• Defence Notes

  Sweden seeks defence growth if budget demands met

  22nd May 2019

  With increased military activity in the Baltic Sea and Russia’s aggression in the air and on the ground, it is hardly surprising Sweden is looking …

• Defence Notes

  Shangri-La Dialogue: Vagueness from US disappoints many

  1st June 2019

  The highlight of any Shangri-La Dialogue is Sino-US rivalry. However, China is probably rubbing its hands in glee after 1.5 days of the dialogue have …

• Naval Warfare

  Naval Group launches Alsace FREMM frigate

  26th April 2019

  Naval Group has launched the first of two FREMM frigates with reinforced air defence capabilities being built for the French Navy at its shipyard in …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  France joins maritime unmanned systems project

  18th April 2019

  NATO has announced that France has joined a multinational effort to cooperate on the development of maritime unmanned systems. Launched in October 2018, the project …

• Defence Notes

  Hensoldt to acquire Nexeya activities

  18th April 2019

  Hensoldt is set to acquire Nexeya’s test and integration and services business as well as major parts of its mission management and power conversion businesses. …

• Defence Notes

  Classified note confirms French weaponry in Yemen: report

  15th April 2019

  French weapons are being used by the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia in Yemen, according to a classified military note revealed on 15 April …

• Defence Notes

  Risks rise as US warns Iran with aircraft carrier

  7th May 2019

  Fears of conflict rose on 6 May as the US vowed to send a message to Iran by deploying an aircraft carrier strike group, amid …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  France to arm MQ-9 Reapers with GBU-12 bombs

  28th March 2019

  The French Air Force is to weaponise its MQ-9 Reaper Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) with GBU-12 Paveway II laser guided bombs, in a move that …

• Defence Notes

  Missile contracts surge as US exits arms treaty

  2nd May 2019

  Washington has signed more than $1 billion in new missile contracts in the three months since it announced plans to withdraw from a key Cold …

• Digital Battlespace

  Hensoldt to deliver IFF interrogator to France

  18th April 2019

  Hensoldt has received a contract to deliver 134 MSR1000I identification-friend-or-foe (IFF) interrogators for very short range and short range air defence applications to the French …

• Military Logistics

  Finland joins EDA’s HybriDT project

  17th April 2019

  Finland has opted to participate in a military vehicle research cooperation project being conducted by the European Defence Agency. The Hybrid Drive Trains for military …

• Defence Notes

  At least six Mali troops killed by landmines

  13th March 2019

  Six Malian troops were killed on 12 March 2019 when their vehicles drove over improvised land mines in the centre of the West African country, …

• Defence Helicopter

  Bucharest sends Pumas to Mali

  11th March 2019

  In Q2/Q3 of 2019, a small contingent of Romanian Air Force aircraft, comprising IAR 330L Puma SAR helicopters, will be sent to Mali in order …

• Naval Warfare

  FC/ASW programme completes key review

  25th March 2019

  MBDA has announced that the British-French Future Cruise/Anti-Ship Weapon (FC/ASW) programme has successfully completed its key review phase, jointly carried out by the UK’s Defence …

• Defence Notes

  Germany adds six months to Saudi arms export ban

  29th March 2019

  German Chancellor Angela Merkel's coalition government on 28 March 2019 extended by six months an embargo on weapons exports to Saudi Arabia, instituted last October …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

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

  Bayraktar TB2 [Mali]

  Programme Background Six Drones On 22 December 2022, Joseph Dempsey, a research associate at IISS, tweeted photographs showing a Baytraktar TB2 adorned with the Malian ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  Mi-171Sh

  While the Burkinabe Armed Forces declined to discuss the deal when contacted by Shephard, a Burkinabe military source did acknowledge that the aircraft were being ...

• APCs/IFVs - 4x4, Mine-protected vehicles

  Surplus Maxxpro (Bangladesh - First Batch)

  Programme Background The Bangladesh Army requires MRAPs to provide protected mobility to its troops deployed on UN peacekeeping missions in Mali and the Central African ...

• APCs/IFVs - 4x4, Mine-protected vehicles

  Surplus Maxxpro (Bangladesh - Second Batch)

  Programme Background The Bangladesh Army requires MRAPs to provide protected mobility to its troops deployed on UN peacekeeping missions in Mali and the Central African ...

• Special operations vehicles

  Fardier SOV

  Programme Background The French Army's airborne units previously operated 280 Lohr FL500 Fardier utility vehicles to carry heavy equipment. Those vehicles increased the tactical mobility ...

• APCs/IFVs - 4x4, Mine-protected vehicles

  UN Peacekeeping Vehicles (Bangladesh)

  Programme Background The Bangladesh Army requires 4x4 armoured vehicles to provide protected mobility to its troops deployed on UN peacekeeping missions in Mali and the ...

