• Defence Notes

  DCNS drops details of Aussie sub design

  16th July 2015

  DCNS has unveiled the pre-concept design that it will propose for Australia's future submarine Competitive Evaluation Process (CEP). The proposed conventionally-powered submarine is named Shortfin …

• Land Warfare

  SBDS receives MMP warhead order

  9th July 2015

  MBDA France has awarded a warhead production contract to Saab Bofors Dynamics Switzerland (SBDS) for MMP medium-range missiles, the company announced on 7 July. Deliveries …

• Land Warfare

  Brazil to increase jungle training

  7th July 2015

  Jungle training for officers and NCOs in Brazil is set to expand over the coming years as part of a 10-year transformation plan. The Centro …

• Military Logistics

  Thales receives FRA-145 certification

  19th June 2015

  Thales has been granted FRA-145 airworthiness certification by French authorities for the maintenance of aircraft operated by the French armed forces and security agencies. The …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Paris Air Show: Security instability creates new UAV markets

  18th June 2015

  Textron Systems is exploring new opportunities in the western and eastern European UAV markets following instability created as a result of the conflict in the …

• Naval Warfare

  France receives FREMM Provence

  15th June 2015

  The French Navy has received the multi-mission FREMM frigate Provence, the second in a series of frigates ordered from DCNS by OCCAR on behalf of …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Paris Air Show: Watching the Watchkeeper

  8th June 2015

  The UK’s Watchkeeper tactical UAS could operate from austere airstrips by 2017, it has emerged. During a media briefing at the Thales facility at Gennevilliers …

• Land Warfare

  Final Romanian PVP LAORVs delivered

  3rd June 2015

  The Romanian Ministry of Defense took delivery of the last batch of six PVP light armoured vehicles from Panhard General Defense between 18-21 May. The …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  France receives third MQ-9 Reaper

  2nd June 2015

  General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA‑ASI) has delivered a third Predator B/MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to the French Ministry of Defense, the company …

• Military Logistics

  India clears C295 buy

  28th May 2015

  India's Defence Acquisition Council has approved the Indian Air Force bid for the supply and production of 56 C295 transport aircraft.The new aircraft will replace …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Sky-Futures gets drone funding

  28th May 2015

  London-based oil and gas data capture firm Sky-Futures will receive a developmental boost for two new products after receiving investment from the newly-launched Commercial Drone …

• Military Logistics

  EAATTC takes place in France

  26th May 2015

  The second 2015 edition of the European Advanced Airlift Tactics Training Course (EAATTC) is taking place in Orléans, France on 18-29 May. During the course, …

• Naval Warfare

  IMDEX Asia: Royal Navy still sees responsibilities in Asia

  21st May 2015

  The Royal Navy wants to remain an active force in Asia even though it now lacks ‘striking activity’ in the region, a senior officer from …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  IMDEX Asia: ECA Group aims to expand further into Asia

  20th May 2015

  France-based robotics specialist ECA Group is exhibiting a number of its unmanned systems designed for the maritime domain at this year’s IMDEX Asia as the …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Airbus, Dassault, Finmeccanica welcome MALE UAS next steps

  20th May 2015

  Airbus Defence and Space, Dassault Aviation and Finmeccanica have welcomed an agreement between France, Germany and Italy to conduct a definition study of a European …

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 ...