• Digital Battlespace

  DARPA receives first SeeMe satellite

  5th October 2018

  Raytheon has delivered the first Space Enabled Effects for Military Engagements (SeeMe) satellite to DARPA, the company announced on 3 October. The new satellite will …

• Training

  Airbus operational as MFTS aircraft service provider

  5th October 2018

  Airbus Helicopters has completed its service provision build-up for the UK’s Military Flying Training System (MFTS), the company announced on 2 October. Airbus Helicopters is …

• Defence Notes

  North Korea begins dismantling rocket test site

  24th July 2018

  North Korea has started dismantling some facilities at its main satellite launch station, seen as the testing ground for its intercontinental ballistic missiles, according to expert …

• Naval Warfare

  BAE Systems signs agreement for Hunter class

  8th October 2018

  BAE Systems Australia has signed an advanced work arrangement (AWA) with the Australian government for the Hunter-class frigate programme, the company announced on 4 October. …

• Naval Warfare

  HII to build more Arleigh Burke-class destroyers

  4th October 2018

  Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Ingalls Shipbuilding division has received a $5.1 billion fixed-price incentive, multi-year procurement contract for the construction of six Arleigh Burke-class Flight III …

• Land Warfare

  Malaysia emerges as NLAW customer

  26th July 2018

  The Malaysian Army is expected to take delivery of an unknown number of Next-generation Light Antitank Weapons (NLAW) soon, with the recent issuing of a …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Commercial UAV Expo 2018: New Ewatt delivery drone makes debut

  4th October 2018

  Ewatt Aerospace bought two new products to the Commercial UAV Show in Las Vegas after stealing the show at the Amsterdam event with its enormous …

• Training

  Hawk T2 aircraft completes hot weather trials

  5th October 2018

  The Royal Air Force (RAF) has completed hot weather trials of the Hawk T2 aircraft advanced jet trainer, BAE Systems announced on 2 October. A …

• Land Warfare

  AUSA 2018: US arm of Polish WB Group makes debut

  4th October 2018

  The 2018 AUSA annual meeting and exposition will include first-time exhibitor WB America. The new company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of WB Group, a 22-year-old …

• Defence Helicopter

  Leonardo, PGZ sign LOI on AW249 helicopter

  13th July 2018

  Leonardo and PGZ have teamed to collaborate on the AW249 helicopter to be offered for the Polish Army’s combat helicopter requirement. Under a newly signed …

• Defence Notes

  Trump forces NATO allies to boost defence spending

  12th July 2018

  US President Donald Trump said NATO countries had agreed to increase their defence spending after he forced crisis talks over his mounting demands at a …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Commercial UAV Expo 2018: Autel's Kestrel takes to the skies

  3rd October 2018

  In a step away from its traditionally commercial products, Autel Robotics is launching two new VTOL UAS to meet more professional and industrial demands. The …

• Naval Warfare

  Japan launches first Li-ion submarine

  5th October 2018

  A new submarine for the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) was launched on 4 October. The launch of a Soryu-class submarine is not an unusual …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  AeroVironment receives order for Raven UAS

  9th October 2018

  AeroVironment has received a $13 million indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract from the US Air Force for RQ-11B Raven UAS to support Latin American and Caribbean …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Commercial UAV Expo 2018: PrecisionHawk expands BVLOS capability

  4th October 2018

  Beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations was a hot topic at this year’s Commercial UAV Expo in Las Vegas and is the next step …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  NH90 TTH [France]

  Background In 2001, the French government made its first purchase of 34 NH90 Tactical Transport Helicopters, followed by a second order in 2013 for an ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  Joint Light Helicopter (HIL) programme [France]

  Background The French Ministry of the Armed Forces has elected to bring the launch of the French Armed Forces’ HIL programme forward to 2021. The ...

• Military UAS - micro, Military UAS - mini

  Micro & Mini Drones (France)

  Programme Background RequirementOn 23 April 2021, an RfP was published by the Direction de la Maintenance Aéronautique (DMAé) to supply around 500 micro and nano drones for the ...

• Short Range Missile Defence Systems: 0 to 20 km range

  Mistral SHORAD [Romania]

  Background Romania signed a contract with the Ministry of the Armed Forces and Veterans of the French Republic within the "European Joint Acquisition of Mistral ...

