• Defence Helicopter

  Sikorsky HH-60W makes first flight

  22nd May 2019

  The Sikorsky HH-60W combat rescue helicopter achieved its first flight at Sikorsky's West Palm Beach, Florida site on 17 May. The test flight, which lasted …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  US Army deploys first SBS UAS

  22nd May 2019

  The US Army recently fielded the Soldier Borne Sensors (SBS) UAS to soldiers of 3rd Brigade Combat Team (BCT), 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North …

• Defence Notes

  Germany under fire for Saudi arms export ban

  22nd February 2019

  Export power Germany has long had a troubled relationship with selling arms abroad, a legacy of its dark history that is now spelling deep discord …

• Land Warfare

  IDEX 2019: Ukraine Armor looks to MENA region for exports

  11th February 2019

  The Ukrainian Armor company will display its Varta 4x4 APCs at IDEX 2019 as it tries to earn its place on international markets after securing …

• Naval Warfare

  USS Ronald Reagan begins underway operation in Indo-Pacific

  24th May 2019

  US Navy aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan, along with supporting Commander Task Force 70 units, began underway operations in the Indo-Pacific on 20 May. Ronald …

• Special Operations

  Japanese SOF observe “Flintlock”

  18th February 2019

  Japanese special operations forces are set to further expand their international exposure by observing the latest iteration of the “Flintlock” training exercise in West Africa. …

• Naval Warfare

  UK to boost amphibious capability with Future Littoral Strike Ships

  11th February 2019

  Not content with a raft of global military deployments, new bases and commitments to existing defence programmes, the UK Secretary of State for Defence, Gavin …

• Defence Notes

  Turkey says to produce S-500s with Russia after S-400 missile deal

  20th May 2019

  Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on 18 May said Turkey and Russia would jointly produce S-500 defence systems after Ankara's controversial purchase of the S-400 …

• Digital Battlespace

  US Army selects DataPath to provide communications links

  28th February 2019

  DataPath has received a contract from the US Army to provide communications services in support of the Homeland Defense and Defense Support of Civil Authorities, …

• Special Operations

  NSW seeks foreign weapons training

  26th February 2019

  US Naval Special Warfare Command representatives have announced the command’s intent to award a “Foreign Weapons course of instruction” (COI) contract, according to a 25 …

• Defence Helicopter

  IDEX 2019: Lebanese Air Force adapts for terrorism fight

  12th February 2019

  Lebanon has had to increase the capabilities of the its armed forces in a bid to stop the rise of terrorism in the country, according …

• Defence Notes

  Russian bombers and fighters intercepted off Alaska

  22nd May 2019

  US fighters intercepted six Russian military aircraft in international airspace west of Alaska, and shadowed them until they exited the area, the North American Air …

• Digital Battlespace

  Northrop demos GPS SDR navigation solution

  29th May 2019

  Northrop Grumman, in partnership with the US Air Force Research Laboratory Sensors Directorate, demonstrated a software defined radio (SDR)-based, M-code enabled GPS receiver on production-capable …

• Defence Helicopter

  UK MoD signs off on Gazelle support contract

  21st May 2019

  The UK MoD has issued Airbus Helicopters UK (AHUK) with a new £6.1 million three-year support contract covering its fleet of 24 Gazelle AH Mk1 …

• Digital Battlespace

  Comtech to continue BFT-1 sustainment

  20th May 2019

  Comtech Telecommunications’ Command and Control Technologies group has received option period two of its US Army Blue Force Tracking (BFT-1) sustainment contract with an overall …

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 ...