• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Leonardo’s SW-4 takes off solo

  5th March 2018

  Leonardo’s SW-4 Solo optionally piloted helicopter (OPH) has successfully completed its maiden flight with no safety pilot onboard at Taranto-Grottaglie Airport in Italy, the company announced …

• Defence Helicopter

  Pakistan inaugurates first AW139 squadron

  7th March 2018

  The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) held a ceremony at PAF Base Shahbaz in Jacobabad, Sindh on 3 March to inaugurate the Leonardo AW139 into No. …

• Defence Notes

  China boosts defence budget by 8.1%

  5th March 2018

  Kicking off the National People’s Congress session on 5 March, China announced a defence budget of RMB1.107 trillion ($175 billion), which equates to an increase …

• Digital Battlespace

  SCTX 2018: MoD to flight test Elbit’s Spectro XR

  8th March 2018

  Flight trials of Elbit System’s advanced electro-optic system, the Spectro XR, are scheduled to be conducted in May 2018 with the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD). …

• Naval Warfare

  Poland eyes export opportunities for new minehunters

  7th March 2018

  Since the Polish Navy commissioned its first prototype ORP Kormoran (601) minehunter of the new Kormoran II-class questions have been asked about exporting the Polish-designed …

• Defence Notes

  Insight: Trump signs Taiwan Travel Act

  19th March 2018

  China’s Foreign Ministry expressed displeasure over US President Donald Trump’s signing of the Taiwan Travel Act (HR 535) on 16 March. The legislation, though non-binding, …

• Defence Notes

  ICAN condemns surge in nuclear arms investments

  7th March 2018

  Global nuclear tensions helped boost investments in atomic weapons production by around $81 billion in 2017, campaigners said on 7 March, urging investors to blacklist …

• Defence Notes

  Turkey court rejects appeal to free Greek soldiers

  5th March 2018

  A Turkish court 5 March rejected a request for the release of two Greek soldiers arrested last week for illegally entering the country, local media …

• Military Logistics

  Russia donates An-26 transport aircraft to Nicaragua

  28th February 2018

  Russia has donated two Antonov An-26 transport aircraft to Nicaragua. The aircraft were formally handed over to the Nicaraguan Army on the 23 February during …

• Military Logistics

  CPI to deliver E-2D wing components

  23rd February 2018

  CPI Aerostructures has received additional purchase orders from Northrop Grumman to supply wing componentsfor the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft, the company announced on 20 February. …

• Naval Warfare

  US aircraft carrier arrives in Vietnam

  5th March 2018

  A US aircraft carrier arrived in Vietnam 5 March for the first time since the end of the war, as the former foes bolster military …

• Defence Notes

  Airbus’s net profit reached $3.6 billion in 2017

  15th February 2018

  According to Airbus record deliveries, windfall gains from divestments and favourable exchange rates enabled profits to lift off in 2017, even though it booked a …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Two Pilot Project activities complete

  27th February 2018

  Two research activities, SPIDER and EuroSWARM, part of the Pilot Project on defence research, have completed successfully, the European Defence Agency (EDA) announced on 23 …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Tapas in user configuration has a long road ahead

  2nd March 2018

  Delayed by over five years, and even seemingly confused over whether to call it Tapas or Rustom II, the Indian Defence Research Development Organisation’s (DRDO) MALE …

• Naval Warfare

  Royal Navy’s HMSML Gleaner officially retired

  21st February 2018

  The Royal Navy’s smallest survey vessel, HMSML Gleaner, has been officially retired from service and decommissioned at Devonport Naval Base, the navy announced on 19 …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Sealift/replenishment vessels

  SAS Drakensberg Replacement [South Africa]

  Programme Background Requirements The South African Navy needs to replace the SAS Drakensberg Combat Support Ship (CSS). SAS Drakensberg was launched in 1986 and commissioned ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | SAS Drakensberg Replacement [South Africa]

  The South African Navy needs to replace the SAS Drakensberg Combat Support Ship (CSS), which entered service in 1987. In October 2023, the South African Navy Chief ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | SAS Drakensberg Replacement [South Africa]

  The South African Navy needs to replace the SAS Drakensberg Combat Support Ship (CSS), which entered service in 1987. In October 2023, the South African Navy Chief ...

• OPVs

  Project Biro [South Africa]

  Programme Background Three multi-mission inshore patrol vessels (MMIPVs) have been procured for the South African Navy under Project Biro. Based on Damen's Stan Patrol 6211 ...

• Tanks

  Project Land 907 Phase 2 [Australia]

  Programme Background Between 2006 and 2007, the Australian Army received 59 M1A1 AIM SA Abrams MBTs under Project Land 907 Phase 1. These vehicles were planned to ...

• Mine-protected vehicles

  New Zealand Bushmaster PMV

  Programme Background The NZDF had called attention to the need to retire the armoured Pinzgauer fleet in its 2019 Defence Capability Plan. Not only are ...

