• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Jammer resistant drone designs spark search for countermeasures

  6th March 2025

  The Russia-Ukraine conflict has driven another stage of evolution for drones and the counter measures to defend against them.

• Air Warfare

  Swarm drones and CCAs take flight in India

  14th March 2025

  India reaches new milestones as it pushes it unmanned combat and surveillance strategy forward.

• Air Warfare

  Ireland to explore options for tactical UAS procurement

  14th March 2025

  The EU planning notice cited that the uncrewed aerial system (UAS) would be used for predominantly for reconnaissance purposes with a greater range and endurance than drones currently operated by the Irish Defence Forces.

• Air Warfare

  Ground tests for CCA programme underway with flight tests to start mid-2025, says USAF

  1st May 2025

  The ground test phase for the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) programme will bridge the gap between prototype design and flight, laying essential groundwork ahead of fielding the uncrewed aircraft.

• Air Warfare

  UAVs for Ukraine: Europe is willing to spend

  4th March 2025

  Despite President Donald Trump’s suspension of military aid to Ukraine, Shephard Defence Insight data suggests that in relation to UAVs, Europe and its non-US NATO allies are more than willing to fill any spending vacuum and are already contributing more than twice as much as the US.

• Naval Warfare

  South Korea pushes forward on unmanned surface vessel development for future fleet

  20th June 2025

  South Korean industry continues to evolve unmanned surface vessels as the ROK Navy targets future force needs and addresses manpower challenges.

• Air Warfare

  Spain acquires Skydio’s X10D in €18 million deal

  27th February 2025

  Skydio has been contracted by Spain’s Ministry of Defence to supply the Skydio 10D rotary-wing UAV to the Spanish Armed Forces. The contact is likely related to the Spanish Army’s modernisation efforts which has been enshrined in the Fuerza 35 project.

• Air Warfare

  Baykar's Kemankes 1 missile completes maximum flight and dive test

  24th March 2025

  This is the latest test in the ongoing schedule for the loitering munition from Baykar – the first of two different AI-powered variants.

• Air Warfare

  What lessons could Europe learn from air power use in Ukraine?

  3rd July 2025

  The use of air power by both sides in the ongoing conflict has been extensively focused on, influencing policy and procurement around the world. But are the lessons from the front line universally applicable, or should other nations be planning for very different scenarios?

• Land Warfare

  Modern militaries crawl towards electrification of the battlefield

  12th March 2025

  Full electrification of their land and air vehicles may be beyond modern militaries for now. But how close are they to the tipping point of the widespread use of electric vehicles?

• Air Warfare

  Germany confirms loitering munitions contracts for its armed forces

  15th April 2025

  Contracts for the procurement of two platforms have been signed, and will be tested by the German armed forces.

• Air Warfare

  UK MoD unveils first steps for British Army Watchkeeper replacement

  17th April 2025

  Project Corvus will look for a replacement for the Watchkeeper Mk1 uncrewed aerial system (UAS) that was retired from service in the British Army in March 2025.

• Air Warfare

  IDEX 2025: Edge Group expands aerospace portfolio with six new UAVs and collaboration agreements

  26th February 2025

  Edge Group’s international partnership collaboration included Letters of Intent (LoIs) and agreements with US firm Lockheed Martin and multinational aerospace, defence and security company, Leonardo.

• Air Warfare

  IDEX 2025: Aselsan plans further electro-optic systems’ flight tests for 2025

  24th February 2025

  Aselsan CEO Ahmet Akyol confirmed that the tests for its TOYGUN and KARAT products would take place on a UAV platform as efforts continue to progress its “challenging” technology roadmap into 2025 and 2026.

• Air Warfare

  IDEX 2025: Jump 20-X marks the spot for AeroVironment

  19th February 2025

  AeroVironment showcased the Jump 20-X, an advancement of the company’s Jump 20 VTOL-capable fixed-wing UAV, at this year’s IDEX in Abu Dhabi.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - tactical

  Heavy Lift VTOL (HVTOL) [US Army]

  Background USMC First, Army Second In September 2021, Kaman unveiled its Kargo UAV, specifically designed to meet the requirements of the Medium Aerial Resupply Vehicle – Expeditionary ...

• Military UAS - small

  Small UAV [Peru]

  Background UAV FAP UAV FAP is a family of Peruvian UAVs that have been developed by the Peruvian Air Force and the Centre for Research ...

• Military UAS - mini

  Land Exploration and Reconnaissance Vehicle (VERT) (Mini UAV) [Spain]

  Background VERT In June 2025, the Spanish Government announced a €72 million (US$82.5 million) investment in the Vehículo de exploración y reconocimiento terrestre (VERT), which translates ...

• UAS: communication systems

  UAS: communication systems | Small UAV [Belgium]

  According to reports, the Belgian Land Force is set to launch various procurement programmes to expand and diversify its UAV fleet. One of these is ...

• UAS: flight control systems

  UAS: flight control systems | Small UAV [Belgium]

  According to reports, the Belgian Land Force is set to launch various procurement programmes to expand and diversify its UAV fleet. One of these is ...

