• Defence Notes

  Air Power 2018: What to expect (video)

  24th April 2018

  Ahead of the 2018 Air Power Conference, to be held in London in July, Shephard spoke with AVM Mike Wigston about the RAF's role in the international arena and …

• Special Operations

  SHOT Show: New enhanced clip-on sight for SOF applications

  26th January 2018

  On display for the first time at SHOT Show, the F7030 Generation 3 Clip-on Weapon Sight is being aimed towards the special operations market. The new …

• Naval Warfare

  Italy receives seventh FREMM frigate

  26th April 2018

  The Italian Navy has received its newest FREMM frigate, Federico Martinengo, at Fincantieri’s shipyard in Muggiano, La Spezia, Fincantieri announced on 24 April. The frigate - …

• Defence Notes

  Saudi intercepts ‘ballistic missile’ fired by Yemeni rebels

  20th April 2018

  Saudi air defences intercepted a ‘ballistic missile’ fired by Yemeni rebels at the kingdom's southern coastal city of Jizan, the Saudi-led coalition fighting the rebels …

• Naval Warfare

  China carries out naval drills in Pacific as Taiwan tensions rise

  21st April 2018

  China has carried out aircraft carrier drills in the Pacific, its navy said 21 April, ramping up tensions with Taiwan over its military exercises in …

• Training

  Cubic divests its training support services arm

  23rd April 2018

  Despite the growth in training service provisions around the world, Cubic Corporation is to sell its Cubic Global Defense (CGD) Services business to Valiant Integrated Services.  …

• Land Warfare

  New mounted gun system launched

  19th April 2018

  India's Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) and Bharat Earth Movers (BEML) have jointly developed a 155mm 52 cal mounted gun system. The gun is equipped with …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  MUM-TX ready for fielding on Apache Echo models

  2nd March 2018

  Enhanced manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) capabilities are set to be deployed by the US Army as soon as 2020 with the fielding of its AH-64E Apache …

• Digital Battlespace

  Lockheed Martin submits GPS IIIF proposal

  19th April 2018

  Lockheed Martin has submitted its proposal for the US Air Force's GPS III Follow On (GPS IIIF) programme, it was announced on 17 April. The …

• Naval Warfare

  Row erupts over expected international tender for UK FSS programme

  19th April 2018

  Amid a growing row over the impending decision to offer a £1 billion ($1.4 billion) Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) Fleet Solid Support (FSS) ship programme …

• Training

  DSET 2018: Serious games specialists offer Land 400 support

  7th March 2018

  Serious games specialists Bohemia Interactive Simulations (BISim) is supporting MBDA Australia in developing a training system for the MMP missile for the Australian Defence Force’s (ADF) …

• Digital Battlespace

  Senegal orders Thales radars

  24th April 2018

  Senegal has ordered Ground Master 400 long-range radars and a SkyView command and control centre from Thales for airspace surveillance and security, the company announced …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  IXI EW, T-Worx partner for C-UAS technology

  26th April 2018

  IXI EW has entered into an agreement with T-Worx for integration of the IXI Dronekiller handheld counter UAS system onto the T-Worx Intelligent Rail (I-Rail) …

• Naval Warfare

  Raytheon wins Barracuda system contract

  25th April 2018

  Raytheon has received an $83 million contract to design, test and deploy the Barracuda mine neutralisation system for the US Naval Sea Systems Command, the …

• Digital Battlespace

  Canada faces capability gap in space surveillance

  25th April 2018

  The Canadian armed forces are exploring technology options for a new satellite system to fill a looming capability gap in the nation’s space situational awareness …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Fighter - multirole

  J-10 [Pakistan]

  Programme Background A video clip released by the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) disclosed that a deal to acquire the J-10 from China was signed on 25 ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  CV90 [Czech Republic]

  Programme Background The Czech Republic has been working on modernising its mechanised units at least since 2017, when the country launched its "Tracked IFV" programme ...

• AEW&C

  AEW&C Aircraft [India]

  Programme Background India is planning to increase its AEW&C; capabilities with indigenous radar systems.  A330 Bid In 2015, the IAF has requested to procure six ...

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

  Anka-S (Second Batch) [Turkey]

  Programme Background First Batch Based on comments by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) and Turkish media in 2018, Shephard believes that Türkiye acquired 26 Anka-S drones ...

• Main battle tanks

  Viatura Blindada de Combate-Carro de Combate (VBC-CC) [Brazil]

  Programme Background Several key technical requirements have been outlined by the Brazilian MoD. Among the most important are that the platform should weigh less than ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Boxer (MIV) [UK]

  Programme Background History The UK MoD announced in March 2018 that it would re-join the Boxer programme and pursue a sole-source acquisition of the 8x8 ...

• Loitering munitions

  Medium Range Precision Strike (MRPS) [UK]

  Programme Background Prior Information Notice (PIN) On 21 October 2024, the MoD published a PIN in collaboration with the Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S;). The notice ...

• 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 ...

