• Air Warfare

  Israel shifts back to the Apache as UAV switch fails

  5th April 2024

  The IAF has equipped its Apache helicopter fleet with Rafael’s Spike NLOS missile.

• Air Warfare

  Safran continues to support UK Merlin helicopters

  4th April 2024

  The new engine support contract could be extended until 2040 to match the AW101 Merlin helicopter’s retirement date.

• Air Warfare

  Azerbaijan completes Turkish Akinci drone procurement

  16th February 2024

  The exact number of Akinci drones acquired by Azerbaijan has remained undisclosed, but estimates suggested the purchase of two or three HALE units.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Australia pumps more money into the MQ-28A Ghost Bat programme

  9th February 2024

  The funding towards the MQ-28A Ghost Bat will facilitate the delivery of three Block 2 aircraft with enhanced design and improved capabilities.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  UAVs in multiple classes proliferate in South Korea

  6th September 2024

  South Korea is rapidly advancing its UAV programmes and counter-drone capabilities in response to increasing threats from North Korea’s unmanned aerial systems.

• Defence Notes

  Defence cooperation in Europe: Views on the current situation from the EDA

  19th June 2024

  The European Defence Agency (EDA) has been using its platform at Eurosatory to emphasise its role in enhancing EU defence capabilities through collaboration and outlined its future priorities.

• Air Warfare

  Malaysia gets go-ahead for Lockheed targeting pods

  8th May 2024

  Sniper Advanced Targeting Pod is an electro-optical targeting system housed in a single, lightweight pod. It provides automatic tracking, including a maritime mode, and laser target designation via real-time imagery presented on cockpit displays.

• Air Warfare

  Indian Army sets up first Apache attack helicopter squadron

  20th March 2024

  An additional six AH-64E Apache attack helicopters have been expected to join the Indian Armed Forces in May, bringing the total numbers to 28.

• Air Warfare

  US Air Force discloses causes of 2023 CV-22 Osprey accident in Japan

  7th August 2024

  The investigation report pointed to a gearbox failure and management issues as the main causes of the accident.

• Land Warfare

  Hensoldt to send more TRML-4D radars to Ukraine

  3rd May 2024

  The Hensoldt TRML-4D, an air-defence radar based on the maritime TRS-4D radar, has been designed to provide similar scanning and surveillance capabilities to forces on land.

• Land Warfare

  Will Ukraine war air defence experience unlock new markets for Korkut gun system?

  18th June 2024

  Aselsan’s Korkut twin 35mm air defence gun is a unique in-production self-propelled system that can be integrated on a range of tracked and wheeled platforms. Korkut is in Turkish service already, but the need for air defence and C-UAS capabilities highlighted by the Ukraine conflict may lead to greater foreign interest in this solution.

• Air Warfare

  UK finalises Chinook heavy-lift helicopter deal following years of delays

  15th March 2024

  The UK MoD has finalized a deal for 14 new CH-47 Chinook helicopters after affordability concerns, citing cost reductions and critical reforms for smoother US procurement process.

• Naval Warfare

  Norway’s aim to purchase new frigates may impact Royal Navy’s own fleet production

  15th April 2024

  The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has only so far confirmed that discussions have been taking place with BAE Systems, but a decision has yet to be made, according to The Telegraph.

• Naval Warfare

  Singapore Navy receives new RO/RO civil resource ship

  17th May 2024

  MV Mentor, the Republic of Singapore Navy’s new roll-on/roll-off ship, will enhance training and sealift capabilities while replacing the long-serving MV Avatar.

• Land Warfare

  MBDA successfully tests Italian Army GRIFO air defence system

  8th May 2024

  The GRIFO air defence system is part of the Enhance Modular Air Defence Solutions family will be operated as part of the Italian Army’s air defence, giving its short-range air defence capability an extended range.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military helicopters - scout/light attack

  MD 530F -Kenya

  Crew transition training took place at the MD Helicopters headquarters in Mesa, Arizona, with field service support, armament, and gunnery training scheduled to occur at ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  MD 530G - Malaysia

  Procured for an urgent operational requirement for gunships to support Eastern Sabah Security Command operations, helicopter deliveries had to slip from a planned delivery of ...

• Military helicopters - scout/light attack

  MD 530G Lebanon

  The Armed MD 530G Scout Attack Helicopter features next-generation all-glass cockpit that includes: two Genesys Aerosystems IDU-680 6” x 9” LCD primary displays, Tek Fusion ...

• Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  Uncrewed MD 500 Replacement [South Korea]

  Background Uncrewed Replacement of the MD 500 Throughout the 2010s, South Korea appeared interested in replacing its fleet of crewed MD 500 helicopters that were manufactured under licence ...

• Military helicopters - scout/light attack

  Project Land 2097 Phase 4 [Australia]

  Programme Background According to the RfI, under Project Land 2097 Phase 4, the selected helicopter must comprise a commercial or military off-the-shelf solution that is ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  Light Armed Helicopter (LAH) First Batch (South Korea)

  Programme Background The LAH is the first time that the South Korean OEM has developed an armed helicopter. The project kicked off in June 2015, ...

