• Special Operations

  SOFIC 2017: Rifle optics continue to advance

  8th May 2017

  Technology advances and decreasing costs means that most infantry units today have adopted rifle optics for their individual weapons, following in the footsteps of the …

• Land Warfare

  US approves $2 billion arms sale to UAE

  15th May 2017

  The US State Department has approved a $2 billion arms sale to the UAE. Approved on 11 May, the deal includes 60 Patriot Advanced Capability …

• Military Logistics

  First KC-10 CLS returned to USAF service

  8th May 2017

  L3 Technologies has returned to service the first KC-10 aircraft under the US Air Force's (USAF) contractor logistics support (CLS) programme, the company announced on …

• Training

  Second T-X aircraft completes first flight

  27th April 2017

  The first flight of the second aircraft under development by Boeing and Saab for the US Air Force's (USAF's) T-X advanced pilot training programme has …

• Defence Helicopter

  ITEC 2017: Fire Blade training lights up

  8th May 2017

  The European Defence Agency is in the midst of the 11th exercise Fire Blade which will provide tactical training under the agency's Helicopter Exercise Programme …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Camcopter in MUM-T development

  3rd April 2017

  Schiebel is looking to develop the Camcopter S-100 UAS' manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) capabilities with the integration of a new datalink, the company announced on 20 …

• Land Warfare

  K9 gives boost to India-Korea partnerships

  24th April 2017

  Engineering giant Larsen & Toubro (L&T) and South Korea's Hanwha Techwin signed a contract for co-development and co-production of the K9 Vajra-T 155mm self-propelled howitzer …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  AUVSI 2017: Triton talks in commercial X-band

  2nd May 2017

  Commercial satellite operator XTAR has been selected by the US Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) to support X-band satellite bandwidth for the MQ-4C Triton.The blanket …

• Training

  T-72 converted to unmanned tank target

  18th April 2017

  Kratos Defense and Security Solutions' Micro Systems has converted a Russian T-72 tank to operate in an unmanned configuration, the company announced on 13 April.Micro …

• Military Logistics

  Iraq requests training and support services

  14th April 2017

  The US State Department has made a determination approving a potential $1.06 billion foreign military sale to Iraq for pilot and maintenance training, contractor logistical …

• Military Logistics

  CENTCOM commander calls for increased munitions production

  19th April 2017

  The Pentagon needs to 'ramp up munitions production in a very significant way', according to the opening government keynote address at this week's NDIA National …

• Land Warfare

  India approves K9 artillery buy

  7th April 2017

  India approved an approximately $650 million procurement of 100 tracked self-propelled howitzers (SPH) of 155mm 52-calibre, with an option for 50 more, on 29 March.Larsen …

• Training

  Leonardo plans T-100 production centre in Alabama

  31st March 2017

  Leonardo DRS will produce the T-100 jet trainer at a new aircraft manufacturing facility in Tuskegee, Alabama, if it is successful in its bid for …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  OceanServer Technology acquired by L3

  6th April 2017

  L3 Technologies has acquired OceanServer Technology, the company announced on 4 April. The business has been renamed as L3 OceanServer and will be integrated into …

• Land Warfare

  Belarus upgrades armour

  29th March 2017

  The Belarus military has given the go-ahead for two programmes to upgrade the Land Forces armour inventory. It will be undertaken by domestic companies, which …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - fixed-wing

  MUM-T Drone [Thailand]

  Programme Background Roadmap In February 2024, the RTAF unveiled its White Paper 2024. Incorporating lessons from the Russo-Ukrainian War, the Israel-Hamas War, and other events ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing

  Apache Adjacent UAVs [Australia]

  Background Requirement As reported by Shephard from the Australian International Airshow 2025, Australia requires a platform to support the manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) alongside the repoed 29 Apache AH-64E ...

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

  Air Launched Effect (ALE) [South Korea]

  Programme Background KF-21 Boramae Crewed Fighter The Republic of Korea's Air Force (ROKAF) plans to acquire the KF-21 Boramae fighter, replacing F-4E Phantom II and ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing

  Air Launched Loyal Wingman [Japan]

  Programme Background Air-Launched Loyal Wingman As reported by Shephard, a 30 October 2020 contract awarded to Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) meant the company would lead ...

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

  KF-21 Loyal Wingman [South Korea]

  Programme Background KF-21 Boramae Crewed Fighter The Republic of Korea’s Air Force (ROKAF) plans to acquire the KF-21 Boramae fighter, replacing F-4E Phantom II and F-5E/F fighters in the ...

• Trainer

  Hawk 127 Replacement (Future Lead-In Fighter Training System- Project Air 6002 PH1) [Australia]

  Programme Background Requirements The RAAF is seeking a future solution that provides a ‘relevant, adaptable, affordable and safe LIFTS out to 2050’ for training pilots ...

