• Special Operations

  Ukraine SOV assessment

  28th January 2019

  As Ukraine’s President Petro Poroshenko visited Special Operations Forces on 17th January, details have emerged regarding an uplift in equipment for Ukraine’s Special Operations Command …

• Defence Notes

  Romania acquires additional fighter jets

  26th April 2019

  The Romanian MoD announced that the final agreement for acquisition of an additional five Portuguese F-16 multirole fighter jets could be reached by year end. …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Kongsberg Geospatial releases IRIS UxS 2.0

  26th April 2019

  Kongsberg Geospatial has released IRIS UxS 2.0, an upgraded version of its IRIS UxS fleet control station and airspace management system, the company announced on …

• Naval Warfare

  US Navy to christen DDG 1002

  26th April 2019

  The US Navy is set to christen its newest Zumwalt-class guided missile destroyer, the future USS Lyndon B Johnson (DDG 1002), at General Dynamics-Bath Iron …

• Defence Helicopter

  King Stallion faults hinder flight tests

  22nd January 2019

  Discovery of CH-53K King Stallion technical issues and the 'inadequate' speed of their disclosure, has led to a flight test efficiency rate below projections originally …

• Land Warfare

  Heckler & Koch receives HK416 order

  9th January 2019

  Heckler & Koch has received an order from the Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency to supply HK416 assault rifle sets for the Norwegian armed forces, the …

• Military Logistics

  Northrop Grumman expands Bushmaster maintenance capabilities

  26th April 2019

  Northrop Grumman used the field venue of the recent Bushmaster [Chain Gun] User Conference live fire demonstration, held at the ‘Big Sandy’ test range in …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  HyPerComp partners with Ballard Unmanned Systems

  30th April 2019

  HyPerComp Engineering has partnered with Ballard Unmanned Systems to provide FCair compressed hydrogen fuel tanks for commercial UAS platforms. The initial FCair composite overwrap pressure vessel …

• Military Logistics

  Lockheed Martin selects iBASEt digital manufacturing suite

  30th April 2019

  iBASEt's digital manufacturing suite has been selected by Lockheed Martin as the manufacturing execution system (MES) for its aeronautics division, the company announced on 25 …

• Defence Helicopter

  Airbus sidesteps cause of FARA exclusion

  26th April 2019

  After its Future Attack Reconnaisance Aircraft (FARA) X3 high speed technology based proposal was deemed unacceptable by the US Army and excluded from a list of …

• Naval Warfare

  RAFAEL’s unique 360° multi-layer defence solution for the maritime domain (sponsored)

  1st May 2019

  RAFAEL’s unique system portfolio comes together to provide a tailor-made and cost-effective suite of its multi-layer defense, addressing current and future naval threats in littoral …

• Digital Battlespace

  Mercury Systems acquires new companies

  25th April 2019

  Mercury Systems has announced acquisitions of the Athena Group and Syntonic Microwave, the company announced on 18 April. The Athena Group is a Gainesville, Florida-based …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  US Army to reach RQ-7B Shadow downselect decision shortly

  7th February 2019

  The US Army is due to downselect three unmanned systems and issue associated testing contracts for its RQ-7B Shadow tactical UAS (pictured) replacement programme before the …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Black Swift S2 UAS to support EastGRIP

  25th April 2019

  Black Swift Technologies’ S2 UAS has been selected by the Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research (INSTAAR) to conduct high-altitude, high-latitude atmospheric research studies in …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  MQ-25 prototype moves to flight test site

  30th April 2019

  The Boeing-built prototype for the US Navy’s MQ-25A Stingray unmanned aircraft has arrived at a commercial airport in St Louis to begin flight tests later …

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 ...