• Defence Notes

  US widens arms export gap over Russia

  19th March 2021

  Newly released data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute shows that the US has consolidated its position as the world's leading arms exporter, increasing its lead over Russia in the process.

• Defence Helicopter

  Netherlands starts upgraded CH-47F deliveries

  14th April 2021

  The Royal Netherlands Air Force has welcomed a new CH-47F heavy-lift helicopter, fitted with an upgraded cockpit.

• Special Operations

  French elite forces train African partners in Ivory Coast

  14th April 2021

  A growing facility near Abidjan offers counter-terrorism and special forces training for African militaries.

• Defence Helicopter

  MoD sticks with Ultra for Merlin sonobuoy capability

  24th March 2021

  Ultra sonobuoys will help to ensure ASW protection for RN submarines and the Queen Elizabeth Carrier Strike Group.

• Special Operations

  France augments SOF capabilities

  16th April 2021

  French SOF chiefs recognised a need to refresh equipment for operations on land, at sea and in the air.

• Defence Helicopter

  US Army awaits more Black Hawks and Pave Hawks

  23rd March 2021

  Sikorsky will provide 24 extra helicopters to the US Army.

• Naval Warfare

  Capability gaps hamper Varan aircraft carrier

  17th February 2021

  A somewhat unfamiliar design — and the lack in Russia of a carrier-based AWACS capability — suggest that the Nevsky Design Bureau has bitten off more than it can chew.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Udar evolves with no destination in sight

  3rd March 2021

  What is the next step for the Udar combat UGV, after it has already undergone two redesigns in its short lifetime?

• Defence Helicopter

  Rolls-Royce receives order for a dozen more Osprey engines

  30th March 2021

  AE1107C-Liberty​ engine will power V-22 tiltrotor aircraft for the USAF and USN.

• Digital Battlespace

  UK selects BAE Systems missile warning equipment support and sustainment

  1st April 2021

  BAE Systems continues to support its Common Missile Warning System in UK service.

• Defence Notes

  UK rolls the dice with Integrated Review

  31st March 2021

  The Integrated Review is certainly ambitious in its scope but how realistic is it?

• Naval Warfare

  Philippines reshuffles naval fleet plans, as projects lag

  6th April 2021

  New submarines, OPVs, corvettes, land-based anti-ship missiles and LPDs are all in the mix for the Philippine Navy's future fleet.

• Defence Helicopter

  US Army issues CD&RR Phase 2 contracts for FLRAA

  31st March 2021

  Bell Textron and Sikorsky-Boeing will complete Competitive Demonstration and Risk Reduction phase of Future Long Range Assault Aircraft programme by 30 March 2022.

• Defence Notes

  Uneven recovery looms over European defence industry

  1st April 2021

  Tier 1 companies in Europe have weathered the COVID storm so far, but how are governments addressing the needs of essential SMEs?

• Naval Warfare

  Taiwan launches first domestically built LPD

  14th April 2021

  Taiwan continues to upgrade its navy with domestically built vessels, and a new LPD is now on the horizon.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military helicopters - attack

  Mi-28UB - Russia

  Programme BackgroundThe Russian MoD plans to acquire up to 60 Mi-28UB aircraft for the Russian Air Force by mid-2020s. Moscow signed a contract with Russian Helicopters ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  Mi-28UB - Russia Forecast

  Programme Background The Russian MoD plans to acquire up to 60 Mi-28UB aircraft for the Russian Air Force by mid-2020s. Moscow signed a contract with Russian ...

• 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 - light/training

  AW119Kx [Bosnia and Herzegovina]

  Programme Background  In May 2025, the U.S. State Department approved an FMS to Bosnia and Herzegovina for approximately $100 million including 8 AW119Kx helicopters and a ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  UH-1Y Venom (Czechia)

  Programme Background Czech Armed Forces intended to use the UH-1Y Venom helicopters in various missions including utility, search and rescue, aerial reconnaissance, air-to-ground support and ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  T129 (Nigeria)

  Programme Background Requirement The Nigerian Air Force has an ongoing requirement for attack helicopters in order to assist the country's ongoing counter-insurgency operations. Nigeria already ...