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

  MQ-9A Reaper [Spain]

  Programme Background First Contract The US State Department approved a Foreign Military Sale (FMS) of MQ-9 Block 5 aircraft and associated parts, equipment, and logistical ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  JLTV [Slovenia - 2nd Batch]

  Programme Background  Slovenia began its procurement of Oshkosh Defence's JLTV 4x4 armoured vehicle in 2018, although a US government FMS contract was not signed until ...

• Loitering munitions

  Echelon 1: Ground Organic Precision Strike Systems (GOPSS) [USSOCOM]

  Programme Background Requirements The US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) has made loitering capabilities a priority in its efforts to support counter-violent extremist organization (C-VEO) operations ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  L-39NG Senegal

  The aircraft will feature five hard-points, two external fuel tanks with 350 lt capacity, Mk 81 and Mk 82 bombs, guided and unguided rockets, single ...

• LRSS

  Programme Background The LRSS programme will meet the Canadian Army's need for a long-range on-the-move digital surveillance system mounted on the LAV 6.0 8x8 armoured ...

• Military helicopters - maritime

  MH-60R Seahawk (Saudi Arabia)

  The sale is aimed at improving Saudi Arabia’s capability to meet current and future threats from enemy weapon systems, provide the capability to identify, engage ...

• Loitering munitions

  Echelon 2: Ground Organic Precision Strike Systems (GOPSS) [USSOCOM]

  Programme Background Requirements The U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) has made loitering capabilities a priority in its efforts to support counter-violent extremist organization (C-VEO) operations and ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Weapon sights for night use (thermal imaging)

  CRATOS

  The Clip-On Ruggedized Advanced Thermal Optical Sight (CRATOS) is a miniaturised all-in-one thermal weapon sight designed for handheld, clip-on or stand-alone use. 

• Weapon sights for night use (thermal imaging)

  HuntIR Mk 2

  The HuntIR Mk 2 thermal weapon and reconnaissance sight is designed for clip-on use on mid- and long-range small arms. The standalone weapon sight has ...

• Weapon sights for night use (thermal imaging)

  XACT th family

  The XACT thermal weapon sight product family includes: the XACT th64 short/medium-range weapon-mounted or handheld sight; the XACT th65 clip-on marksman sight; and the XACT ...

• Weapon sights for night use (thermal imaging)

  CNVD-T

  The Clip-On Night Vision Device-Thermal (CNVD-T) is a handheld or weapon-mounted thermal sight based on the military SU-232/PAS. 

• Weapon sights for night use (thermal imaging)

  UTCx

  The UTCx (Universal Thermal Clip-on) sight is a universal thermal clip-on to existing weapon sights, currently fielded by the US military and supporting long-range sniper ...

• Weapon sights for night use (thermal imaging)

  AN/PAS-13G(V)1 LWTS

  The AN/PAS-13G(V)1 Light Weapon Thermal Sight (LWTS) is a handheld or weapon-mounted thermal sight. The TI capability of the LWTS allows for longwave infrared observation ...

• Weapon sights for night use (thermal imaging)

  TISI-M

  Designed for assault and sharpshooter rifles, SMGs and machine guns, the TISI-M is a lightweight uncooled thermal day and night weapon sight which can be ...

• Weapon sights for night use (thermal imaging)

  AN/PVS-30

  The AN/PVS-30 is a long-range thermal clip-on sniper night sight. The sight is able to extend the range of engagement by up to 1,000m and ...

• Weapon sights for night use (thermal imaging)

  Lily-L

  The Lily-L clip-on thermal sight for long-range sniper weapons can be mounted on a Picatinny rail in front of a day scope. It is designed for ...

• Weapon sights for night use (image intensifiers)

  MilSight S135 MUNS

  The MilSight S135 Magnum Universal Night Sight (MUNS) AN/PVS-27 is a high-resolution clip-on weapon sight that mounts forward of an existing scope, adding NV capabilities ...

• Weapon sights for night use (thermal imaging)

  ThermoSight HISS-XLR

  The HISS extended long-range (XLR) clip-on thermal weapon sight allows snipers to detect and recognise man-sized targets at up to 2,000m, offering a 25% increase ...

• Weapon sights for night use (thermal imaging)

  MUNSTI

  The MUNSTI uncooled thermal imaging clip-on sight is compact and lightweight, designed for use in front of a day optical sight. It is suitable for ...

• Individual grenade launchers

  UBGL

  The single-shot 40mm Under-Barrel Grenade Launcher (UBGL) can be attached to most modern assault weapons using a MIL-STD-1913 Picatinny rail system. The breech is swung ...

• Sniper rifles

  Dan.338

  IWI launched the Dan.338, the first of a new family of bolt-action sniper rifles, at the Eurosatory 2014 exhibition. Chambered for .338 Lapua Mag ammunition, ...

• Weapon sights for night use (thermal imaging)

  TVC 60

  The TVC 60 is a clip-on thermal weapon sight designed to be used in conjunction with a magnified day optic. The shooter relies on the ...