• Air Warfare

  Lockheed says Israel will buy third squadron of F-35s in coming months

  23rd February 2024

  Lockheed Martin has revealed insights into the latest developments surrounding the F-35 programme, from pending Letters of Acceptance (LoAs) with Israel and Greece, to ongoing Tech Refresher 3 upgrades.

• Air Warfare

  Pakistan’s fighter dilemma: Pursuing Chinese FC-31 amid Turkish Kaan uncertainty

  9th January 2024

  With the Pakistan Air Force acknowledging its intention to procure Chinese J-31/FC-31 fifth-generation aircraft, questions have arisen about Pakistan’s stance on joining Turkey’s TF-X Kaan fighter programme, heightening speculation on the nation’s strategic alliances.

• Naval Warfare

  Boeing bullish about further P-8 sales in Singapore

  22nd February 2024

  The Singapore Airshow 2024 exhibitor cited the P-8 Poseidon’s maturity, established supply chain and large user base as the platform’s major selling points, with Singapore requirements and follow-on orders from India to be targeted.

• Digital Battlespace

  In-orbit imaging a “game-changer” in space situational awareness

  15th August 2024

  As the threats of nuclear weapons in space and the militarisation of the domain persist, an Australian outfit has been developing technology that defence organisations could utilise to identify objects in space to gain a better understand of what they are doing in orbit.

• Naval Warfare

  Japan to boost surface fleet with new destroyers and missile ships

  18th July 2024

  Japan is enhancing its naval capabilities with the construction of the 13DDX advanced destroyer and Aegis System Equipped Vessels (AESV), aiming to strengthen its air and missile defence amid increasing security threats, particularly in East Asia.

• Naval Warfare

  Military threats force through Australian frigate procurement

  9th July 2024

  Construction may have been started by BAE Systems on the first Hunter-class frigate but scepticism surrounds the general-purpose frigate programme due to delays and planning issues.

• Air Warfare

  Space domain “has never been more critical” to US security, says US chief of space operations

  12th April 2024

  The increasing relevance of space in warfare scenarios and the proliferation of threats have been pushing the US Space Force towards modernising and investing in new capabilities.

• Air Warfare

  Newest generation AMRAAM missiles destined for Sweden

  4th November 2023

  The deal was approved as a by the US government in July and is the back end of a deal which saw Sweden sell older variants back to the US so they could be donated to Ukraine in its war against invading Russian forces.

• Defence Notes

  I/ITSEC 2023: How wide is the gap between the US and China’s capabilities?

  29th November 2023

  While Washington sees Beijing as its most comprehensive and serious challenger, the Jinping administration has been taking the lead in R&D within certain domains.

• Air Warfare

  Lockheed wins US Air Force nuclear weapons contract worth almost $1 billion

  3rd November 2023

  US aerospace giant will carry out engineering, manufacturing and design for an RV for the LGM-35A Sentinel ICBM.

• Air Warfare

  Why the USAF's Sentinel ICBM faces multiple challenges

  31st July 2024

  Although it has survived the Nunn-McCurdy Review, the Sentinel ICBM programme must get Congressional support and extra resources to progress.

• Naval Warfare

  Could compact submarines become part of future naval warfare?

  19th June 2024

  Low-profile submarines can provide diverse advantages to navies including improved mobility and flexibility.

• Air Warfare

  Exclusive: Germany ventures deeper into aircraft jamming capabilities within luWES programme

  15th February 2024

  Germany's luWES programme has advanced with investigations into incorporating jamming capabilities into various aircraft types, including business jets, UAVs and other platforms.

• Air Warfare

  Dubai Air Show 2023: Can air-launched missile stocks keep pace with a full-spectrum conflict?

  9th November 2023

  Russia's war in Ukraine has pushed the issue of stocks up the priorities list for air forces concerned about dwindling reservoirs of air-launched ordnance.

• Defence Notes

  NATO outlines future challenges as Ukrainian funding from US stalls

  15th March 2024

  In 2023, defence spending increased by an unprecedented 11% across European NATO countries and Canada. Since 2014, the group has spent an additional US$600 billion on defence.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

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

  Garmoosha [UAE]

  Programme Background First Contract In an interview with Shephard at the Dubai Airshow 2021, Faisal Al Bannai, CEO of EDGE, stated the development of the ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  S-70M Black Hawk [Indonesia]

  Programme Background On 23 August 2023, Lockheed Martin announced that Sikorsky had signed an agreement with PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI) for a strategic partnership in ...

• AEW&C

  GlobalEye (1-3) [UAE]

  Programme Background The GlobalEye is a modification of Bombardier's Global 6000 jet aircraft fitted with the S-band Erieye Extended Range (ER) radar and mission system ...

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

  Reach-S [UAE]

  Programme Background At the Dubai Airshow 2023, held in November, EDGE Group announced that the UAE Armed Forces had acquired 100 units of the Reach-S, ...

