• Defence Notes

  SCS UK MoD training services contract extended

  2nd May 2013

  SCS will continue to provide training support to the UK Ministry of Defence’s (MoD’s) Joint Forces Command (JFC) following the award of a 12-month extension …

• Military Logistics

  Final three C-130Js for Iraq set for delivery

  2nd May 2013

  The final three C-130J Super Hercules transport aircraft on order for the Iraqi Air Force (IQAF) are set for delivery by Lockheed Martin, it has …

• Military Logistics

  FlightSafety wins KC-46 Aircrew Training System contract

  2nd May 2013

  FlightSafety has been selected to provide the Aircrew Training System for the KC-46 tanker transport aircraft to the US Air Force. The contract will see …

• Digital Battlespace

  NATO admits C2 failings

  1st May 2013

  A NATO official has identified weak links in the alliance’s C2 chain as it prepares for its next venture into integration testing, Unified Vision 2014. …

• Land Warfare

  US Army issues JETS TLDS prototype contracts

  1st May 2013

  The US Army has selected DRS and BAE Systems for the three-year engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) phase of the Joint Effects Targeting System (JETS) …

• Defence Helicopter

  US furthers next-generation helicopter studies

  30th April 2013

  Plans for a next generation US helicopter to replace the AH-64 Apache and UH-60 Black Hawk have moved forward with three different configurations under evaluation. …

• Defence Helicopter

  GKN chases JMR involvement

  30th April 2013

  GKN Aerospace is in talks with Bell Helicopter and Sikorsky about possible involvement in their bids for the US Joint Multirole (JMR) next-generation helicopter project. …

• Land Warfare

  Artis declares Iron Curtain APS ready for deployment

  30th April 2013

  Artis has announced that its Iron Curtain active protection system (APS) has successfully defeated all threats during recent US government testing. The APS was integrated …

• Naval Warfare

  Thales’ APAR completes first Sea Acceptance Test

  29th April 2013

  Thales’s multi-function Active Phased Array Radar (APAR) has undergone the first Sea Acceptance Test (SAT) on the new Iver Huitfeldt Class frigates of the Royal …

• Military Logistics

  Sofradir wins KC-46 infrared camera contract

  29th April 2013

  Rockwell Collins has selected Sofradir EC to provide high resolution infrared cameras to support work on the US Air Force KC-46 tanker programme. Rockwell Collins …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Succesful DeSIRE flight announced

  26th April 2013

  EDA and ESA announce succesful civil UAS integration trial The European Defence Agency (EDA) and the European Space Agency (ESA) announced on 26 April the …

• Digital Battlespace

  Rotem develops hyper-hemispherical sapphire domes

  26th April 2013

  The Crystals Division of Israeli manufacturer Rotem Industries announced today that it had manufactured the first production series of hyper-hemispherical (240 degrees or more) sapphire …

• Military Logistics

  First A400M nears IOC

  26th April 2013

  The first production A400M is expected to be delivered to the French Air Force and achieve military initial operation capability (IOC) in the second quarter …

• Defence Helicopter

  NAVAIR looks to future Seahawk replacement

  26th April 2013

  The US Navy is starting to look at replacement options for its MH-60 Seahawk helicopters, with fleet retirement expected to commence in 2028. The US …

• Defence Helicopter

  Eurocopter reveals optionally piloted EC145

  25th April 2013

  Eurocopter has validated its EC145 helicopter in an optionally piloted vehicle (OPV) role following a successful series of flight tests using its testbed demonstrator. Demonstrated …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• ISR/special mission, Maritime patrol

  C295 MPAs/MSAs [Spain]

  Programme Background Required to replace Spain's existing P-3M Orion fleet set to reach OSD in the mid-late 2020s, Airbus' C295W has been selected as the replacement ...

• Loitering munitions

  Deluge (First batch) [France]

  Background Unveiling MBDA unveiled a scale model of the One-Way Effector (OWE), later named the Deluge, at the Paris Air Show 2025. As Breaking Defence reported at the ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  C-390 [Portugal]

  Programme Background Leadership from the Portuguese Air Force and Embraer signed a contract for a sixth C-390, with the option for ten additional aircraft for ...

• Loitering munitions

  Deluge (Additional batches) [France]

  Background Unveiling MBDA unveiled a scale model of the One-Way Effector (OWE), later named the Deluge, at the Paris Air Show 2025. As Breaking Defence reported at the ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  C-390 Options [Portugal]

  Programme Background Leadership from Embraer and the Portuguese Air Force formalised a contract that includes 10 aircraft options that can be utilised by any NATO ...

• 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 ...

