• Defence Helicopter

  Second CH-53K joins test programme

  16th March 2016

  Sikorsky’s second CH-53K King Stallion heavy lift helicopter has joined the flight test programme and completed its first flight, it was announced on 14 March. …

• Military Logistics

  ASV unveils new unmanned C-Worker

  16th March 2016

  UK-based unmanned surface vessel manufacturer ASV has unveiled the latest edition to its C-Worker product range at this year’s Oceanology International in London. Called the …

• Training

  India orders nine APUs for Il-76

  16th March 2016

  Technodinamika will supply nine auxiliary power units (APUs) for the Ilyushin-76 (Il-76) strategic airlifter used by the Indian Air Force (IAF) in an agreement announced …

• Military Logistics

  Saudi Arabia gets two KC-130Js

  16th March 2016

  Lockheed Martin has delivered two KC-130J Super Hercules aerial refuelling aircraft to Saudi Arabia, it announced on 14 March. The aircraft will be operated by …

• Defence Helicopter

  HAL’s LCH prototype fires rockets

  15th March 2016

  A HAL Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) in TD-3 weaponised configuration has successfully fired 70mm rockets in testing, HAL announced on 14 March.  This marks the latest milestone in …

• Military Logistics

  KC-46 refuels Harrier II

  15th March 2016

  US Air Force’s (USAF) Boeing KC-46 Pegasus tanker has successfully refuelled a US Marine Corps (USMC) AV-8B Harrier II in flight, it was announced on …

• Training

  High G-force training contract awarded

  15th March 2016

  Thales and AMST will work on a project to improve RAF pilot safety under a contract from the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced on …

• Defence Notes

  Brunei’s defence budget rises

  15th March 2016

  Brunei’s defence budget will grow nearly 5% in 2016-17, as announced by the Brunei Legislative Council last week. The total defence budget amounts to BN$564.7 …

• Defence Helicopter

  British Forces Brunei to get new heli services

  14th March 2016

  The ageing Bell 212 helicopters of British Army Air Corp’s 7 Flight will be replaced by new aircraft under plans to renew its outsourcing arrangement. …

• Defence Helicopter

  UK Wildcats in Exercise Clockwork

  14th March 2016

  Four Royal Marines Wildcat multi-role helicopters of the commando helicopter force from 847 naval air squadron have completed a six-week stint in Norway for Exercise Clockwork, …

• Defence Helicopter

  Inzpire mission system achieves IOC

  14th March 2016

  Inzpire's GECO Mission Support System (MSS) for the UK's Puma helicopter force has achieved Initial Operating Capability (IOC), it announced on 11 March. The GECO …

• Training

  NATO Cold Response exercise complete

  14th March 2016

  The British Royal Navy’s HMS Iron Duke has completed the Cold Response two-week multinational exercise with NATO forces, the navy announced on 11 March. Since …

• Digital Battlespace

  BAE Systems to support NAWCAD

  11th March 2016

  BAE Systems announced on 10 March that it is to support the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division's (NAWCAD's) Special Communications Mission Solutions Division under …

• Military Logistics

  Saab to support Swedish Gripens

  11th March 2016

  Saab will perform support and maintenance work for Sweden’s Gripen aircraft under an order received from the Swedish Defence Material Administration (FMV), the company announced …

• Defence Helicopter

  USAF orders BAE's friend-or-foe systems

  11th March 2016

  BAE Systems has been chosen by the US Air Force (USAF) to provide its friend or foe identification technology for the USAF’s HH-60W combat rescue …

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 ...