• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Nigeria suspected of using Chinese UCAS

  29th January 2015

  Photographs of a crashed UCAS in Nigeria – apparently a Chinese-built CH-3A – began circulating online on 25 January 2015 and show that two intact …

• Military Logistics

  Antonov delivers AN-70 airlifter to Ukraine

  29th January 2015

  Antonov handed over an AN-70 military Short Take-Off and Landing (STOL) transport aircraft to the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine on 22 January. The AN-70 …

• Digital Battlespace

  L-3 completes Miteq acquisition

  28th January 2015

  L-3 Communications completed its acquisition of Miteq for $41 million on 21 January, subject to customary adjustments. Its Narda Microwave-East business will be combined with …

• Defence Notes

  Israeli Air Force starts jet training with M-346

  28th January 2015

  Israeli Air Force (IAF) flight school cadets have commenced flights with the new Aermacchi M-346 instructional aircraft for the first time, the air force announced …

• Military Logistics

  First A400M for Malaysia moves toward delivery

  28th January 2015

  The first A400M for the Royal Malaysian Air Force is set to begin its first round of test flights and ground tests at the Airbus …

• Defence Notes

  Japan, UK to enhance operational cooperation

  28th January 2015

  In the first ever UK-Japan defence ministerial meeting, the two ministries agreed to enhance operational cooperation, the UK government announced on 21 January. The meeting …

• Military Logistics

  European Air Transport Fleet plans solidify

  28th January 2015

  The European Air Transport Fleet (EATF) partnership has now entered its second phase, the European Defence Agency announced on 19 January. The EATF three-phase strategy …

• Defence Helicopter

  Airbus Helicopters bullish in face of low oil price

  27th January 2015

  Despite the recent plunge in oil prices creating some short-term pain, Airbus Helicopters is bullish that strong opportunities remain for larger rotorcraft such as the …

• Digital Battlespace

  DRS demonstrates new laser designating gimbal

  27th January 2015

  DRS Technologies has successfully performed the first airborne demonstration of its GS205-XRZ laser designating gimbal, the company announced on 21 January. The GS205-XRZ variant executed …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Exelis to supply BRU-71/A for MQ-9 Reaper

  27th January 2015

  Exelis has received a $27 million follow-on contract from General Atomics Aeronautical Systems for the BRU-71/A ejector rack, the company announced on 21 January. The …

• Digital Battlespace

  DRS to supply JTT-Rs for US, Australian Growlers

  27th January 2015

  DRS Technologies will deliver up to 180 Joint Tactical Terminal-Receivers (JTT-R) for US Navy and Australian EA-18G electronic warfare aircraft, the company announced on 22 …

• Defence Helicopter

  Boeing awarded Indonesian AH-64E Apache contract

  27th January 2015

  Boeing has been awarded a contract to manufacture eight AH-64E Apache attack helicopters for Indonesia, according to a US DoD announcement on 26 January. This …

• Military Logistics

  Taiwan receives new support ship

  26th January 2015

  The Taiwanese Republic of China Navy (ROCN) received a new fast combat support ship on 23 January 2015. After completing sea trials the $130 million …

• Defence Helicopter

  First ADF HATS training helicopter takes flight

  26th January 2015

  The first build EC135 T2+ helicopter for the Australian Defence Force’s (ADF’s) new Helicopter Aircrew Training System (HATS) has completed its first flight at the …

• Defence Helicopter

  Malaysia boosts helicopter capability to battle rebels

  26th January 2015

  To allow Malaysia’s military to better counter insurgents, the country is obtaining second-hand S-70A Black Hawks from Brunei, and improving the combat capability of its …

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 ...