• Defence Notes

  I/ITSEC 2012: UK extends DSALT contract

  6th December 2012

  QinetiQ used the I/ITSEC conference in Orlando, Florida, to announce that it has been awarded an 18-month extension to its Distributed Synthetic Air Land Training …

• Digital Battlespace

  I/ITSEC 2012: SAIC unveils GPS tracking system

  6th December 2012

  Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) used the I/ITSEC conference in Orlando, Florida to show its new position location and tracking device for airborne applications. Al …

• Land Warfare

  BAE Systems to supply equipment for MRAP conversion

  3rd December 2012

  BAE Systems is to provide the spare parts and kits needed to convert 250 RG33 Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles into Medium Mine Protected …

• Land Warfare

  US Army receives first Digital Range Training System

  3rd December 2012

  Lockheed Martin has announced that it has delivered its first Digital Range Training System to the US Army and has begun development on a third …

• Digital Battlespace

  I/ITSEC 2012: ZelTech develops battlefield effects system

  3rd December 2012

  ZelTech is the middle of finalising its design for the Battle Effects Simulator (BES) II that it is on contract to develop for the US …

• Defence Notes

  I/ITSEC 2012: Development of severe trauma simulation kits complete

  3rd December 2012

  Severe trauma prosthetics manufacturer Simetri has completed production of simulation kits ready to be delivered to the US Army. A total of 91 kits are …

• Digital Battlespace

  General Dynamics receives new US Army manpack radio order

  30th November 2012

  General Dynamics C4 Systems has announced that it has been awarded an additional production order by the US Army for the Handheld, Manpack, Small Form …

• Land Warfare

  General Dynamics, Rafael team for RWS

  29th November 2012

  General Dynamics has announced that its Armament and Technical Products business unit has teamed with Rafael Advanced Defense Systems to offer the Samson line of …

• Defence Helicopter

  General Dynamics reaches OH-58D component delivery milestone

  28th November 2012

  General Dynamics has announced that its Global Imaging Technologies business has delivered the 1,000th precision-machined beryllium sensor housing to DRS Technologies for the US Army's …

• Military Logistics

  British forces deploy JAMES technology

  28th November 2012

  Lockheed Martin has announced that its Joint Asset Management and Engineering Solutions (JAMES) technology has been deployed by British forces using ruggedised laptops in Afghanistan. …

• Defence Helicopter

  Pratt & Whitney wins US Army rotorcraft R&D award

  28th November 2012

  Pratt & Whitney will carry out work to research and develop an Advanced Variable-Speed Power Turbine (AVSPOT) to meet the range and lift requirements for …

• Defence Helicopter

  Boeing and MDHI on collision course over AAS contenders

  27th November 2012

  Boeing is in dispute with MD Helicopters (MDHI) over the latter’s development of the MD 540F as a militarised aircraft, it has emerged. A Boeing …

• Digital Battlespace

  Rockwell Collins wins US Army FlexForce award

  23rd November 2012

  Rockwell Collins has announced that the US Army Communication-Electronics Command at Aberdeen Proving Ground has issued it a $35 million award for satellite communication services. …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  LUNA TUAS reaches operational milestone

  23rd November 2012

  EMT has announced that its LUNA tactical Unmanned Aircraft System (TUAS) has completed its 50th flight sortie with an EASA-certified Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) transponder …

• Land Warfare

  UK MoD to acquire new Foxhound vehicles

  23rd November 2012

  The UK MoD has announced that it is investing £46 million in acquiring 51 new Foxhound patrol vehicles for soldiers serving on the frontline in Afghanistan. Defence …

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 ...