• Defence Helicopter

  Heli-Expo 2016: Civil V-280 not yet on horizon

  1st March 2016

  Despite bringing its V-280 military tiltrotor to the civil helicopter extravaganza that is Heli-Expo, Bell Helicopter has again poured cold water over suggestions it is …

• Defence Helicopter

  Heli-Expo 2016: Capability gap looming

  29th February 2016

  The Pentagon is facing a capability gap before new vertical lift technologies enter service, a leading rotorcraft analyst has argued. The US military continues to …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  INet introduces rail inspection drone

  29th February 2016

  Industrial Networks (INet) introduced details of a new INet Rail Automation Drone (IRAD1) on 24 February. The system is designed to conduct autonomous scans of …

• Defence Notes

  Australia goes on spending spree

  26th February 2016

  Australia plans to spend some US$140.5 billion over the next decade ‘to fund investment in support of the future force,’ and bring the defence budget …

• Digital Battlespace

  Finland upgrades wireless comms

  25th February 2016

  Bittium has been awarded a $3.1 million contract by the Finnish defence forces for the development of a new software package (waveform) for the Bittium …

• Naval Warfare

  Thales gets UK Type 23 contract

  25th February 2016

  Thales has been awarded a £19 million contract to perform the mid-life update to the external communications voice distribution and management of the British Royal …

• Digital Battlespace

  South Korea boosts ballistic missile defences

  23rd February 2016

  Ballistic missile defence is a top priority in South Korea after North Korea’s latest nuclear test on 6 January and rocket test on 7 February.  …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Singapore Airshow: Airbus experiments with UAV deliveries

  23rd February 2016

  The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) has signed an MoU with Airbus Helicopters to conduct a parcel delivery experiment in Singapore. The signing took …

• Defence Helicopter

  Singapore Airshow: Airbus prioritises Aussie Tiger problems

  20th February 2016

  Airbus Helicopters is making the Australian Army’s troubled Tiger Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter (ARH) programme a top priority, the company insisted at the Singapore Airshow. Philippe …

• Land Warfare

  Lockheed withdraws JLTV protest

  19th February 2016

  Lockheed Martin has withdrawn its legal protest to the $6.7 billion Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) contract awarded to Oshkosh Defence. Following the protest submission …

• Defence Helicopter

  Singapore Airshow: Sikorsky looks to leverage Lockheed muscle (video)

  19th February 2016

  Following Lockheed Martin's aquisition of Sikorsky in November 2015, Samir Mehta, president of Defense Systems and Services at Sikorsky, speaks to Shephard about progress integrating …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Russian Helicopters’ tiltrotor UAV takes flight

  18th February 2016

  VR-Technologies, part of Russian Helicopters, has conducted the first flight of its unmanned tiltrotor testbed aircraft at the Skolkovo Innovation Centre, the company announced on …

• Training

  BAE selects Mahindra to 'Make in India'

  18th February 2016

  BAE Systems has down-selected Mahindra as its partner for setting up an Assembly, Integration & Testing (AIT) facility in India for the M777 Ultra Lightweight …

• Land Warfare

  Norway completes artillery testing

  18th February 2016

  Norway is set to upgrade its artillery capability as a competition to provide a new or upgraded system gathers pace. There is also the possibility …

• Defence Notes

  Singapore Airshow: Honeywell finds Asia-Pacific encouragement

  18th February 2016

  Honeywell was obviously able to cater to both the commercial and military aviation sectors whilst at the Singapore Air Show, but one important announcement surrounded …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - micro

  Xtender [US]

  Programme Background Previous Procurement In early 2021, the US Department of Defence awarded a contract to XTEND for the platform in partnership with Isreal's MoD. ...

• Loitering munitions

  Echelon 0: Ground Organic Precision Strike Systems (GOPSS) [USSOCOM]

  Programme Background Requirements The U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) has made loitering capabilities a priority in its efforts to support counter-violent extremist organization (C-VEO) operations ...

• Military UAS - small

  V-Bat 128 [Colombia]

  Programme Background Procurement In August 2024, The Rio Times reported that the Columbian Navy had begun to equip its four Type FS 1500  frigates with the V-Bat ...

• Military UAS - small

  V-Bat 128 [Brazil]

  Background Contract award On 7 February 2022, Shield AI announced on its website that it had, on 21 January 2021, signed a contract with VSK Tactical, through ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  Multirole helicopter requirement [Argentina]

  Background  Argentina lost a significant portion of its medium/multi-role helicopter requirement during the Malvina war in the early 1980s, according to Argentinian Air Force leadership. The ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Gray Eagle 25M (1-12) [US National Guard]

  Background Requirement In FY2021, the National Guard Association of the United States (NGUAS) announced that it was “critical” that it fielded the MQ-1C Gray Eagle Extended ...

