• Defence Notes

  LCA edges towards preferred choice for Indian carriers

  18th September 2019

  The first arrested landing of a Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) technology demonstrator without a payload at the shore-based test facility at Goa proved successful. This …

• Digital Battlespace

  Airbus, Telespazio to market Syracuse IV satellites

  11th September 2019

  Airbus and Leonardo-Thales joint venture, Telespazio, have set up a partnership to market military telecommunications services for armed and security forces using the future Syracuse …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  DSEI 2019: Steadicopter presents next generation Black Eagle 50 unmanned helicopter

  5th September 2019

  Steadicopter will present its next generation of the Black Eagle 50 unmanned helicopter at DSEI 2019. New capabilities include an inertial navigation system with no …

• Defence Notes

  DSEI 2019: UK capability 'confidence' masked by Brexit blind spot

  10th September 2019

  Drawing on a message to ‘take back confidence in our defence industry’ Anne-Marie Trevelyan, UK minister for defence procurement, announced a handful of contracts in …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  DSEI 2019: L3Harris unveils T4 robot

  13th September 2019

  L3Harris Technologies unveiled the first prototype of its T4 robotic system at DSEI 2019, a medium-sized UGV designed for use in urban environments where space …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  UAVOS and ISR Unmanned Technologies launch new VTOL UAV

  22nd August 2019

  UAVOS and ISR Unmanned Technologies have jointly developed a new unmanned helicopter for commercial and security applications.  The ISR-350-5 is the result of the joint …

• Digital Battlespace

  JGSDF reveals more EW equipment

  29th August 2019

  More elements of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force’s (JGSDF) Network Electronic Warfare System (NEWS) appeared at the Fuji Firepower event in late August. The NEWS …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  New Japanese UGV bursts onto the scene

  28th August 2019

  The JGSDF displayed an EOD UGV for the first time at the Fuji Firepower demonstration on 25 August. The type manufactured by IHI Aerospace is …

• Naval Warfare

  General Dynamics receives sub repair work order

  12th August 2019

  General Dynamics Electric Boat Corp has received an order for the planning, material procurement and repair work of the US Navy’s USS Washington. The $15 …

• Land Warfare

  Elbit Systems tests new AFV

  5th August 2019

  Elbit Systems has concluded testing of its new Armored Fighting Vehicle (AFV) as part of the Israeli Ministry of Defense’s CARMEL Future Combat Vehicle project. …

• Naval Warfare

  Independence variant LCS in SSMM testing

  30th July 2019

  The US Navy has carried out a successful structural test firing of the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) Surface-to-Surface Missile Module (SSMM) at the Point Mugu …

• Naval Warfare

  US Navy ponders prolonging Los Angeles subs

  10th August 2019

  The US Navy is studying whether to extend the service life of some of its ageing Los Angeles-class nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSNs) by 12 years …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  EMSA's Camcopter S-100 mobilised for Croatia

  24th July 2019

  The European Maritime Safety Agency’s (EMSA’s) Camcopter S-100 will be mobilised for maritime surveillance services on behalf of the Maritime Safety Directorate of the Ministry …

• Naval Warfare

  BAE Systems receives Virginia payload tube order

  29th July 2019

  BAE Systems will produce more payload tubes for the US Navy’s Block V Virginia-class attack submarines under a follow-on contract with General Dynamics Electric Boat …

• Naval Warfare

  Philippines commissions second-hand ASW corvette

  9th August 2019

  The Philippine Navy (PN) formally took receipt of its new – or rather, second-hand – corvette from South Korea on 5 August. The 32-year-old Pohang …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

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

  K1000ULE [USMC]

  Programme Background Contact Award After a comprehensive down-selection evaluation, Kraus Hamdani Aerospace's K1000ULE drone won the USN's PMA 263 contract in April 2024. The company will now provide the USN ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  VTOL UAV (ROKA)

  Programme Background All branches of the Republic of Korea Armed Forces are placing a large emphasis on the procurement of unmanned systems to improve ISR ...

• UAS: communication systems

  UAS: communication systems | Nano VTOL [USMC]

  In April 2024, the USMC released a document outlining its drone strategy and how it intended to achieve its uncrewed ambitions. The document contained various ...

• UAS: flight control systems

  UAS: flight control systems | Nano VTOL [USMC]

  In April 2024, the USMC released a document outlining its drone strategy and how it intended to achieve its uncrewed ambitions. The document contained various ...

• Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  Camcopter S-300 [South Korea]

  Programme Background Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) On 18 January 2023, Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with Northop Grumman at a ...

• Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  Blue Water Maritime Logistics UAS (BWUAS) [USA]

  Programme Background Programme Goal The Blue Water Maritime Logistics UAS (BWUAS) programme stems from the Military Sealift Command and Fleet Forces Command identifying, in 2018, a ...

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

  AdvaNced airCraft Infrastructure-Less Launch And RecoverY (ANCILLARY) [US]

  Programme Background Aims & Timeline As stated by DARPA, the ANCILLARY programme aims to develop and fly an X-plane that will provide a "leap-ahead" in long-endurance, ...

