• Defence Helicopter

  Afghanistan to shift to US-built helicopters

  21st November 2016

  The Afghan Air Force (AAF), under guidance and funding from the US Department of Defense (DoD), will shift from Russian-built helicopters to ones manufactured in …

• Naval Warfare

  DHS approves C-27J next phase

  18th November 2016

  The US Coast Guard’s Medium Range Surveillance (MRS) Aircraft programme has reached a new milestone, with the Department of Homeland Security clearing the programme to …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  GA-ASI offers Angel One for humanitarian efforts

  17th November 2016

  General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) will provide its Angel One unmanned jet-propelled aircraft to deliver Humanitarian Daily Ration packets (HRDs) to support humanitarian efforts, the …

• Defence Notes

  NZ defence plan rectifies vague white paper

  16th November 2016

  New Zealand released its 2016 Defence Capability Plan on 16 November offering some clarity on future defence projects. It follows the release of the Defence …

• Digital Battlespace

  Satmove Ka trials approaching

  15th November 2016

  Thales is expected to begin first tests of the new Satmove Ka satellite terminals with the French government at the end of the year or early …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  RIMS offers offshore UAV inspections

  15th November 2016

  Netherlands-based Robotica in Maintenance Strategies (RIMS) has launched inspections services for the maritime and offshore industry using the Elios UAV, the company announced on 9 …

• Land Warfare

  TACMS in first flight test

  11th November 2016

  Lockheed Martin’s first modernised Tactical Missile System (TACMS) has successfully completed its first flight test at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, the company announced …

• Land Warfare

  India to buy T-90MS tanks

  11th November 2016

  The procurement of 464 T-90 main battle tanks by India was approved in early November by the defence minister, Manohar Parrikar. He chaired India’s Defence …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Zhuhai 2016: Big balloons hold sway

  11th November 2016

  While most attendees at last week’s Zhuhai Air Show were focused on sexy weaponry designed to turn heaven into hell, there were also big balloons …

• Training

  HCMS Montréal sets to sea as X-Ship

  10th November 2016

  The Royal Canadian Navy’s (RCN) HMCS Montréal has commenced operations as an experimental ship, the navy announced on 7 November 2016. The Halifax-class frigate has …

• Digital Battlespace

  RAF Red Arrows tap Airbus Skynet

  10th November 2016

  The British Royal Air Force's (RAF) Red Arrows aerobatics display team is using Airbus Defence and Space satellite communications during its Asia Pacific and Middle …

• Digital Battlespace

  Zhuhai 2016: Stealth aircraft on China’s radar

  10th November 2016

  China displayed its technological prowess with a number of air surveillance radars at the 11th Zhuhai Air Show in China. Among them were ‘cutting-edge’ radars - …

• Land Warfare

  Indo Defence 2016: Beretta builds Asia presence (video)

  10th November 2016

  Italian firearms group Beretta displayed its wares at this year's Indo Defence exhibition in Jakarta, Indonesia, including several weapons that have been sold to the …

• Military Logistics

  Zhuhai 2016: Y-20 family eyes expansion

  10th November 2016

  Two newly received units of the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) Y-20 Kunpeng transport aircraft participated in the Zhuhai Air Show from 1-6 November. …

• Digital Battlespace

  Airbus DS continues SATCOM work with UK

  10th November 2016

  With a mere six years until the end of Skynet, the UK’s sovereign satellite communications capability, attempts are being made to ensure continuing capacity. The UK …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - mini

  Wolverine / Honeybadger [US]

  Programme Background During the Modern Day Marine (MDM) exhibition, held in Washington between 10-12 May 2022, XTEND announced it would supply hundreds of Wolverine platforms ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  Embarked VTOL UAV [South Korea]

  Background VTOL Development In January 2024, South Korea's Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) announced that it would commence development of a VTOL-capable rotary-wing UAV to be ...

• Military UAS - micro

  Short Range Reconnaissance (SRR) (Tranche 2) / Rucksack Portable UAS (RPUAS) [USA]

  Background The Rucksack Portable UAS (RPUAS) programme The RPUAS programme will provide the battalion and below-ground manoeuvre elements within the US Army with an organic, ...

• Military UAS - mini

  Short Range/Short Endurance (SR/SE) [USMC]

  Programme Background Force Design 2030 The USMC Force Design 2030 is a modernisation effort to create a lighter, more agile maritime force. The update to ...

