• Defence Helicopter

  China goes old-tech with gyrocopters

  12th January 2016

  The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has begun operating and flying camouflage-painted gyrocopters, pictures to recently emerge on Chinese internet websites have revealed. The gyrocopters, christened …

• Naval Warfare

  China tests controversial SCS airstrip

  11th January 2016

  Garnering vociferous regional objections, China landed a first aircraft onto its new 3,000m-long airstrip at Fiery Cross Reef in the disputed South China Sea on …

• Defence Helicopter

  USAF joins race to clear DVE

  11th January 2016

  The US Air Force is looking to enhance the capabilities of its Sikorsky HH-60G Pave Hawk fleet so it can operate more safely and effectively …

• Land Warfare

  Thailand orders Skyguard system

  11th January 2016

  Rheinmetall will supply Skyguard air defence systems to the Royal Thai Army under a multi-million euro order announced on 11 January. The contract covers four …

• Land Warfare

  Norway sells CV90 hulls to Estonia

  11th January 2016

  Ex-Norwegian Army CV90 hulls will be sold to Estonia under an agreement announced by the Norwegian Ministry of Defence on 8 January. The 35 hulls …

• Land Warfare

  US considers Oman missile sale

  11th January 2016

  The US State Department is considering a potential foreign military sale (FMS) of tube-launched optically-tracked wire guided (TOW) 2B missiles along with related equipment and support …

• Defence Notes

  Iraq seeking Hellfire missiles

  8th January 2016

  The government of Iraq has requested Hellfire missiles and Captive Air Training Missiles from the US under a foreign military sale that could be worth …

• Digital Battlespace

  Rome Research awarded US C4I contract

  8th January 2016

  BAE Systems has contracted Rome Research for the operation and maintenance of multiple communications facilities operating under the Naval Computer and Telecommunications Area Master Station …

• Digital Battlespace

  Australian ISREW aircraft confirmed

  8th January 2016

  Australia has confirmed it is acquiring two Gulfstream G550 business jets for conversion into intelligence-gathering and electronic warfare platforms. Responding to queries from Shephard, an …

• Defence Helicopter

  France orders more NH90 TTHs

  8th January 2016

  The French Army Aviation has opted to increase its NH90 tactical troop helicopter (TTH) helicopter fleet to 74 units, with a new order for six …

• Defence Helicopter

  US Army begins Apache sensor upgrades

  7th January 2016

  The US Army has begun the process of upgrading the electro-optical sensors on its Apache AH-64E aircraft, allowing crews to see daytime colour imagery for …

• Training

  Australian, Chinese navies conduct exercise

  7th January 2016

  The Australian and the Chinese navies have conducted a joint passage exercise off the coast of Queensland, the Australian Department of Defence announced on 2 …

• Digital Battlespace

  Philippines hunts for C4ISTAR and radars

  7th January 2016

  The Philippines military is in the market for new ‘command-and-control and radar systems’, Manila announced on 4 January. A news piece on the website of …

• Defence Helicopter

  Lockheed to sustain Apache M-TADS/PNVS

  7th January 2016

  Lockheed Martin has been awarded a contract by the US Army to sustain the AH-64D/E Apache’s targeting and pilotage system, the Modernized Target Acquisition Designation …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  AirMule UAS takes flight

  6th January 2016

  Tactical Robotics’ AirMule VTOL UAS has successfully completed its first untethered flight at the Megiddo airfield in northern Israel. The flight was conducted as part …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  A330 MRTT (1-9) [NATO]

  Programme Background Following operations in Libya and extensive analyses by the European Defence Agency (EDA), it was agreed at the NATO Summit in 2012 that ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  A330 MRTT Follow-On (NATO)

  Following operations in Libya and extensive analyses by the European Defence Agency (EDA), it was agreed at the NATO Summit in 2012 that the EDA ...

• Military helicopters - maritime

  MH-60R Seahawks [Norway]

  Programme Background NH90 NFH cancellation  The Norwegian government announced the termination of the NH90 NFH helicopter contract for 14 NH90s with NHIndustries in June 2022. Seahawk Acquisition ...

• Tanks

  New MBT [Romania]

  Programme Background Requirement The Romanian Army's MBT fleet is composed of T-55 variants that are due to be retired in the mid-2020s. Although Romania's TR-85 ...

• Tanks

  M1A2 Abrams SEPv3 [Romania]

  Programme Background Requirement The Romanian Army's MBT fleet is composed of T-55 variants that are due to be retired in the mid-2020s. Although Romania's TR-85 ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  EU Next Generation Rotorcraft Technologies Project (ENGRT) - (Greece)

  Programme Background EU Next Generation Rotorcraft Technologies Project (ENGRT) EU Next Generation Rotorcraft Technologies Project (ENGRT) was announced in early 2022 and the project contract was awarded ...

• Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  UAV Tactical Level [Norway]

  Programme Background Request for Information (RfI) In September 2022, the Norwegian Defence Material Agency (NDMA) launched a request for information in preparation for a possible ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  EU Next Generation Rotorcraft Technologies Project (ENGRT) - (Italy)

  Programme Background EU Next Generation Rotorcraft Technologies Project (ENGRT) EU Next Generation Rotorcraft Technologies Project (ENGRT) was announced in early 2022 and the project contract was awarded ...

• Maritime patrol

  MAWS/PATMAR [France]

  Programme Background In 2017, Germany and France announced that they would be working towards developing an MPA to replace their current fleets in service. The ...

• Tanks

  Leopard 2A8 [Netherlands]

  Programme Background Bidders and Suppliers The Leopard 2A8, the latest in the Leopard family, was selected by the Royal Dutch Army as per announcements in ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  Bayraktar TB2 [Kuwait]

  Background Contract Award On 18 January 2023, Baykar announced signing a $370 million export contract with Kuwait for the Bayraktar TB2. According to the announcement, ...

• Military UAS - HALE

  MQ-4C Triton - Germany (Cancelled)

  Programme Background Germany requested to buy four MQ-4C Triton HALE UAVs from Northrop Grumman. On 5 April 2018, the US State Department announced that it ...

• Corvettes

  European Patrol Corvette (EPC) [France]

  Programme Background Requirements The European Patrol Corvette (EPC) is one of the new PESCO (Permanent Structured Cooperation on Defence and Security) projects. PESCO was established ...

• AEW&C

  Alliance Future Surveillance and Control (1-6) [NATO]

  Programme Background NATO’s E-3A AWACS fleet is set to retire in 2035, after 50 years of service. To plan for the required follow-on capability, NATO's ...

• Corvettes

  European Patrol Corvette (EPC) [Italy]

  Programme Background Requirements The 2021-2023 Documento Programmatico Pluriennale (DPP) - a multi-year defence planning document from the Italian MoD - includes a plan to acquire eight "Patrol Ships", ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Land: air defence radar

  APIS

  APIS is a passive high-resolution primary radar system developed by Indra. It is the first passive system in the world capable of offering images using ...

• Uncrewed aerial systems engines

  AE50R

  The AE50R is an aviation gasoline single rotary engine with an output of 40.4kW. The engine is certified according to European Aviation Safety Agency Part ...

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

  LOTUS

  The LOTUS, Low Observable Tactical Unnamed System, is a tactical UAV especially designed for border patrol ISR operations.  The development of the project is funded by ...

• Surface-to-air missiles

  Mistral 3

  The Mistral 3 is the latest member of the Mistral family of very short-range surface-to-air missiles. It entered service in 2018 and has been chosen ...

• Helicopter engines

  Arriel 2H

  Safran Helicopter Engines received European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) engine type certification for its Arriel 2H engine, installed in the Avicopter AC312E, in April 2018. ...

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

  AR5

  First announced in October 2012, the AR5 is a MALE UAS designed for SAR, surveillance and maritime patrol missions. The AR5 can be flown manually or commanded ...

• Air: NVGs

  PNL-3M Orlik

  PNL-3M are high-performance, lightweight, passive stereoscopic NVGs for helicopter crew members. Certification by European Aviation Safety Agency also enables civilian use. The device can be ...

• Trainer

  Gabriel-TP

  Gabriel-TP is a low-wing, two-seat tandem trainer aircraft aimed at both military and civilian customers. It is certified by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) in ...

• Loitering munitions

  Akeron RCH 170

  Unveiled in April 2025, the Akeron RCH 170 is a fixed-wing loitering munition from MBDA. Similar in design to the Switchblade 300, the catapult launched system ...

• Air: Integrated cockpit systems

  Standard 3

  Jointly developed by ATR and Thales, The Standard 3 avionics suite has been specifically designed for ATR-600 aircraft. It offers the pilot user-friendly interface, along ...

• Loitering munitions

  Akeron RCX 50

  Unveiled in April 2025, the Akeron RCX 50 is a rotary-wing loitering munition from MBDA.  According to reports, the RCX 50 is designed to support ...

• Counter-UAS systems

  DroneGun

  DroneGun enables controlled management of an adversarial UAS, causing no damage to the UAV or surrounding area. It either forces the drone to perform a ...

• Military - USVs

  NOMARS

  The No Manning Required Ship (NOMARS) is a US Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) effort to develop a first-of-its-kind large uncrewed surface vessel.

• Uncrewed aerial systems engines

  Trident 100TD2

  The Trident 100TD2 is a compression-ignition engine that is capable of operating on various types of heavy fuel. It is claimed to offer up to ...

• Space: radar systems

  ESA Sentinel-1

  Sentinel-1 is a planned constellation of four satellites with two already in orbit and two on order. They carry a payload of a C-band SAR ...