• UAS: communication systems

  UAS: communication systems | ISR Drone (Ukraine Aid) [Netherlands]

  As part of its pledged €2 billion in military aid to Ukraine in 2024, the Netherlands announced in March 2024 that it had secured a ...

• UAS: flight control systems

  UAS: flight control systems | ISR Drone (Ukraine Aid) [Netherlands]

  As part of its pledged €2 billion in military aid to Ukraine in 2024, the Netherlands announced in March 2024 that it had secured a ...

• Military UAS - micro, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Micro VTOL [USMC]

  Programme Background Force Design 2030 The USMC Force Design 2030 is a modernisation effort to create a lighter, more agile maritime force. The update to ...

• UAS: communication systems

  UAS: communication systems | ISR Drones (First Batch) (Ukraine Aid) [Netherlands]

  The Netherlands announced in March 2024 that it had secured a more than €200 million contract for new ISR drones. The MoD's press release confirmed ...

• UAS: flight control systems

  UAS: flight control systems | ISR Drones (First Batch) (Ukraine Aid) [Netherlands]

  The Netherlands announced in March 2024 that it had secured a more than €200 million contract for new ISR drones. The MoD's press release confirmed ...

• Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  UAV Tactical Level [Norway]

  Programme Background Request for Information (RfI) In September 2022, the Norwegian Defence Material Agency (NDMA) launched a request for information in preparation for a possible ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing

  Fixed-Wing VTOL UAV (Malaysia)

  Programme Background Tender Issued As reported by Shephard, on 18 June 2021, Malaysia issued a tender for fixed-wing hybrid VTOL UAVs.  Requirement The tender stated that Malaysia required ...

• UAS: communication systems

  UAS: communication systems | Micro VTOL [USMC]

  In April 2024, the USMC released a document outlining its drone strategy and how it intended to achieve its uncrewed ambitions. The document contained various ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

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

  QTP-UAV

  The Quad Tilt Prop UAV (QTP-UAV) is an electric platform that is designed to provide VTOL capability with high-speed horizontal flight. 

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

  Zala 421-22

  The Zala 421-22 is a rotary-wing UAV designed for ship- or land-based reconnaissance and surveillance, bomb damage assessment and real-time target acquisition. The VTOL UAV ...

• Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  A-Hawk I (Cloud-1)

  Part of a strike-capable ISTAR series of A-Hawk platforms is the A-Hawk I (Cloud-1) VTOL developed by AVIC. Reports indicate that the A-Hawk I enables ...

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

  CW-25D

  The CW-25D is VTOL capable UAV manufactured by Chengdu Jouav Automation Technology Co CW (JOUAV). It is a hybrid platform containing a 64cc two-stroke gasoline engine and electric ...

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

  PEN 35VE/VH

  The PEN 35VE/VH is a fixed-wing, VTOL-capable drone from Pen Aviation. Available in two variants, an electric and an electric hybrid, the UAV is designed for surveillance, ...

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

  Maya Mk1

  The Maya Mk1 is a small, electric VTOL UAV with a 'tail-sitting' design. It is an encased system that allows for safe operation in urban ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  CL-9

  The CL-9 is a fixed-wing VTOL UAV. It is fitted with two underwing pylons with electric brushless motors at each end powering rotors to provide ...

• Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  Drako

  Drako is a quadrotor electric VTOL UAV suitable for close-range surveillance and reconnaissance on SF and police missions, especially in urban areas. It is available ...

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

  SR-10 VTOL

  Deftech showcased the SR-10 VTOL at DSA 2022. It has been locally designed in Malaysia to conduct aerial mapping, surveillance and line inspection missions. The hand-launched platform is powered ...

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

  XV-24A LightningStrike

  The XV-24A LightningStrike, developed by Aurora Flight Sciences and its partners Rolls-Royce and Honeywell, was a project for a tilt-wing UAV powered by an electric-distributed ...

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

  Rakshak VTOL

  The Rakshak VTOL is a fixed-wing UAV with an EO/IR sensor for ISR missions. Developed by TATA Advanced Systems, the UAV is VTOL-capable, allowing it to operate ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  Turac VTOL UAV

  The Turac is a fixed-wing VTOL UAV developed jointly by Havelsan and Istanbul Technical University Aerospace Research Center. It can be used for traditional military ISR ...

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

  Loong 1

  The Loong 1 is a VTOL-capable fixed-wing mini-UAV powered by an electric motor. Manufactured by LoongUAV, the platform is designed for ISR missions and can ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  H12 Poseidon

  The H12 Poseidon is the largest member of Swarmly's UAV family. Designed to compete with other theatre-level UAVs, the fixed-wing VTOL capable H12 integrates many payload options, such ...

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

  H10 Poseidon

  The H10 Poseidon is a fixed-wing VTOL-capable UAV manufactured by Swamrly. Due to the UAV's electric propulsion system, small-radar cross-section, lack of detachable thermal signature and ability to operate ...