• Loitering munitions

  Harop [Azerbaijan]

  Programme Background According to a December 2020 report by the Centre for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS), Azerbaijan acquired an estimated 50 Harop loitering munitions ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  UH-60M Black Hawk [Mexico]

  Programme Background In April 2016, Mexico finalised an order for seven additional UH-60M platforms. At the time of procurement, the Mexican Air Force already had ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-16 Block 52 Pakistan

  Programme Background The 2016 FMS was proposed to the US Congress as a way to help increase Pakistan's ability to conduct counter-insurgency and counterterrorism operations. ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  AH-1Z [Romania]

  The Romanian MoD has a long-standing requirement for new rotary platforms, including troop transport, supply and attack configurations. According to the the Military Strategy document, ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Paraguay VAMTAC ST5

  Programme Background Paraguay's Joint Task Force is in need of new armoured vehicles that can provide sufficient protection against the small arms, mines and IEDs ...

• 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 ...

• Maritime patrol

  Fixed-Wing Search And Rescue Aircraft Replacement Project- Canada

  Background The fixed-wing search and rescue aircraft replacement project was launched to replace the Canadian CC-115 Buffalo and CC-130H Hercules aircraft.  The initial request for ...

• Loitering munitions

  Organic Precision Fire - Light (OPF-L) (Contracted) [USMC]

  Background Force Design 2030 The USMC Force Design 2030 is a modernisation effort to create a lighter, more agile maritime force. In May 2022, an ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  CH-4 [Jordan]

  Methodology PGO and programme status The CH-4Bs appear to have been delivered in 2016, meaning the programme is complete and has therefore been assigned a ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-35A [Denmark]

  Programme Background  Denmark joined the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program in 2002 during the System Development and Demonstration phase and has influenced technical elements ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  Tejas LCA - India Follow-On

  According to the HAL's chairman R Madhavan, 'apart from all the capabilities of IOC aircraft, the FOC variant additionally comes with an air-to-air refuelling capability, close-combat ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  BTR-MDM

  The BTR-MDM Rakushka is an amphibious tracked armoured vehicle developed by Kurganmashzavod to meet the Russian Airborne Forces' (VDV) need for a new air-droppable APC. ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  MDM-HF

  The MDM-3001, MDM-2201 and MDM-2501 multi-mode HF data modems provide single-tone (serial) HF data communications capability in accordance with the requirements of MIL-STD-188-110A (para 5.3). ...

• Data links

  Link 11 DTS

  The programmable Data Terminal Set (DTS) uses real-time processor architectures and signal processing algorithms. It is designed for controlled network operation in a Link 11 ...

• Data links

  MDM-2X02N

  The MDM-2X02N is a tactical data link modem that combines the functionalities of a Link 11 DTS and Link 22 signal processor controller (SPC) into ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  MDM-Q9604

  Collins Aerospace’s MDM-Q9604 high-speed, high-data-rate HF modem is capable of transmitting data over a standard 3KHz single sideband at 9,600b/s or a 6kHz ISB at ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  BMD-4M

  The BMD-4M is based on the BMD-4, which has been in the Russian Army's airborne forces (VDV) service since 2004. It was developed to provide an ...

• Military - USVs

  High-Speed Intercept Boat

  Poly Technologies displayed its High-Speed Intercept Boat at DSA in Malaysia in 2016. 

• MPVs - 4x4

  Bars-6

  Bogdan publicly unveiled the 7t Bars-6 (Panther) 4x4 light APC at IDEX 2015, and in July 2016, the company introduced an upgraded version ready for ...

• Military UAS - mini

  Mini UAV Fixed Wing I

  The Jordan Design and Development Bureau (JODDB) unveiled the hand-launched Mini UAS (also known as Mini UAV Fixed-Wing I) at SOFEX 2016, along with a wider family ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  Mysterious Bee

  The Mysterious Bee hybrid, fixed-wing/quadcopter UAV was unveiled at the Zhuhai Airshow 2016. It is designed to operate from ships, small islands, mountainous areas and ...

• Self-propelled mortars

  2S42 Lotos

  The 2S42 Lotos (Lotus) is a self-propelled artillery system that is being developed by Rostec subsidiary TsNIITochMash to replace the Russian VDV airborne forces' and ...

• Land: RWS

  Asgard RCT

  The Asgard RCT (Remote Control Turret) is the unmanned member of the Asgard 127 modular one-person turret family introduced in 2016. It is suitable for ...

• Military - USVs

  SeaFly-01

  The SeaFly-01 USV, developed by Beijing Sifang Automation, was showcased at the 11th Zhuhai Airshow in China in November 2016. It is designed for various ...

• Military UAS - mini

  Phoenix

  The Phoenix UAV is a delta-wing platform designed largely for civilian applications such as policing, border patrol, coast guard, fire-fighting and surveillance, as well as ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  VN2C

  The VN2C 6x6 armoured vehicle was introduced at the Zhuhai Airshow in November 2016. Aimed at the export market, it appears to be an updated version ...