• Defence Helicopter

  Apache to fire Brimstone this year

  17th March 2016

  The first firing of a Brimstone missile from a Boeing AH-64E Apache is planned for later this year as part of a feasibility study funded …

• Military Logistics

  Lockheed Martin wins tyre PBL contract

  11th March 2016

  Lockheed Martin has been awarded a performance based logistics (PBL) contract by the US Navy to manage aviation tyres, the company announced on 9 March. …

• Digital Battlespace

  French vessels to connect to Comcept

  9th March 2016

  The Comcept broadband communication system will be extended to French Navy vessels under a contract awarded to Airbus Defence and Space and Actia Telecom by …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Northrop technology on nEUROn UCAV

  8th March 2016

  Northrop Grumman, together with Saab Aerosystems, has supplied the attitude and heading reference system (AHRS) for the nEUROn unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV) demonstrator, it …

• Defence Helicopter

  Heli-Expo 2016: Airbus eyes US and Chile for H215

  1st March 2016

  Airbus Helicopters is due to begin an extensive marketing campaign this year centred on its 9t H215 helicopter, with the platform touring both North and …

• Digital Battlespace

  France to upgrade command functions

  18th February 2016

  Thales has been selected by the French defence procurement agency to upgrade the command functions of the French Army and Navy, it announced on 16 …

• Military Logistics

  Philippines, Mali C295 developments

  17th February 2016

  Airbus Defence and Space has delivered the third and final C295 medium transport aircraft to the Philippines Air Force, it announced on 16 February. The …

• Defence Helicopter

  Singapore Airshow: Asia revs up helo engine buys

  11th February 2016

  The demand for new helicopter engines in Asia is on the rise, despite the global rotorcraft market currently being in the grips of a downturn. …

• Naval Warfare

  Searchmaster radar in first flight

  5th February 2016

  Thales' Searchmaster radar has completed its first flight, marking the start of a six month flight test campaign, the company announced on 4 February. Thales is …

• Military Logistics

  BCB delivers FireDragon fuel

  5th February 2016

  BCB has delivered the first batch of FireDragon fuel packs to the British Army following its contract award in November 2015. A spokesperson for BCB …

• Defence Notes

  Germany to invest €130 billion in defence

  3rd February 2016

  German will invest €130 billion in the Bundeswehr over the next 15 years, defence minister Ursula von der Leyen announced on 27 January.  She said that …

• Military Logistics

  France green lights four C-130Js

  3rd February 2016

  France has finally confirmed its purchase of four Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules aircraft as part of a foreign military sales (FMS) deal with the …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  New payload software for AFSOC MQ-9s

  27th January 2016

  The development of a new line of software for the US Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) will enable the fielding of ‘new payloads’ on …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Contract award for more French Reapers

  21st January 2016

  General Atomics Aeronautical Systems has been awarded a $43.7 million contract for the production of a MQ-9 Reaper for the French Air Force as part …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  UDT Asia: Saab goes underwater

  20th January 2016

  Saab showcased two UUV designs – the Sea Wasp (pictured above) and MuMNS – during UDT Asia in Singapore.  The Sea Wasp is designed to …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - MALE

  Bayraktar TB2 [Mali]

  Programme Background Six Drones On 22 December 2022, Joseph Dempsey, a research associate at IISS, tweeted photographs showing a Baytraktar TB2 adorned with the Malian ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  EBRC Jaguar [Luxembourg]

  Background Luxembourg currently operates a small military of just over 1,000 personnel. Despite its small size, Luxembourg has contributed troops to both NATO and EU missions in ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  VBMR-L Serval [Luxembourg]

  Background Luxembourg currently operates a small military of just over 1,000 personnel. Despite its small size, Luxembourg has contributed troops to both NATO and EU missions in ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  VBMR Griffon [Luxembourg]

  Background Luxembourg currently operates a small military of just over 1,000 personnel. Despite its small size, Luxembourg has contributed troops to both NATO and EU missions in ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Akinci [Mali]

  Background Presentation In December 2024, Akinci drones were presented to the Malian Armed Forces by transitional President General Assimi Goita during a ceremony in Bamako, confirming ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  Mi-171Sh [Burkina Faso]

  While the Burkinabe Armed Forces declined to discuss the deal when contacted by Shephard, a Burkinabe military source did acknowledge that the aircraft were being ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Surplus Maxxpro [Bangladesh - Batch 1]

  Programme Background The Bangladesh Army requires MRAPs to provide protected mobility to its troops deployed on UN peacekeeping missions in Mali and the Central African ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Surplus Maxxpro [Bangladesh - Batch 2]

  Programme Background The Bangladesh Army requires MRAPs to provide protected mobility to its troops deployed on UN peacekeeping missions in Mali and the Central African ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  UN Peacekeeping Vehicles [Bangladesh]

  Programme Background The Bangladesh Army requires 4x4 armoured vehicles to provide protected mobility to its troops deployed on UN peacekeeping missions in Mali and the ...

