• Defence Helicopter

  29th CAB receives CH-47F helicopters

  14th September 2017

  The US Army’s 29th Combat Aviation Brigade (CAB) unit in Iraq has received new CH-47F Chinook helicopters. The incoming CH-47Fs are the first in a …

• Land Warfare

  Northrop receives full-rate JCREW production contract

  14th September 2017

  Northrop Grumman has received a $57.7 million contract from the US Navy for full-rate production of the Joint Counter Radio-Controlled Improvised Explosive Device Electronic Warfare …

• Naval Warfare

  Ducommun to build NSM fire control system

  13th September 2017

  Ducommun will build fire control systems for Raytheon’s Naval Strike Missile (NSM) under a contract announced on 11 September. Raytheon is offering the NSM for …

• Land Warfare

  DSEI 2017: Elbit demonstrates soldier system (video)

  13th September 2017

  Elbit Systems is demonstrating the latest developments of its digital army programme components at DSEI 2017. Shephard spoke to senior director of C4ISR at Elbit, Gil …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  ECA’s AUVs for Asian navy

  13th September 2017

  ECA Group has delivered unmanned mine disposal systems to the navy of an unnamed Asian country, the company announced on 8 September.The naval force is …

• Training

  L-15 trainer advances worldwide

  13th September 2017

  The People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) is now operating the tandem-seat JL-10 trainer, which is also known as the L-15 Falcon under its export nomenclature, …

• Military Logistics

  MARSS’ MOBtronic system for RNZN fleet tanker

  13th September 2017

  MARSS has received a contract for its MOBtronic system to be installed on the Royal New Zealand Navy's new fleet tanker. The tanker is currently …

• Land Warfare

  DSEI 2017: Thales pitches new F90 rifle to Germany

  12th September 2017

  Defence manufacturer Thales has set its sight on the European and NATO market for its new F90MBR modular bullpup rifle, with the company already bidding …

• Digital Battlespace

  DSEI 2017: UK Dragonfire aims to the future (video)

  12th September 2017

  Earlier this year, the UK MoD awarded a contract to an industrial consortium of companies to develop laser technology for directed energy weapons. Shephard talks through …

• Digital Battlespace

  US DoD certifies ViaSat's VRG-1000

  12th September 2017

  ViaSat has received certification from the US Department of Defense (DoD) AIMS Program Office for its Radio Frequency Generator 1000 (VRG-1000), the company announced on …

• Defence Helicopter

  H145M flies with HForce

  12th September 2017

  Airbus Helicopters’ H145M has performed its first flight with a complete HForce weapon system, the company announced on 8 September.HForce is a modular weapon system …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  DSEI 2017: Robotics and autonomy to increase land capabilities

  12th September 2017

  Robots are advancing so much that it would be ‘really stupid’ if they were not used for dangerous missions such as breaching buildings in future …

• Defence Notes

  DSEI 2017: Esterline launches new hearing protection

  12th September 2017

  Defence and aerospace technology company Esterline has launched its new hearing protection headset for the first time at DSEI 2017. The headset, which is known …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Ocean Infinity selects AquaPix

  12th September 2017

  Kraken Sonar Systems has received a contract from Ocean Infinity for its AquaPix Synthetic Aperture Sonar system, the company announced on 7 September. Under the …

• Special Operations

  Navy SEALs to use UAVs for training

  11th September 2017

  The Navy Special Warfare Basic Training Command (NSWBTC) SEAL Qualification Training (SQT) Land Warfare Team has released plans to use vertical take-off/landing (VTOL) UAVs to …

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 ...