• Digital Battlespace

  French RIFAN 2.1 contract issued

  5th April 2019

  Rohde & Schwarz has received a contract with Airbus and Naval Group for phase 2.1 of the French RIFAN programme, the company announced on 2 …

• Digital Battlespace

  Hughes receives CRADA contract for BFT-3

  8th April 2019

  Hughes Network Systems has received a two-year Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) from the US Army for the third phase of the Blue Force …

• Special Operations

  SOF helmet program awarded

  17th April 2019

  The US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) has awarded Gentex a USD $95m contract to provide operators with a next-generation modular integrated communications helmet (MICH) under …

• Land Warfare

  IDEX 2019: Nimr details new Ajban 447A

  20th February 2019

  Nimr has revealed its new multirole Ajban 447A vehicle at IDEX 2019 following just three months of vehicle development. Speaking to Shephard, Yaser Ahmed al Hammadi, …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Ocean Business 2019: Teledyne shows off the SeaRaptor

  9th April 2019

  Teledyne Technologies was out in force at Ocean Business, displaying its range of sensors and unmanned vehicles, including the SeaRaptor autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV). With one …

• Military Logistics

  US Army orders M997A3 ambulances

  12th April 2019

  AM General has received a $185 million order from the US Army Contracting Command to deliver 648 M997A3 High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) ambulances, …

• Defence Helicopter

  Leonardo, Poland sign offset agreement

  11th April 2019

  Leonardo's UK subsidiary, Leonardo MW, has signed an offset agreement valued at about €90 million with the Polish Ministry of National Defence, Leonardo announced on …

• Naval Warfare

  IDEX 2019: Al Seer envisions future larger USV platform

  18th February 2019

  Al Seer Marine is looking to develop another USV to add to its existing fleet of platforms, as the company seeks potential markets for its …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Natural disaster market sparks geo-reference technology growth

  8th April 2019

  The need for disaster relief agencies to carry out unmanned aerial surveillance of affected areas has prompted a growth in requests for access to geo-referencing …

• Military Logistics

  Global Ordnance acquires CMP

  10th April 2019

  Global Ordnance has completed the acquisition of Chemring Group’s subsidiary Chemring Military Products (CMP), the company announced on 5 April. CMP procures and delivers US-standard …

• Digital Battlespace

  Thales technology for Jamaican coastal surveillance

  11th April 2019

  Thales has been selected by the Jamaican Defense Force to provide a coastal surveillance system based around its Coast Watcher 100 radar, the company announced …

• Defence Notes

  Unconventional 'resistance' cells urged for Baltic defense: study

  16th April 2019

  A Pentagon-commissioned report published 15 April envisions equipping Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania with ‘resistance’ cells armed with unconventional weapons to deter Russia from invading. These …

• Training

  New VITAL image generation launched by FlightSafety International

  16th April 2019

  FlightSafety International (FSI) has introduced its new VITAL 1150 image generation (IG) system. The new IG replaces the VITAL 1100 that was introduced in late …

• Land Warfare

  KMW to modernise German Leopard 2 tanks

  10th April 2019

  Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) has received a contract to modernise 101 German Leopard 2 A6 main battle tanks, the company announced on 5 April. The contract, …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Moog joins Boeing’s MQ-25 industry team

  8th April 2019

  Moog Aircraft Group has received a contract from Boeing to supply the wing flight control actuator and wingfold actuation systems for the MQ-25 unmanned refuelling …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Fighter - multirole

  J-10 [Pakistan]

  Programme Background A video clip released by the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) disclosed that a deal to acquire the J-10 from China was signed on 25 ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  CV90 [Czech Republic]

  Background The Czech Republic has been working on modernising its mechanised units at least since 2017, when the country launched its "Tracked IFV" programme to ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Boxer IFV (Schakal) [Netherlands]

  Background The Boxer is currently in service with both Germany and the Netherlands, having entered service in 2009 and 2013, respectively.  In October 2025, the ...

• Medium UGVs

  Mission Master (RPV Sprial 2) [UK]

  Background First announced in April 2017 and referred to in early MOD documents as the ‘last mile resupply’ initiative, the British Army is reportedly evaluating ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Boxer IFV (Schakal) [Germany]

  Programme Background The Boxer is currently in service with both Germany and the Netherlands, having entered service in 2009 and 2013, respectively.  In October 2025, ...

• AEW&C

  AEW&C Aircraft [India]

  Programme Background India is planning to increase its AEW&C; capabilities with indigenous radar systems.  A330 Bid In 2015, the IAF has requested to procure six ...

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

  Anka-S (Second Batch) [Turkey]

  Programme Background First Batch Based on comments by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) and Turkish media in 2018, Shephard believes that Türkiye acquired 26 Anka-S drones ...

• Main battle tanks

  Viatura Blindada de Combate-Carro de Combate (VBC-CC) [Brazil]

  Programme Background Several key technical requirements have been outlined by the Brazilian MoD. Among the most important are that the platform should weigh less than ...

