• Military Logistics

  Zhuhai 2016: Y-20 family eyes expansion

  10th November 2016

  Two newly received units of the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) Y-20 Kunpeng transport aircraft participated in the Zhuhai Air Show from 1-6 November. …

• Digital Battlespace

  Airbus DS continues SATCOM work with UK

  10th November 2016

  With a mere six years until the end of Skynet, the UK’s sovereign satellite communications capability, attempts are being made to ensure continuing capacity. The UK …

• Naval Warfare

  Malaysia selects Chinese warships

  9th November 2016

  Malaysia surprised many by its 5 November announcement that it will buy four Littoral Mission Ships (LMS) for the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) from China.  …

• Naval Warfare

  Indonesian CN-235 MPA using SAGE

  9th November 2016

  The Indonesian Air Force’s CN-235 Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) is now using the Leonardo-Finmeccanica SAGE Electronic Support Measures (ESM) system, the company announced on 4 November. …

• Digital Battlespace

  Russia fields new EW aircraft & jammer

  9th November 2016

  The first Il-22PP electronic warfare (EW) aircraft, featuring the new Porubshtic (Chopper) jammer complex has completed its joint state testing effort. It has been received …

• Military Logistics

  Australia selected for F-35 support work

  9th November 2016

  Australia has been selected by the US government’s F-35 Joint Program Office (JPO) to undertake component repair assignments for the Pacific region for the F-35 …

• Land Warfare

  Zhuhai 2016: China shows off brawn

  9th November 2016

  The variety of armoured vehicles on display at the 11th Zhuhai Air Show in southern China was dazzling, as China South Industries Group Corporation and …

• Digital Battlespace

  Saab receives Gripen helmet display order

  8th November 2016

  Saab has received an order from the Swedish Defence Material Administration for a helmet mounted display system for the Swedish Air Force’s Gripen E fighter …

• Digital Battlespace

  GovSat secures NATO AGS space segment

  8th November 2016

  GovSat has been awarded a contract by NATO to supply the satellite communications (SATCOM) space segment to the Alliance Ground Surveillance (AGS) programme.  A public-private …

• Defence Helicopter

  Afghans MD 530F proving worth, says NATO

  8th November 2016

  The MD530F Cayuse Warrior light attack helicopter has been cited as one of the improvements in the Afghan national defence and security forces (ANDSF) over …

• Defence Notes

  Type 26 construction to begin in 2017

  8th November 2016

  Construction of the Royal Navy’s Type 26 Global Combat Ships will begin with first steel cut in summer 2017, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed on …

• Defence Helicopter

  Experimental helicopter hits 218kts

  8th November 2016

  The highly-modified Mi-24R flying laboratory, dubbed LL-PSV, intended to test new technologies for high-speed flight, has achieved a maximum speed of 218kts (405km/h). The development …

• Land Warfare

  Russia Buks trend for new SAM

  8th November 2016

  The first fire unit of the new 9K317M Buk-M3 SAM system, developed and manufactured by the Almaz-Antey Corp has been delivered. It was taken on …

• Digital Battlespace

  ADF to upgrade Joint Command Support environment

  8th November 2016

  An information communications technology system from Leidos Australia will upgrade the Australian Defence Force’s (ADF’s) Joint Command Support Environment under a $55 million contract announced …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Zhuhai 2016: SeaFly being prepped for dual-use missions

  7th November 2016

  A scale model of the SeaFly unmanned surface vessel (USV), developed by Beijing Sifang Automation, buzzed into the 11th Zhuhai Air Show in China last …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• ISR/special mission, Maritime patrol

  C295 MPAs/MSAs [Spain]

  Programme Background Required to replace Spain's existing P-3M Orion fleet set to reach OSD in the mid-late 2020s, Airbus' C295W has been selected as the replacement ...

• Loitering munitions

  Deluge (First batch) [France]

  Background Unveiling MBDA unveiled a scale model of the One-Way Effector (OWE), later named the Deluge, at the Paris Air Show 2025. As Breaking Defence reported at the ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  C-390 [Portugal]

  Programme Background Leadership from the Portuguese Air Force and Embraer signed a contract for a sixth C-390, with the option for ten additional aircraft for ...

• Loitering munitions

  Deluge (Additional batches) [France]

  Background Unveiling MBDA unveiled a scale model of the One-Way Effector (OWE), later named the Deluge, at the Paris Air Show 2025. As Breaking Defence reported at the ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  C-390 Options [Portugal]

  Programme Background Leadership from Embraer and the Portuguese Air Force formalised a contract that includes 10 aircraft options that can be utilised by any NATO ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  French MALE UAVs [France]

  Background Requirements The French Ministry of the Armed Forces wishes to develop a French MALE offering comparable to the MQ-9 Reaper, which would, it is hoped, promote ...