• Military UAS - micro

  Land Exploration and Reconnaissance Vehicle (VERT) (Micro UAV) [Spain]

  Background VERT In June 2025, the Spanish Government announced a €72 million (US$82.5 million) investment in the Vehículo de exploración y reconocimiento terrestre (VERT), which translates to the land exploration ...

• Military UAS - small

  Thor [Israel]

  Background Various Contracts On 3 December 2024, the Israeli Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced it had purchased “advanced drones and autonomous systems” from Elbit Systems in various ...

• Military UAS - micro

  Parrot Anafi (Singapore)

  Programme Background On 7 February 2022, the Singapore Army posted photographs on Facebook that showed the Anafi UAV used as training devices in a five-day ...

• Military UAS - small

  Domestically developed UAV [Mexican Navy]

  Background Domestic development In 2025, President Claudia Sheinbaum announced initiatives for the Army and Navy to independently develop UAV prototypes, as part of a broader ...

• Loitering munitions, Military UAS - small

  Tempest 50 [USAF]

  Programme Background Contract Award On 18 December 2024, the US DoD announced that the USAF had awarded Firestorm Labs a $100 million Small Business Innovation Research ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  UAV-2 Gavilan [Ecuador]

  Background Domestic Development Development of the UAV-2 Gavilan by CIDFAE began in 2009, with the FAE unveiling the UAV in 2014. Reportedly, the FAE has five ...

• Military UAS - small

  Small-UAV (Jump 20) [South Korea]

  Background Primary Partner In October 2025, during ADEX 2025, AeroVironment announced signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to make Korean Air (KAL-ASD) its primary partner in South Korea. The ...

• Military UAS - small

  Albatroz [Brazil]

  Background Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) In August 2023, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Brazilian Navy and Stella Tecnologia to evaluate the ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Bayraktar Kizilelma (1-12) [Indonesia]

  Background SAHA 2026 During SAHA 2026, held in Istanbul in May, Baykar announced that it had signed an agreement to sell the Bayraktar Kizilelma UAV to ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  UAV Tactical Level [Norway]

  Background Request for Information (RfI) In September 2022, the Norwegian Defence Material Agency (NDMA) launched a request for information in preparation for a possible procurement ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - small

  VTOL UAV

  The Defence Technology Institute launched the VTOL UAV R&D; project in cooperation with the Naval Research and Development Office, Royal Thai Navy and private sector ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  MCOM UAV

  The Mundo Compuesto (MCOM) UAV is a fixed-wing UAV designed to provide surveillance during both day and night for military and security force users. It uses ...

• UAS: Integrated systems - uncrewed

  UAV TRS

  Celestia’s UAV Tactical Recovery System (TRS) assures controlled and safe landing of a UAV at a pre-designated GPS location. It can be deployed on command ...

• Air: UAV simulators

  UAV Simulators

  Elbit Systems has developed simulation systems to train personnel in UAV operation, from generic UAV training for initial screening procedures up to full mission, high-fidelity ...

• Air: UAV simulators

  UAV Training

  Resource UAS offers a range of UAV training, from foundation courses to live flying on a range of aircraft. Each can be tailored to suit ...

• Military UAS - small

  E-UAV

  In October 2021, the Jordan Design and Development Bureau (JODDB) unveiled the E-UAV at the Artificial Intelligence Defense Technology and Cyber Security Exhibition and Conference (AIDTSEC). The UAV is ...

• Military UAS - small

  QTP-UAV

  The Quad Tilt Prop UAV (QTP-UAV) is an electric platform that is designed to provide VTOL capability with high-speed horizontal flight. 

• Military UAS - MALE

  Berkut UAV

  In February 2022, Aerovehicles presented the Berkut MOBPY UAV at the Silvio Pettirossi Air Base of the Paraguayan Air Force. The UAV has been designed ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  Tactical UAV

  Unveiled at DSA 2022, the Deftech Tactical UAV is an indigenously developed platform based on the Aldura Mk1. The platform is aimed at the Royal Malaysian ...

• Military UAS - small

  Futura UCAV-UAV

  The Futura UCAV-UAV is a tactical surveillance and target acquisition UAV that can also act as a UCAV platform. The gas turbine-powered aircraft is ready ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  Turac VTOL UAV

  The Turac is a fixed-wing VTOL UAV developed jointly by Havelsan and Istanbul Technical University Aerospace Research Center. It can be used for traditional military ISR ...

• Launchers

  UAV Foldable Catapult

  The Elimco UAV Foldable Catapult is designed to launch small UAVs with an elastic rubber band. The launcher is packed in a rigid case for ...

• Data links

  UAV Data links

  Elisra data link systems consist of: a ground data terminal, which provides uplink and downlink communication, tracking telemetry, video and optional service channels interfacing to ...

• Air: UAV simulators

  UAV Training Simulator

  This system uses a reality-based virtual landscape. The trainee operator controls the camera of the aircraft, while the UAV flies over the landscape. The trainee is ...

• UAS: communication systems

  Aviator UAV 200

  Cobham’s UAV 200 is a satcom solution designed to enhance a tactical UAV’s performance, range and payload flexibility in a number of applications.This including SAR, ...