• Naval Warfare

  Low point in RAN acquisition in 2016-2017

  7th October 2015

  The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) updated visitors at the Pacific 2015 International Maritime Exposition in Sydney on current surface warship programmes. The second and final …

• Defence Helicopter

  CAE’s H225 FFS ready for training

  7th October 2015

  CAE’s H225 full-flight simulator (FFS) located at its Olso, Norway, training centre has been qualified to Level D by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) …

• Digital Battlespace

  Helitech 2015: Iridium readies Certus service

  7th October 2015

  An advanced broadband service eventually offering 1.4Mb/s is scheduled to be commercially available to Iridium users starting in 2016. Testing has begun on new Broadband …

• Military Logistics

  Aussie trucks take shape

  7th October 2015

  Australian engineering firm Varley is preparing for the production of truck mission modules for the Australian Army’s Project Land 121 Phase 3B medium/heavy capability.  Speaking …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Australian navy lays out UAV pathway

  6th October 2015

  The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) is making gradual progress on its pathway to obtaining integrated tactical UAV operations, according to speakers at the Pacific 2015 …

• Digital Battlespace

  Helitech 2015: Frasca delivers Bell 407GX sim

  30th September 2015

  The Bell Helicopter Training Academy in Fort Worth, Texas has accepted the delivery of the first Full Flight Simulator (FFS) built for the Bell 407GX …

• Defence Helicopter

  Helitech 2015: LIPS approved for AW189

  30th September 2015

  Limited Ice Protection System (LIPS) has received EASA certification for the AW189 super medium twin engine helicopter, AgustaWestland announced on 28 September.  The AW189 is …

• Training

  Army training for Austria

  30th September 2015

  The Austrian Federal Ministry of Defence has awarded a $125.57 million contract to Saab for the supply of new advanced training system for the Austrian …

• Land Warfare

  Thailand assembles new howitzer

  30th September 2015

  A new truck-mounted 155mm gun system is being developed in Thailand that could update the Royal Thai Army's artillery capability. The Thai military’s Weapon Industry …

• Land Warfare

  Commando select for Afghanistan

  30th September 2015

  The US Army has awarded a contract to Textron Marine & Land Systems for the supply of 55 additional Commando Select four-wheeled armoured vehicles to …

• Military Logistics

  SSC engines make the grade

  28th September 2015

  Engines destined for the new US Navy Ship-to-Shore Connector (SSC) hovercraft are close to achieving formal certification ahead of customer delivery, according to manufacturer Rolls …

• Defence Notes

  Interview: Liam Fox on UK SDSR

  24th September 2015

  Dr Liam Fox was defence secretary from May 2010 to October 2011 and brought in the 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR). In a …

• Land Warfare

  Venezuela boosts air defence

  24th September 2015

  The first batch of a new surface-to-air missile (SAM) has been delivered from Russia to Venezuela. Russian media has confirmed that the Buk-M2E system fitted …

• Defence Notes

  DSEI 2015: UKTI showcases industry (video)

  24th September 2015

  Representatives from UK Trade and Investment Defence and Security Organisation (UKTI DSO) used the DSEI exhibition to showcase various technologies on offer from UK industry. 

• Defence Notes

  DSEI 2015: That's a wrap (video)

  22nd September 2015

  Richard Thomas, UV and maritime security editor at Shephard Media, reviews the major announcements at DSEI 2015.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Loitering munitions

  DELI [Türkiye]

  Programme Background Speaking to Shephard at SAHA Expo 2022, a spokesperson stated that the platform was expected to enter into service with the Turkish Armed ...

• Land: air defence radar

  Ground Master 403 Radar [Egypt]

  Background In 2020, Egypt ordered four of France-based Thales Ground Master 403 radars, the mobile member of their GM400 radar family.  At least one of the ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Akinci [Libya]

  Programme Background 2022 Reports In October 2022, various Libyan media outlets reported that the country was eyeing a possible procurement from Baykar, possibly the Akinici ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Bayraktar TB2 [UK]

  Background Rumours In mid-October 2022, Mustafa Varank, Turkey’s minister of industry, revealed to CNN Turk that the UK was interested in Turkish armed drones. The ...

• Transport

  C-130J [Vietnam]

  Programme Background Requirement Vietnam’s interest in acquiring the C-130J reflects a broader effort to modernise its air transport fleet, which was previously dominated by Russian ...

• Corvettes

  Steregushchy Class (Project 20380) (11-18)

  Programme BackgroundThe Steregushchiy class (Project 20380) corvettes are designed to operate in littoral combat zones and engage with enemy ships and submarines. The multi-role missions ...

• Military UAS - micro

  Short Range Reconnaissance (SRR) (Tranche 2) / Rucksack Portable UAS (RPUAS) [USA]

  Background The Rucksack Portable UAS (RPUAS) programme The RPUAS programme will provide the battalion and below-ground manoeuvre elements within the US Army with an organic, ...

