• Military Logistics

  Farnborough 2018: Zephyr production facility opens (video)

  17th July 2018

  Wtih the Zephyr S UAV undergoing flight tests in the US, Airbus formally opened its low-rate production facility in Farnborough where a number of systems …

• Training

  Farnborough 2018: German personnel training for Heron TP to begin soon

  18th July 2018

  Fresh from the confirmation that the German armed forces will indeed operate the Heron TP UAV – despite protests by US-based General Atomics (GA-ASI) over …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Farnborough 2018: Nightwarden flights to continue from Textron’s Blackstone site

  19th July 2018

  Textron Systems Unmanned Systems is to move its Nightwarden UAV flights to its Blackstone facility near Richmond, Virginia, to continue preparations ahead of any future …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Farnborough 2018: Swedish Air Force outline air defence wish list

  16th July 2018

  The Swedish Air Force is looking to a future of more unmanned capabilities as part of its enhanced air defence over the next few decades …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Taiwan’s coast guard selects UAVs

  6th July 2018

  Taiwan’s Coast Guard Administration (CGA) has decided to purchase 20 rotary-winged UAVs from Avix Tech, a Taiwanese manufacturer based in Taichung, in a contract valued …

• Defence Helicopter

  Farnborough 2018: Turkish Aerospace expanding helicopter portfolio (video)

  17th July 2018

  The newly rebranded Turkish Aerospace, formerly Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), is pushing to dominate the medium to heavy helicopter markets through two new models. The …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Raytheon to develop LOCUST prototype

  29th June 2018

  Raytheon has received a $29.68 million contract from the Office of Naval Research to develop a Low Cost UAV Swarming Technology (LOCUST) prototype. The LOCUST …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  SkyGuardian tease as RAF again declines to disclose service entry (video)

  12th July 2018

  Although development of the Royal Air Force’s Protector MALE UAV is clearly moving ahead following the first transatlantic flight of the SkyGuardian on 11 June …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Thai army is flying Hermes 450

  20th June 2018

  The Hermes 450 is in Royal Thai Army (RTA) service, representing the most modern UAV in Thailand’s inventory. It is being operated by a company …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Eurosatory 2018: First autonomous flight for VSR700 imminent

  14th June 2018

  Airbus Helicopters is moving ahead with its VSR700 project with the first fully autonomous flight test scheduled for 2018, the company told Shephard at Eurosatory …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  FLIR launches Black Hornet 3 nano-UAV

  11th June 2018

  FLIR Systems has launched the Black Hornet 3 nano-UAV for militaries, government agencies and first responders, the company announced on 5 June. The next generation …

• Defence Notes

  Singapore outlines procurements for 2020 and beyond

  2nd July 2018

  Singapore’s Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) has outlined its equipment requirements to ensure the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) remain lethal beyond 2020-30. Defence Minister Ng Eng …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Eurosatory 2018: Safran moves ahead with Furious robotic system development

  14th June 2018

  Safran showcased its eRider optionally piloted vehicle and accompanying robotic system at Eurosatory 2018 as it begins development and testing with the French procurement agency …

• Military Logistics

  Protonex receives fuel cell orders

  8th June 2018

  Protonex has received purchase orders from the US Navy to deliver 13 fuel cell propulsion systems for UAS platforms, the company announced on 4 June. …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Russia banking on drone cash transport

  8th June 2018

  Sberbank, a large Russian Bank, is set to be the launch customer for Russian Helicopters’ new VRT300 VTOL UAV. The bank intends to use the …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - mini

  Mini UAV (Bulgaria)

  Programme Background The Bulgarian Army wants to procure UAVs to enhance the organic tactical ISR capabilities of its ground forces. According to Bulgarian media, a ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  Mi2 Challenge (USN)

  Programme Background Requirements The USN wants a UAV to be flown in austere environments without dedicated launch or recovery equipment; since it would be launched ...

• Military UAS - small

  Small UAV (Bulgaria)

  Programme Background The Bulgarian Army wants to procure UAVs to enhance the organic tactical ISR capabilities of its ground forces. According to Bulgarian media, a ...

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

  Parrot Anafi (Singapore)

  Programme Background On 7 February 2022, the Singapore Army posted photographs on Facebook that showed the Anafi UAV used as training devices in a five-day ...

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

  Render Safe Sets, Kits & Outfits (RS SKO) - UAV (US)

  Programme Background Definition The RS SKO provides capabilities needed for Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) teams to render safe US and foreign ordnance and improvised explosive ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing

  Fixed-Wing VTOL UAV (Malaysia)

  Programme Background Tender Issued As reported by Shephard, on 18 June 2021, Malaysia issued a tender for fixed-wing hybrid VTOL UAVs.  Requirement The tender stated that Malaysia required ...

