• Naval Warfare

  UDT 2018: Second Indian DSRV to complete build before year end

  27th June 2018

  The second of two deep search and rescue vehicle (DSRV) destined for the Indian Navy’s fledgling submarine rescue capability will finish its build process in …

• Naval Warfare

  New Zealand becomes Poseidon’s next consort

  9th July 2018

  The Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) will get four new Boeing P-8A Poseidon MPAs to enhance its surveillance capability, with the government approving the …

• Military Logistics

  India delivers Do-228 aircraft to Seychelles

  29th June 2018

  The Indian government has handed over a Hindustan Aeronautics Limited Do-228 aircraft to the Seychelles, HAL announced on 26 June. The aircraft will enhance the …

• Military Logistics

  Sri Lanka moves navy unit to Chinese-run port

  1st July 2018

  Sri Lanka will move its southern naval command to a port leased to a state-run Chinese firm but China will not use it for military …

• Defence Notes

  French arms exports halved in 2017

  2nd July 2018

  French defence exports fell sharply last year in the absence of major deals to sell new Rafale fighter jets, with Middle Eastern clients again making …

• Defence Notes

  Insight: The East China Sea’s ‘Knuckle Junction’

  16th July 2018

  Any successful military campaign by the Chinese military to capture and secure Japan’s Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea could lead to an ‘existential …

• Defence Helicopter

  India seeks item support for AH-64E Apaches

  14th June 2018

  The US State Department has made a determination approving a potential foreign military sale of items in support of a proposed direct commercial sale of …

• Defence Helicopter

  Honeywell tests HSD-400 system on military helos

  18th June 2018

  Honeywell has installed and tested its HSD-400 voice and high-speed data transceiver onboard in-service UH-60 Black Hawk and CH-53 Stallion helicopters, the company announced on …

• Naval Warfare

  India looks at Juan Carlos LHD variant

  8th June 2018

  As Navantia awaits a bid to be opened for four landing helicopter dock (LHD) ships, the Spanish company showcased its indigenously manufactured Juan Carlos 1 …

• Defence Helicopter

  Tata delivers first AH-64 Apache fuselage

  8th June 2018

  Tata Boeing Aerospace has delivered the first AH-64 Apache helicopter fuselage from its facility in Hyderabad, India. The fuselage will now be transported to Boeing’s …

• Land Warfare

  S-400 – India caught between the devil and deep blue sea

  5th June 2018

  India has started final cost negotiations for acquisition of S-400 Triumf air defence missile systems, Shephard has learned. The final deal is expected to be …

• Defence Notes

  US sanctions will not impact India-Russia defence ties

  5th June 2018

  India's Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on 5 June that US sanctions on Russia military exports would not impact long-standing ties between New Delhi and …

• Defence Notes

  China and India calm border dispute

  2nd June 2018

  This week’s 17th Shangri-La Dialogue (SLD) began with a panel session on the border dispute between China and India, ahead of a keynote address by Indian …

• Naval Warfare

  France challenges Beijing in South China Sea

  12th June 2018

  France is increasing its military presence in the Indo-Pacific region, sending warships through the South China Sea and planning air exercises to help counter China's …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Indian Navy prepares to dip toes into unmanned arena

  4th June 2018

  The Indian Navy (IN) is on the hunt for two new types of unmanned vessel – a high-endurance autonomous underwater vehicle (HEAUV) and USV – …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Tanks

  T-90S Licensed Production

  The HVF is expected to be able to produce 120 T-90S each year, suggesting deliveries under this contract will be completed by 2023. Due to ...

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

  MQ-9B (Tri-Service) [India]

  Programme Background Inception & The Indian Navy In 2016, reports suggested India was looking to acquire the MQ-9A Reaper. The two parties developed this requirement, and in June ...

• Military helicopters - maritime

  MH-60R Seahawk (India)

  Programme Background On 25 February 2020, a letter of acceptance for 24 MH-60Rs, worth approximately $2.12 billion, was signed by India and the US in Delhi. ...

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

  V-Bat [India]

  Programme Background Make In India The 'Make In India' is an initiative by the Indian government to grow the domestic manufacturing industry. In the context of ...

• Transport

  C295 (India)

  Programme Background India's Defence Acquisition Council has approved the Indian Air Force bid for the supply and production of 56 C295 transport aircraft to replace ...

