• Defence Notes

  North Korea's Kim oversees test of new weapon with 'powerful warhead'

  18th April 2019

  North Korea's Kim Jong Un has supervised the test-firing of a new tactical weapon with a ‘powerful warhead’, state media reported 18 April, in the …

• Naval Warfare

  Opinion: Russia's reducing naval might

  8th July 2019

  The Russian Navy has unveiled its latest plans to build two helicopter carriers (LPH) over the next 10 years, which will form the basis of …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Fire Scout reaches IOC with US Navy

  10th July 2019

  The MQ-8C Fire Scout has reached initial operational capability with the US Navy, clearing the way for fleet operations and training to begin. The MQ-8 …

• Digital Battlespace

  USAF downselects Falcon radio for airborne comms competition

  8th July 2019

  L3Harris Technologies has been awarded a development prototype contract from the US Air Force for its Falcon Wideband Airborne HF Radio, which will now be …

• Military Logistics

  KBR named on automated fuel systems contract

  9th July 2019

  KBR has received a place on the US Defense Logistics Agency’s automated fuel systems installation services IDIQ contract. The development allows KBR to bid on …

• Digital Battlespace

  Competition hots up in Brazil's defence satellite race

  9th April 2019

  Two competitors are remaining hopeful ahead of the delayed next phase in Brazil’s geostationary defence satellite programme, SGDC 2. Having successfully passed the request for …

• Land Warfare

  Elbit Systems to deliver howitzers to IDF

  1st April 2019

  Elbit Systems has received a $125 million contract from the Israeli Ministry of Defense (IMoD) to deliver fully automatic self-propelled howitzer gun systems for the …

• Land Warfare

  Saab logs new ammunition order

  9th July 2019

  Saab has received an order for Carl-Gustaf man-portable weapon system ammunition from an unnamed customer. Deliveries under the order will run through 2019-2020. Görgen Johansson, …

• Digital Battlespace

  Northrop Grumman details Northern Edge input

  12th July 2019

  Northrop Grumman displayed a number of new strike, ISR and multi-domain C2 capabilities with military partners during the Northern Edge 2019 joint training exercise. Northern …

• Digital Battlespace

  GDMS wins Prophet Enhanced contract

  11th July 2019

  General Dynamics Mission Systems has received a contract from the US Army for the Prophet Enhanced system, the US Department of Defense announced on 9 …

• Military Logistics

  First Canadian C295 flies

  9th July 2019

  The first C295 for the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) has completed its first flight in Seville, Spain, Airbus announced on 5 July. The aircraft, …

• Land Warfare

  Germany requests PAC-3 MSE from US

  15th July 2019

  Germany has requested Patriot Advanced Capability 3 (PAC-3) Missiles Segment Enhanced (MSE) from the US government under its foreign military sales programme. Under a package …

• Land Warfare

  Belarus contracts Uralvagonzavod to upgrade more T-72B MBTs

  8th July 2019

  Belarus has contracted Russian company Uralvagonzavod to upgrade 11 of its T-72B tanks to the T-72B3 standard. Signed at the Army 2019 trade show that …

• Defence Notes

  Israel strikes Gaza over bomb balloons

  26th March 2019

  The Israeli military said on 23 March 2019 that it launched airstrikes against two groups of Palestinians in Gaza, after they allegedly flew balloons rigged …

• Defence Notes

  At least six Mali troops killed by landmines

  13th March 2019

  Six Malian troops were killed on 12 March 2019 when their vehicles drove over improvised land mines in the centre of the West African country, …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military helicopters - multirole

  Joint Light Helicopter (HIL) Programme

  Programme Background The French Ministry of the Armed Forces has elected to bring the launch of the French Armed Forces’ HIL programme forward to 2021. ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  NH90 TTH [France]

  Programme Background In 2001, the French government made its first purchase of 34 NH90 Tactical Transport Helicopters, followed by a second order in 2013 for ...

• Military UAS - micro, Military UAS - mini

  Micro & Mini Drones (France)

  Programme Background RequirementOn 23 April 2021, an RfP was published by the Direction de la Maintenance Aéronautique (DMAé) to supply around 500 micro and nano drones for the ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | OPV Procurement (1-2) [Montenegro]

  During Euronaval 2024, the French Ministry of Armed Forces and Veterans announced that Montenegro signed a contract for the acquisition of two OPV 60. Both ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | OPV Procurement (1-2) [Montenegro]

  During Euronaval 2024, the French Ministry of Armed Forces and Veterans announced that Montenegro signed a contract for the acquisition of two OPV 60. Both ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  A330 MRTT (13-15) [France]

  In June 2020, The French government has pledged to buy new military heavy-lift helicopters and accelerate plans for naval drone, ISTAR and tanker aircraft programmes as ...

