• Naval Warfare

  Euronaval 2012: D2AD sea trials completed

  23rd October 2012

  Thales and DCNS have just completed sea trails of their D2AD automatic take-off and landing demonstrator for VTOL UAVs.   The companies announced the achievement …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  On-board video processing integrated with Skate SUAS

  22nd October 2012

  Aurora Flight Sciences and SRI International Sarnoff have announced the integration of the SRI Sarnoff DL Micro digital data link and video processor into the …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Lockheed Martin-led team to develop new autonomous technology

  9th October 2012

  A team led by Lockheed Martin has been awarded a contract to explore highly advanced autonomous technologies aboard an unmanned vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Aurora's Skate poised for SWAT team operations

  3rd October 2012

  Aurora Flight Sciences has announced that it has recently signed an agreement with the Boston area Metropolitan Law Enforcement Council (MetroLEC) to establish a programme …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  ILA 2012: Rheinmetall hybrid VTOL UAV makes debut

  11th September 2012

  Rheinmetall is debuting a hybrid UAV with VTOL capability at the ILA Airshow in Berlin. The Tactical Utility TU-150 is being jointly-developed by Rheinmetall Airborne …

• Defence Helicopter

  PZL-Swidnik reveals optionally piloted version of the SW-4

  4th September 2012

  PZL-Świdnik has taken the covers off an optionally piloted version (OPV) of its SW-4 light helicopter at the MSPO event in Kielce, Poland on 3 …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  UAS Europe announces UAV system acquisitions

  30th August 2012

  UAS Europe has announced that it has acquired the intellectual property rights, manufacturing capabilities and airframe stock for two different unmanned aircrafts from UAV Services …

• Military Logistics

  CAE announces military simulation contracts

  22nd August 2012

  CAE has announced that it has won a number of military contracts from Airbus Military, BAE Systems and the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) for …

• Digital Battlespace

  First AEW&C aircraft delivered to India

  17th August 2012

  Embraer Defense and Security announced on 16 August 2012 that it has delivered the first EMB 145 Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) class of …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  AUVSI 2012: LM demonstrates new small UAS

  9th August 2012

  Lockheed Martin is to demonstrate its Desert Hawk III, Desert Hawk Extended Endurance Range (EER) and new quadrotor UAV at the upcoming US Army Expeditionary …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  AUVSI 2012: MLB goes vertical

  8th August 2012

  MLB is using the venue of AUVSI’s Unmanned Systems North America to spotlight its recent development efforts on its new Vertical – Bat (V-Bat) UAV …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  AUVSI 2012: JIEDDO outlines unmanned airborne initiatives

  6th August 2012

  Speaking at AUVSI’s Unmanned Systems North America 2012, George Pappas, from the US Department of Defense Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization (JIEDDO) Capability Acquisition …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  AUVSI 2012: Silent Falcon solar electric UAS launched

  6th August 2012

  Silent Falcon UAS Technologies and Bye Aerospace have launched the Silent Falcon solar electric UAS for man-portable long-endurance ISR missions. Unveiled on 6 August at …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  AUVSI 2012: IMT announces partnership with Leptron

  6th August 2012

  Integrated Microwave Technologies (IMT), part of the Vitec Group’s Videocom division, announced the formation of a technology partnership with Leptron, a small VTOL UAS manufacturer, …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Protonex announces new UAV fuel cell power system

  6th August 2012

  Protonex has announced that its UAV-H500 fuel cell power system for unmanned aerial and ground vehicles is now commercially available, bringing more cost-effective alternatives to …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - mini

  K1000ULE [USMC]

  Programme Background Contact Award After a comprehensive down-selection evaluation, Kraus Hamdani Aerospace's K1000ULE drone won the USN's PMA 263 contract in April 2024. The company will now provide the USN ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  Class 2 Tactical UAS [Ireland]

  Background EU Tender On 13 March 2024, the Irish Department of Defence released a planning notice on the EU tenders website, confirming that the Irish ...

• Military UAS - small

  AdvaNced airCraft Infrastructure-Less Launch And RecoverY (ANCILLARY) [US]

  Background Aims & Timeline As stated by DARPA, the ANCILLARY programme aims to develop and fly an X-plane that will provide a “leap-ahead” in long-endurance, VTOL-capable ...

• 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) ...

• Military UAS - mini

  VTOL-Capable Group 2 UAV [USA]

  Background Request for Information (RFI) In March 2026, the USAF issued an RFI seeking a VTOL-capable UAV capable of operating in austere environments to support ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  Camcopter S-300 [South Korea]

  Programme Background Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) On 18 January 2023, Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with Northop Grumman at a ...

• Military UAS - small

  Onboard Mini-Drone Systems (SMDM) (69-90) [France]

  Background Contract Announcement On 3 February 2026, Airbus, Survey Copter’s parent company, announced that the French Directorate General of Armament (DGA) had ordered the Aliaca VTOL variant ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  Embarked VTOL UAV [South Korea]

  Background VTOL Development In January 2024, South Korea's Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) announced that it would commence development of a VTOL-capable rotary-wing UAV to be ...

