• Training

  I/ITSEC 2015: 360˚ visuals from Esterline

  26th November 2015

  Esterline Simulation Visual Systems is set to introduce its new Treality FD-Series of faceted displays to the commercial market at I/ITSEC in Orlando. The company …

• Naval Warfare

  Thales signs NATO BMD subcontract

  24th November 2015

  Leidos has subcontracted Thales for the verification of the NATO Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) architecture on the Integrated Test Bed in The Hague, Thales announced …

• Land Warfare

  New VAB vehicle variant qualifies

  20th November 2015

  A new engineer variant of the VAB (Véhicule de l'avant blindé) Ultima APC for the French Army has passed qualification. This variant called the ‘Génie’ is on schedule …

• Military Logistics

  US says ‘oui’ to French C-130Js

  11th November 2015

  The French Air Force’s plans to bolster its medium lift capabilities with the addition of C-130J Hercules transport aircraft has moved one step closer with …

• Land Warfare

  UAE armour upgrade progresses

  10th November 2015

  The UAE’s 135 BMP-3 infantry fighting vehicle fleet upgrade is set to be completed in 2016. Russia’s Kurganmashzavod company has announced nearly half of the …

• Military Logistics

  Dubai 2015: Auto refuelling for MRTTs

  9th November 2015

  A human boom operator on the A330 multi-role tanker transport (MRTT) could soon be a thing of the past as Airbus Defence and Space (DS) …

• Naval Warfare

  Thales supports French Navy simulators

  6th November 2015

  Thales will provide through-life-support for simulators at naval facilities across France for the French Navy under a contract announced on 4 November. The contract includes …

• Defence Helicopter

  First operational aerial refuel for French EC725s

  6th November 2015

  The French Air Force (Armée de l'air) has completed its first operational air-to-air refuelling of an EC725 (H225M) helicopter, marking a significant capability enhancement for …

• Digital Battlespace

  USAF wants cheaper, more secure SATCOM

  4th November 2015

  The US Air Force is in the midst of conducting several studies that could ‘fundamentally change’ how the service acquires and deploys protected satellite communications …

• Military Logistics

  Airbus tests A400M on grass

  4th November 2015

  Airbus Defence and Space has successfully conducted certification testing of the A400M new generation airlifter on a grass runway, the company announced on 3 November.  …

• Military Logistics

  US looks to increase MRTT usage

  2nd November 2015

  With many its allies now deploying A330 aerial refuelling aircraft to the Middle East and its own next-generation KC-46A tanker still two years away, the …

• Defence Helicopter

  ADEX 2015: LCH/LAH to help Airbus penetration

  21st October 2015

  Airbus Helicopters sees the Light Civil Helicopter/Light Attack Helicopter (LCH/LAH) programme in South Korea as an avenue to deepen penetration of the country’s rotorcraft market. …

• Military Logistics

  Spain’s first A400M takes shape

  19th October 2015

  Airbus Defence and Space is approaching final assembly on the first A400M aircraft to be delivered to the Spanish Air Force, the company announced on …

• Defence Helicopter

  250th NH90 helicopter delivered

  16th October 2015

  NHIndustries has delivered a new NH90 tactical transport helicopter to the Italian Army, marking the 250th delivery made under the NH90 programme. The delivery was made …

• Land Warfare

  Czech Republic orders Mithras rockets

  7th October 2015

  Rheinmetall has been awarded an order from the Czech military for the Mithras handheld illumination rocket, it announced on 6 October. Under the order, which …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, 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

  VBMR-L Serval [Luxembourg]

  Programme 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 ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  EBRC Jaguar [Luxembourg]

  Programme 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 ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  VBMR Griffon [Luxembourg]

  Programme 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 ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, 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

  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]

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

• 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 ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  VBCI Replacement [France]

  Programme 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 ...

• 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 ...

• Self-propelled rocket launchers

  Long-Range Ground Strike (FLP-T) [France]

  Background The French Army currently operates the M270 as its only MLRS. France previously procured a total of 55, though this number had reduced to ...

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

  MQ-9 Reaper [France]

  Programme Background 2013 (Block 1) The then-French Defence Minister, Kean-Yves Le Drian, confirmed on 31 May 2013 that France had ordered its first two MQ-9 platforms. The ...

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 ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, 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 ...

• 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 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 ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  VBCI

  Nexter developed the VBCI to meet a French Army requirement for an infantry fighting vehicle to replace the tracked AMX-10P. The 8x8 design was specified ...

• 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 ...