• Defence Helicopter

  US Navy sets sights on ageing OH-58 upgrade

  28th June 2018

  The US Naval Air Systems Command is calling for prospective industry parties to put forward their bids to upgrade the avionics suite of its ageing Bell OH-58 …

• Naval Warfare

  UDT 2018: Leonardo seeking exports for ATAS capability

  27th June 2018

  As work continues on the development and future integration of Leonardo’s ATAS towed-array sonar for the Italian Navy’s multipurpose patrol vessel (PPA) programme, the company …

• Digital Battlespace

  Hensoldt to deliver IFF testers to France

  19th June 2018

  Hensoldt has received a contract to deliver 130 BTI1000I Identification-Friend-or-Foe (IFF) testers to the French armed forces. The testers, compatible with the military and civilian …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Thales Fulmar X for Spain ISR

  18th June 2018

  Thales has received two contracts from the Spanish Directorate-General for Armament and Material (DGAM) to provide ISR capabilities to the Spanish Navy and Army. Thales’ …

• Naval Warfare

  UDT 2018: No firm offer of the Venari-85 yet

  27th June 2018

  Once again BMT brought attention to its Venari-85 mine countermeasure (MCM) platform although the company is yet to confirm that it will put the design forward for …

• Digital Battlespace

  Saab to provide additional functionality for UAE’s GlobalEye

  20th June 2018

  Saab has received a $39 million order from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for additional functionality for the GlobalEye advanced airborne early warning and control …

• Naval Warfare

  South Korea takes FMS route for new MPAs

  26th June 2018

  South Korea has selected the Boeing P-8A Poseidon to meet its requirement for a new maritime patrol aircraft to augment its fleet of 16 P-3C …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Australia confirms Triton order

  26th June 2018

  On 26 June the Australian government announced it was investing A$1.4 billion ($1.04 billion) to acquire the first of six Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton UAVs …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Sagetech MX transponder for Resolute Eagle

  13th June 2018

  Sagetech’s MX transponders have been selected by PAE ISR for the Resolute Eagle UAS, the company announced on 5 June. The Resolute Eagle UAS weighs …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Thai army is flying Hermes 450

  20th June 2018

  The Hermes 450 is in Royal Thai Army (RTA) service, representing the most modern UAV in Thailand’s inventory. It is being operated by a company …

• Naval Warfare

  UDT 2018: Concerns over depth of UK ASW capability

  22nd June 2018

  A report published by the House of Commons Defence Committee on 18 June warned of several areas where the UK’s armed forces lack the capability …

• Digital Battlespace

  Trumps orders Pentagon to create US 'Space Force'

  18th June 2018

  US President Donald Trump ordered the Pentagon on 18 June to create a new US ‘Space Force’, which would become the sixth branch of the …

• Land Warfare

  Eurosatory 2018: Controp targets Sight-HD for RWS integration

  12th June 2018

  Controp unveiled its new Sight-HD targeting EO/IR payload at Eurosatory 2018. Designed for remote weapons stations (RWS), armoured fighting vehicles (AFVs), air defence systems and …

• Naval Warfare

  USCG accepts delivery of 29th FRC

  13th June 2018

  The US Coast Guard (USCG) received its 29th Fast Response Cutter (FRC), Forrest Rednour, in Key West, Florida, on 7 June. The 154ft FRC will …

• Digital Battlespace

  EW Europe 2018: Avantix previews new COMINT system (video)

  6th June 2018

  Avantix, a French EW systems specialist, has unveiled Flashhawk, a new communications intelligence system designed for integration on UAVs and light aircraft. The podded solution is …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• ISR/special mission

  MC-27J [Algeria]

  Programme Background Algeria has a long standing ISR aircraft requirement to support its Beech 1900 fleet comprised of six aircraft. The new ISR fleet is ...

• ISR/special mission

  C-208B ISR [Tunisia]

  Programme Background Requirement The acquisition of the C-208B Grand Caravan EX aircraft is part of Tunisia’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its ISR capabilities in response ...

• Military UAS - mini

  U&C reconnaissance drones [US Army]

  Methodology PGO The programme has been assigned a PGO of 100%, as a contract has been awarded. Unit cost It has not been clarified what ...

• ISR/special mission

  King Air 350ER ISR [Kuwait]

  Programme Background In February 2018, the US State Department has approved an estimated $259m potential foreign military sale of King Air 350ER intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - HALE

  Long-Endurance UAV [US AFRICOM]

  Programme Background Ageing MQ-9A Reapers In November 2022, Shephard reported that GA-ASI would continue supporting contractor SMX with its MQ-9A after winning a $2.3 billion task ...

• Military UAS - small

  Black Hornet 3 PRS (UK)

  Programme Background The British Army operated approximately 160 first-generation Black Hornet PD-100 nano UAS between 2013 and 2017, when the decision was made to retire ...

• ISR/special mission

  Shadow R1 [UK]

  Background The RAF is moving forward with an ambitious plan to transform its intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance (ISTAR) force to enable greater interoperability ...