• Loitering munitions

  Switchblade 300 [France]

  Programme Background Plans to Purchase At Eurosatory 2022, Col. Arnaud Goujon, the French Army's chief of plans, told the media that the French Army was ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  NH90 Special Forces [France]

  Programme Background In French service, advanced H225M Caracals with aerial refuelling capabilities are used by SOF units of the French Air Force (FAF) and French ...

• OPVs

  OPV Procurement (1-2) [Montenegro]

  Programme Background Timeline During Euronaval 2024, the French Ministry of Armed Forces and Veterans announced that Montenegro signed a contract for the acquisition of two ...

• OPVs

  OPV 58 S [Senegal]

  Programme Background Senegal ordered three OPV 58 S patrol vessels on 17 November 2019. A procurement contract was signed between the Ministry of Armed Forces ...

• Loitering munitions

  Colibri [France]

  Background Origins French Ministry of Armed Forces spokesperson Hervé Grandjean stated in a press conference in May 2022 that the Direction Générale de l'Armement (DGA) and ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, 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 ...

• Loitering munitions, Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - mini

  UX11 (Ukraine Aid) [France]

  Programme Background First Batch On 6 September 2023, Sébastien Lecornu, the French Minister of Defence, announced Delair was providing Ukraine with more than 150 drones. ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  PLFS [France]

  Programme Background The Sabre, then known as the Sherpa FS, was developed as a response to a 2014 requirement for three types of new vehicles ...

• Loitering munitions

  Larinae [France]

  Background Origins French Ministry of Armed Forces spokesperson Hervé Grandjean stated in a press conference in May 2022 that the Direction Générale de l'Armement (DGA) ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Counter-UAS systems

  Boreades

  Boreades is a modular anti-UAV system developed by CS. This suite combines multi-sensors and multi-effectors in order to enable the detection, identification and neutralisation of rogue ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  UAS 100

  The UAS 100 is an autonomous, three-engined platform, modular UAS manufactured by Thales in partnership with Issoire Aviation, Hionos and with the support of the ...

• Military UAS - micro, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Vespa-15

  The Vespa-15 is a first-person view (FPV) rotary-wing UAV manufactured by a Ukrainian company.  In May 2025, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) of Ukraine announced it ...

• Military UAS - mini, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Tundra 2

  The Tundra 2 is a rotary-wing UAV from Hexadrone. It is described as a new, modular, plug-and-play, and multi-trade drone. Hexadrone's website states that the French Armed ...

• OPVs

  OPV 60

  The OPV 60 is designed to conduct surveillance missions in coastal and EEZ waters. The ship can be armed with a 40mm naval gun and ...

• EO/IR systems

  Euroflir 350

  The Euroflir 350 is an out-of-production gyro-stabilised optronic system. According to Safran, it is effective at long ranges, can track mobile targets, designate important areas for ...

• Military helicopters - light/training, Military helicopters - multirole, Military helicopters - scout/light attack

  H160M

  Airbus is developing the H160M to meet the requirements of the French military for the Joint Light Helicopter (Hélicoptère Interarmées Léger, or HIL) programme. It ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - small

  Lanner

  Unveiled at Eurosatory 2024, the Lenner is a modified variant of the Pengion C VTOL drone, specifically modified to meet the SDTL (Light Tactical Drone System) program ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  NH90 TTH

  Developed as a multinational programme between France, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands, the European NH90 was designed to meet NATO requirements for multirole capability from ...

• Land: handheld NV devices

  O-NYX

  The Thales O-NYX is a Ultra-Compact Night Vision Goggle used by the French armed forces. They have an enlarged field of vision to 51° compared ...

• Pistols

  Glock Pistol

  The Glock family of pistols have been in widespread service since the Glock 17 was selected for Austrian military and police service in 1982. The company's ...

• Surface-to-air missiles

  Mistral 2

  MISTRAL is a man-portable, fully digital, heat-seeking missile designed to meet the requirements of all branches of the armed forces to defend against air threats. ...

• Air: Defensive Systems - Radar Warning Receivers

  TDS-FA/-TA/-H

  Thales’ TDS family is comprised of Radar Warning Receivers (RWRs) designed to equip a range of fixed-wing aircraft. The product series includes the TDS-FA designed ...

• Loitering munitions

  Toutatis

  The Toutatis is an in-development loitering munition from Thales. According to Thales, the platform is effective against groups of fighters and unarmored and light-armoured vehicles. Unveiled at ...

• Military UAS - mini, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Sky Keeper

  The Sky Keeper is a rotary-wing UAV from Milton International.  The UAV is capable of carrying a 10kg payload and features a modular gimbal, meaning ...