• Defence Notes

  Podcast: The air power exercise over the Arctic and the future of the military satellite business

  31st May 2019

  Welcome to Episode 19 of The Weekly Defence Podcast. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify and more. Sign up to an early email alert of future podcasts here.

• Defence Helicopter

  Black Hawk goes optionally piloted

  7th June 2019

  Sikorsky has embarked on a flight test programme to operate the Black Hawk helicopter in optionally unmanned mode. Sikorsky is taking an optionally piloted vehicle …

• Defence Helicopter

  SENER, Babcock complete AB-212 LEP

  31st May 2019

  SENER and Babcock have officially completed the Spanish Navy's AB-212 helicopter life extension programme (LEP). Under the PEVH AB-212 programme, carried out in a joint …

• Naval Warfare

  SEA develops lightweight torpedo trolley

  7th June 2019

  SEA has developed a fully qualified and tested lightweight (LW) torpedo trolley that can transport any LW torpedo.Initially commissioned by Leonardo Helicopters, SEA was tasked …

• Training

  Australian, US crews conduct flying operations

  30th May 2019

  US and Australian crew have conducted bilateral flying operations during Exercise Diamond Storm, the US INDOPACOM announced on 24 May. The US Air National Guard’s …

• Military Logistics

  Battelle to continue CPAC support

  31st May 2019

  Battelle has received a five-year, $50 million task order to continue supporting the US Marine Corps (USMC) Corrosion Prevention and Control (CPAC) programme, the company …

• Land Warfare

  Magal receives contracts for electro-optic systems

  22nd February 2019

  Magal Security Systems has received $4.2 million in contracts to supply electro-optic systems to the Israeli Ministry of Defense, the company announced on 19 February. …

• Naval Warfare

  Naval Group begins production of Argentinian OPVs

  20th February 2019

  Naval Group has begun production on OPVs for the Argentinian Navy. Under the contract signed with Argentina, which came into force on 14 February 2019, …

• Defence Notes

  Leonardo undeterred by Poland’s F-35 intentions

  31st May 2019

  The Eurofighter Typhoon consortium bid, led by Leonardo, to replace Poland’s Soviet era MiG-29 and Su-22 jets remains on track despite the Eastern European country …

• Naval Warfare

  First Australian AOR commences test phase

  29th May 2019

  The first of two new auxiliary oiler replenishment (AOR) vessels being built for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) has started its test phase. Navantia told …

• Military Logistics

  Rheinmetall, FRAEN to establish JV in US

  30th May 2019

  Rheinmetall has partnered with FRAEN to establish a joint venture (JV) in the US, the company announced on 27 May. The JV called Rheinmetall Fraen …

• Defence Notes

  US-UAE defence agreement comes into force

  30th May 2019

  The US and the United Arab Emirates announced on 29 May that a mutual defence cooperation agreement had come into force, amid increasing tensions between …

• Digital Battlespace

  Thailand to upgrade T-50TH trainers

  29th May 2019

  The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) is upgrading its T-50TH Golden Eagle trainer jet fleet. Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) won a contract to upgrade 12 …

• Naval Warfare

  Austal USA protests Littoral Combat Ship services contract

  30th May 2019

  Austal USA is formally challenging a recent US Navy contract award to Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) to oversee work on in-service Littoral Combat Ships (LCS). …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Military version of Kongsberg's IRIS UxS announced

  29th May 2019

  Kongsberg Geospatial is set to introduce a new multi-domain control system for coordinating the use of UAS in the battlespace, the company announced on 27 …

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 ...