• Military helicopters - light/training

  Bell 505 (South Korea - Army)

  Programme Background Requirement South Korea operates an ageing fleet of Bell UH-1s and MD 500s for training purposes. The country has already replaced a part of ...

• Military helicopters - light/training

  Bell 505 (South Korea - Navy)

  Programme Background Requirement South Korea operates an ageing fleet of Bell UH-1s and MD 500s for training purposes. The country has already replaced a part of ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  Light Armed Helicopter (Second Batch) [South Korea]

  Programme Background The LAH is the first time that the South Korean OEM has developed an armed helicopter. The project kicked off in June 2015, ...

• Military UAS - HALE

  MQ-4C Triton - Germany (Cancelled)

  Programme Background Germany requested to buy four MQ-4C Triton HALE UAVs from Northrop Grumman. On 5 April 2018, the US State Department announced that it ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8, Tanks

  Tracked & Wheeled Light Tank (Philippines)

  Programme Background The decision to split the programme into a wheeled and a tracked element follows the belief of the Philippine Army that this will ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  H225M - France

  Programme Background In April 2021, the French government signed a deal for the purchase of eight H225M Airbus helicopters to replace its ageing fleet of SA330 ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  UH-60A [Portugal]

  Programme Background At the end of February 2025, the Portuguese Minister of National Defence said that as part of the Portuguese Army's Support, Protection & ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  H145 Helicopter [Honduras]

  Programme Background  The Honduran Government has purchased a total of four H145 Helicopters manufactured by Airbus to develop the armed forces preparedness against natural disasters ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  H145M (Contracted) [Germany]

  Programme Background Previous Usage The German Armed Forces ordered 15 H145M helicopters, with the initial two delivered in December 2015, for the Kommando Spezialkräfte. These ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Military helicopters - scout/light attack

  MD 530F Cayuse Warrior

  An evolution of the OH-6 Cayuse light observation helicopter, the MD 530F was initially Federal Aviation Administration-certified in July 1985 as the Model 369FF. It ...

• Military helicopters - scout/light attack

  MD 530G

  The MD 530G is the newest addition to the MD Helicopters line of light scout attack platforms. It has increased-capacity landing gear and a mission-configurable ...

• Air: Integrated cockpit systems

  MDHI Glass Cockpit

  The American aerospace manufacturer MD Helicopters Inc. (MDHI) has designed and developed a glass cockpit specifically for MD 500E AND MD 520N aircraft. It is ...

• Air: Integrated cockpit systems

  IDU-680

  The IDU-680 is Genesys Aerosystems’ 3D synthetic vision integrated Electronic Flight Instrument System. The system includes a Highway in the Sky navigation system, geo-referenced hover ...

• Helicopter guns

  FN HMP

  The FN HMP (Heavy Machine Gun Pod) is a self-contained airborne weapon system armed with a 50cal FN M3P heavy machine gun. It is available ...

• Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  KUS-VH

  The Korean Air Korean Air Unmanned System-Vertical Helicopter (KUS-VH) is a large, rotary-wing UAV based on the MD 500. The first flight of the platform ...

• Helicopter Armour

  Armor of America (AoA) produces custom armour kits for any rotary-wing aircraft. AoA helicopter armour protects areas such as the cockpit floor and doors, cabin ...

• Military helicopters - scout/light attack

  6XX

  Publicly unveiled at Heli-Expo in March 2017, the MD Helicopters 6XX is the next evolution in the MD 500 series and is a redesigned, single-engine ...

• Helicopter engines

  M250-C30

  The M250-C30 and -C30P are the exclusive powerplants for the Bell 206L-4 LongRanger and the MD Helicopters MD 530F and MD 530G. In addition, the AH-6i is ...

• HEMS Completions

  RSG has been providing modification, retrofit, completion services and component overhaul to the air medical industry for over 38 years on aircraft produced by Airbus ...

• HS-16600

  Breeze-Eastern's HS-16600 external electric hoist system is operational on the Leonardo Helicopters AW109 and AW119, Bell Helicopter 206 and 222, and MD 500. It is ...

• Military helicopters - scout/light attack

  MD 500

  The MD 500 is a single-engine light helicopter derived from the Hughes OH-6A Cayuse developed for the US Army in the early 1960s and the ...

• EO/IR systems

  LEO-III

  The LEO-III, or LEO-III HD, was an airborne observation system with HD sensors and video outputs. It was a COTS, gyro-stabilised platform containing a multi-sensor HD ...

• Airborne rockets - unguided

  Aculeus MD-36 and MD-432

  The Aculeus MD-36 unguided multi-dart rocket provides 36 darts for the neutralisation of columns of light armoured vehicles. The Aculeus MD-432 provides 432 darts to ...

• Helicopter engines

  M250-C47E

  The C47E is the latest growth variant of the C47B/8 engine. In addition to a hot-and-high Value Improvement Package Kit, the C47E also includes dual-channel ...