• Medium UGVs

  THeMIS [Netherlands and Estonia]

  Background The Estonian Armed Forces had already been operating the THeMIS UGV in Mali for a year at the time the programme was announced in ...

• Medium UGVs

  THeMIS [Sweden]

  Programme Background Many countries have been acquiring small numbers of Milrem's THeMIS UGV since its success in the hands of Estonian Forces in Mali. The ...

• Self-propelled guns

  Caesar [France]

  Background France first procured the Caesar in 2004, when it ordered 72 vehicles. These were subsequently delivered by 2008. In July 2022, France ordered a ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  Anaconda replacement [Netherlands]

  Background The Netherlands procured the Anaconda to serve as a patrol vehicle for the Netherlands Marine Corps in the Dutch Caribbean. This role was previously filled ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  VBCI Replacement [France]

  Background The VBCI is currently France's primary IFV. As an 8x8 wheel vehicle, it fits within a French force structure that favours agile, manoeuvrable vehicles ...

• Minehunters

  Mine Warfare Vessels [France]

  Programme Background Requirements France’s Mine Warfare Vessels programme is aimed at replacing the ageing Eridan-class minehunters. The programme will follow the Future Naval Mine Action System ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Air: mission management systems

  FINDSAT - BFT System

  Using geo-satellite positioning, Nexter’s BFT system (FINDSAT) is capable of identifying and locating friendly personnel who are not equipped with networked information or radio systems. ...

• Medium UGVs

  THeMIS

  Milrem's Tracked Hybrid Modular Infantry System (THeMIS) is a modular, hybrid UGV.  The vehicle's modular design and open architecture allow it to be reconfigured to ...

• Land: indirect fire location radar

  GA10

  The Ground Alerter 10 (GA10), developed by Thales, is a portable Counter-Rocket, Artillery, and Mortar (C-RAM) early warning system. It provides 360° azimuth coverage with ...

• Air-to-surface missiles

  HOT 3

  Designed to destroy reactive armour, the HOT (Haut subsonique Optiquement Téléguidé Tiré d'un Tube, or High Subsonic, Optical, Remote-Guided, Tube-Launched) family has demonstrated its multipurpose capability. Tens ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  Mi-8/Mi-17

  The Mil Mi-8 (NATO reporting name Hip) is a twin-engine, multirole, medium helicopter developed from 1960 to meet Soviet military requirements. More than 18,000 examples of the ...

• Light UGVs

  Probot

  The 4x4 Professional Robot (Probot) is suitable for various applications, both indoor and outdoor, and is designed to carry a payload of up to 700kg. ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Heron Mk 1

  The Heron, now called the Heron Mk I, is a MALE UAS manufactured by Isreal Aerospace Industries' (IAI) Malat Division. Designed for various missions, including ISTAR and artillery fire ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  AS532

  The AS532 is a development of the SA 330 Puma, with a long fuselage and marketed for tactical transport and logistical support missions. It has ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Puma M36 Mk 5

  OTT developed the Puma M36 Mk 5 to meet the needs of African customers for a lower-cost vehicle that offers a greater payload than its ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  TopOwl

  The TopOwl binocular helmet-mounted sight and display has been chosen by 16 countries for their army, navy and/or air force attack and transport helicopters. It ...

• Land: air defence radar

  Protivnik-GE

  The Protivnik-GE is a mobile 3D surveillance radar distributed by Russian supplier Rosoboronexport and is currently used by the Russian Armed Forces and the Egyptian ...

• Air: Electronic Attack - Jamming

  SPREOS

  Bird Aerosystems’ SPREO is a Directional Infrared Countermeasure (DIRCM) designed to protect rotary and fixed-wing aircraft against incoming infrared (IR) guided surface-to-air and air-to-air missiles. ...

• Frigates

  La Fayette/Kang Ding Class

  The La Fayette-class frigates have a stealthy design and are in service with France and Taiwan, with some variance between the ships on length and ...

• Air-to-air missiles

  9M39 Igla-V

  The 9M39 Igla-V (‘needle’) is a Russian IR homing SAM adapted for helicopter use. It is an air-launched version of the Igla MANPADS, which the ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Storm

  The Storm is a light APC based on the Toyota Land Cruiser 79 commercial SUV developed by Qatari armoured vehicle manufacturer Stark Motors.  The Storm ...