• ISR/special mission

  Baekdu-II [South Korea]

  Programme Background This ISR aircraft programme, which first appeared on the 2020-24 Mid-Term Defense Acquisition Plan, comprises four Baekdu-II aircraft. These will add to two ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  ISR Civilian-Made UAVs [Taiwan]

  Background Civilian-made, Military-specification As reported by Shephard in April 2025, to accelerate the acquisition process and urgently build a larger UAV inventory, Taipei is enlisting the private ...

• Military helicopters - light/training

  SW-4

  The SW-4 is aimed at the basic and advanced pilot training, troop transport and ISR missions. Its Polish designation is Puszczyk. The SW-4s are based ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  A-29 Super Tucano Afghanistan

  Media reports suggest that with the hourly cost of $1000, the A-29 is a successful platform for counter-insurgency missions. Its operational capability from unprepared airstrips, ...

• UAS: communication systems

  UAS: communication systems | Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) services [USN]

  In April 2026, AeroVironment (AV) and Shield AI announced that they had been selected to compete for a US$800 million task order to provide Contractor-Owned, ...

• UAS: flight control systems

  UAS: flight control systems | Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) services [USN]

  In April 2026, AeroVironment (AV) and Shield AI announced that they had been selected to compete for a US$800 million task order to provide Contractor-Owned, ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | Multi-Mission Aircraft (1-14) [Canada]

  The objective of the Canadian Multi-Mission Aircraft project is to equip the Canadian Armed Forces with a long-range manned Command, Control, Communications and Computers (C4) and ...

• Data links

  Data links | Multi-Mission Aircraft (1-14) [Canada]

  The objective of the Canadian Multi-Mission Aircraft project is to equip the Canadian Armed Forces with a long-range manned Command, Control, Communications and Computers (C4) and ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  Zeus

  The Zeus is an Argentine tactical-class UAV from Aerotec, in partnership with its Polish technology partner, Ekolot Aerospace & Defense (EAD). The aircraft is modular and ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  Silent Falcon

  The Silent Falcon is a solar-electric sUAS with long-endurance capabilities for extended-range missions. The UAS can be used for commercial and military applications. The entire ...

• Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - small

  Jackal

  The Jackal is a small UAV manufactured by FLY BVLOS, Flyby Technology and Maxwell Innovations. The system features a plug-and-play system, meaning new equipment and technologies can be ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - mini

  Delta

  The Delta is a UAV with a VTOL capability before rotating and operating as a conventional fixed-wing aircraft when airborne.  Manufactured by Fly BVLOS, Nigeria was expected ...

• Military UAS - mini, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Indago

  Indago is a small quadrotor UAV with VTOL. It is equipped with a large-screen handset and is marketed as 'whisper-quiet' with a noise level of ...

• Military UAS - mini, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Canary

  Volatus Aerospace has stated that its civilian Canary rotary-wing cargo-carrying UAV can be adapted for military use in last-mile resupply operations.  Payloads are housed internally ...

• Air: mission management systems

  Ageon ISR

  Ageon ISR is a multi-INT C2/PED solution supporting cross-domain collection, ingestion, processing, exploitation and dissemination from tactical units to the global enterprise and cloud. Ageon ...

• Land: battle management systems

  AIMS-ISR

  AIMS-ISR is a software package used to process the video footage and data gathered from the cameras and other sensors fitted to airborne, ground-based and ...

• Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  ENVOY

  The ENVOY is a multi-mission rotary-wing UAV with a tandem-rotor design and a payload carrying capacity of 180kg. General Dynamics renamed the system ENVOY in mid-2025.  ...

• Air: UAS radar

  EchoFlight

  The Echoflight radar by Echodyne is a Lightweight Metamaterials ESA (MESA®), a Detect-and-Avoid (DAA) 4D radar designed for mid-sized UAVs flying below the visual line of sight (BVLOS) ...

• UAS: communication systems

  muLTElink

  Produced by uAvionix, the muLTElink is a multiple-link airborne radio system designed for uncrewed platforms in particular. It combines C-Band, LTE, ISM and Viasat L-Band communications, ...

• Military UAS - mini, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  DrN-15 (series)

  The DrN-15 is a hexacopter mini-UAV from ST Engineering. The platform is highly customizable and can carry various payloads depending on a user's requirements.  All DrN ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - small

  Nauru 500C

  The Nauru 500C ISR is a VTOL-capable small fixed-wing UAV from Xmobots. Designed for ISR missions, the UAV features XSIS-EO and XSIS-EOLWIR stabilised sensors. The UAV features ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - small

  Outlaw SeaHunter

  Outlaw UAVs are used by military and research agencies for training, testing, data collection and system development. In the 114-137kg maximum take-off weight class, SeaHunter ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  Viper 1000C

  The Viper 1000C is a fixed-wing MALE UAS. Designed to carry EO/IR sensors over vast distances, it can be employed in a wide variety of ...