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

  MQ-9 Reaper [France]

  Programme Background Total Procurement In June 2013, Northrop Grumman announced that France had requested the purchase of 16 Reapers plus associated systems from the US ...

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

  MQ-9 Reaper (Replacement Units) [France]

  Programme Background French Reaper Procurement In June 2013, it was announced that France had requested 16 Reapers plus associated systems from the US Government, which ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6, APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Wheeled Armoured Vehicles (Sri Lanka)

  Programme Background Requirement The Sri Lankan army operates armoured vehicles from several countries, with Russia and China being its biggest suppliers. Its wheeled APC inventory ...

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

  Parrot Anafi (Singapore)

  Programme Background On 7 February 2022, the Singapore Army posted photographs on Facebook that showed the Anafi UAV used as training devices in a five-day ...

• Minehunters

  Mine Warfare Vessels [France]

  Programme Background Requirements France’s Mine Warfare Vessels programme is aimed at replacing the ageing Eridan-class minehunters. The programme will follow the Future Naval Mine Action System ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | MAWS/PATMAR [France]

  French Navy is planning to purchase up to 22 MPA aircraft to replace its ATL2 fleet in service. Germany and France agreed to develop a ...

• Data links

  Data links | MAWS/PATMAR [France]

  French Navy is planning to purchase up to 22 MPA aircraft to replace its ATL2 fleet in service. Germany and France agreed to develop a ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | MAWS/PATMAR [France]

  French Navy is planning to purchase up to 22 MPA aircraft to replace its ATL2 fleet in service. Germany and France agreed to develop a ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | MAWS/PATMAR [France]

  French Navy is planning to purchase up to 22 MPA aircraft to replace its ATL2 fleet in service. Germany and France agreed to develop a ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Air: mission management systems

  FINDSAT - BFT System

  Using geo-satellite positioning, Nexter’s BFT system (FINDSAT) is capable of identifying and locating friendly personnel who are not equipped with networked information or radio systems. ...

• Military UGVs

  THeMIS

  Milrem's Tracked Hybrid Modular Infantry System (THeMIS) is a modular, hybrid UGV.  The vehicle's modular design and open architecture allow it to be reconfigured to ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  Mi-8/Mi-17

  The Mil Mi-8 (NATO reporting name Hip) is a twin-engine, multirole, medium helicopter developed from 1960 to meet Soviet military requirements. More than 18,000 examples of the ...

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

  Heron Mk 1

  The Heron, now called the Heron Mk I, is a MALE UAS manufactured by Isreal Aerospace Industries' (IAI) Malat Division. Designed for various missions, including ISTAR and artillery fire ...

• EO/IR systems

  AREOS

  AREOS (Airborne Recce Observation System) is a standoff reconnaissance system designed for tactical and strategic missions. The pod integrates digital technology in its sensor and ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  TopOwl

  The TopOwl binocular helmet-mounted sight and display has been chosen by 16 countries for their army, navy and/or air force attack and transport helicopters. It ...

• Military UGVs

  Probot

  The 4x4 Professional Robot (Probot) is suitable for various applications, both indoor and outdoor, and is designed to carry a payload of up to 700kg. ...

• Frigates

  La Fayette/Kang Ding Class

  The La Fayette-class frigates have a stealthy design and are in service with France and Taiwan, with some variance between the ships on length and ...

• Air-to-surface missiles

  HOT 3

  Designed to destroy reactive armour, the HOT (Haut subsonique Optiquement Téléguidé Tiré d'un Tube, or High Subsonic, Optical, Remote-Guided, Tube-Launched) family has demonstrated its multipurpose capability. Tens ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Rafale

  The Rafale is a delta-wing agile aircraft with forward canards, which allow for short landing and slower speeds, powered by two Snecma M88 engines. The ...

• Mine-protected vehicles

  Puma M36 Mk 5

  OTT developed the Puma M36 Mk 5 to meet the needs of African customers for a lower-cost vehicle that offers a greater payload than its ...

• Trainer

  TB 30 Epsilon

  The Socata TB 30 Epsilon is a light truboprop trainer aircraft. The first aircraft flew in 1979 and entered service in 1983. It is in ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  MSR1000I

  The MSR1000I is a very-short-range Monopulse Secondary Radar which acts as an IFF interrogator. Equipped with the Mode 5 standard, it is suitable for man-portable and ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  VBCI

  Nexter developed the VBCI to meet a French Army requirement for an infantry fighting vehicle to replace the tracked AMX-10P. The 8x8 design was specified ...

• Air: helicopter flight simulators

  Tiger Aircrew Training

  Thales provides Tiger aircrew training solutions for the armed forces in Australia, France and Germany. Thales is currently upgrading the systems under the Tiger aircrew training ...