• Land Warfare

  Elbit prepares Crossbow 120 mm mortar for firing trials and export sales

  4th May 2023

  Elbit's Crossbow mortar will move to firing trials this year as the company prepares it for the Israel Defense Force (IDF) and potential exports

• Air Warfare

  US to deploy A-10 Warthog attack planes in Middle East, contradicting earlier retirement plan in pursuit of deterrence against China and Russia

  31st March 2023

  As regional security concerns and the US focus shifts, the Pentagon plans to swap modern fighter jets for A-10 Warthog attack planes in the Middle East, starting in April.

• Land Warfare

  Milanion NTGS joins forces with Global Ordnance to promote mobile mortars for US market

  23rd March 2023

  Milanion NTGS has signed an agreement with Global Ordnance to pursue sales opportunities in the US for its platform-agnostic mobile mortar systems.

• Land Warfare

  IDEX 2023: US extends M1 Abrams tank support for MENA operators

  15th February 2023

  General Dynamics Land Systems has been awarded additional Foreign Military Sales funds to extend technical support work for M1 Abrams tanks operated by Egypt, Morocco, Iraq and Saudi Arabia.

• Defence Notes

  Gulf States continue to forge defence industry partnerships, boosting autonomy and economic diversification

  3rd March 2023

  Gulf states are shoring up their defence industrial bases and forging deeper partnerships with traditional Western primes.

• Training

  Spanish Air Force buys more PC-21 trainer aircraft and simulators

  13th March 2023

  Spain will become the largest PC-21 advanced trainer aircraft operator in Europe.

• Air Warfare

  IDEX 2023: Collins Aerospace partners with Saudi firm on UAS development

  22nd February 2023

  Collins Aerospace will integrate a number of its mission systems and software with SRB Aerial Systems' UAS platforms under a memorandum of understanding that is hoped to evolve into a long-term strategic partnership.

• Air Warfare

  MD Helicopters ramps up production as Nigerian order lands

  8th March 2023

  MD Helicopters is expanding its production line to fulfil a Nigerian Army order for 12 Cayuse Warrior Plus scout/attack helicopters.

• Land Warfare

  IDEX 2023: Saudi Arabia in frame to buy ‘Korean Patriot’ SAM system

  24th February 2023

  South Korea's LIG Nex1 is confident Saudi Arabia will become the next customer for its Medium-range Surface-to-Air Missile Block-II after the UAE.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  The Aardvark Group pushes UK manufacturing forward with indigenous autonomous UGVs

  21st April 2023

  Following 40 years in the defence industry, The Aardvark Group, best known for its mine clearance systems, is pushing UK manufacturing forward with continued development of its indigenous, autonomous UGVs, RANG-R and GEN2.

• Training

  Indian Mirages to fly alongside Royal Air Force pilots during Cobra Warrior

  28th February 2023

  Exercise Cobra Warrior will see the Indian Air Force joining forces with Finland, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, the UK and the US for high-intensity simulated warfighting scenarios.

• Training

  IDEX 2023: CAE ‘thinks global but acts local’ in Middle East

  20th February 2023

  CAE's VP Europe and Middle East believes setting up business in the region has enhanced the company's capability to deliver locally and to collect insight for projects across the globe.

• Naval Warfare

  Why the US Navy wants to sell two Littoral Combat Ships after less than ten years in service

  19th April 2023

  The proposed putting up for sale of the two Independence-class LCS will be followed by the disposal of four Freedom-class ships in 2025.

• Naval Warfare

  Saudi Arabia inks deal with Spain to advance shipbuilding localisation

  6th December 2022

  A deal with the Spanish shipbuilder is set to support Saudi Arabia’s goal of fully localising critical shipbuilding skills.

• Air Warfare

  South Korea to upgrade F-15K fleet and buy new aerial tankers

  6th January 2023

  South Korea is investing big in an F-15 fleet overhaul and new tankers, despite being unable to counteract small UAVs from North Korea.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Transport

  C-130 Replacement [Saudi Arabia]

  Programme Background Requirement The Royal Saudi Air Force operates 33 C-130H, 7 KC-130H aircraft and two KC-130Js. The country has been seeking to replace its ...

• APCs/IFVs - 4x4

  Kozak 5 (Saudi Arabia)

  Programme Background  In 2021, Ukrainian firm Pracktika announced that they had fulfilled an export contract to deliver 60 Kozak-5 armoured vehicles to Saudi Arabia. The ...

• Tanks

  M1A2S (Saudi Arabia)

  Programme Background Saudi Arabia was the first export customer for the M1A2 Abrams. 315 were delivered between 1993 and 1994 as part of a $1.5 ...

• APCs/IFVs - 4x4

  Didgori AMEV ( Saudi Arabia - Second Batch)

  Programme Background Saudi Arabia announced that it was evaluating several 4x4 armoured vehicles in 2014 under a programme to acquire new armoured ambulances capable of ...