• Military helicopters - maritime

  Naval Utility Helicopters (India)

  Programme Background The program will witness the formation of a joint venture between Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and another local or foreign manufacturer. In June ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  AH-1Z Viper [Czech Republic]

  Programme Background On 3 May 2019, it was announced that the US State Department had approved a possible FMS of four AH-1Z Vipers to the Czech ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  Heavy-lift Helicopter STH [Germany]

  Programme Background The German government issued a tender in March 2019 for the procurement of heavy-lift helicopters under the Schwerer Transporthubschrauber (STH) program, 60 units are ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  Heavy Lift Helicopter [Philippines]

  Programme Background Procurement from Russia In November 2021, Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana confirmed that a contract had been signed to acquire 16 Mi-171 heavy ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Tigr-M

  The Tigr-M is a modified variant of the original Tigr design, which replaced the licence-produced Cummins diesel engine with a Russian-designed YaMZ diesel engine. This ...

• 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 ...

• KamAZ-53949 Taifun-K

  Programme BackgroundThe Kamaz-53949 Taifun-K was initially deemed unsuitable for Russian requirements on account of its reliance on a large number of Western-manufactured components. However, it ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  BMP-3F (Russia)

  Programme Background The Russian Navy's Naval Infantry are believed to have first tested the Kurganmashzavod BMP-3F in 2010, but at that time the service opted ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Atlet [Russia]

  Programme Background The Military Industrial Company (VPK) began development of the Atlet 4x4 armoured vehicle in 2017 to meet a requirement from the Russian Army ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Military helicopters - attack

  Mi-28UB

  Russian Helicopters unveiled the Mi-28UB rotorcraft at the MAKS 2013 exhibition. As the combat training modification of the Mi-28NE Night Hunter, the Mi-28UB is designed ...

• Model 327 Fire Attack

  The Model 327 is a belly tank/refill hose system designed for the Russian Helicopters Ansat.

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  Mi-38

  Russian Helicopters' Mi-38 medium-lift helicopter is designed to compete with the Leonardo AW101 and Sikorsky S-92 in both the civil and military markets. The first ...

• Model 328 Fire Attack

  The Model 328 is a belly tank/refill hose system designed for the Russian Helicopters Ka-32.

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

  BAS-750

  The BAS-750, or БАС-750, is a rotary-wing UAS unveiled at Army 2022 by Russian Helicopters. Described as a multifunctional UAV, it can host various payloads to complete several mission ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  Mi-171Sh

  The Mi-8AMTSh (domestic)/Mi-171Sh (export) is a civil and military transport helicopter that was developed from the Mi-8MT/Mi-17 by the Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant. The type is built ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  NSTsI-V

  Developed by KRET, the NSTsI-V is a helmet-mounted targeting and display system for pilots. The system projects an image onto the transparent screen in front of ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  Mi-17V-5

  The Mi-17V-5 (domestic designation Mi-8MTV-5) is a military transport helicopter developed from the Mi-17 (Mi-8MT) medium multirole helicopter. It was developed at the Mil Moscow ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  Mi-28N/Mi-28NM

  The Mi-28N is a Russian attack helicopter manufactured by Russian Helicopters for use by the Russian Armed Forces. The helicopter is twin-engined with tandem seating ...

• Helicopter guns

  YAK-B

  The YAK-B is a four-barrel 12.7x108mm Gatling gun. The system is remotely controlled, using a gas-operated mechanism, and offers a high rate of fire. It ...

• Air: Electronic Attack - Jamming

  Rychag-AVM

  KRET’s Rychag-AVM radio frequency jammer is designed to perform electronic attack against hostile communications and radar systems. The Rychag-AVM ensemble is mounted onboard dedicated Mil ...

• Air: surveillance and maritime patrol radar

  Kopyo-A

  The Kopyo-A is a Russian, multipurpose radar intended for deployment on helicopters. It is designed for coastal monitoring, search and detection of sea surface and ground ...

• Land: RWS

  Nanuk Russian

  Rheinmetall Canada's Nanuk RWS family includes this variant for non-NATO weapons, which combines full stabilisation, long-range day/night all-weather sights and a versatile weapon cradle that ...

• Land: RWS

  Qimek Russian

  Rheinmetall's Qimek single-weapon RWS family includes a variant for non-NATO weapons, which combines full stabilisation, long-range day/night all-weather sights and a versatile weapon cradle for ...

• Helicopter guns

  GSh-23L

  The GSh-23 is a 23mm double-barrelled aircraft gun designed by KBP Instrument Design Bureau. The gun is designed to fire fragmentation mines, armour-piercing explosives and ...