• 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

  Switchblade 300 [France]

  Programme Background Plans to Purchase At Eurosatory 2022, Col. Arnaud Goujon, the French Army's chief of plans, told the media that the French Army was ...

• 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) ...

• OPVs

  OPV Procurement (1-2) [Montenegro]

  Programme Background Timeline During Euronaval 2024, the French Ministry of Armed Forces and Veterans announced that Montenegro signed a contract for the acquisition of two ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  NH90 (Special Forces) [France]

  Background In French service, advanced H225M Caracals with aerial refuelling capabilities are used by SOF units of the French Air Force (FAF) and French Army. ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  A330 MRTT (13-15) [France]

  Background In June 2020, The French government has pledged to buy new military heavy-lift helicopters and accelerate plans for naval drone, ISTAR and tanker aircraft programmes ...

• OPVs

  OPV 58 S [Senegal]

  Programme Background Senegal ordered three OPV 58 S patrol vessels on 17 November 2019. A procurement contract was signed between the Ministry of Armed Forces ...

• Loitering munitions, Military UAS - mini

  UX11 (Ukraine Aid) [France]

  Programme Background First Batch On 6 September 2023, Sébastien Lecornu, the French Minister of Defence, announced Delair was providing Ukraine with more than 150 drones. ...

• 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 ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  PLFS [France]

  Background The Sabre, then known as the Sherpa FS, was developed as a response to a 2014 requirement for three types of new vehicles 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) ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• CUAS - hybrid effector systems

  Boreades

  Boreades is a modular anti-UAV system developed by CS. This suite combines multi-sensors and multi-effectors in order to enable the detection, identification and neutralisation of rogue ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  UAS 100

  The UAS 100 is an autonomous, three-engined platform, modular UAS manufactured by Thales in partnership with Issoire Aviation, Hionos and with the support of the ...

• Military UAS - micro

  Vespa-15

  The Vespa-15 is a first-person view (FPV) rotary-wing UAV manufactured by a Ukrainian company.  In May 2025, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) of Ukraine announced it ...

• Loitering munitions

  MX-10 Damocles

  The MX-10 Damocles is a quadcopter loitering munition from KNDS France and Delair. Unveiled at IDEX 2025, it features a 500g fragmentation payload. It is part ...

• Military UAS - small

  LEMUR

  LEMUR is a VTOL, fixed-wing UAV designed for long-endurance observation and reconnaissance missions. The aircraft is available with either an electric motor or an internal ...

• Military UAS - mini

  Tundra 2

  The Tundra 2 is a rotary-wing UAV from Hexadrone. It is described as a new, modular, plug-and-play, and multi-trade drone. Hexadrone's website states that the French Armed ...

• OPVs

  OPV 60

  The OPV 60 is designed to conduct surveillance missions in coastal and EEZ waters. The ship can be armed with a 40mm naval gun and ...

• EO/IR systems

  Euroflir 350

  The Euroflir 350 is an out-of-production gyro-stabilised optronic system. According to Safran, it is effective at long ranges, can track mobile targets, designate important areas for ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  NH90 TTH

  Developed as a multinational programme between France, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands, the European NH90 was designed to meet NATO requirements for multirole capability from ...

• Military UAS - small

  Lanner

  Unveiled at Eurosatory 2024, the Lenner is a modified variant of the Pengion C VTOL drone, specifically modified to meet the SDTL (Light Tactical Drone System) program ...

• Military helicopters - light/training, Military helicopters - multirole, Military helicopters - scout/light attack

  H160M

  Airbus is developing the H160M to meet the requirements of the French military for the Joint Light Helicopter (Hélicoptère Interarmées Léger, or HIL) programme. It ...

• Land: handheld NV devices

  O-NYX

  The Thales O-NYX is a Ultra-Compact Night Vision Goggle used by the French armed forces. They have an enlarged field of vision to 51° compared ...

• Pistols

  Glock Pistol

  The Glock family of pistols have been in widespread service since the Glock 17 was selected for Austrian military and police service in 1982. The company's ...

• Air: Defensive Systems - Radar Warning Receivers

  TDS-FA/-TA/-H

  Thales’ TDS family is comprised of Radar Warning Receivers (RWRs) designed to equip a range of fixed-wing aircraft. The product series includes the TDS-FA designed ...

• Surface-to-air missiles

  Mistral 2

  MISTRAL is a man-portable, fully digital, heat-seeking missile designed to meet the requirements of all branches of the armed forces to defend against air threats. ...