• Defence Notes

  UK to invest in chemical weapons defence centre

  15th March 2018

  Britain will invest £48 million in a new chemical weapons defence centre and vaccinate thousands of British soldiers against anthrax, the country’s defence minister said …

• Naval Warfare

  DIMDEX 2018: Minor changes to continued Qatar OPV design

  14th March 2018

  British naval design bureau BMT revealed that only ‘minor’ changes were made to the design of the second batch of OPVs intended for the Qatari …

• Training

  UK MoD moves ASDOT forward

  16th March 2018

  The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has initiated a new phase in the Air Support to Defence Operational Training (ASDOT) programme with the down-select of …

• Land Warfare

  Lockheed, MBDA form JV for Germany’s TLVS

  13th March 2018

  Lockheed Martin and MBDA Deutschland have formed a new joint venture (JV) to pursue the German military’s next generation integrated air and missile defence system, …

• Digital Battlespace

  DARPA announces COMPASS programme

  21st March 2018

  DARPA has announced a new programme called Collection and Monitoring via Planning for Active Situational Scenarios (COMPASS) to better understand and respond to adversary grey-zone …

• Special Operations

  First SOF customer for enhanced DAGOR

  22nd March 2018

  The Canadian Special Operations Forces Command (CANSOFCOM has become the first customer to receive an upgraded variant of Polaris Government and Defense’s Deployed Advanced Ground Off …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Roboteam announces AI-CU software

  12th March 2018

  On 1 March Roboteam announced the launch of its Artificial Intelligence Control Unit (AI-CU) software to provide autonomous and artificial intelligence capabilities to the warfighters.  …

• Military Logistics

  Marines look to enhance expeditionary maintenance

  12th March 2018

  The US Marine Corps (USMC) is gathering industry information that could support the future acquisition of a commercial-off-the-shelf Expeditionary Fluid Analysis System (EFAS).As conceptualised, a …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  RT LTA demos SkyStar 110 in Japan

  13th March 2018

  RT LTA Systems has carried out a live demonstration of its new SkyStar 110 micro-aerostat system at the SDF internal communication exhibition in Japan, the …

• Naval Warfare

  Pakistan Customs receives two FRP boats

  15th March 2018

  Karachi Shipyard and Engineering Works handed over two new high speed Fibre Reinforced Plastic (FRP) boats to Pakistan Customs in a ceremony held on 10 …

• Military Logistics

  RFA Lyme Bay returns to fleet

  13th March 2018

  The Royal Fleet Auxiliary's (RFA's) Lyme Bay has been accepted back into the fleet after completing a refit, re-store and sea trials, the navy announced …

• Military Logistics

  DIMDEX 2018: Atkins present to cement in-country ties

  14th March 2018

  British consultancy and logistics company Atkins detailed its ongoing work in the Gulf region in support of a number of military facilities, while in attendance …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Oceanology International 2018: Riptide injects new mould into MkII

  14th March 2018

  US company Riptide Autonomous Solutions is utilising new moulding methods to ensure market efficiency with its next generation of micro-UUV, the MkII. Across industry there …

• Defence Notes

  China's Xi calls for military loyalty to new constitution

  12th March 2018

  A day after he won the mandate to rule for life, Chinese President Xi Jinping called on China's military to follow the country's newly-amended constitution …

• Defence Helicopter

  No additional S-61T deliveries

  20th March 2018

  The Sikorsky S-61 modernisation programme, which included the upgrading of the S-61T, appears to have stopped with no further platforms being requested by the US …

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]

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

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Boxer IFV (Schakal) [Netherlands]

  Background The Boxer is currently in service with both Germany and the Netherlands, having entered service in 2009 and 2013, respectively.  In October 2025, the ...

• Medium UGVs

  Mission Master (RPV Sprial 2) [UK]

  Background First announced in April 2017 and referred to in early MOD documents as the ‘last mile resupply’ initiative, the British Army is reportedly evaluating ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Boxer IFV (Schakal) [Germany]

  Programme Background The Boxer is currently in service with both Germany and the Netherlands, having entered service in 2009 and 2013, respectively.  In October 2025, ...

• 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 ...

• Military UAS - mini

  Medium Range Tactical (MRT) [USMC]

  Background Request for Information (RFI) In February 2026, the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) issued an RFI for solutions for a Medium Range Tactical (MRT) ...

• UAS: communication systems

  UAS: communication systems | RangeHawk (RQ-4 Global Hawk) [US]

  Northrop Grumman received a US$325.5 million US Army contract in May 2026 to develop and acquire the RangeHawk HALE UAV, a modified RQ-4 Global Hawk designed ...

• UAS: flight control systems

  UAS: flight control systems | RangeHawk (RQ-4 Global Hawk) [US]

  Northrop Grumman received a US$325.5 million US Army contract in May 2026 to develop and acquire the RangeHawk HALE UAV, a modified RQ-4 Global Hawk designed ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Boxer (MIV) [UK]

  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 vehicle. ...

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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...