• Land Warfare

  AUSA 2023: More firepower for M5 Ripsaw RCV

  10th October 2023

  Textron Systems’ M5 Ripsaw RCV has undergone a series of optimisations as revealed at AUSA 2023 in Washington DC.

• Training

  DSEI 2023: Boeing and Red 6 partnership first to achieve successful AR integration on aircraft

  14th September 2023

  The partnership between Boeing and Red 6 has resulted in the successful flight testing of AR technology in a TA-4JA tactical aircraft, with plans to extend testing to the T-7 Red Hawk advanced trainer.

• Training

  First US Air Force T-7 Red Hawk jet trainer poised to be delivered

  19th September 2023

  Boeing has completed crucial inspections of the T-7 Red Hawk, and five development aircraft are set to be delivered to the US Air Force, with hopes of completion by year-end. Despite setbacks, the programme is moving ahead, with further testing and detailed plans to replace the ageing T-38 Talon fleet.

• Air Warfare

  AUSA 2023: Northrop Grumman introduces ATHENA next-generation, missile-warning sensor

  17th October 2023

  The solution has been designed for US Army ITDS competition and intended to enhance the protection and situational awareness of aircraft and helicopters.

• Naval Warfare

  Indonesia receives two minehunters and makes progresses on two Arrowhead 140 frigates

  5th September 2023

  Two German-built minehunters have been accepted into the Indonesian navy, while PT PAL is busy building two new frigates for the Indonesian Navy.

• Training

  US Air Force's largest exercise bolsters combat readiness and joint force integration

  26th July 2023

  Amidst a complex threat environment, this year's Red Flag exercise prioritises joint force operations, agility and aerial refuelling capabilities while preparing for nation-state and non-state actor threats.

• Land Warfare

  AUSA 2023: Black Hornet 4 nano-UAS described as the previous version ‘on steroids’

  10th October 2023

  Teledyne Flir Defense’s new Black Hornet 4 nano-UAS, being unveiled at AUSA 2023 today, has been described by the company as a ‘step change’ with improved range, endurance and sensor capability in a similar-sized package.

• Air Warfare

  Elbit Systems completes delivery of self-protection suite for Dutch VIP aircraft

  7th September 2023

  Elbit Systems has completed installation of an advanced self-protection suite, including a Direct Infra-Red Counter Measures (DIRCM) system and Infra-Red-based Passive Airborne Warning System (IR MWS) on the Royal Netherlands Air Force's Gulfstream G-650ER VIP aircraft.

• Air Warfare

  Teal Drones boosted by order for more by USAF Security Forces and ID certification from FAA

  23rd August 2023

  Teal Drones has had its order book for USAF Security Forces doubled, and its Teal 2 UAS has received Remote ID certification. The latter meaning the platform can provide identification and location information, a requirement for operation in US airspace from next month.

• Training

  High-End Defense Training for Multipolar Threats

  13th September 2023

  From US National Intelligence Council reports to defense and foreign policy commentary, much ink has been spilled in the last five years on changing power dynamics in the world order.

• Naval Warfare

  US Navy seeks help to fix submarine support network problems

  7th September 2023

  The US Navy has released a Request for Information (RFI) to gather information about developing capabilities to support its submarine programmes.

• Naval Warfare

  Taiwan reveals first indigenous submarine to much fanfare

  2nd October 2023

  Taiwan has made good progress with its submarine programme, revealing its initial boat in late September.

• Land Warfare

  DSEI 2023: ST Engineering shows latest mortar and announces UK partnership

  11th September 2023

  As ST Engineering's latest 120mm Ground Deployed Advanced Mortar System (GDAMS) makes its first appearance at DSEI 2023, the Singaporean company has announced a partnership with NP Aerospace to take on UK and NATO market opportunities.

• Training

  US and Philippines show off strength and bilateral ties in joint exercise

  10th July 2023

  Cope Thunder 23-2, a joint exercise led by Pacific Air Forces, is scheduled to take place between 2 and 21 July.

• Training

  US Navy upgrades its red air aggressor F-16 Vipers

  4th August 2023

  Amentum will maintain US Navy adversary F-16 aircraft and provide full system maintenance and supply chain support to ensure seamless flight operations in all naval bases.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• 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, ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  T-X / T-7A Red Hawk [USAF]

  Background On 27 September 2018, it was announced that the Boeing-Saab team had been awarded a contract for the programme. The initial contract was worth $813 million ...

• Military UAS - mini

  Edge 130 [US]

  Programme Background First Order As reported by Shephard, In October 2024, the US Customs and Border Protection force submitted a $1.6 million order to acquire Edge ...

• Military UAS - micro

  Teal 2 (Customs and Border Protection Force) [US]

  Programme Background First Order Global News Wire reported that Red Cat had filled an order for 54 Teal 2 units from the US Customs and ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Bayraktar TB2 [Nigeria]

  Programme Background Rumours On 11 October 2021, Bello Matawalle, the Governor of Zamfara State, stated that several companies had signed an MoU with the Nigerian Government. ...

• Trainer

  Hawk Trainer Replacement [UK]

  Background The UK has outlined plans to replace the country's Hawk T1 and Hawk T2 trainers, allowing the aircraft to be retired. The Hawk T1 ...