• Military UAS - small

  Penguin C (Latvia)

  Programme Background In 2018, the Latvian MoD signed an agreement with Latvian companies UAV Factory and Atlas Aerospace to procure UAVs for the LNAF. Under ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing

  Family of UAVs [Bangladesh]

  Programme Background RfP The Bangladesh Army released a 106-page tender document to gather information about different platforms that would enable the force to "standardise" its UAV ...

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

  UAV Tactical Level [Norway]

  Programme Background Request for Information (RfI) In September 2022, the Norwegian Defence Material Agency (NDMA) launched a request for information in preparation for a possible ...

• Military UAS - small

  Small UAV (Colombia)

  Programme Background Many of the Colombian military's UAVs are operated by the Colombian Air Force, but the Colombian Army has also employed several different types ...

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

  Corvette UAVs [Angola]

  Programme Background In February 2023, at NAVDEX 2023, Shephard reported the Abu Dhabi Ship Building (ADSB), part of the EDGE Group, had signed a €1 billion ($1.06 ...

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

  Small VTOL UAV (Denmark)

  Programme Background 2020 Tender In January 2018, Denmark's three main political parties signed the Danish Defence Agreement, a cross-party defence white paper covering the period ...

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

  Heavy Lift VTOL (HVTOL) (Forecast) [US Army]

  Programme Background USMC In September 2021, Kaman unveiled its Kargo UAV, which had been specifically designed to meet the requirements of the Joint Tactical Autonomous ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  VTOL UAV (ROKA)

  Programme Background All branches of the Republic of Korea Armed Forces are placing a large emphasis on the procurement of unmanned systems to improve ISR ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  Skeldar V-200 Dutch Navy

  Programme Background The Dutch Ministry of Defence issued a notice seeking information regarding the potential acquisition of a vertical takeoff and landing unmanned aerial vehicle ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

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

  VTOL UAV

  The Defence Technology Institute launched the VTOL UAV R&D; project in cooperation with the Naval Research and Development Office, Royal Thai Navy and private sector ...

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

  MCOM UAV

  The Mundo Compuesto (MCOM) UAV is a fixed-wing UAV designed to provide surveillance during both day and night for military and security force users. It uses ...

• Universal UAV

  Universal UAV is designed for multiple missions in the field of surveillance and reconnaissance, monitoring forest fires or fisheries. It consists of a carbon-fibre composite ...

• UAS: Integrated systems - uncrewed

  UAV TRS

  Celestia’s UAV Tactical Recovery System (TRS) assures controlled and safe landing of a UAV at a pre-designated GPS location. It can be deployed on command ...

• Air: UAV simulators

  UAV Simulators

  Elbit Systems has developed simulation systems to train personnel in UAV operation, from generic UAV training for initial screening procedures up to full mission, high-fidelity ...

• Air: UAV simulators

  UAV Training

  Resource UAS offers a range of UAV training, from foundation courses to live flying on a range of aircraft. Each can be tailored to suit ...

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

  QTP-UAV

  The Quad Tilt Prop UAV (QTP-UAV) is an electric platform that is designed to provide VTOL capability with high-speed horizontal flight. 

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

  E-UAV

  In October 2021, the Jordan Design and Development Bureau (JODDB) unveiled the E-UAV at the Artificial Intelligence Defense Technology and Cyber Security Exhibition and Conference (AIDTSEC). The UAV is ...

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

  Berkut UAV

  In February 2022, Aerovehicles presented the Berkut MOBPY UAV at the Silvio Pettirossi Air Base of the Paraguayan Air Force. The UAV has been designed ...

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

  Tactical UAV

  Unveiled at DSA 2022, the Deftech Tactical UAV is an indigenously developed platform based on the Aldura Mk1. The platform is aimed at the Royal Malaysian ...

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

  MALE UAV

  As its name suggests, the MALE UAV is a male-class drone. It has been developed by Indo-Pacific Communication & Defence (IPCD) and certified by the Ministry of ...

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

  Tactical UAV

  The Tactical UAV is a mini hand-launched UAV designed by Indo-Pacific Communications & Defence (IPCD).  It features an ISR payload due to its purpose as a ...

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

  Multirole UAV

  North Korea unveiled two drones at the Weapons and Equipment Exhibition 2023 in Pyongyang on 2 August 2023. One drone closely resembled General Atomics' (GA-ASI) MQ-9 Reaper, and, ...

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

  Reconnaissance UAV

  North Korea unveiled two drones at the Weapons and Equipment Exhibition 2023 in Pyongyang on 2 August 2023. One drone closely resembled General Atomics' (GA-ASI) ...

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

  Futura UCAV-UAV

  The Futura UCAV-UAV is a tactical surveillance and target acquisition UAV that can also act as a UCAV platform. The gas turbine-powered aircraft is ready ...