• Defence Notes

  US-South Korea military readiness hurt by drill pause

  25th September 2018

  The suspension of US-South Korean drills in summer 2018 hurt the readiness of the two militaries, the nominee to head US and UN forces in …

• Defence Notes

  US F-35 fighters fly first ever combat mission

  28th September 2018

  American F-35 stealth fighters have been used in a combat operation for the first time, a defence official said, marking a major milestone for the …

• Special Operations

  SOF school teaches coastal patrol skills

  2nd October 2018

  As United States Special Operations Command’s only international security force assistance training center, the Naval Small Craft Instruction and Technical Training School (NAVSCIATTS) trains and …

• Defence Notes

  US coalition to block North Korean oil

  20th September 2018

  A US government effort to build a multinational coalition to monitor North Korean violations of fuel smuggling appears to be gaining steam. The Trump administration, …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  OpenWorks, Liteye partner for C-UAS

  27th September 2018

  OpenWorks Engineering has partnered with Liteye Systems to integrate a physical UAS defeat capability into Liteye’s C-UAS systems.Liteye’s C-UAS products and systems are designed to …

• Defence Notes

  US B-52s fly over South and East China Seas

  27th September 2018

  US B-52 bombers have recently conducted transit operations in the South China Sea and East China Sea, the Pentagon said on 26 September, amid soaring …

• Digital Battlespace

  AAD 2018: The house that Hensoldt built

  23rd September 2018

  Hensoldt has utilised AAD 2018 to bring together two of its South African subsidiaries under one roof: GEW Technologies, providers in EW and spectrum monitoring …

• Defence Notes

  Battle rages over EU defence pact

  1st October 2018

  A diplomatic tussle has broken out over the European Union's (EU) flagship defence cooperation pact, amid warnings the bloc could cut itself off from major …

• Digital Battlespace

  US takes off gloves in global cyber wars: top officials

  21st September 2018

  The US is taking off the gloves in the growing, shadowy cyber war waged with China, Russia and other rivals, a top White House official …

• Digital Battlespace

  US intelligence is in bed with Taiwan space agency

  24th September 2018

  Growing evidence, including documents acquired by Shephard, indicate that the US intelligence community and the Pentagon have had a direct relationship with Taiwan’s National Space …

• Naval Warfare

  AAD 2018: Twiga’s sight set across the water

  19th September 2018

  South African company Twiga Services is looking to expand its 850 Military Patrol Boat’s (850 MPB) utilisation into South American waters, building on its operational …

• Defence Notes

  Washington set to replace US military commander in South Korea

  17th September 2018

  Washington is set to replace the commander of US forces in South Korea amid a rapid diplomatic thaw on the peninsula, even as denuclearisation of …

• Defence Notes

  US Army Secretary admits Poland may not be ready for 'Fort Trump'

  20th September 2018

  Poland might not yet be ready for a permanent US military base, the head of the US Army said on 19 September, the day after …

• Naval Warfare

  South Korea launches its first missile-capable submarine

  14th September 2018

  South Korea launched its first ever missile-capable attack submarine on 14 September, despite a recent diplomatic thaw with the nuclear-armed North. The $700 million, 3,000t …

• Defence Notes

  North Korea holds 70th anniversary parade, without ICBMs

  10th September 2018

  North Korea refrained from displaying its intercontinental missiles in a massive military parade through Pyongyang celebrating its 70th birthday on 9 September – a conspicuous …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Self-propelled guns

  Mobile Tactical Cannon [US]

  Background The US Army began using the M777 in 1995. Since then, it has served as a field artillery piece providing fire support for American ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  MCH-101 [Japan]

  Programme Background At the time of the 2023 signing , Japan had a fleet of 10 MCH-101s and three CH-101.The KHI MCH-101 helicopter is a version ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  Hurkus C [Niger]

  Programme Background  In late April 2021, Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) President and CEO Temel Kotil claimed in an interview with CNN Turk TV that an export customer for ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-5 Replacement [Mexico]

  Background  Mexico's last fighter aircraft capability rested with their fleet of eight F-5E and two F-5F Tiger IIs platforms from Northrop Grumman; the units were retired ...

• Man-portable missile systems

  Mistral 3 [North Macedonia]

  Background North Macedonia signed a contract for the procurement of Mistral 3 short-range air defence systems. The systems will modernise the Army and are expected ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Light Protected Mobility Vehicle (Phase 1) [North Macedonia]

  Background The acquisition of an LPMV to equip the North Macedonian Armed Forces' Light Infantry Battalion Group (LIBG) is considered the most urgent priority for the ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Stryker [North Macedonia]

  Background In its Long-Term Defence Capabilities Development Plan (LTDCDP) published in 2019, the North Macedonian MoD outlined plans to acquire Light Armoured Vehicles (LAVs) to ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  AW169M [North Macedonia]

  Background Bids and suppliers Prior to Leonardo's award of the North Macedonian contract, Airbus, Lockheed Martin and Bell Helicopters had all put in bids for ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  AW149 [North Macedonia]

  Background Bids and suppliers Prior to Leonardo's award of the North Macedonian contract, Airbus, Lockheed Martin, and Bell Helicopters had all put bids in for ...