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

  Eurodrone (Forecast) [India]

  Programme Background India's Application As announced by a joint statement around the 7th India-Germany Inter-Governmental Consultations (IGC) on 25 October 2024, Germany accepted India's application to join ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Next Generation Destroyers [India]

  India has begun developing its Next Generation Destroyers programme, also known as Project 18. The project for the Indian Navy is expected to replace the ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Next Generation Destroyers [India]

  India has begun developing its Next Generation Destroyers programme, also known as Project 18. The project for the Indian Navy is expected to replace the ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | C295 MPAs [India]

  In February 2024, India's Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) cleared the Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) to purchase 15 maritime patrol aircraft for about $3.5 billion. The Indian ...

• Data links

  Data links | C295 MPAs [India]

  In February 2024, India's Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) cleared the Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) to purchase 15 maritime patrol aircraft for about $3.5 billion. The Indian ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | C295 MPAs [India]

  In February 2024, India's Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) cleared the Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) to purchase 15 maritime patrol aircraft for about $3.5 billion. The Indian ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | C295 MPAs [India]

  In February 2024, India's Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) cleared the Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) to purchase 15 maritime patrol aircraft for about $3.5 billion. The Indian ...

• Fighter - multirole, Trainer

  MRCA - Multi Role Combat Aircraft (Trainer) [India]

  Programme Background Launched years ago, the Medium Multirole Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) programme is notorious internationally of the serpentine nature of Indian military procurements. Under the ...

• AEW&C

  Airbus A330 AWACS (India)

  Programme Background India is planning to increase its AEW&C; capabilities with indigenous radar systems. IAF has requested to procure six Airbus 330 airliner to host ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Next Generation Corvettes [India]

  India's Technology Perspective and Capability Roadmap (TPCR) 2018 contains a requirement for seven Next Generation Corvettes (NGCs), with deliveries starting in 2023. The corvette programme ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

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

  SPOT V3

  The SPOT V3 is a fixed-wing UAV developed by the Indian firm CDSpace Robotics. Designed for ISR tasks, the platform is VTOL capable and meets ...

• Aircraft carriers

  Vikramaditya Class

  INS Vikramaditya is India’s only functional aircraft carriers following the retirement of INS Viraat in 2016. India bought the ex-Russian carrier and upgraded it to ...

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

  Netra 5

  Launched at Aero India 2025, the Netra 5 is a rotary-wing UAV manufactured by ideaForge. It can host a 900g EO/IR camera and drop a ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing

  Abhimanyu

  The Abhimanyu is a concept UAV from NewSpace Research and Technologies (NRT). Its development has been partly funded by the Indian MoD's Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) initiative. ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing

  Zolt

  The Zolt is a concept UAV showcased by ideaForge at Aero India 2025 in Bengaluru. The UAV, intended for ISR missions, has anti-jamming communications, AI-enabled ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing

  Yeti

  Unveiled at Aero India 2025, the Yeti is a concept cargo-carrying UAV take-off from small areas at up to 6.5km altitudes. Its payload can be configured ...

• AEW&C, ISR/special mission, Maritime patrol

  EMB-145 (R-99)

  The Embraer EMB-145 is a modified version of the ERJ-145 regional jet. The aircraft, available in both AEW&C; and Maritime Patrol configurations is in service ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

  Super Dvora Mk 1/Mk 2

  The Israeli Navy has operated the Super Dvora-class fast attack craft since 1989. Vessels are also in service with Eritrea (four boats), India (three boats), ...

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

  Switch V2

  The Switch V2 was commercially launched at Aero India 2025; it is a fixed-wing, VTOL-capable ISR and mapping drone from ideaForge.  Compared to the original ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  CMS (Vikrant-Class)

  The Combat Management System abroad INS Vikrant is developed by TATA Power's Strategic Engineering Division, the Indian MoD's Weapon and Electonic System Engineering Establishment and ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  HF SDR

  Bharat Electronics Limited's High-Frequency Software-Defined Radio (HF SDR) was unveiled at the Aero India 2023 exhibition. The transceiver operates in the HF band and features ...

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

  FWD-200B

  Unveiled in May 2024, the FWD-200B is an Indian fixed-wing, MALE drone developed by Flying Wedge Defence & Aerospace. = With a payload capacity of ...

• Air: surveillance and maritime patrol radar

  Kopyo-21I

  The Kopyo-21I is a multi-mode radar manufactured by Phazotron NIIR in Russia. It is described by the manufacturer as a fourth-plus generation radar, designed to ...

• Frigates

  Talwar Class (Project 11356)

  India’s Talwar-class (Project 11356) frigates for the Indian Navy have been built in Russia based on the old Soviet Navy’s Krivak-class frigates and delivered to ...

• EO/IR systems

  Front Sector Optronics (FSO)

  The Safran Front Sector Optronics (FSO) is an out-of-production EO system for Rafale fighters. It was used for air-to-air and air-to-surface missions.  It had an infrared search and track thermal ...