• 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 …

• Naval Warfare

  Luerssen, Civmec form joint venture

  30th May 2018

  Luerssen has formed a joint venture with Civmec called the Australian Maritime Shipbuilding and Export Group, the Australian Department of Defence announced on 26 May. …

• Defence Helicopter

  Russian MoD to take Mi-38 in 2019

  6th June 2018

  The Russian MoD is set to take delivery of its first Mi-38T 15.6t transport helicopter built at Kazan Helicopters next year. According to Russian Helicopters …

• Land Warfare

  US Army developing Third Arm for soldiers

  1st June 2018

  The US Army Research Laboratory is developing a ‘Third Arm’ to help reduce the burden of heavy weapons on soldiers. The prototype device, which weighs …

• Land Warfare

  Eurosatory 2018: Finnish land modernisation rolls on

  4th June 2018

  Sharing a border of over 1,300km with Russia - as well as a turbulent history - Finland is once again finding itself in a precarious …

• Defence Notes

  Taiwan F-16 fighter jet crashes, killing pilot

  4th June 2018

  Taiwan’s air force said the pilot of an F-16 fighter jet was killed after his plane crashed on 4 June in the mountains at the …

• Land Warfare

  Raytheon receives Romanian Patriot order

  29th May 2018

  Raytheon has received a $395.8 million contract from the US Army to produce the Patriot air and missile defence system for Romania, the company announced …

• Defence Notes

  US Missile Defense Agency told to step up its communication game

  31st May 2018

  The US Government Accountability Office (GAO) has given the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) mixed grades for its testing and delivery goals for last year, and …

• Land Warfare

  Soviet-era BMP-1 upgrade revealed

  6th June 2018

  A prototype of the upgraded Soviet-era BMP-1 IFV was displayed in public for the first time at HEMUS 2018 defence exhibition in Sofia, Bulgaria. Promoted …

• Land Warfare

  Eurosatory 2018: Austria unveils new vehicles

  8th June 2018

  The Austrian MoD has showcased several new armoured vehicles to the press at the ministry's offices in Vienna, including the Dingo 2 A3 in different configurations, a …

• Naval Warfare

  Bulgarian shipyard unveils new vessel designs

  6th June 2018

  Two new projects were showcased by MTG Delfin for the first time at HEMUS 2018 defence exhibition held Plovdiv, Bulgaria.  The first of these is …

• Defence Helicopter

  Japan lines up AH-X contenders

  4th June 2018

  The Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA) in Japan’s MoD has invited companies to provide information for its next combat helicopter to succeed the Fuji-Bell …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  China parcels out deliveries to UAS

  1st June 2018

  Beihang Unmanned Aircraft System Technology is developing a new super-sized UAS for the transportation of cargo and parcels throughout Chinese airspace. The new UAS design …

• Defence Notes

  Qatar says 'stronger' despite year-long Gulf dispute

  6th June 2018

  On the first anniversary of a bitter Gulf diplomatic rift, Qatar's foreign minister on 5 June declared his country stronger than ever and said it …

• Naval Warfare

  Canadian naval shipbuilding in the spotlight

  4th June 2018

  A multitude of naval announcements at this year’s CANSEC event indicate that 2018 could herald a positive era for Canada’s maritime industry. However, this prosperity …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Transport

  Medium Transport Aircraft (DROP) [Poland​]

  Background Requirement Poland acquired the C-130E Hercules over a decade ago under the US FMS programme. Deliveries started in 2009 and ran through to summer ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  Armoured Infantry Combat Vehicle (VBC Fuz) [Brazil]

  Programme background Technical requirements The Brazilian Army released two documents outlining the technical and operational requirements for the VBC Fuz in early 2020. These outline ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  C-130H Replacement [Sweden]

  Programme Background Requirements Sweden has five C-130H aircraft (designated Tp-84) and one KC-130H. Two C-130Es bought in the 1960s have retired, but the six H ...

• Military UAS - mini

  RQ-11 Raven [Czech Republic]

  Methodology PGO and programme status The contract has been awarded and completed, giving a PGO of 100%. Units required The 2009 programme involved the procurement ...

• Loitering munitions

  Warmate [Ukraine]

  Programme Background Ukraine placed an order for an undisclosed number of Warmate systems in 2017. Shepherd believes units acquired in this order later were utilised ...

• Military UAS - small

  ScanEagle (11-20) [Czech Republic]

  Methodology PGO and programme status Since Defence Insight cannot find any evidence of a procurement, the effort has been marked as cancelled. Therefore, it has ...

• Minehunters

  Awaji Class (1-4) [Japan]

  Programme Background Two Awaji class mine countermeasures vessels (MCMV) were ordered from the Japanese shipyard Japan Marine United (JMU) for the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) initially. ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Ejder Yalçın (Batch 1) [Qatar]

  Background In the face of deteriorating relations with some of its neighbours in the Gulf, Qatar has forged closer defence ties with Turkey. This has ...

