• Digital Battlespace

  ARA receives ARC4 software contract

  18th March 2019

  Applied Research Associates (ARA) received a sole-source contract in January to integrate its advanced Augmented Reality, Command, Control, Communicate, Coordinate (ARC4) software into the US …

• Training

  Finland orders Saab’s virtual training simulators

  14th March 2019

  Saab has signed a contract with the Finnish Defence Forces Logistics Command to deliver virtual simulators for marksmanship and basic combat training, the company announced …

• Military Logistics

  US services refine autonomous aerial resupply needs

  27th February 2019

  The US Army and marine corps have announced plans for a three-day industry event during which the two services will exchange data with industry regarding …

• Defence Notes

  Taiwan asks US for new fighter jets to defend against China

  8th March 2019

  Taiwan has made a formal request to the United States for new fighter jets to defend itself against increasing Chinese threats, Deputy Defence Minister Shen …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Avalon 2019: Firebird deliveries to US agency are imminent

  28th February 2019

  Northrop Grumman highlighted developments of its optionally manned Firebird MALE aircraft platform designed for both overland and littoral surveillance at the Avalon Air Show. It …

• Digital Battlespace

  BAE Systems extends DARPA Air C2 deal

  20th March 2019

  BAE Systems has won a deal with the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to further develop autonomous software for air mission planning, with …

• Defence Notes

  India 'air strikes' send Pakistan tensions surging

  27th February 2019

  India said on 26 February 2019 it had launched air strikes against militant camps in Pakistan's territory, triggering international concern over a dangerous escalation between …

• Training

  US Marine Corps in DTC first

  14th March 2019

  Normally associated with networking air assets, Northrop Grumman’s Distributed Training Center (DTC) located at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia has been used for the first time …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Avalon 2019: Australia delineates shipborne UAV approach

  27th February 2019

  The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) revealed more details of what it is looking for in its next maritime tactical UAV, which will be acquired under …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  GA-ASI continues MQ-9B development

  28th February 2019

  General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) is continuing with the ontime development of its new remotely piloted aircraft (RPA), the MQ-9B, the company announced on 24 …

• Special Operations

  CANSOFCOM explores reserve element

  14th March 2019

  The Canadian Special Operations Forces Command (CANSOFCOM) is considering the “accelerated recruitment” of civilians in order to diversify specialists skill sets across the organization. The …

• Defence Helicopter

  Bucharest sends Pumas to Mali

  11th March 2019

  In Q2/Q3 of 2019, a small contingent of Romanian Air Force aircraft, comprising IAR 330L Puma SAR helicopters, will be sent to Mali in order …

• Defence Helicopter

  Avalon 2019: Rafael wants to Spike Australian helicopters and add SPICE

  1st March 2019

  Last August the Australian Army selected the Spike LR2 multipurpose missile for the Boxer 8x8 armoured vehicle under Land 400 Phase 2, and it has …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Inmarsat selects Alpha for UAV Pop-up Lab

  25th February 2019

  Alpha Unmanned Systems has been selected to participate in Inmarsat’s UAV Pop-up Lab, a programme aimed at exploring the advantages of satellite-enabled UAS with commercial …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  CAAS approves BVLOS operations of DroNet UAS

  28th February 2019

  ST Engineering has received authorisation from the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) to conduct beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) trials of its DroNet …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - MALE

  Dominator XP [Thailand]

  Programme Background Purchase As reported by Shephard, in September 2023, the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) inducted three Dominator XPs. The RTAF purchased the trio ...

• Loitering munitions

  Project Brakestop [UK]

  Background Information notice On 25 September 2024, the UK MoD published a prior information notice for Project Brakestop, informing industry of the upcoming competition. Requirements ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  CH-47F Chinook (Singapore)

  Programme Background In July 2020, photos have emerged on the internet of the first Boeing CH-47F Chinook destined for the Republic of Singapore Air Force ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Predator [Italy]

  Background  The MQ-1C fleet was retired in December 2022 after more than 31,000 flight hours and over 3,800 sorties. ISTAR activities have since been carried ...

• Loitering munitions

  Project Instigator [UK]

  Background Prior Information Notice (PIN) On 21 October 2024, the MoD published a PIN in collaboration with the Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S;). The notice announced ...

• Directed energy weapons

  Microwave DEW [Singapore]

  Background In response to the growing threat from autonomous and fibre-optically guided drones, Singapore has signed a contract with Leonardo's US-based subsidiary Epirus to develop ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  MQ-9B SkyGuardian (US)

  Programme Background On 6 March 2023, GA-ASI announced that the Air Force Special Operations Command (ASFOC) had contracted three MQ-9B SkyGaurdians, making it the first US customer of the ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  Project Corvus [UK]

  Background Retirement and replacement In November 2024, speaking in the House of Commons, Defence Secretary John Healey stated that the WK 450 Watchkeeper was to be ...

