• Defence Notes

  China responds to ‘unwarranted criticisms’

  1st June 2014

  On the final day of the Shangri-La Dialogue, China finally got the opportunity to officially rebut the criticisms that had been thrown at it during …

• Military Logistics

  Saft to provide batteries for US military M777A2 Howitzer

  29th May 2014

  Saft will supply super-phosphate batteries for the US Army and US Marine Corps’ M777A2 Lightweight Howitzer. The company announced the contract from BAE Systems on …

• Digital Battlespace

  Canadian Army selects suitcase SATCOM terminals

  29th May 2014

  The Canadian Army has selected the Rockwell Collins SWE-DISH CCT120 Suitcase satellite terminal to fulfil requirements for its Land Forces Portable Satellite Terminal programme. Rockwell …

• Defence Helicopter

  Lord eyes European expansion

  28th May 2014

  Lord Corporation is planning a major expansion into Europe as it looks to offset declining US military budgets and achieve a goal of doubling revenues …

• Defence Helicopter

  MBDA, Roketsan to develop guided weapon system

  28th May 2014

  MBDA Deutschland and Roketsan will jointly develop a 70mm guided weapon system under a newly announced collaboration agreement. Thomas Homberg, managing director, MBDA Deutschland, and …

• Defence Helicopter

  UK selects Gen3 Common Missile Warning System

  28th May 2014

  BAE Systems has received the first direct commercial sale contract to supply the third-generation configuration of its Common Missile Warning System (CMWS), having signed a …

• Defence Helicopter

  Thales IESI selected for Brazilian Army helicopters

  27th May 2014

  Thales will supply its Integrated Electronic Stand-by Instrument (IESI) for the Brazilian Army Esquilo/Fennec helicopter fleet modernisation programme under a new contract announced on 26 …

• Defence Notes

  Russia establishes precision weapons cluster

  23rd May 2014

  The Russian government plans to invest up to 10 billion rubles ($300 million) in the establishment of a cluster for the production of precision weapons. …

• Defence Notes

  Special operations commanders outline key challenges

  22nd May 2014

  US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) theatre commanders have shed light on the developing requirements in training, concepts of operations and equipment in their area of …

• Defence Helicopter

  Sikorsky completes HMVS flight demonstration

  22nd May 2014

  Sikorsky Aircraft and Lord Corporation successfully completed flight demonstration testing of the Hub Mounted Vibration Suppressor (HMVS), it was announced on 20 May.  The demonstration …

• Defence Helicopter

  AAR to continue CH-47 component repair work

  21st May 2014

  AAR’s component repair support work for Boeing’s US Army CH-47 Helicopter Recapitalization Program is to be continued and expanded under a new contract win announced …

• Defence Notes

  ITEC 2014: New orders signal recovery for Saab T&S

  21st May 2014

  Whilst Saab Training and Simulation admitted that it had a hard time last year, so far in 2014 it has secured an intake of orders …

• Digital Battlespace

  Millog to supply target acquisition sensors to the Finnish Defence Forces

  20th May 2014

  The Finnish Defence Forces and Millog announced on 20 May that they had signed a €26.8 million contract for the acquisition of the latter’s LISA …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Textron Systems receives new SUAS task order

  20th May 2014

  Textron Systems Unmanned Systems announced on 19 May that it had received a new task order under the US Navy Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) …

• Land Warfare

  USMC moves to overcome vehicle obsolescence

  20th May 2014

  The US Army TACOM Life Cycle Management Command has awarded a $52.3 million contract modification to General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada to develop upgrades in support …

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 ...