances.

• Tanks

  Type 62

  The Type 62 light tank entered production for the Chinese People's Liberation Army in 1963. Essentially a smaller, lighter clone of the Type 59 MBT, it is ...