• Naval Warfare

  Costing confusion over Type 31e

  31st January 2018

  The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has defended itself in light of suggestions by the National Audit Office (NAO) that it failed to stipulate the …

• Defence Notes

  Russia lashes out at UK’s Gavin Williamson

  26th January 2018

  Russia on 26 January said the British Defence Secretary had stepped beyond ‘the boundaries of reason’ after he accused Moscow of planning to create chaos …

• Defence Helicopter

  Singapore Airshow 2018: Philippine Air Force purchases 412EPI

  6th February 2018

  A major announcement emanating from Bell Helicopter at Singapore Airshow 2018 on 6 February covered a long-expected purchase agreement for 16 Bell 412EPI helicopters for …

• Digital Battlespace

  Finland’s Dragon Shield achieves FOC

  13th February 2018

  The Finnish Defence Forces’ Dragon Shield airborne surveillance system has achieved final operational capability (FOC) following the completion of flight testing, Lockheed Martin announced on …

• Digital Battlespace

  Space clean-up efforts intensify

  27th April 2018

  A wide range of experimental technologies and regulations aimed at tackling the increasing threat posed to critical satellites by thousands of pieces of debris orbiting …

• Naval Warfare

  Russian Coast Guard enhances patrol boat fleet

  22nd February 2018

  The Russian Coast Guard plans to significantly strengthen security of the national water boundaries through the purchase of the latest variant of high-speed Raptor boats. …

• Land Warfare

  Orbital ATK receives PGK contract mod

  4th May 2018

  Orbital ATK has received a $146 million contract modification from the US Department of Defense (DoD) that extends precision guidance kit (PGK) production for 155mm …

• Land Warfare

  Bulgaria set to launch long-delayed armour upgrades

  31st January 2018

  The Bulgarian MoD has indicated it will acquire new wheeled IFVs as part of its modernisation agenda, in addition to upgrading existing Soviet-era armour. According …

• Training

  HÜRKUŞ-B takes flight

  31st January 2018

  Turkish Aerospace Industries’ (TAI’s) HÜRKUŞ-B aircraft has performed its first flight test in Ankara, Turkey. The basic trainer aircraft is being developed for the Turkish …

• Military Logistics

  KC-46 inches toward delivery

  30th April 2018

  Boeing’s KC-46 tanker programme has completed all required Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) flight tests, the company announced on 26 April.The final test was a refuelling/communications …

• Defence Helicopter

  Two feared dead in Japan Army helicopter crash

  5th February 2018

  Two crew were feared dead on 5 February after a Japanese military helicopter crashed in a residential area in the southwest of the country, setting …

• Digital Battlespace

  Canada to rejoin NATO’s AWACS programme

  19th February 2018

  Canada is to rejoin NATO's Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) programme, the Canadian Department of National Defence (DND) announced on 14 February. In 2011, …

• Defence Notes

  Spain to boost defence spending

  25th January 2018

  Spain is planning to boost defence spending by 73% to $22 billion by 2024, an announcement that sparked outrage among opposition MPs who say social …

• Land Warfare

  SA-10U production begins in Ukraine

  31st January 2018

  Ukroboronprom’s Impulse has launched production of the SA-10U vehicle for the Ukrainian Army, the company announced on 29 January. The vehicle is designed to provide …

• Land Warfare

  Indian Army buying more BMP-2s, updating tank fleet

  22nd February 2018

  India's Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) approved the acquisition of 156 BMP-2/BMP-2K IFVs on 20 February, which will be licence-produced by the state-owned Ordnance Factory Board …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  NH90 TTH [France]

  Background In 2001, the French government made its first purchase of 34 NH90 Tactical Transport Helicopters, followed by a second order in 2013 for an ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  Joint Light Helicopter (HIL) programme [France]

  Background The French Ministry of the Armed Forces has elected to bring the launch of the French Armed Forces’ HIL programme forward to 2021. The ...

• Military UAS - micro, Military UAS - mini

  Micro & Mini Drones (France)

  Programme Background RequirementOn 23 April 2021, an RfP was published by the Direction de la Maintenance Aéronautique (DMAé) to supply around 500 micro and nano drones for the ...

• Short Range Missile Defence Systems: 0 to 20 km range

  Mistral SHORAD [Romania]

  Background Romania signed a contract with the Ministry of the Armed Forces and Veterans of the French Republic within the "European Joint Acquisition of Mistral ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | OPV Procurement (1-2) [Montenegro]

  During Euronaval 2024, the French Ministry of Armed Forces and Veterans announced that Montenegro signed a contract for the acquisition of two OPV 60. Both ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | OPV Procurement (1-2) [Montenegro]

  During Euronaval 2024, the French Ministry of Armed Forces and Veterans announced that Montenegro signed a contract for the acquisition of two OPV 60. Both ...