• AEW&C

  GlobalEye [France]

  Programme Background Saab and the French Defence Procurement Agency signed an MoU at Paris Air Show 2025 for the firm purchase two GlobalEye aircraft and the ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) [French Air Force]

  Background Rafale F5 companion During a ceremony marking the 60th anniversary of the French Strategic Air Forces (FAS) at Saint-Dizier Air Base in October 2024, France’s Minister of ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  C-390 [Lithuania]

  Programme Background The Lithuanian Armed Forces confirmed the selection of the C-390 as the Air Force's new military transport aircraft during Paris Air Show 2025. ...

• Military UAS - small

  Flexrotor [Phillipines]

  Background Horizon 3 In September 2024, Airbus offered the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) various military equipment, including the Flexrotor, A400M and H225M, 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) ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  Super Galeb Replacement [Serbia]

  Programme Background Serbia is looking to replace their aged fleet of Super Galeb aircraft from Yugoslavia with a new trainer and light attack aircraft.  According ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  Watchkeeper X (Contracted) [Romania]

  Background 2021 In mid-2021, the Romanian manufacturer Aerostar signed a collaboration with U-TacS to potentially produce the Watchkeeper X in Romania. U-TacS is a joint ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  Watchkeeper X (Uncontracted) [Romania]

  Background 2021 In mid-2021, the Romanian manufacturer Aerostar signed a collaboration with U-TacS to potentially produce the Watchkeeper X in Romania. U-TacS is a joint ...

• Military UAS - small

  Aerosonde Mk 4.7 [Qatar]

  Background Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) At DIMDEX 2016, a QAR 54.7 million ($14.97 million) MoU between the Qatar Armed Forces and the US company Textron Systems for ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Air: Displays

  LAD2008DA

  Produced by Psion DSP, LAD2008DA is a 20"x8" Large Area Display for full-glass cockpit applications. It was showcased during the 2022 Farnborough Air Show and the 2023 ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Wing Loong X

  The Wing Loong X, or WL-X, is a fixed-wing UAV developed by the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC). Debuted at the Paris Air Show ...

• Air: Displays

  RDU-4208 LAD

  ScioTeq RDU-4208 is a 20"x8" Large-Area Display. It features a fully redundant, high-resolution screen with multitouch support. Unveiled in 2022, it was also demonstrated in ...

• Air: aerial targets, Loitering munitions

  Super Simsek

  The Super Simsek (Süper Şimşek) is an improved version of the Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) training drone turned loitering munition.  The drone has reconfigurable payload options ...

• EO/IR systems

  M-19 HD

  The M-19 HD multi-sensor, multispectral, HD observation and targeting payload was unveiled at the Paris Air Show in June 2015. It can incorporate up to ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  Orbiter 5

  Unveiled at Paris Air Show 2023, the Orbiter 5 is a fixed-wing UAV from Aeronautics.  The multi-mission drone can host two payloads simultaneously, features autonomous flight and ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  Rotary Wing Cargo UAV

  Displayed at Paris Air Show 2023, the Rotary Wing Cargo UAV is a cargo-carrying and ISR drone manufactured by Turkish Aerospace (TAI). Powered by a ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Stealth UCAV (nEUROn Successor)

  At the Paris Air Show 2025, Dassault Aviation showcased a stealthy UCAV, the successor of the nEUROn aircraft. A Safran M88 engine will power the ...

• Loitering munitions

  SpyX

  The SpyX is a loitering munition from BlueBird Aero Systems. Unveiled at the Paris Air Show 2023, the munition offers autonomous electro-optical guided attack capabilities and ...

• Loitering munitions

  FWD-LM01

  The FWD-LM01 is a loitering munition unveiled by Flying Wedge Defence & Aerospace at the Paris Air Show 2025. The manufacturer states the drone is built for ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  AeroForce 380

  The AeroForce 380 is a MALE fixed-wing drone. Based on the Milkor 380, it is tailored for maritime surveillance and Coast Guard missions. It can ...

• Military UAS - mini

  Strix 425

  The Strix 425 is a mini fixed-wing drone from EOS Technologie. The hand-launched platform can host a removable VTOL system and multiple payloads.  According to a company ...

• Military UAS - small

  LR2M

  The Long Range and Multi-Missions (LR2M) is a fixed-wing VTOL-capable small UAV from Aeronefs Services. Unveiled at the Paris Air Show 2025, the drone is suited to ...

• Air: COMINT and ELINT systems

  Air Keeper

  Elbit Systems unveiled the Air Keeper, an airborne SIGINT and EW system for aircraft at the Paris Air Show 2015. Already operational, Air Keeper is ...

• Air: Integrated cockpit systems

  HeliSure

  Rockwell Collins HeliSure is a product line of situational awareness solutions for rotary-wing aircraft. It provides glass cockpit capabilities using commercial off-the-shelf equipment that can be ...