• Military UAS - micro

  Golden Eagle (Ukraine Aid) [NATO Member]

  Programme Background 2022 Russian Invasion of Ukraine Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022, the usage and effectiveness of micro and mini UAV platforms ...

• Loitering munitions

  Long-Range Attack Munition (LRAM) [USMC]

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

• Military UAS - small

  Penguin [Ukraine]

  Background Long-Standing Deal Red Wire announced in September 2025 that its wholly owned subsidiary, Edge Autonomy, had delivered additional aircraft from its Penguin uncrewed aerial system ...

• Loitering munitions

  Red Dragon [US Army]

  Methodology Unit cost Based on the loitering munition’s maximum speed and payload, and a Shephard model, the estimated gross and flyaway unit cost of the ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Akinci [Ethiopia]

  Programme Background On 15 November 2023, SavunmaSanayiST reported that Baykar had exported its Akinci drone to Ethiopia due to a photograph which showed the drone featuring an ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Akinci [Libya]

  Programme Background 2022 Reports In October 2022, various Libyan media outlets reported that the country was eyeing a possible procurement from Baykar, possibly the Akinici ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Bayraktar TB2 [Mali]

  Programme Background Six Drones On 22 December 2022, Joseph Dempsey, a research associate at IISS, tweeted photographs showing a Baytraktar TB2 adorned with the Malian ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  A400M-Forecast [Indonesia]

  Programme Background The TNI-AU currently relies on 17 Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules and L-100-30 aircraft, including five C-130Hs transferred from Australia. Indonesian Air Force (TNI-AU) is ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  Light Attack/Trainer Aircraft [Serbia]

  Programme Background Serbia is looking to purchase around 20 light attack/trainer aircraft to replace its ageing Soko J-22 and G-4 trainer fleet in service. In ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Surface-to-air missiles

  HHQ-10 / FL-3000N

  The Hai Hong Qi-10 (Naval Red Flag-10), or HHQ-10 for short, is a Chinese naval surface-to-air missile. Its export version is the Flying Leopard 3000 ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Aleksandar Unifier

  The Aleksandar Unifier is an armoured 4x4 that was unveiled at a Serbian military parade to commemorate the Day of Serbian Unity, Freedom, and the National ...

• Military - USVs

  Voyager

  Voyager is an Uncrewed Surface Vessel (USV) built by US-based Saildrone. Voyager has been used by the US Navy (USN) and is one of three ...

• Subsystems: software

  Network Defense Trainer

  The Scalable Network Defense Trainer is an LVC simulation system for delivering realistic hands-on cyber training. It enables students to experience cyber attacks launched against ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  MQ-20 Avenger

  The MQ-20 Avenger, or Predator C, is a long-endurance UAS designed to perform high-speed, covert ISR and precision-strike missions over land or sea. The UAV is ...

• Naval: COMINT and ELINT systems

  Seal Family

  The naval ESM Seal family can provide: self-protection functions, with the capability to drive active ECM equipment (jammers) or passive ECM equipment (chaff/flares) automatically; tactical ...

• Military UAS - mini

  WingXpand

  Unveiled at the Special Operations Force Industry Conference in May 2022, the WingXpand is a fixed-wing platform manufactured by a company with the same name. Branded ...

• Weapon sights for day use

  Romeo Red Dot Sights

  The Romeo line of red dot sights are parallax-free and feature (MOTAC) motion-activated illuminated glass reticles. The dual reticle option, on select models, toggles between ...

• Laser pointers

  Lima Laser Sights

  Lima red and green laser fore grips are low-profile rail-mounted laser sights. The laser operates in momentary-on mode, with an additional continuous mode on the ...

• Unguided Mortar Ammunition

  81mm Infra-Red Illumination Mortar Bomb

  Austrian company Hirtenberger's 81mm Illumination-Infra-Red Mk5 (81mm ILL-IR Mk5) is an infra-red-light generating mortar bomb designed to provide illumination over a wide area.

• Military UAS - micro

  Fang

  Fang is a first-person view (FPV) UAS for precision strike roles. The drone is aimed to launch in Q2 2025. Developed by Red Cat, the drone ...

• Unguided Mortar Ammunition

  60mm Illumination - IR

  Austrian company Hirtenberger's 60mm Illumination - Infra-Red Mk2-S (60mm ILL-IR Mk2-S) is designed to illuminate a large area with infra-red light for a prolonged period.

• Multipurpose missiles

  Red Arrow 73

  The Red Arrow 73, also known as the HJ-73, was a copy of the Russian 9M14 Malyutka. The Red Arrow 73 was China's first-generation antitank ...

• Military UAS - micro

  Black Widow

  The Black Widow is a rotary-wing micro UAV from Red Cat. Unveiled at AUSA 2024, the AI-enabled drone is designed for instant ISR tasks and ...

• Unguided Mortar Ammunition

  120mm IR Illumination Mk2 Mortar Bomb

  Austrian company Hirtenberger's 120mm Infra-Red Illumination Mk2 (120mm IR-VIS Mk2) mortar bomb is to illuminate large areas with visible light for a prolonged period—the round works ...