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

  Camcopter S-300 [South Korea]

  Programme Background Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) On 18 January 2023, Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with Northop Grumman at a ...

• Tanks

  T-90M Proryv (New-Build)

  The first contract for the T-90M was disclosed in August 2017. Comprising 30 tanks in total, it covered the upgrade of 20 T-90As to T-90M ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - HALE

  Kaori-X [South Korea]

  Programme Background Kaori-X South Korea's Ministry of National Defense revealed on 23 December 2021 that the indigenous Kaori-X presently under development would combine with future KF-21 Boramae fighters as ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  T-15 Armata (Forecast)

  Programme Background The first contract for 132 Armatas was signed by the Russian MoD in 2015. This will comprise sufficient T-14, T-15 heavy IFV and ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  T-15 Armata (Contracted)

  Programme Background The first contract for 132 Armatas was signed by the Russian MoD in 2015. This will comprise sufficient T-14, T-15 heavy IFV and ...

• Tanks

  Iraq T-90S MBT (First Batch)

  Programme Background Iraq has reportedly been interested in acquiring Russian equipment such as the T-90S MBT as far back as 2012, but the signing of ...

• Tanks

  T-14 Armata (Contracted)

  Programme Background The first contract for 132 Armatas was signed by the Russian MoD in 2015. This will comprise sufficient T-14, T-15 heavy IFV and ...

• Tanks

  T-14 Armata (Forecast)

  Programme Background The first contract for 132 Armatas was signed by the Russian MoD in 2015. This will comprise sufficient T-14, T-15 heavy IFV and ...

• Trainer

  T-4 Replacement [Japan]

  Programme Background The Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) has been using the T-4 as an intermediate trainer jet since 1988, but now the Acquisition, Technology ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Loitering munitions, Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - mini

  MUM-T

  The Military Unmanned Teaming (MUM-T) is a UAS in development by Korean Aerospace Industries. Showcased at Seoul ADEX 2021, the MUM-T can be launched from the ...

• Loitering munitions, Military UAS - fixed-wing

  Air Launched Effect (ALE)

  The Air-Launched Effect (ALE) is an in-development uncrewed platform from Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI). Shown at IDEX 2023, it is set to come in two variants, one ...

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

  Demogorgon

  In late October 2021, the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) awarded Kratos Unnamed Systems Division an initial $17.68 million 12-month cost-plus-fixed-fee contract to develop an Off-Board Sensing ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - HALE

  Arrow

  The Arrow is a supersonic prototype UAV developed by Singapore-based Kelley Aerospace. According to the manufacturer, the 16.8t prototype will be operated as a conventional UAV, ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - HALE

  Uncrewed Checkmate

  At the Dubai Airshow 2021, United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), the parent company of Checkmate manufacturer Sukhoi Design Bureau, announced its intention to manufacture an uncrewed version of ...

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

  Koios

  Manufactured by Callen-Lenz, the Koios is a small-UAS available in both a VTOL and non-VTOL variant.  Designed for the civil and military market, as standard, ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - HALE

  Defender

  The Defender is a jet-powered uncrewed escort aircraft built by GA-ASI. The primary goal of the UAV is to protect high-value airborne assets, such as refuelling ...

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

  Rotor Blown Wing

  In March 2025, Sikorsky unveiled an as-yet-unnamed tail sitter small UAV, referred to as the Rotor Blown Wing. The UAV can transition between helicopter and ...

• Land: handheld NV devices, Land: handheld day observation, surveillance and targeting systems, Weapon sights for night use (image intensifiers)

  MUM-14

  The Multi-Use Mini-Monocular (MUM-14) is a modular, passive NVD designed to maintain situation awareness in a range of low-light conditions, utilising a single Gen III ...

• Data links

  Micro TMA

  Thales Micro TMA is a high-rate datalink designed for uncrewed platforms and video streaming applications from aircraft. It provides command and control functions as well ...

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

  UCAV

  Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) is developing an as-yet-unmanned UCAV to potentially operate alongside the Republic of Korea Air Force's (ROKAF) KF-21 Boramae fighter aircraft. The six-tonne drone is characterised ...

• Air: aerial targets

  BQM-34 Firebee

  The BQM-34 Firebee is an uncrewed aerial target system that the USAF and USN have used for more than 50 years. The primary mission of ...

• Military - USVs

  Marlin

  Marlin is a Turkish uncrewed surface vessel (USV) equipped with electronic warfare and other equipment that has been used on exercises with the Turkish Navy.

• Light attack, Trainer

  FA-50

  Based on the T/TA-50 trainer/light attack aircraft, the FA-50 is further developed and upgraded with a tactical data link, precision-guided munitions, and a self-protection subsystem. ...

• Light mortars

  M60MA

  The M60MA is a 60mm crew-served light mortar fired from a bipod. The mortar consists of the barrel, baseplate, bipod and sight unit.