• OPVs

  Inlay Class (second OPV)

  Programme Background The Inlay class originally consists of a single OPV in service with the Myanmar Navy. However, a second Inlay-class OPV has been reported under construction since ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  Aerostar [Mexico]

  Methodology Unit cost Based on the UAV’s MTOW and the Defence Insight database, Shephard estimates the aircraft’s 2026 gross and flyaway unit costs are $1.95 million and $1.58 million, respectively. Based ...

• Military UAS - small

  HUSAR (2023 Order) [Germany]

  Programme Background First Order In 2015, the German Army launched the HUSAR programme to identify a replacement for its Airbus Defence & Space KZO and ...

• OPVs

  Cyprus Second Sa'ar 62 OPV

  Programme BackgroundThe Republic of Cyrus' Ministry of Defence placed an order with Israel Shipyards for its first Sa'ar 62  OPV in December 2015 in a project valued ...

• Patrol boats

  Rajshree Class (Flight II)

  Programme BackgroundThe Rajshree class is to consist of 13 FPVs built in two separate flights. Flight I saw construction begin in 2010 and all eight vessels ...

• Maritime patrol

  P-8A Poseidon [Germany]

  Background 2017 MPA programme (cancelled) In 2017, Germany and France announced that they would be developing a maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) to replace their current ...

• Landing platform docks/dock landing ships

  Makassar Class LPD (7)

  Indonesia signed a contract for $150 million for two LPDs in the Makassar class, KRI Makassar and KRI Surabaya, with South Korean shipbuilder Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Pistols

  Jericho Pistol 941

  Designed for military and law enforcement users, the Jericho Pistol 941 is available in 9mm, .40 S&W; and .45 ACP calibres and in standard, short ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Guará WS

  Avibras is marketing the 4x4 Guará WS light armoured vehicle, a further development of its 4x4 AV-VB4 RE Guará prototype. Developed in cooperation with the ...

• Land: manned turrets

  TORC30

  The TORC30 is a stabilised unmanned turret armed with a Rheinmetall MK30-2/ABM 30mm cannon being developed by Ares, an Elbit subsidiary, and the Brazilian Army’s ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  V-RAPTOR

  Unveiled at LAAD 2023 in Rio de Janeiro, the V-RAPTOR is a tactical police armoured vehicle from domestic manufacturer Combat Armor Defense do Brasil.

• Military UAS - mini

  Nauru 100D

  The Nauru 100D is a mini fixed-wing UAV from Xmobots. Unveiled at the 2025 LAAD Defence & Security tradeshow, the aircraft is VTOL-capable, developed for ISTAR, and ...

• Air: Displays

  Panoramic Cockpit Display

  Developed by L3Harris and Elbit Systems America, the Panoramic Cockpit Display (PCD) is a touchscreen MFD integrated into F-35 aircraft. It provides two electronically divided ...

• Anti-ship missiles

  MANSUP/MANSUP-ER

  MANSUP (Míssil Antinavio Nacional de Superfície) is a surface-to-surface anti-ship missile developed in Brazil. Its first test launch was conducted in 2018. MANSUP is going to ...

• Self-propelled rocket launchers

  Armadillo TA-2

  The Armadillo TA-2 is an automatic or manned rocket launcher system designed to be fully retracted inside a 4x4 light vehicle.The concept, which was being ...

• EW test systems, Air: chaff/flare/decoy systems

  CAST-easy

  RUAG unveiled the Countermeasure Advanced System Test Equipment (CAST-easy) in 2017 earmarking it for the Panavia Tornado series of combat aircraft. The 2017 announcement stated ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  KC-390/C-390 Millennium

  The KC-390 is a high-wing, twin-turbofan, T-tail design intended to meet the needs of the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) for a tanker/transport aircraft. Developed and ...

• CUAS - hybrid effector systems

  Drone Deterrence System

  First unveiled at the LIMA 2017 exhibition by Mitsubishi Electric, the Drone Deterrence System began to be developed in 2014 and made its first sale in ...

• Individual assault/anti-tank weapons

  Fletcher

  Arnold Defense, which has produced more than 1.1 million 2.75in/70mm rocket launchers for airborne applications since 1961, unveiled the Fletcher 2.75in/70mm Weapon System at the September ...

• Landing platform docks/dock landing ships

  Albion Class

  The two Albion-class Landing Platform Dock (LPD) ships, HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark, were built for the UK Royal Navy to replace the older 1960s vintage ...

• Uncrewed aerial systems engines

  FJ33-5A

  The FJ33-5A is a turbofan engine manufactured by Williams. The engine achieved EASA certification in April 2017, and is used onboard the XQ-58 Valkyrie UAV. 

• Minehunters

  Kormoran II Class

  Three Kormoran II-class minehunters were budgeted for the Polish Navy in 2011, and a contract was placed for a prototype in 2013, with the first ...