• Defence Notes

  IDEX 2015: UAE shows ‘readiness to use force’ in Syria

  21st February 2015

  Fresh airstrikes carried out by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in Syria in late February have signalled its continued willingness to use military force to …

• Digital Battlespace

  Sagem, HAL sign Sigma 95 technology transfer

  20th February 2015

  Sagem and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) have signed a technology transfer agreement for Sagem's Sigma 95 laser gyro navigation systems, as announced on 18 February. …

• Defence Helicopter

  France, Germany to upgrade Tiger simulators

  13th February 2015

  Thales and Rheinmetall Defence Electronics will partner to supply or upgrade 20 Tiger helicopter simulators for French and German armed forces, it was announced on …

• Land Warfare

  First firing of French MMP missile

  13th February 2015

  The French Defence Procurement Agency (DGA) has successfully completed the first firing of the Missile de Moyenne Portée (MMP) medium-range missile, it has been announced. …

• Defence Helicopter

  Sogitec to train Swedish NH90 crew

  12th February 2015

  Sogitec Industries has won a contract by the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) to train Swedish Air Force and FMV Test and Evaluation NH90 crews, …

• Land Warfare

  US gives ammunition and artillery to Lebanon

  11th February 2015

  The US has delivered ammunition and artillery worth over $25 million in assistance to the Lebanese Armed Forces, the US Embassy to Lebanon announced on …

• Naval Warfare

  Sagem-led consortium unveils anti-piracy system

  4th February 2015

  The Autoprotection consortium has unveiled its new fully-integrated anti-piracy system called BlueDome at the Euromaritime exhibition, held on 3-5 February in Paris, France. Sagem leads …

• Digital Battlespace

  Brazil's SGDC satellite cleared for manufacture

  13th January 2015

  The Brazilian Air Force announced on 9 January that the Geostationary Defence and Strategic Communications Satellite (SGDC) has completed its design review and received approval …

• Military Logistics

  Cyprus airbase set for solar facility installation

  13th January 2015

  The European Defence Agency (EDA) and a European energy consortium have signed a contract for installing and operating a solar facility at Paphos Airbase, Cyprus, …

• Military Logistics

  Canadian army buys decontamination systems

  12th January 2015

  Nexter's subsidiary NBC-Sys has signed a contract with Dew Engineering & Development for the development of six personnel, vehicle and equipment decontamination systems for the …

• Digital Battlespace

  Thales fire control system selected for French Navy

  7th January 2015

  Thales has received a contract to upgrade the anti-air missile fire control system on the French Navy’s Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier, the company announced …

• Land Warfare

  Saab eyes future ATGM after Roquette success

  17th December 2014

  Saab is looking to provide its new extended-range (ER) and high explosive (HE) capabilities to current users of the AT4 anti-tank guided missile as well …

• Defence Notes

  Russian defence companies see growth, for now

  16th December 2014

  Russian defence companies saw a 20% rise in sales last year, according to a new report analysing the world’s top 100 arms producers. Several Russian …

• Military Logistics

  Germany issues A400M support contracts

  15th December 2014

  Airbus Defence and Space will support the A400M’s entry into service with the German Air Force under two in-service support contracts announced on 12 December. …

• Naval Warfare

  DCNS tests maritime combat system demonstrator

  15th December 2014

  DCNS has tested a new ship-borne anti-terrorism and anti-piracy combat system demonstrator in Toulon harbour, France. It's designed to help accelerate decision making and prevent …

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 ...

• Fardier SOV

  Programme Background The French Army's airborne units previously operated 280 Lohr FL500 Fardier utility vehicles to carry heavy equipment. Those vehicles increased the tactical mobility ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...