• Special operations vehicles

  SOV-Cdo Replacement (Australia)

  Programme Background The Australian MoD plans to invest in new equipment for its SOF units to allow the ADF to respond more effectively and more ...

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

  Système de Drone Aérien pour la Marine (SDAM) [France]

  Programme Background Requirement The requirement for the SDAM programme is a rotary-wing VTOL-capable UAV with a modular configuration capable of hosting a range of payloads. ...

• Loitering munitions

  Harop [Azerbaijan]

  Programme Background According to a December 2020 report by the Centre for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS), Azerbaijan acquired an estimated 50 Harop loitering munitions ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  AH-1Z Romania

  The Romanian MoD has a long-standing requirement for new rotary platforms, including troop transport, supply and attack configurations. According to the the Military Strategy document, ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Piranha V

  264 of the Piranha Vs will be assigned to the Danish Army's 1st Brigade, following its reorganisation in January 2019. Each of its three armoured ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | Tejas LCA - India Follow-On

  Indian Air Force is planning to buy a total of 140 Tejas LCA to equip seven squadrons. Between 2006 and 2016, India’s Defence Acquisition Council authorised ...

• Data links

  Data links | Tejas LCA - India Follow-On

  Indian Air Force is planning to buy a total of 140 Tejas LCA to equip seven squadrons. Between 2006 and 2016, India’s Defence Acquisition Council authorised ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  Air: Helmet-mounted displays | Tejas LCA - India Follow-On

  Indian Air Force is planning to buy a total of 140 Tejas LCA to equip seven squadrons. Between 2006 and 2016, India’s Defence Acquisition Council authorised ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | Tejas LCA - India Follow-On

  Indian Air Force is planning to buy a total of 140 Tejas LCA to equip seven squadrons. Between 2006 and 2016, India’s Defence Acquisition Council authorised ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Loitering munitions

  AIHMI AHM-1X

  The AIHMI AHM-1X, also known as Sharp Point or Spearhead in Greek, is a loitering munition from SAS Technology. More specifically, the drone is a 4kg ...

• SAS AW169 interior

  The Specialist Aviation Services (SAS) AW169 Medical Interior is a fully certified EMS interior that features a swivelling, easy-load longitudinal stretcher, giving all-round patient access with ...

• Sea: sonar systems

  T-SAS

  The Towed Synthetic Aperture Sonar (T-SAS) is a high-resolution towed side scan sonar for detection of bottom and short-tethered mines. It is able to deliver ...

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

  SARISA SRS-1A

  The SARISA SRS-1A is a quadcopter rotary-wing UAS unveiled at DEFEA 2021. Manufactured by the Greek company Spirit Aeronautical Systems (SAS) Technology, the platform features two rails underneath ...

• Air-to-surface missiles

  Mako

  Mako is an air-launched hypersonic missile developed by Lockheed Martin in collaboration with CoAspire. The missile was unveiled to the public for the first time ...

• OPVs

  Afrika Class (Vard 7 055)

  The Afrika-class (Vard 7 055) is a 53m OPV developed by Vard Marine. Designed to undertake surveillance, patrol and response operations with the EEZ, the ...

• Military - UUVs

  Bluefin-12S

  The Bluefin-12S AUV has been designed for a range of applications, including shallow-water survey, search and salvage, oceanography and scientific research, as well as MCM ...

• Patrol boats

  Warrior Class (Stan Patrol 6211)

  Under Project Biro, the South African Navy is acquiring three new multi-mission inshore patrol vessels. The project is expected to run for approximately seven years, ...

• Military - UUVs

  ThunderFish Alpha

  The ThunderFish Alpha (formerly DeDAvE) is an AUV designed for deep-sea military, commercial and scientific applications. In March 2017, Kraken announced a licensing agreement for ...

• Military - UUVs

  SeaOtter Mk II

  The SeaOtter Mk II is a robust and compact long-range AUV with a payload capacity of over 170kg. It is designed for mine detection and ...

• Military UAS - mini, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  ARES ARS-1X

  Manufactured by SAS Technology, ARES ARS-1X is a mini rotary-wing UAV. The UAV has an open architecture, allowing it to operate as a quadcopter or ...

• Military - USVs

  Venus

  The Venus USV is a modular platform designed to meet the demand for the growing interest in reconfigurable USVs for multi-missions. The Venus family includes ...

• Frigates

  MEKO A-200

  The MEKO A-200 is a general-purpose frigate development of the MEKO 200 design in service with multiple nations. Built by Germany's Blohm+Voss, Howaldtswerke Deutsch Werft ...

• Submarines: conventional, attack

  Type 209/1400mod

  The Type 209/1400mod is a modified variant of the German-designed export Type 209/1400 submarine. This variant of the Type 209 is in service with the ...

• Military - USVs

  Seagull

  At the Singapore Airshow 2016, Elbit Systems unveiled a prototype of its latest USV. The Seagull USV, with MCM capability, has been designed for facilitating ...