• AEW&C

  GlobalEye [France]

  Programme Background Saab and the French Defence Procurement Agency signed an MoU at Paris Air Show 2025 for the firm purchase two GlobalEye aircraft and the ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) [French Air Force]

  Background Rafale F5 companion During a ceremony marking the 60th anniversary of the French Strategic Air Forces (FAS) at Saint-Dizier Air Base in October 2024, France’s Minister of ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  C-390 [Lithuania]

  Programme Background The Lithuanian Armed Forces confirmed the selection of the C-390 as the Air Force's new military transport aircraft during Paris Air Show 2025. ...

• Military UAS - small

  Flexrotor [Phillipines]

  Background Horizon 3 In September 2024, Airbus offered the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) various military equipment, including the Flexrotor, A400M and H225M, to ...

• Loitering munitions

  Larinae: Medium-range loitering munition [France]

  Background Origins French Ministry of Armed Forces spokesperson Hervé Grandjean stated at a press conference in May 2022 that the General Directorate for Armament (DGA) ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  Super Galeb Replacement [Serbia]

  Programme Background Serbia is looking to replace their aged fleet of Super Galeb aircraft from Yugoslavia with a new trainer and light attack aircraft.  According ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  Watchkeeper X (Contracted) [Romania]

  Background 2021 In mid-2021, the Romanian manufacturer Aerostar signed a collaboration with U-TacS to potentially produce the Watchkeeper X in Romania. U-TacS is a joint ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  Watchkeeper X (Uncontracted) [Romania]

  Background 2021 In mid-2021, the Romanian manufacturer Aerostar signed a collaboration with U-TacS to potentially produce the Watchkeeper X in Romania. U-TacS is a joint ...

• Military UAS - small

  Aerosonde Mk 4.7 [Qatar]

  Background Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) At DIMDEX 2016, a QAR 54.7 million ($14.97 million) MoU between the Qatar Armed Forces and the US company Textron Systems for ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Air: Displays

  LAD2008DA

  Produced by Psion DSP, LAD2008DA is a 20"x8" Large Area Display for full-glass cockpit applications. It was showcased during the 2022 Farnborough Air Show and the 2023 ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Wing Loong X

  The Wing Loong X, or WL-X, is a fixed-wing UAV developed by the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC). Debuted at the Paris Air Show ...

• Air: Displays

  RDU-4208 LAD

  ScioTeq RDU-4208 is a 20"x8" Large-Area Display. It features a fully redundant, high-resolution screen with multitouch support. Unveiled in 2022, it was also demonstrated in ...

• Air: aerial targets, Loitering munitions

  Super Simsek

  The Super Simsek (Süper Şimşek) is an improved version of the Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) training drone turned loitering munition.  The drone has reconfigurable payload options ...

• EO/IR systems

  M-19 HD

  The M-19 HD multi-sensor, multispectral, HD observation and targeting payload was unveiled at the Paris Air Show in June 2015. It can incorporate up to ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  Orbiter 5

  Unveiled at Paris Air Show 2023, the Orbiter 5 is a fixed-wing UAV from Aeronautics.  The multi-mission drone can host two payloads simultaneously, features autonomous flight and ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  Rotary Wing Cargo UAV

  Displayed at Paris Air Show 2023, the Rotary Wing Cargo UAV is a cargo-carrying and ISR drone manufactured by Turkish Aerospace (TAI). Powered by a ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Stealth UCAV (nEUROn Successor)

  At the Paris Air Show 2025, Dassault Aviation showcased a stealthy UCAV, the successor of the nEUROn aircraft. A Safran M88 engine will power the ...

• Loitering munitions

  SpyX

  The SpyX is a loitering munition from BlueBird Aero Systems. Unveiled at the Paris Air Show 2023, the munition offers autonomous electro-optical guided attack capabilities and ...

• Loitering munitions

  FWD-LM01

  The FWD-LM01 is a loitering munition unveiled by Flying Wedge Defence & Aerospace at the Paris Air Show 2025. The manufacturer states the drone is built for ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  AeroForce 380

  The AeroForce 380 is a MALE fixed-wing drone. Based on the Milkor 380, it is tailored for maritime surveillance and Coast Guard missions. It can ...

• Military UAS - mini

  Strix 425

  The Strix 425 is a mini fixed-wing drone from EOS Technologie. The hand-launched platform can host a removable VTOL system and multiple payloads.  According to a company ...

• Military UAS - small

  LR2M

  The Long Range and Multi-Missions (LR2M) is a fixed-wing VTOL-capable small UAV from Aeronefs Services. Unveiled at the Paris Air Show 2025, the drone is suited to ...

• Air: COMINT and ELINT systems

  Air Keeper

  Elbit Systems unveiled the Air Keeper, an airborne SIGINT and EW system for aircraft at the Paris Air Show 2015. Already operational, Air Keeper is ...

• Air: Integrated cockpit systems

  HeliSure

  Rockwell Collins HeliSure is a product line of situational awareness solutions for rotary-wing aircraft. It provides glass cockpit capabilities using commercial off-the-shelf equipment that can be ...