• UAS: communication systems

  UAS: communication systems | RangeHawk (RQ-4 Global Hawk) [US]

  Northrop Grumman received a US$325.5 million US Army contract in May 2026 to develop and acquire the RangeHawk HALE UAV, a modified RQ-4 Global Hawk designed ...

• UAS: flight control systems

  UAS: flight control systems | RangeHawk (RQ-4 Global Hawk) [US]

  Northrop Grumman received a US$325.5 million US Army contract in May 2026 to develop and acquire the RangeHawk HALE UAV, a modified RQ-4 Global Hawk designed ...

• Military UAS - mini

  Medium Range Tactical (MRT) [USMC]

  Background Request for Information (RFI) In February 2026, the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) issued an RFI for solutions for a Medium Range Tactical (MRT) ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  JLTV [Slovenia - 2nd Batch]

  Programme Background  Slovenia began its procurement of Oshkosh Defence's JLTV 4x4 armoured vehicle in 2018, although a US government FMS contract was not signed until ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  L-39NG Senegal

  The aircraft will feature five hard-points, two external fuel tanks with 350 lt capacity, Mk 81 and Mk 82 bombs, guided and unguided rockets, single ...

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

  MQ-9A Reaper [Spain]

  Programme Background First Contract The US State Department approved a Foreign Military Sale (FMS) of MQ-9 Block 5 aircraft and associated parts, equipment, and logistical ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Boxer (MIV) [UK]

  Background History The UK MoD announced in March 2018 that it would re-join the Boxer programme and pursue a sole-source acquisition of the 8x8 vehicle. ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Weapon sights for night use (thermal imaging)

  CRATOS

  The Clip-On Ruggedized Advanced Thermal Optical Sight (CRATOS) is a miniaturised all-in-one thermal weapon sight designed for handheld, clip-on or stand-alone use. 

• Weapon sights for night use (thermal imaging)

  HuntIR Mk 2

  The HuntIR Mk 2 thermal weapon and reconnaissance sight is designed for clip-on use on mid- and long-range small arms. The standalone weapon sight has ...

• Weapon sights for night use (thermal imaging)

  XACT th family

  The XACT thermal weapon sight product family includes: the XACT th64 short/medium-range weapon-mounted or handheld sight; the XACT th65 clip-on marksman sight; and the XACT ...

• Weapon sights for night use (thermal imaging)

  CNVD-T

  The Clip-On Night Vision Device-Thermal (CNVD-T) is a handheld or weapon-mounted thermal sight based on the military SU-232/PAS. 

• Weapon sights for night use (thermal imaging)

  UTCx

  The UTCx (Universal Thermal Clip-on) sight is a universal thermal clip-on to existing weapon sights, currently fielded by the US military and supporting long-range sniper ...

• Weapon sights for night use (thermal imaging)

  AN/PAS-13G(V)1 LWTS

  The AN/PAS-13G(V)1 Light Weapon Thermal Sight (LWTS) is a handheld or weapon-mounted thermal sight. The TI capability of the LWTS allows for longwave infrared observation ...

• Weapon sights for night use (thermal imaging)

  TISI-M

  Designed for assault and sharpshooter rifles, SMGs and machine guns, the TISI-M is a lightweight uncooled thermal day and night weapon sight which can be ...

• Weapon sights for night use (thermal imaging)

  AN/PVS-30

  The AN/PVS-30 is a long-range thermal clip-on sniper night sight. The sight is able to extend the range of engagement by up to 1,000m and ...

• Weapon sights for night use (thermal imaging)

  Lily-L

  The Lily-L clip-on thermal sight for long-range sniper weapons can be mounted on a Picatinny rail in front of a day scope. It is designed for ...

• Weapon sights for night use (image intensifiers)

  MilSight S135 MUNS

  The MilSight S135 Magnum Universal Night Sight (MUNS) AN/PVS-27 is a high-resolution clip-on weapon sight that mounts forward of an existing scope, adding NV capabilities ...

• Weapon sights for night use (thermal imaging)

  ThermoSight HISS-XLR

  The HISS extended long-range (XLR) clip-on thermal weapon sight allows snipers to detect and recognise man-sized targets at up to 2,000m, offering a 25% increase ...

• Individual grenade launchers

  UBGL

  The single-shot 40mm Under-Barrel Grenade Launcher (UBGL) can be attached to most modern assault weapons using a MIL-STD-1913 Picatinny rail system. The breech is swung ...

• Weapon sights for night use (thermal imaging)

  MUNSTI

  The MUNSTI uncooled thermal imaging clip-on sight is compact and lightweight, designed for use in front of a day optical sight. It is suitable for ...

• Sniper rifles

  Dan.338

  IWI launched the Dan.338, the first of a new family of bolt-action sniper rifles, at the Eurosatory 2014 exhibition. Chambered for .338 Lapua Mag ammunition, ...

• Weapon sights for night use (thermal imaging)

  TVC 60

  The TVC 60 is a clip-on thermal weapon sight designed to be used in conjunction with a magnified day optic. The shooter relies on the ...