• Military UAS - mini

  Wolverine / Honeybadger [US]

  Programme Background During the Modern Day Marine (MDM) exhibition, held in Washington between 10-12 May 2022, XTEND announced it would supply hundreds of Wolverine platforms ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  Maritime UAS (MUAS) [USCG]

  Background Contract Award In June 2024, the USCG awarded Shield AI an indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity firm-fixed-price contract to supply UAVs for its cutter vessels. The contract, which will ...

• Military UAS - small

  V-Bat [Greece]

  Background 2025 Contract award In May 2025, Kathimerini, a Greek morning political and economic newspaper, reported that the Greek Army had acquired two V-Bat UAVs. Funded partly ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  XM30 Mechanized Infantry Combat Vehicle [US]

  Background Requirement The OMFV programme is the latest of several attempts to develop a Bradley replacement.  Designed to be capable of operating with or without a ...

• Self-propelled guns

  Mobile Tactical Cannon [US]

  Background The US Army began using the M777 in 1995. Since then, it has served as a field artillery piece providing fire support for American ...

• Military UAS - micro

  Soldier Borne Sensor (SBS) (Phase II) [USA]

  Programme Background Requirement The Soldier Borne Sensor (SBS) provides short-range day and night ISR to US Army units at the squad, platoon and other small ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Aerial Logistics Connector (ALC) [USMC]

  Background US Marine ULS-A programmes The US Marines are seeking a family of Unmanned Logistics Systems-Air (ULS-A) that will provide logistics and ground units with their ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  Future Long Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) (MV-75 Cheyenne II) [USA]

  Programme Background US Army's Future Vertical Lift Programme The FLRAA is one of three strands of a broader army programme. The others are the Future ...

• 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, ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Air: mission management systems

  iCommand 2.5

  The iCommand 2.5 is the latest version of the iCommand integrated command suite, designed by Textron Systems Advanced Information Solutions. The system has been designed ...

• 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.

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  Bradley NG/RB301

  BAE Systems introduced the Bradley Next Generation (NG) at AUSA 2016 to showcase a cost-effective option for extending the M2 Bradley's service life into the 2030s. Centred around ...

• Military UAS - micro

  Fang

  Fang is a first-person view (FPV) UAS for precision strike roles. The drone is aimed to launch in Q2 2025. Developed by Red Cat, the drone ...

• Military UAS - small

  Golden Eagle HS

  The Golden Eagle HS (Heavy Strike) is a rotary-wing UAV that can be armed with Rafael's powerful Spike SR and LR2 missiles, providing ground troops with anti-armour ...

• Loitering munitions

  L-Spike 4X

  The L-Spike 4X is a loitering munition first displayed by Rafael US at AUSA 2025.  iI will be offered with two primary warhead configurations: Tandem HEAT ...

• Heavy UGVs

  Tracked Robot 10-Ton (TRX)

  The TRX (Tracked Robot 10-ton) is a UGV developed by General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS). The vehicle has been intended to be an enabling technology in critical ...

• Military UAS - mini

  Twister

  Unveiled at AUSA 2023, the Twister is a mini fixed-wing UAV manufactured by Quantum-Systems. It is an eVTOL drone that performs ISR missions autonomously. It can be ...

• Loitering munitions

  HERO-400

  The HERO-400 is a loitering munition manufactured by UVision. Part of the HERO family, the HERO-400 can accurately strike against a range of targets. It ...

• Loitering munitions

  HERO-1250

  The HERO-1250 is the largest lethal loitering system in the HERO series by UVision. It is capable of long-range multipurpose operations. This weapon system is ...

• Loitering munitions

  HERO-900

  The HERO-900 is a lethal loitering system in the HERO series by UVision. It is capable of long-range multipurpose operations. This weapon system is designed ...

• Loitering munitions

  Switchblade 400

  At AUSA 2025, AeroVironment (AV) unveiled the Switchblade 400, a rocket-launched, medium-range, man-portable loitering munition. AV states the aircrat has been designed to defeat tanks and heavy ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Collaborative Transformational Rotorcraft (CxR)

  Unveiled at AUSA 2025, the Collaborative Transformational Rotorcraft (CxR) is a tiltrotor rotary-wing UAV from Boeing.  The system has a modular core that can meet a range ...

• Loitering munitions

  HERO-250

  The HERO-250 is a gasoline-powered loitering munition manufactured by UVision. This weapon system is designed for operating units in urban areas carrying out strikes against armoured ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  S-70UAS U-Hawk

  Unveiled at AUSA 2025, the S-70UAS U-Hawk is an uncrewed version of Sikorsky’s crewed UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter.  It will act as a delivery aircraft for medium-sized uncrewed ground vehicles ...