• Military UAS - small

  Tactical UAVs [North Macedonia]

  Background European Peace Facility (EPF) The EPF, established in 2021, operates separately from the EU budget. Between 2021 and 2027, the EPF has a financial ...

• Military UAS - small

  Small Surveillance Drones [Denmark]

  Background Second Agreement on the Arctic and North Atlantic In October 2025, Denmark, the Faroe Islands, and Greenland announced the second agreement of the Arctic and ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) [Netherlands]

  Background Dutch and American collaboration On 16 October 2025, the Dutch MoD announced a Letter of Intent (LOI) had been signed to join the USAF’s ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  MQ-9B SkyGuardian [Denmark]

  Background Arctic Capability Package In February 2021, Denmark published the Arctic Capability package, a commitment to invest in new technologies, particularly uncrewed systems, to improve surveillance ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Stryker [Greece]

  Background The Greek Army currently operates a number of outdated vehicles, the majority of which are older American platforms like the M113. As part of ...

• Military UAS - small

  Air-Launched Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (ALUAV) [India]

  Background  Origins The development programme has its origins in the US-India Defence Technology and Trade Initiative signed between the nations in 2006 and renewed in 2015. This ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Major networking projects

  BCS

  Battle Control System (BCS) is a USAF Acquisition Category 1 major automated information system programme that provides air sovereignty C2 for the North American Aerospace ...

• Major networking projects

  BCS-F

  Battle Control System-Fixed (BCS-F) is a replacement for the fixed sites for the Region/Sector Air Operations Center, also known as Region Air Operations Center-Air Defense ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  TW-860 TSM Sprit

  TrellisWare TW-860 is a MANET-capable software-defined radio designed specifically for body wearable applications. It provides voice and data connectivity in a small form factor, featuring ...

• Light UGVs

  PackBot

  PackBot, previously designated 510 PackBot, is a tracked, tactical, mobile UGV with forward-articulated flippers that can perform multiple missions. PackBot is being delivered to customers ...

• Land: air defence radar

  JLENS

  The Joint Land Attack Cruise Missile Defense Elevated Netted Sensor System (JLENS), often referred to as the "Spy Balloon", was a tethered aerial detection system ...

• Frigates

  GMF 140

  The GMF 140 is a concept frigate designed by Rheinmetall Naval Systems. It is initially being marketed towards North American procurement as a next-generation integrated air ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  TW-135 TSM Shadow

  TrellisWare TW-135 is a MANET-capable, high-power radio designed for manpack, vehicular, fixed-site and airborne applications. Marketed as a networking radio, it provides high-speed voice, video ...

• Ultra-light UGVs

  FirstLook

  The Endeavor Robotics (now FLIR Systems) FirstLook is a tracked, compact, rugged, expendable and lightweight robot that provides situational awareness, performs persistent observation and investigates ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Saetlbyol-9

  North Korea unveiled two drones at the 2023 Weapons and Equipment Exhibition in Pyongyang on 2 August 2023. One drone, the Saetlbyol-9, or Morning Star-9,  ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Predator XP

  The Predator XP is an updated unarmed version of the original Predator UAV that the US government has licensed for sale to a broader customer ...

• Fighter - ground attack, ISR/special mission

  Hürkuş-C

  The Hürkuş-C is a light attack and reconnaissance aircraft developed by Turkish Aerospace Industries based on the Hürkuş trainer to meet the requirements of the ...

• Trainer

  T-34 Mentor

  The T-34 Mentor is a trainer aircraft developed by Beechcraft (now Raytheon) to meet the requirements of the USAF and USN to replace the North American ...

• Loitering munitions

  PS Killer (PSK)

  The PS Killer (PSK) is a throw-and-forgot loitering munition developed by an American startup, XDOWN.  Uniquely, the system is shaped like a size 7 American football and is ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F/A-18A/B

  The F/A-18 Hornet A and B aircraft, or F-18A/B ('CF-18' in Canada and 'EF-18' in Spain), were the first models in the USN’s line of ...

• Surface-to-surface missiles

  Hwasong-7 (Nodong-1)

  The Hwasong-7 is a North Korean tactical ballistic missile based on the Hwasong-6. It has the NATO reporting name Scud D. It was designed with ...