• Military UAS - mini

  RemoEye-002B [South Korea]

  Background Contract award The RemoEye-002B was adopted by the Republic of Korea Army (ROKA) as a battalion-level ISR asset in late 2013, when Uconsystem received ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Rafale Procurement (1-36) [Qatar]

  Methodology PGO As this programme is complete, the PGO is 100%. Units required A total of 36 units were required through this programme. This was ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | JF-17 [Azerbaijan]

  Azerbaijan has been known to be a potential buyer of JF-17 Thunder aircraft since 2015. The country is operating Su-24/25 and MiG-29 jets in service; ...

• Data links

  Data links | JF-17 [Azerbaijan]

  Azerbaijan has been known to be a potential buyer of JF-17 Thunder aircraft since 2015. The country is operating Su-24/25 and MiG-29 jets in service; ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  Air: Helmet-mounted displays | JF-17 [Azerbaijan]

  Azerbaijan has been known to be a potential buyer of JF-17 Thunder aircraft since 2015. The country is operating Su-24/25 and MiG-29 jets in service; ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | JF-17 [Azerbaijan]

  Azerbaijan has been known to be a potential buyer of JF-17 Thunder aircraft since 2015. The country is operating Su-24/25 and MiG-29 jets in service; ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | JF-17 [Azerbaijan]

  Azerbaijan has been known to be a potential buyer of JF-17 Thunder aircraft since 2015. The country is operating Su-24/25 and MiG-29 jets in service; ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Dominator [Mexico]

  Background Confirmation In September 2015, the Mexican government purchased two Dominator XPs after the UAS completed a series of flight trials. Data from the Stockholm ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• EO/IR systems

  OWLS

  Observation Wide-area Low-altitude Sensor (OWLS), demonstrated at Heli-Expo 2015, is a two-axis micro gimbal imager that combines a night vision sensor and an image-stabilised enclosure. ...

• EO/IR systems

  Skybox

  The Skybox allows gimballed camera systems developed for small UAVs to be integrated on the nose of manned helicopters. It accommodates cameras such as DJI’s ...

• Helicopter engines

  RR300

  The RR300 combines new design methodologies with the legacy of the M250 engine to produce a new engine family for the small rotorcraft market. Intended ...

• Air: mission management systems

  TM-100 Map and Video Management system

  Trakka Systems introduced a new TM-100 Map and Video Management system at HAI Heli-Expo 2017 in Dallas. The augmented reality mapping system with metadata video and audio ...

• EO/IR systems

  Geodetic photomapping and monitoring payload and blind zone cameras

  Heliatica unveiled a geodetic mapping and monitoring payload with Geoscan at Heli-Expo 2017. The system is designed to fit two Sony DSC-RX1 (24MP resolution) cameras ...

• Military helicopters - scout/light attack

  6XX

  Publicly unveiled at Heli-Expo in March 2017, the MD Helicopters 6XX is the next evolution in the MD 500 series and is a redesigned, single-engine ...

• Multipurpose missiles

  LAHAT

  The Laser Homing Attack (LAHAT) is an Israeli, semi-active, laser homing guided, low-weight, ATGM. It was designed to be fired from 105mm and 120mm tank guns.

• Tiltrotors

  AW609

  The Bell/Agusta BA609 became the first tiltrotor designed for the civilian market to fly in March 2003. In June 2011, Leonardo announced that it had ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Bars-8

  Following on from the 7t Bars-6 4x4 multipurpose armoured vehicle, Bogdan developed the 10t Bars-8 4x4 multipurpose armoured vehicle which was unveiled at the September ...

• Land: RWS

  AU-220M

  The AU-220M unmanned turret, developed by TsNII Burevestnik, a subsidiary of Uralvagonzavod (UVZ), mounts a dual-feed 57mm automatic cannon and a PKTM 7.62mm coaxial machine ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  525 Relentless

  Bell Helicopter announced in February 2012 that it was developing the Model 525 Relentless. The aircraft is designed primarily for the oil and gas industry ...

• Military vehicle engines

  TCD 2015

  The TCD 2015 is a modern water-cooled four stroke diesel V-engine that is currently integrated on the RG41 armoured vehicle.

• Military helicopters - light/training

  AW119

  The AW119 is a lightweight helicopter designed and produced by Augusta, then AugustaWestland, and, since 2016, by Leonardo. The helicopter first flew in 1995 and entered ...

• Military helicopters - maritime, Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  S-92/H-92

  The H-92 is the military version of the commercial S-92. It has a stand-up cabin, higher gross weight, more power and new composite rotor blades. ...

• OPVs

  Uribe/Holzinger Class

  Uribe- and Holzinger-class offshore patrol vessels are similar ships in service with the Mexican Navy. Six Uribe-class ships entered service in 1982-83, but one of ...