• Training

  Elbit to train RN sub crews

  11th January 2021

  Elbit Systems UK to provide shore-based training at HMNB Clyde.

• Defence Notes

  UK pushes back on Chinese E-7 spy fears

  19th January 2021

  Links between China and repurposed Boeing 737 aircraft are not thought to represent a national security threat for the UK, despite a national newspaper suggesting otherwise.

• Air Warfare

  USAF makes strides in stealthy connectivity, hypersonics and use of AI

  24th December 2020

  In a busy December, the USAF has tested concepts for fifth-generation fighter connectivity, the loyal wingman UAV, hypersonic weaponry and advanced AI.

• Defence Notes

  Greece plays procurement catch-up with Turkey

  2nd December 2020

  Tensions with Turkey over maritime sovereignty and the exploitation of lucrative gas reserves in the Mediterranean are directly affecting procurement decisions in Athens

• Defence Notes

  Effective C-sUAS demands agile mindset

  12th January 2021

  A new strategy from the DoD describes how the US armed forces can mitigate or defeat the risks posed by small drones to personnel, facilities and assets. Whereas previous strategies followed a piecemeal or service-specific approach, this time the DoD looked at the challenges confronting the whole department.

• Land Warfare

  Japan developing laser to knock down UAVs

  10th December 2020

  As Japan's military looks to gain experience with UAVs, it is also developing lasers to shoot them down too.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  French Navy boosts its ISR capabilities

  14th December 2020

  Additional VTOL UAVs will be deployed on Mistral-class vessels

• Land Warfare

  Lessons from Nagorno-Karabakh hint at future procurement trends

  7th December 2020

  Analysts are digesting the implications for C-UAS and main battle tanks from the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan

• Land Warfare

  Turkey hails arrival of EBK-44 grenade

  18th November 2020

  Domestically produced soldier-worn grenade holster to enter TAF inventory

• Land Warfare

  Questions remain over fate of Armata

  31st December 2020

  The clock is ticking for the Armata programme to hit its delivery target.

• Air Warfare

  South Korean army prioritises unmanned systems

  4th December 2020

  Whether on land or in the air, the army of South Korea is pushing ahead strongly with unmanned technologies as it aims to fight smarter.

• Air Warfare

  Airbus finishes pilot phase of FCAS innovation initiative

  11th December 2020

  ​Projects included a secure combat cloud demonstrator, real-time AI for analysing sensor emissions, and a means of launching UAVs from the A400M

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  New UAVs appear around Southeast Asia

  27th November 2020

  The Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam are all introducing new UAVs, including both imported and indigenous designs.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Operational flexibility is the secret to the Northrop Grumman Firebird's success (Studio)

  15th December 2020

  Firebird offers operators a tailorable solution, enabling maximum mission flexibility and widening the potential customer base for manufacturer Northrop Grumman.

• Naval Warfare

  Japan to build two BMD warships and improve Type 12 missile

  11th December 2020

  Two new ballistic missile defence warships will be even more expensive than the Aegis Ashore system that Japan cancelled earlier.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

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

  Aksungur [Turkish Air Force]

  Programme Background First Flight & Contract Award The platform's maiden flight was completed on 20 March 2019, and it was first publicly shown at IDEF ...

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

  Cargo UAV (Turkey)

  Programme Background Inception & Requirment Turkey's Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB) initiated a programme to procure VTOL-capable cargo drones in June 2018. These were planned for ...

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

  Bayraktar TB2 (Turkey)

  Programme Background  Selection The Turkish Armed Forces are purchasing large numbers of UAVs from Turkey's domestic defence industry to perform ISTAR missions and provide troops ...

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

  Aksungur [Turkish Navy]

  Programme Background First Flight & Contract Award The platform's maiden flight was completed on 20 March 2019, and it was first publicly shown at IDEF ...

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

  Songar (Turkey)

  Programme Background Requirement The Turkish MoND was considering adopting several micro and mini UAVs to equip the Turkish Armed Forces (TAF). One of the systems ...

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

  Anka-S [Malaysia]

  Programme Background Inception Malaysia's desire to acquire a MALE UAV dates back to 2009 when it announced it would be the first country in the ...

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

  Anka-S [Kazakhstan]

  Programme Background In 2018, Shephard reported that TAI had made another effort to promote its products to Kazakstan. Three years before a contract was noted, Tamer ...

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

  Akinci [Turkey]

  Programme Background Unveiling & Testing Unveiled at TEKOFEST Istanbul Aviation, Space and Technology Festival in September 2019, the Akinci completed its first flight in December 2019. In June 2021, ...

