• Land Warfare

  US approves GMLRS sale to France

  14th April 2016

  The US State Department has made a determination approving a potential foreign military sale (FMS) of guided multiple launch rocket system (GMLRS) unitary rocket pods …

• Land Warfare

  DSA 2016: Skyshield to monitor China

  14th April 2016

  Amidst growing concern in Jakarta about Chinese encroachment in the South China Sea, Indonesia will shift some Oerlikon Skyshield air defence systems to the Natuna Islands. …

• Training

  Indra launches new driving simulator

  13th April 2016

  Indra has launched a new driving simulator for 4-wheel drive military vehicles, it announced on 11 April. The simulator aims to standardise the training of …

• Land Warfare

  DSA 2016: Malaysia fires first Starstreaks

  13th April 2016

  The Malaysian Army has conducted the first live firing of a new very short-range air defence (VSHORAD) system. The Thales UK Starstreak VSHORADS missiles were fired at the Tanjung Logok …

• Training

  Exercise Griffin Strike kicks off

  12th April 2016

  Over 5,000 French and British armed forces personnel are set to participate in Exercise Griffin Strike, to test the nations' Combined Joint Expeditionary Force (CJEF) …

• Land Warfare

  Lockheed MHTK completes engineering demo

  11th April 2016

  In an engineering demonstration at the White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, Lockheed Martin’s miniature hit-to-kill (MHTK) interceptor was successfully launched from a multi mission …

• Land Warfare

  Russian upgrades tactical strike

  11th April 2016

  The Russian Army has strengthened its tactical strike capability through the recent deliveries of the 9K720 Iskander-M (SS-26 ‘Stone’) tactical ballistic missile system to another …

• Defence Helicopter

  New weapons for Thai AS550 C3e

  8th April 2016

  Shephard recently witnessed new 12.7mm FN Herstal HMP400 gun pods and FZ220 70mm rocket launchers fitted to Airbus Helicopters AS550 C3e (since being renamed H125M) …

• Land Warfare

  Raytheon-DRS receive 3rd gen FLIR EMD contract

  7th April 2016

  A Raytheon and DRS Technologies team have received $56 million from the US Army to engineer, develop and manufacture the third-generation, forward-looking infrared (FLIR) night …

• Defence Helicopter

  Pakistan boosts Viper order

  7th April 2016

  Pakistan will now receive an extra nine new-build Bell Helicopter AH-1Z Viper attack platforms from the US, according to a US Department of Defense announcement …

• Military Logistics

  WFEL receives UK support bridge contract

  7th April 2016

  WFEL is to undertake an Assessment Phase Programme for the UK Ministry of Defence’s (MoD’s) review of its bridging capabilities under a contract announced on …

• Land Warfare

  Estonia sharpens its spears

  7th April 2016

  The US and NATO are starting to ramp up weapon supplies to the Baltic states in response to Russian activity in Ukraine and Eastern Europe. …

• Land Warfare

  Analysis: Azerbaijan and Armenian land forces

  6th April 2016

  Hostilities between Azerbaijan and Armenia over the Nagorni Karabakh enclave have re-ignited with exchanges of fire over the border. According to officially-released data, during the …

• Defence Helicopter

  AVX remains in the FVL race

  5th April 2016

  Following successful wind-tunnel testing of its coaxial, compound design, AVX remains bullish about its involvement in the US Army’s Future Vertical Lift (FVL) programme. The …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Patroller to replace French Army Sperwer

  5th April 2016

  The Patroller UAV has finally been confirmed as the replacement for the Sperwer UAS currently deployed with the French Army’s 61st Artillery Regiment from 2018. …

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 ...