• Defence Notes

  RTX’s unauthorised exports result in $200 million fine

  2nd September 2024

  According to the US Department of State, 750 company violations were recorded from 2017 to 2023.

• Land Warfare

  Finland purchases David’s Sling long-range air defence system from Israel

  13th November 2023

  David's Sling has been in service with Israel's defence forces since 2017, forming a part of its multi-layered air defence system, with Finland’s effort to buy the system following ongoing tensions with bordering Russia.

• Air Warfare

  Sky high diplomacy: Saudi Arabia's fighter jet puzzle entangles Eurofighter, Rafale and global alliances

  16th January 2024

  Saudi Arabia faces a juncture in aerial diplomacy as Germany's approval of a potential Eurofighter Typhoon deal introduces fresh possibilities and uncertainties, prompting the kingdom to weigh the Eurofighter against the appealing alternative of the Dassault Rafale.

• Air Warfare

  India’s crisis deepens over ‘urgent’ need for mid-air refuellers

  22nd March 2024

  The Indian Air Force had said that it required 18 fuellers if the branch wanted to extend the range of its growing fleet.

• Air Warfare

  Airbus could miss out as India’s air refueller saga drags on

  26th April 2024

  Amid heightened demand for aerial refuelling capabilities in India, Airbus Defence faces a potential setback in securing defence contracts in the country due to escalating costs and concerns over trust.

• Land Warfare

  South Korean defence industry demonstrates its tech prowess

  6th November 2024

  Shephard takes a deep dive into the latest developments in the South Korean defence sector as the country arms itself to deal with current and future threats.

• Land Warfare

  Oshkosh lands JLTV order from Israel

  1st December 2023

  November was a good month for Oshkosh Defence and JLTV orders, and December has started just as well with the company contracted to supply 75 vehicles to Israel.

• Naval Warfare

  South Korea approves more frigates plus SM-3 missiles

  6th May 2024

  South Korea’s six FFX Batch IV frigates are expected to be delivered by 2032 and will full retirement of remaining Pohang-class corvettes and Ulsan-class frigates, and possibly Gwanggaeto-class destroyers.

• Land Warfare

  Israel Aerospace Industries signs two loitering munitions deals

  23rd November 2023

  IAI has developed several loitering munitions or attack UAS including Harpy NG, Harop, Rotem and Mini Harpy. It has also been developing Point Blank, described as a 'hand-launched electro-optical guided missile' but much like the company's loitering munitions can dwell while confirming a target's nature.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Singapore Airshow 2024: Interest in Rafael’s Spike FireFly has increased after combat use in Gaza

  21st February 2024

  The Spike FireFly saw operational use in the West Bank and Gaza Strip in 2023 which has led to increased interest in the loitering munition.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Israel’s SpearUAV positions Viper loitering munitions for tactical and strategic functions

  27th February 2024

  SpearUAV’s Viper family of loitering munitions has been developed to provide effects across multiple domains.

• Land Warfare

  UK wants 120mm turret mortar for ARTEC Boxer

  18th March 2024

  The British Army’s firepower could be boosted by a new 120mm smooth bore turret-mounted mortar system slated for integration into the ARTEC Boxer.

• Land Warfare

  More SandCat light reconnaissance vehicles rushed into service with Israel

  23rd October 2023

  If the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) was set for a ground invasion of Gaza, lightly armoured vehicles such as the SandCat would likely play a key role.

• Land Warfare

  Israel-Hamas War: Israel’s fleet of armoured vehicles set to get their metal tested

  20th October 2023

  Israel appears to be set for a ground war in northern Gaza in what the Israeli government argues is an effort to destroy the capability of Hamas to attack Israel. It is an environment the IDF has fought in before and the army’s vehicles will likely have a key role.

• Air Warfare

  What is wrong with the US Armed Force’s rotary-wing aviation fleet?

  28th February 2024

  Following more than two months of operational stand down of CV-22 Ospreys, two separate crashes of AH-64D Apaches have forced the US Army National Guard to ground its entire helicopter fleet.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | F-35I Adir (51-75) [Israel]

  Israel is forecasted to procure an additional 25 F-35I Adir to bring the total number of the fleet to 75 aircraft by 2030. This will ...

• Data links

  Data links | F-35I Adir (51-75) [Israel]

  Israel is forecasted to procure an additional 25 F-35I Adir to bring the total number of the fleet to 75 aircraft by 2030. This will ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | F-35I Adir (51-75) [Israel]

  Israel is forecasted to procure an additional 25 F-35I Adir to bring the total number of the fleet to 75 aircraft by 2030. This will ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | F-35I Adir (51-75) [Israel]

  Israel is forecasted to procure an additional 25 F-35I Adir to bring the total number of the fleet to 75 aircraft by 2030. This will ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Israel Heron Lease

  Programme BackgroundIn February 2018, Greece announced that it would lease seven Heron drones from Israel. The lease contract, worth €35.5 million ($44m), will cover a ...