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

  Akinci [Indonesia]

  Programme Background Naval Ambition The Indonesian Navy Admiral Muhammad Ali announced an initiative to purchase Turkish UCAVs as part of a broader strategy to enhance and develop ...

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

  Aksungur [Chad]

  Programme Background According to SavunmaSanayiST, reporting in April 2024, Chad received two Aksungur drones in 2024 following the Central African country's purchase of the Anka-S and ...

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

  Anka-S (Additional Units) [Malaysia]

  Programme Background First Three Drones Following years of exploring MALE UAVs and a few failed efforts, the RMAF clarified it wanted to acquire the three ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  Forpost-R (Russia)

  Programme Background First Contract Recognising the value of tactical UAS during its operations in Syria, the Russian MoD identified a requirement for additional tactical UAVs. ...

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

  Bayraktar TB2 (Qatar)

  Programme Background In 2018 at DIMDEX, it was revealed that Qatar had bought six Bayraktar TB2 UAVs from Turkey. The deal also included three ground control stations, ...

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

  Anka-S [Indonesia]

  Programme Background Requirement Indonesia wanted to acquire or produce a MALE UAV to operate at different air bases around Indonesia to cover the archipelago.  Procurement Over Production Early ...

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

  Bayraktar TB2 [Iraq]

  Programme Background Purchase Announcement Cuma Inad Sadan, the Iraqi Defence Minister, announced in August 2021 that the country had agreed to purchase an unknown number of ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Uncrewed aerial systems engines

  PD170

  The PD170 is a turbodiesel engine initially developed to meet the engine requirement of Turkish Aerospace Industries' indigenous Anka UAV. Development began in December 2012 ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - small

  Bulut

  Launched in early 2025, the Bulut is a VTOL-capable small UAV from Havelsan. A development of the Baha, the drone is equipped with an electro-optical (EO), infrared, ...

• Loitering munitions

  Kargi

  The Kargi is an in-development loitering munition that Lentatek has developed in collaboration with the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TÜBITAK), Aselsan and Turkish Aerospace ...

• UAS: flight control systems, UAS: Integrated systems - uncrewed

  UAV Flight Control Computer

  The UAV Flight Control Computer is being developed by the Turkish Defence manufacturer Meteksan Savunma Sanayi for remotely controlling uncrewed operations. It comprises a Central ...

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

  Anka-S

  Anka-S is a medium-altitude long-endurance UAV produced by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) designed to meet the requirements of the Turkish Armed Forces. The system has also been exported ...

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

  Aksungur

  The Aksungur is a twin-engined MALE UAS manufactured by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) for the Turkish Armed Forces. TAI completed the platform's maiden flight on 20 March ...

• Artillery rockets

  TRG/TRLG-122

  The TRG-122 is a Turkish 122mm family of guided artillery rockets developed by ROKETSAN for the T-122 Sakarya and other MLRS platforms. The family includes ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  Efe

  Efe is a lightweight, fixed-wing UAV designed for target acquisition. The platform was launched in 2006. 

• Trainer

  Hurkus

  Turkey’s Undersecretariat for Defence Industries signed an agreement with Turkish Aerospace Industries in March 2006 for the Hurkus Turkish Basic Training Aircraft development programme. Three ...

• Air: UAS radar

  OKIS Automatic Take-off and Landing System

  The OKIS Automatic Take-off and Landing System by Turkish Meteksan Defence Inc. is a radar-based system designed for the automatic take-off and landing processes of ...

• Loitering munitions

  Alpagu

  The Alpagu is a fixed-wing loitering munition developed by STM. The loitering munition comes in several variants, has been designed for lightness and portability, and is ...

• Counter-UAS systems

  İhtar

  The İhtar anti-drone system consists of a radar, EO and jamming systems designed to counter mini-UAS and is available in fixed and deployable configurations. It ...

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

  Rotary Wing Cargo UAV

  Displayed at Paris Air Show 2023, the Rotary Wing Cargo UAV is a cargo-carrying and ISR drone manufactured by Turkish Aerospace (TAI). Powered by a ...

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

  Anka-I

  Anka-I is a SIGINT/COMINT variant of Turkey’s Anka-S and is operated by Turkey’s National Intelligence Organization. The COMINT capability allows operators to track, geolocate and ...

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

  Saka

  Designed for ISR missions, the Saka is a micro-UAV manufactured by Turkish manufacturer Aselsan. With an MTOW of 600g, the rotary-wing quadcopter is easily transportable ...