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

  HT-100 [Undisclosed]

  Programme Background At the Dubai Airshow 2023, EDGE Group announced that it had accepted an order for six HT-100 drones. The drones will be supplied ...

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

  Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) Project [Japan]

  Programme Background Requirement The Japanese Coast Guard (JCG) operated a few dozen Chinese-made UAVs that conducted SAR and surveillance activities. The drones performed well and ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  A330 MRTT (4-5) [UAE]

  Programme Background United Arab Emirates Air Force had a requirement for three tanker aircraft. Boeing confirmed that the UAE sent an official request for three ...

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

  Sky Mantis (Ukraine Aid) [UK]

  Programme Background Reuters Report Speaking to Reuters in March 2024, Evolve Dynamics stated that about 100 Sky Mantis drones were flying in Ukraine, highlighting a ...

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

  Heron Mk 1 Replacement [Singapore]

  Programme Background Ahead of the Singapore Airshow, the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) outgoing chief, Major General Kelvin Khong, stated that the service would ...

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

  Wing Loong II (Saudi Arabia)

  Programme Background  Contract Saudi Arabia was planning to buy Western-made UAVs such as Predator or Reaper. However, Missile Control Technology Regime (MCTR) imposed restrictions on the ...

• Frigates

  Type 054A/P (Pakistan)

  Programme Background Contracts Pakistan has ordered four frigates from China under the Type 054AP programme, which refers to the vessels being based on the Peoples ...

• Maritime patrol

  Challenger 650 ISR - UAE

  Programme Background In February 2019 at IDEX, the UAE announced that it will procure a new special mission aircraft with an option for the second ...

• Submarines: conventional, attack

  Hangor Class Submarines [Pakistan]

  Programme Background Timeline Chinese media first reported that the Pakistan Navy had agreed to buy eight modified Type 039B submarines in April 2015. The contract ...

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

  MQ-9B [UAE]

  Programme Background Requirement The programme is required to meet current and future threats faced by the UAE by proving ISR, target acquisition, locating submarines and counter-land and ...

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

  Hermes 450 Replacement [Singapore]

  Programme Background Ahead of the Singapore Airshow, the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) outgoing chief, Major General Kelvin Khong, stated that the service would replace its ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

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

  AR-2000

  Unveiled by the China National Aero-Technology Import and Export Corporation (CATIC) at the Dubai Air Show 2023, the AR-2000 is a large rotary-wing drone designed for ...

• VD200

  The VD200 is a tail-sitting VTOL UAV which is able to transition to fixed-wing horizontal flight. The UAV was displayed by CADI, a subsidiary of ...

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

  SW-1

  The fixed-wing SW-1 is designed to perform tactical ISTAR missions. It was displayed at the Airshow China exhibition in November 2012. 

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

  Sky Archer

  The Sky Archer is a short-endurance unmanned quadcopter designed for military use. It weighs 38kg and can reportedly carry two 50mm recoilless rocket launchers. 

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

  TD220

  The TD220 is an electric, coaxial dual-rotor UAV manufactured by Zhong Hang Zhi (ZHZ). The aircraft, which debuted at the 2014 Singapore Airshow, is designed ...

• Awing-F100J

  Awing-F100J is the latest UAV from Tianjin-based Quadrant Space (Tianjin) Technology and was displayed at the 11th Zhuhai Airshow in China for the first time ...

• Self-propelled missile systems

  Sky Dragon 12

  Norinco presented a model of the FK-1000 short-range SAM system at Airshow China 2012 and unveiled the newly-named Sky Dragon 12 at Africa Aerospace and ...

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

  WJ-500

  WJ-500 is a stealthy subsonic UAV with a low radar signature and the appearance of a cruise missile with very short mid-mounted control surfaces. It ...

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

  WJ-600

  First revealed during the 2010 China Airshow, the WJ-600is a large-scale baseline UCAV manufactured by China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation and is a maritime ...

• Transport

  Y-20

  Xi'an Aircraft Industrial Corporation launched the development of the Y-20 strategic transport aircraft in 2006. The Y-20 incorporates a high-set wing, T-tail and rear cargo-loading ...

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

  Wing Loong 10

  The Wing Loong 10 is a HALE UAV, known as the WL-10 in the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) and formally known as the Cloud ...

• Awing-F20

  The Awing-F20 is a fixed-wing UAV designed by Quadrant Space (Tianjin) Technology. The platform was displayed at the 11th Zhuhai Airshow in China, alongside other ...

• Air: aerial targets

  TL-8

  The TL-8 is a target drone that can be used to simulate second- and third-generation fighters, cruise missiles and other targets in weapon testing and ...

• Awing-H100J

  The Awing-H100J is a rotary-wing UAV designed by Quadrant Space (Tianjin) Technology. The Awing-H100J was displayed at the 11th Zhuhai Airshow in China, alongside other ...

• Military - USVs

  SeaFly-01

  The SeaFly-01 USV, developed by Beijing Sifang Automation, was showcased at the 11th Zhuhai Airshow in China in November 2016. Phase one tests of the ...