• Defence Notes

  Analysis: Saudi Arabia - A close customer (part 2 - air)

  14th December 2016

  As we have already seen in Part 1 – Land, the close defence relationship between Saudi Arabia's ruling House of Saud and Western governments is …

• Land Warfare

  Unilateral approach to collective defence

  14th December 2016

  Efforts among the countries that make up the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) to form a collective capability in defending against missile attack from potential regional …

• Defence Helicopter

  Ka-52 first export deliveries set for 2017

  13th December 2016

  Russian Helicopters plans to begin export deliveries of the Ka-52 coaxial rotor attack helicopters in 2017. The launch export customer for the type is Egypt, …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Brimstone planned for Protector UAS

  13th December 2016

  Plans are underway for UK’s Protector UAS is to be armed with the Brimstone precision strike missile when it enters service with the Royal Air …

• Land Warfare

  Ukraine to upgrade Pakistani tanks

  9th December 2016

  A memorandum of understanding has been signed between Pakistan and Ukraine for the upgrade and support of Pakistan’s Main Battle Tank (MBT). Ukraine’s state-owned company …

• Defence Helicopter

  Sea Lion takes to the air

  8th December 2016

  Germany’s NH90 Sea Lion naval multirole helicopter has officially flown for the first time, placing the type squarely in the frame for potential future selection …

• Military Logistics

  Upgraded engine flies on C-130H

  6th December 2016

  A US Air Force C-130H aircraft has flown with a new upgraded Rolls-Royce engine with preliminary flight data showing positive results for fuel efficiency and …

• Naval Warfare

  Blighter C400 series radar introduced

  6th December 2016

  Blighter Surveillance Systems has introduced a new member of its Blighter radar portfolio designed for coastal security, the Blighter C400. The Blighter C400 series is a …

• Naval Warfare

  Fifth Project 22160 patrol ship laid down

  2nd December 2016

  Russia’s Zelenodolsk-based A.M. Gorky shipbuilding company reported on 25 November the lay down of the fifth Project 22160 modular patrol ship for the Russian Navy. …

• Defence Notes

  BMD option touted for UK frigate

  1st December 2016

  Raytheon has called on the Royal Navy to consider adopting its SM-3 short- to intermediate-range ballistic missile defence (BMD) system, on its future Type 31 …

• Digital Battlespace

  Northrop Grumman delivers submarine sensors

  1st December 2016

  The US Navy’s Virginia class submarines are set for enhanced capabilities with Northrop Grumman delivering the first Block IV Light Weight Wide Aperture Array (LWWAA) …

• Defence Helicopter

  Colombian civil heli market opens up

  30th November 2016

  Sikorsky has secured its position in South America through a recent offshore and utility type certification for a series of the company’s rotorcraft. The certification for the …

• Naval Warfare

  UK leads US Task Force 50

  30th November 2016

  The British Royal Navy has taken charge of US Task Force 50 in the Gulf for the first time, it was announced on 26 November. …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Balloon goes up in Singapore

  29th November 2016

  The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) performed its first test launch of a TCOM aerostat in Singapore. Although the project started in 2014, its …

• Training

  I/ITSEC 2016: Presagis presents Heli Craft simulator (video)

  29th November 2016

  Presagis has launched its Craft series of customisable simulation platforms at I/ITSEC in Orlando. The new simulator series includes Heli Craft and UAV Craft.  The …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Loitering munitions

  Colibri: Short-range loitering munition (Contracted) [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) ...

• Loitering munitions

  Colibri: Short-range loitering munition (Uncontracted) [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) ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Anka-B [Türkiye]

  Programme Background TAI announced in November 2019 that it had delivered a total of 22 Anka-B UAVs to the Turkish Navy. Two large contracts contributing ...

• Loitering munitions

  MTO CP (First Tranche) [Belgium]

  Background Belgian Drone Expansion In November 2025, the Forces Operations Blog (FOB) reported that the Belgian Land Force would launch various UAV procurement programmes, based ...

• Loitering munitions

  MTO CP (Second Tranche) [Belgium]

  Background Belgian Drone Expansion In November 2025, the Forces Operations Blog (FOB) reported that the Belgian Land Force would launch various UAV procurement programmes, based ...

• Military helicopters - scout/light attack

  AH-6i (Thailand)

  Programme Background The US State Department has made a determination approving the possible $400 million sale on 24 September 2019. The eight AH-6i light attack ...

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

  ISTAR UAS project [Canada]

  Programme Background Objective The Royal Canadian Navy's (RCN) main significant UAV project is the RCN Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance Unmanned Aircraft System (RCN ...