• Corvettes

  Reshef Class [Israel]

  Programme Background Requirements The Israeli Navy is seeking a replacement for its Sa'ar 4 and Sa'ar 4.5-class of fast attack vessels. Dubbed Reshef-class, the new ...

• Loitering munitions

  Harop [Israeli Navy]

  Programme Background MADEX 2023 At MADEX 2023, IAI displayed the Mini-Harpy, dubbed the Green Dragon, loitering munition in a 12-system launcher mounted to an Israel ...

• Corvettes

  Sa'ar 6 Class (Israel)

  Programme Background Timeline A new class of corvettes is in the process of being constructed for the Israeli Navy to replace the Sa'ar 5 class, ...

• Tanks

  Merkava Mk3 (Cyprus)

  Programme Background Following the announced donation of 41 T-80U/UK tanks to Ukraine, Cyprus is actively seeking a replacement MBT for its Armed Forces. Cyprus offered ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Eitan 8x8 (Israel)

  Due to the provisions of the US Foreign Military Financing (FMF) system, there is a chance that the Eitan could be mass produced in the ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  KC-46A Forecast (Israel)

  Programme Background Boeing, according to reports, would not grant Israel Aerospace Industries permission to convert used 767s into tanker planes. Consequently, according to Channel 12 ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-35I Adir (51-75) [Israel]

  Programme Background On 15 February 2015, Israel signed an FMS deal to procure 33 F-35A (F-35I Adir) fighter aircraft with an option of 17. Israel ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  KC-46A (Israel)

  Programme Background Boeing, according to reports, would not grant Israel Aerospace Industries permission to convert used 767s into tanker planes. Consequently, according to Channel 12 ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | KC-46A Forecast (Israel)

  On 3 March 2022, the US State Department announced that it had approved a potential sale of eight KC-46A tanker aircraft and related equipment to Israel for ...

• Data links

  Data links | KC-46A Forecast (Israel)

  On 3 March 2022, the US State Department announced that it had approved a potential sale of eight KC-46A tanker aircraft and related equipment to Israel for ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• OPVs

  Israel Shipyards OPV

  The Israel Shipyards OPV design is a 400t-500t vessel designed for naval security operations. The 500t version can equip a light marine helicopter (up to five ...

• Loitering munitions

  Shehab

  The Shehab is a Palestinian loitering munition that carries a 5kg explosive payload. According to Hamas' militant wing, the platform is indigenously produced. However, the ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-35I Adir

  The F-35I Adir is an F-35A Lightning II variant customised to meet the requirements of the Israel Defense Forces to replace the F-16 fleet in ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

  Shaldag MK V

  The Shaldag Mk V is a multi-mission fast patrol boat designed to serve as both a naval and border police vessel. It is a variant of ...

• Corvettes

  Themistocles Corvette

  The Themistocles Corvette, also referred to as the Eastern Mediterranean Patrol Corvette, is a new design bringing about next-generation operational capabilities. It is a multipurpose ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-16I Sufa

  The F-16I Sufa ('Storm' in Hebrew) is a Block 52+ D (dual-seat) variant of the Fighting Falcon, which Lockheed Martin produced for Israel. It is ...

• Air-to-surface missiles

  AGM-142A/Popeye

  The Popeye I, or AGM-142 Have Nap as it is known in the US, is a family of ASMs developed in Israel. 

• Air: fixed-wing flight simulators

  Tzofit Training Centre

  In June 2009, Elbit inaugurated the Beechcraft King Air B200 Tzofit Training Centre for IDF pilots. Elbit Systems serves as the project’s prime contractor, while ...

• 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 ...

• Loitering munitions

  Zouari

  The Zouari, or Al-Zawari, is a catapult launched loitering munition.  Reportedly, an Iranian platform, the drone was utilised by Palestine against Israel in October 2023. 

• Corvettes

  Sa'ar S-72/72 Class

  The Sa'ar S-72/72 is another variant of Israel Shipyards' popular Sa'ar-class fast-attack vessels. Marketed as the most advanced and cost-effective missile corvette available, the class ...

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

  RA-01

  The RA-01 is an Israeli stealth UAV with an extended fuselage and a large flying wing configuration. The designation of the drone suggests it could ...

• Land: RWS

  Pitbull

  General Robotics developed the lightweight Pitbull family of remote weapons station for use on aerial, land and naval crewed or uncrewed platforms. Armed with a single ...

• Individual assault/anti-tank weapons

  RGW 90 WB

  The RGW 90 WB (Wall Breacher), a member of the RGW 90 family, is optimised to knock through masonry and building walls. The warhead has ...

• Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - small

  Apus Quadcopter Platform (AQP)

  The Apus Quadcopter Platform (AQP) is a scalable rotary-wing UAV developed by the Israel Ministry of Defense's Directorate of Defense Research & Development (DDR&D;) and Aerotor ...