• Military UAS - mini

  Ship-Bourne VTOL UAV [Singapore]

  Background Multi-Role Combat Vessel  The Republic of Singapore Navy will retire its six Victory-class corvettes and replace them with a new platform, the Multi-Role Combat ...

• Military UAS - small

  Shipborne Small UAV [Portugal]

  Background Shipborne UAV trials In August 2026, during the Iniciativa Mar Aberto 2026 mission, the Portuguese Navy conducted shipborne flight trials of uncrewed aircraft from ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  UAV Tactical Level [Norway]

  Background Request for Information (RfI) In September 2022, the Norwegian Defence Material Agency (NDMA) launched a request for information in preparation for a possible procurement ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  eLRV [USA]

  Background Purpose The US Army unveiled a new concept for a more deployable IBCT structure at AUSA in October 2014. Built around three main types of ...

• Military UAS - small

  VTOL UAV [New Zealand]

  Background Defence Capability Plan (DCP) In April 2025, the New Zealand government published the DCP, a document that is essentially a blueprint for what procurements ...

• Submarines: nuclear/ballistic missile

  Columbia Class Submarine (SSBN 826 - 827) (1-2) [USN]

  Programme Background The Columbia class is being built to replace the ageing Ohio class SSBNs in service with the US Navy. The Major Defense Acquisition ...

• Submarines: nuclear/attack

  Virginia Class Attack Submarine (SSGN 812 - SSGN 822)

  Background Timeline The US Navy’s Virginia-class submarines (SSN 774) are built by both General Dynamics Electric Boat (GDEB) and Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) under an ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - small

  Zala 421-22

  The Zala 421-22 is a rotary-wing UAV designed for ship- or land-based reconnaissance and surveillance, bomb damage assessment and real-time target acquisition. The VTOL UAV ...

• Military UAS - small

  QTP-UAV

  The Quad Tilt Prop UAV (QTP-UAV) is an electric platform that is designed to provide VTOL capability with high-speed horizontal flight. 

• Military UAS - small

  VU-R70

  The VU-R70 is a small fixed-wing VTOL-capable UAV from Viettel. A gasoline engine powers its horizontal flight, while four electric motors give it a VTOL capability. The ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  A-Hawk I (Cloud-1)

  Part of a strike-capable ISTAR series of A-Hawk platforms is the A-Hawk I (Cloud-1) VTOL developed by AVIC. Reports indicate that the A-Hawk I enables ...

• Military UAS - mini

  Zada

  Zada is a mini fixed-wing UAV designed for intelligence, reconnaissance and surveillance (ISR) missions. It features tilt-rotor systems, which give it a VTOL capability.

• Military UAS - tactical

  CL-9

  The CL-9 is a fixed-wing VTOL UAV. It is fitted with two underwing pylons with electric brushless motors at each end powering rotors to provide ...

• Military UAS - mini

  SR-10 VTOL

  Deftech showcased the SR-10 VTOL at DSA 2022. It has been locally designed in Malaysia to conduct aerial mapping, surveillance and line inspection missions. The hand-launched platform is powered ...

• Military UAS - small

  Maya Mk1

  The Maya Mk1 is a small, electric VTOL UAV with a 'tail-sitting' design. It is an encased system that allows for safe operation in urban ...

• Military UAS - small

  CW-25D

  The CW-25D is VTOL capable UAV manufactured by Chengdu Jouav Automation Technology Co CW (JOUAV). It is a hybrid platform containing a 64cc two-stroke gasoline engine and electric ...

• Military UAS - small

  PEN 35VE/VH

  The PEN 35VE/VH is a fixed-wing, VTOL-capable drone from Pen Aviation. Available in two variants, an electric and an electric hybrid, the UAV is designed for surveillance, ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  Turac VTOL UAV

  The Turac is a fixed-wing VTOL UAV developed jointly by Havelsan and Istanbul Technical University Aerospace Research Center. It can be used for traditional military ISR ...

• Military UAS - small

  Rakshak VTOL

  The Rakshak VTOL is a fixed-wing UAV with an EO/IR sensor for ISR missions. Developed by TATA Advanced Systems, the UAV is VTOL-capable, allowing it to operate ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  Drako

  Drako is a quadrotor electric VTOL UAV suitable for close-range surveillance and reconnaissance on SF and police missions, especially in urban areas. It is available ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  H12 Poseidon

  The H12 Poseidon is the largest member of Swarmly's UAV family. Designed to compete with other theatre-level UAVs, the fixed-wing VTOL capable H12 integrates many payload options, such ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  XV-24A LightningStrike

  The XV-24A LightningStrike, developed by Aurora Flight Sciences and its partners Rolls-Royce and Honeywell, was a project for a tilt-wing UAV powered by an electric-distributed ...