• 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 ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  NBPWP Borsuk (Batch 1) [Poland]

  Programme Background The NBPWP Borsuk is intended to replace the BWP-1s currently in service with the Polish Army. Development of the platform began in 2014 with the ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Piranha V [Denmark]

  Programme Background In February 2013, the Danish Defence Acquisition and Logistics Organization (DALO) selected the Piranha V as one of five contenders for evaluation to ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  Viper MIFV

  Programme Background Due to its focus on conducting counterinsurgency operations against the Tehrik-e Taliban (TTP), the Pakistan Army has eschewed the substantial investment needed to ...

• Military UAS - micro, Military UAS - mini

  ZEUS series [Ukraine]

  Background First Batch Delivered Summa Defence announced in December 2025 that it had delivered the first batch of its ZEUS FPV drones to Ukraine, following close ...

• Transport

  King Air 360 [Nigeria]

  Programme Background On 7 October 2021, Nigeria’s Budget Office published its proposed budget details. The Nigerian Air Force requested 10.86 billion Nigerian Naira (US$26.4 million) ...

• Fighter - naval

  Tejas LCA (Naval variant) - India

  The average unit cost is estimated to be around $63 million per aircraft based on the $5.2 billion deal for the procurement of 83 LCAs ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  Patria 6x6 [Norway]

  Programme Background The CAVS programme brings together Finland, Denmark, Germany, Latvia, Sweden, Norway and the UK to develop an armoured vehicle based on the Patria ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Subsystems: visual

  L3 Wescam MX - Sim

  Partnering with L3 Wescam, INSYEN has developed the MX - Sim, a training product which simulates the operations of the L3 Wescam MX-series of EO/IR ...

• EO/IR systems

  Wescam MX-8

  Unveiled at AUSA 2016, the Wescam MX-8 is an EO/IR system designed for small crewed and uncrewed aircraft.  The smallest system in the Wescam's MX series, the ...

• Sea: naval surveillance radar

  Indera MX-3AH

  The Indera MX-3AH is a naval surveillance radar manufactured by Solution 247 in Indonesia. It is a Low-Probability-of-Intercept (LPI) radar that is equipped with Maritime Tracking ...

• Light mortars

  60MX Mortar Series

  Expal's 60mm 60MX1 and 60MX2 mortars are designed to be used with a bipod or in handheld mode using a commando kit, which consists of ...

• Subsystems: visual

  L3 Wescam MX - Emulator

  INSYEN has partnered with L3 Wescam to develop the MX -Emulator, a product which emulates the operations of L3 Wescam's MX series of EO/IR turrets, ...

• Medium mortars

  81mm MX Mortar Series

  The 81mm MX mortar series includes two different barrels for different operational scenarios: 1.15m (81MX1) and 1.45m (81MX2). Both can be transported in three backpack ...

• Towed mortars

  120mm MX Mortar Series

  The 120mm MX Mortar Series consists of two models with different barrel lengths: the 1.6m 120MX1 and 1.8m 120MX2. The design has numerous improvements based ...

• Surface-to-air missiles

  Barak ER (Barak-8ER)

  The Barak Extended Range (ER) missile, developed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), is an advanced surface-to-air interceptor designed to counter a wide spectrum of aerial ...

• EO/IR systems

  Wescam MX-25D

  The L3 Harris Wescam MX-25 is an EO/IR imaging system designed for ultra-high, long-endurance surveillance and reconnaissance missions from aircraft. It supports up to six sensors simultaneously, including long-range target ...

• Core systems: image intensifiers

  MX-10160

  F9800 series Gen III MX-10160 18mm I2 tubes are used in the AN/AVS-6 ANVIS and AN/AVS-9 (F4949) aviator NVG, as well as ground systems including ...

• EO/IR systems

  Wescam MX-10

  The Wescam MX-10 EO/IR low-weight imaging system is designed for low-altitude tactical surveillance and reconnaissance missions from crewed and uncrewed aircraft. The MX-10 has had a close ...

• EO/IR systems

  Wescam MX-20

  The Wescam MX-20 EO/IR is an imaging system from L3 Harris, designed for high-altitude, long-range persistent surveillance and reconnaissance missions from crewed and uncrewed aircraft. The MX-20HD was a ...

• EO/IR systems

  Alticam 11EOIR5

  Manfaucte by Hood Tech Vision, the Alitcam 11 series of EO/IR gimbals can be hosted on aircraft, vessels, or vehicles. The Alticam 11EOIR5 features HD ...

• EO/IR systems

  Alticam 09EOIR3

  Derived from the EO900 Super EO, the Alticam 09 series of gimbaled surveillance systems feature four-axis stabilisation and two simultaneous H.264 compressed video feeds. The ...

• Land: vehicle surveillance/target acquisition systems

  MX-10GS

  The MX-10GS is a mast-mounted small multi-sensor, multi-spectral imaging system in single-LRU configuration. It is designed for installation in ground combat vehicles and for force ...