• Military UAS - small

  V-Bat [Poland]

  Background Maritime environment The June 2026 contract for the V-Bat procurement follows the platform’s demonstrated success in the Russo-Ukrainian war. The UAVs will operate from Polish ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  Mi-28NE Night Hunter

  Algerian military's follow-up order suggests that the country is satisfied with the Mi-28NE Night Hunters' performance in operational conditions in the desert environment featuring sandstorms ...

• Transport

  VC-25B [USA]

  Background The modifications to the 747-8 aircraft will include an electrical power upgrade with dual Auxiliary Power Units that are usable in flight, a mission ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Mobile Strike Force Vehicle (Ukraine Aid) [USA]

  Programme background The US first provided Ukraine with the M1117 ASV in September 2022, when 250 vehicles were donated as part of a $400 million ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  VTLB [Portugal]

  Background The Portuguese Army planned to allocate funds for the procurement of 167 VTLBs during the Military Programming Law running from 2015 until 2026. These ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

  New Water Jet Fast Attack Craft (NWJFAC) (1-31) [India]

  Programme Background Requirements The Indian Navy is seeking replacements for a large proportion of its 19 46-49m-long waterjet-powered fast attack craft, several of which are approaching ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Akinci [Turkey]

  Programme 2021 During a ceremony on 29 August 2021, attended by Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the Turkish President, the Akinci officially entered the Turkish inventory. Four ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - small

  PL-5

  The PL is a Group 3 vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) capable UAV from EDGE Group. According to the company, it is engineered for persistent surveillance and ...

• Air: surveillance radar

  AN/APQ-181

  The AN/APQ-181 is a low-probability-of-intercept radar fitted to USAFNorthrop Grumman B-2 stealth bombers. During the B-2 Radar ModernizationProgram – completed in 2012 – the B-2’s legacy ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  CreoLand HP

  CreoLand HP is a 10W MANET radio designed for command centres, long-range applications, artillery and special forces units. Notably, it offers a data throughput of 100Mbps ...

• Military UAS - small

  Gogol-M

  The Gogol-M is a Ukrainian fixed-wing drone carrier, or mothership, from Strategy Force Solutions. The system can deliver two first-person view (FPV)-type attack drones to hit precision ...

• Military UAS - small

  DT-101

  The DT-101 is a small fixed-wing UAV from Deftech. The VTOL-capable platform features SATCOM with up to 10Mbs bandwidth capability. DefTech lists various payloads for ...

• Military UAS - small

  H10 Poseidon

  The H10 Poseidon, or H-10, is a fixed-wing VTOL-capable UAV manufactured by Swamrly. Due to the UAV's electric propulsion system, small radar cross-section, lack of detachable thermal signature and ...

• Loitering munitions, Military UAS - small

  Vandal

  Vandal is a next-generation, group II, low-signature UAS manufactured by AEVEX. The UAS is built for speed, precision, and survivability in denied environments and can ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  ARX

  Unveiled at Xponential 2024, the ARX is a fixed-wing drone developed by Tekever.  It features common electronics and software with other Tekever drones. Unlike those ...

• Military UAS - small

  DT-001

  The DT-001 is a tandem wing UCAV from Deftech. It can host a range of non-offensive payloads, such as IO/EO cameras and an airborne LIDAR. ...

• Loitering munitions

  Q-SLAM-100

  Unveiled at DSEI 2025, the Q-SLAM-100 is a man-portable loitering munition. Manufactured by Arquimea, the system is designed for medium-range missions with 120 minutes of flight autonomy ...

• Military UAS - mini

  Spider VTOL

  The Spider VTOL is a mini electrical fixed-wing UAV. Unlike traditional VTOL UAVs with dedicated motors, propellors and structural parts for performing take-off and landing, the Spider ...

• Military UAS - small

  Khronos

  The Khronos is a tethered, fully automated UAV for ISR missions in GPS/GNSS-denied and RF-denied environments. The drone's manufacturer, Elistair, stated that it could be deployed from a ...

• Loitering munitions, Military UAS - small

  Disruptor

  Publicly unveiled at AUSA 2024, the Disruptor is a loitering munition and UAV manufactured by AEVEX Aerospace. The Group III aircraft utilises a pneumatic launcher ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  AN/ARC-231 Skyfire

  The AN/ARC-231 Skyfire is an airborne VHF/UHF/LOS and DAMA SATCOM system. This system supports US DoD requirements for airborne, multi-band, multi-mission, secure anti-jam voice, data ...

• Data links

  MAQA Terminal 3.8m Flyaway Variant

  The Modular Aperture Quad-Band Antenna (MAQA) Terminal is designed to provide a ruggedised, mobile, quad-band SATCOM terminal that supports operations with the WGS constellation, legacy ...