• Tanks

  T-90S (Saudi Arabia)

  Programme Background.  The status of the Saudi Arabian T-90 deal is unclear, it is possible that these tanks may be purchased to replace stocks of ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | Typhoon Tranche 3A (Saudi Arabia)

  In June 2018, Saudi Arabia agreed to procure 48 Eurofighter Typhoon multirole fighter aircraft from BAE. The total procurement cost for 48 aircraft is estimated at ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  Air: Helmet-mounted displays | Typhoon Tranche 3A (Saudi Arabia)

  In June 2018, Saudi Arabia agreed to procure 48 Eurofighter Typhoon multirole fighter aircraft from BAE. The total procurement cost for 48 aircraft is estimated at ...

• Data links

  Data links | Typhoon Tranche 3A (Saudi Arabia)

  In June 2018, Saudi Arabia agreed to procure 48 Eurofighter Typhoon multirole fighter aircraft from BAE. The total procurement cost for 48 aircraft is estimated at ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | Typhoon Tranche 3A (Saudi Arabia)

  In June 2018, Saudi Arabia agreed to procure 48 Eurofighter Typhoon multirole fighter aircraft from BAE. The total procurement cost for 48 aircraft is estimated at ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | Typhoon Tranche 3A (Saudi Arabia)

  In June 2018, Saudi Arabia agreed to procure 48 Eurofighter Typhoon multirole fighter aircraft from BAE. The total procurement cost for 48 aircraft is estimated at ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Saudi Arabia National Guard LAV 700

  The Saudi Arabian LAV 700 order is believed to encompass several variants including APC, ambulance, armoured recovery vehicle, command post, ATGM carrier, IFV, VIP transport ...

• APCs/IFVs - 4x4

  Jais 4x4 (Saudi Arabia)

  Programme Background The Saudi Arabian government is aiming to localise 50% of its investment into defence by 2030 in line with the country's Vision 2030 ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  CH-4 - Saudi Arabia

  Programme Background Riyadh had already experience to operate various Chinese-made UAVs, including Wing Loong I,  Wing Loong II and CH-4.   Saudi Arabia was planning to ...

• Corvettes

  Avante 2200 (6-8) [Saudi Arabia]

  Programme Background Timeline In December 2022, the Saudi Arabian MoD and General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI) signed an MoU with Spanish shipbuilder Navantia to ...

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

  Anka-S (Saudi Arabia)

  Programme Background Desired Procurement Saudi Arabia has reportedly been in negotiations to procure six Anka UAVs since 2013. It has not been disclosed which Anka ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Hazem

  Produced by SAMI Navantia, Hazem is a combat management system designed for the Royal Saudi Naval Forces. Based on the Cadiz CMS, it is integrated ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Eurofighter Typhoon Tranche 2 (Block 8, 8A, 9, 10, 10C, 11, 11C, 15, 15C)

  Under the Typhoon Tranche 2 procurement,  the four European partner nations of Germany, Italy, Spain, the UK and the export customer Saudi Arabia took delivery ...

• Transport

  An-132

  The An-132 is a multipurpose transport aircraft based on the Soviet-era An-32. It is being jointly developed by Antonov and Saudi Arabia's Technology Development and ...

• SH-01

  The SHAHEEN SH-01 is a VTOL UAS manufactured by Prince Sultan Defense in Saudi Arabia. The aircraft is designed for surveillance and reconnaissance purposes. 

• Ship-launched torpedoes, Submarine-launched torpedoes

  F17

  The F17 is a wire-guided anti-surface ship torpedo developed for the French Navy and purchased by Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. The latest version is the F17 ...

• Data links

  TTR

  Offered through Data Link Solutions (DLS) – Rockwell Collins' joint venture with BAE Systems – TacNet Tactical Radio (TTR) is claimed to be the smallest ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

  Interceptor HSI32

  The Interceptor HSI32 was designed by French shipbuilder CMN to meet the needs of modern navies and coastguards. The vessel's primary missions are sea policing ...

• Land: battlefield and ground surveillance radar

  Cymbeline

  The Cymbeline is a phased-array, mortar-locating radar that detects the flight path of a mortar bomb at two points in its trajectory as it passes ...

• Corvettes

  Avante 2200 (Combatant)

  The Avante 2200 corvettes from Spanish shipbuilder Navantia are currently under construction for Saudi Arabia. A contract was signed for five corvettes in July 2018. ...

• Mine-protected vehicles

  RG32M

  BAE Systems Land Systems South Africa produced more than 600 RG32-series vehicles before its acquisition in 2014 by state-owned Denel.  According to the company, the ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  RF-7800M-MP

  The L3Harris Falcon III RF-7800M-MP high-capacity data radio provides secure voice and high-speed networked data, supporting both narrowband and wideband waveforms of 30MHz-2GHz with 20W ...

• Surface-to-surface missiles

  Qiam-1

  The Qiam-1 is a short-range ballistic missile designed and used by Iran. It is based on the Shahab-2.

• Mine-protected vehicles

  Aravis

  Nexter unveiled its 12.5t Aravis at Eurosatory 2008, and in April 2009, the company received a launch order for 15 vehicles to equip French Army ...

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

  Sky Saker FX80

  The Sky Saker FX80 is a VTOL-capable fixed-wing drone from Norinco. Designed explicitly for artillery spotting operations, the drone was unveiled at the 14th Chinese ...

• Air: Integrated cockpit systems

  Cockpit 9000

  Produced by CMC Electronics, the Cockpit 9000 is an integrated avionics solution primarily integrated into C-130 aircraft. According to the manufacturer, over 100 C-130s are ...