• UAS: communication systems

  UAS: communication systems | French MALE UAVs [France]

  Given the importance of UAVs in the Russo-Ukrainian War, the French Ministry of the Armed Forces decided it needed a French-made MALE UAV comparable to ...

• UAS: flight control systems

  UAS: flight control systems | French MALE UAVs [France]

  Given the importance of UAVs in the Russo-Ukrainian War, the French Ministry of the Armed Forces decided it needed a French-made MALE UAV comparable to ...

• Loitering munitions

  Switchblade 300 [France]

  Programme Background Plans to Purchase At Eurosatory 2022, Col. Arnaud Goujon, the French Army's chief of plans, told the media that the French Army was ...

• OPVs

  OPV Procurement (1-2) [Montenegro]

  Programme Background Timeline During Euronaval 2024, the French Ministry of Armed Forces and Veterans announced that Montenegro signed a contract for the acquisition of two ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  NH90 (Special Forces) [France]

  Background In French service, advanced H225M Caracals with aerial refuelling capabilities are used by SOF units of the French Air Force (FAF) and French Army. ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  A330 MRTT (13-15) [France]

  Background In June 2020, The French government has pledged to buy new military heavy-lift helicopters and accelerate plans for naval drone, ISTAR and tanker aircraft programmes ...

• OPVs

  OPV 58 S [Senegal]

  Programme Background Senegal ordered three OPV 58 S patrol vessels on 17 November 2019. A procurement contract was signed between the Ministry of Armed Forces ...

• Loitering munitions

  Colibri: Short-range loitering munition (Contracted) [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) ...

• Loitering munitions

  Colibri: Short-range loitering munition (Uncontracted) [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) ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• CUAS - hybrid effector systems

  Boreades

  Boreades is a modular anti-UAV system developed by CS. This suite combines multi-sensors and multi-effectors in order to enable the detection, identification and neutralisation of rogue ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  UAS 100

  The UAS 100 is an autonomous, three-engined platform, modular UAS manufactured by Thales in partnership with Issoire Aviation, Hionos and with the support of the ...

• Military UAS - micro

  Vespa-15

  The Vespa-15 is a first-person view (FPV) rotary-wing UAV manufactured by a Ukrainian company.  In May 2025, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) of Ukraine announced it ...

• OPVs

  OPV 60

  The OPV 60 is designed to conduct surveillance missions in coastal and EEZ waters. The ship can be armed with a 40mm naval gun and ...

• Military UAS - mini

  Tundra 2

  The Tundra 2 is a rotary-wing UAV from Hexadrone. It is described as a new, modular, plug-and-play, and multi-trade drone. Hexadrone's website states that the French Armed ...

• EO/IR systems

  Euroflir 350

  The Euroflir 350 is an out-of-production gyro-stabilised optronic system. According to Safran, it is effective at long ranges, can track mobile targets, designate important areas for ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  NH90 TTH

  Developed as a multinational programme between France, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands, the European NH90 was designed to meet NATO requirements for multirole capability from ...

• Military UAS - small

  Lanner

  Unveiled at Eurosatory 2024, the Lenner is a modified variant of the Pengion C VTOL drone, specifically modified to meet the SDTL (Light Tactical Drone System) program ...

• Military helicopters - light/training, Military helicopters - multirole, Military helicopters - scout/light attack

  H160M

  Airbus is developing the H160M to meet the requirements of the French military for the Joint Light Helicopter (Hélicoptère Interarmées Léger, or HIL) programme. It ...

• Land: handheld NV devices

  O-NYX

  The Thales O-NYX is a Ultra-Compact Night Vision Goggle used by the French armed forces. They have an enlarged field of vision to 51° compared ...

• Pistols

  Glock Pistol

  The Glock family of pistols have been in widespread service since the Glock 17 was selected for Austrian military and police service in 1982. The company's ...

• Air: Defensive Systems - Radar Warning Receivers

  TDS-FA/-TA/-H

  Thales’ TDS family is comprised of Radar Warning Receivers (RWRs) designed to equip a range of fixed-wing aircraft. The product series includes the TDS-FA designed ...

• Surface-to-air missiles

  Mistral 2

  MISTRAL is a man-portable, fully digital, heat-seeking missile designed to meet the requirements of all branches of the armed forces to defend against air threats. ...

• Trucks and utility vehicles - 4x4, Trucks and utility vehicles - 6x6, Trucks and utility vehicles - 8x8

  Kerax Family

  The Kerax family consists of off-road trucks available in 4x4, 6x6, and 8x8 configurations, designed to meet the specific requirements of armed forces while utilizing ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  Trapper VT4

  A militarised version of the commercial Ford Everest 4x4 sports utility vehicle, the Trapper VT4 light all-terrain vehicle has been selected as the French Army's ...