• Defence Helicopter

  AUVSI 2013: Royal Navy selects AgustaWestland for RWUAS

  13th August 2013

  The Royal Navy has awarded AgustaWestland a £2.3 million contract to develop its Rotary Wing Unmanned Aerial System (RWUAS) concept. It is understood that the …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Keymerging Technologies orders Responder UAV

  13th August 2013

  ING Robotic Aviation has announced that it will provide its Responder rotary wing unmanned aerial vehicle system (UAV) to Keymerging Technologies for use in aerial …

• Defence Helicopter

  AUVSI 2013: Sikorsky goes public with 'Matrix'

  13th August 2013

  Sikorsky has officially introduced its latest unmanned research and development (R&D) programme, the Matrix autonomous technology demonstrator, at the Association of Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  AUVSI 2013: ‘Wave Relay’ unveiled for UAV swarm ops

  13th August 2013

  Persistent Systems is integrating a MANET communications capability onto an undisclosed US customer’s UAV for use in ‘swarm’ applications, company officials have revealed. Speaking to …

• Digital Battlespace

  Analysts warn against reliance on Chinese weather satellites

  8th August 2013

  The US Department of Defense (DoD) is in danger of relying on Chinese state-owned satellites for future meteorological service requirements should a suitable alternative fail …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  CAE USA to train USAF Predator and Reaper aircrew

  8th August 2013

  CAE USA will provide comprehensive Predator and Reaper unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) aircrew training services to the US Air Force (USAF) under a new $20 …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Experts translate Kerry's UAV U-turn

  7th August 2013

  Following the US declaration to end UAV strikes in Pakistan ‘very soon’, industry experts have questioned the motives behind the Obama administration’s decision.  John Kerry, US Secretary …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  De Maiziere defends Euro Hawk position

  7th August 2013

  The German defence minister has defended himself against accusations that he failed to identify problems early enough in the doomed Euro Hawk programme, a Bundestag …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Orbital announces UAV engine contract

  31st July 2013

  Orbital will develop a next-generation unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) engine for an unnamed customer in the US under a new contract announced on 31 July. …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  FAA grants Puma UAV commercial use certificate

  29th July 2013

  The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has granted the AeroVironment Puma AE small unmanned aircraft system (SUAS) a Restricted Category rating, clearing the way for …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  US Navy receives first upgraded Fire Scout

  25th July 2013

  Northrop Grumman has delivered the first MQ-8C upgraded Fire Scout UAV to the US Navy, the company announced on 19 July. The upgraded VTOL UAV …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Malfunction sees X-47B abort final carrier landing

  12th July 2013

  A malfunction on board the X-47B UAV forced the air vehicle to abort its third test-landing on the US Navy aircraft carrier, USS George H W Bush, …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Spanish Navy first customer for Skeldar UAV

  11th July 2013

  The Spanish Navy has confirmed that it will be the first customer to operate Saab’s Skeldar V-200 VTOL UAV. Saab announced that it had been …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Stalemate continues for major Euro UAVs

  8th July 2013

  Progression of two of Europe’s most high-profile UAV programmes continues to be questioned as rumours of delay and cancellation rebound throughout the market, defence sources …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Camcopter S-100 completes 'DeckFinder' flight tests

  3rd July 2013

  Schiebel’s Camcopter S-100 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) has recently conducted a series of flight trials with EADS Astrium’s Pseudolite-based ‘DeckFinder’ local positioning system. The successful …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - small

  AR3 (Ukraine Aid) [UK]

  Background £270 Million investment On 15 September 2025, the UK MoD noted that, since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the UK ...

• Military UAS - small

  Intra-Theatre Lift [UK]

  Background  Relationship to the Heavy Lift Challenge The Royal Navy (RN) embarked on the Heavy Lift Challenge, now called the Heavy Lift Capability (UASHLC), to explore cargo-carrying ...

• UAS: communication systems

  UAS: communication systems | Intra-Theatre Lift [UK]

  On 27 June 2022, the MoD released a request for information (RFI) for a long-reach intra-theatre lift UAV. The RfI stated that the MOD had identified a ...

• UAS: flight control systems

  UAS: flight control systems | Intra-Theatre Lift [UK]

  On 27 June 2022, the MoD released a request for information (RFI) for a long-reach intra-theatre lift UAV. The RfI stated that the MOD had identified a ...

• UAS: communication systems

  UAS: communication systems | Autonomous Collaboration Platform (ACP) (Project Vanquish) [UK]

  In October 2025, the Royal Navy (RN) issued a request for industry proposals for Project Vanquish, an initiative to develop and test a Tier 2 ...

• UAS: flight control systems

  UAS: flight control systems | Autonomous Collaboration Platform (ACP) (Project Vanquish) [UK]

  In October 2025, the Royal Navy (RN) issued a request for industry proposals for Project Vanquish, an initiative to develop and test a Tier 2 ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  Project NYX: Land Autonomous Collaborative Platform (LACP) [UK]

  Background Autonomous Collaboration Platform (ACP) strategy Reflecting on lessons from the cancellation of the Mosquito programme, the Royal Air Force (RAF) redefined the role of ...

• 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

  StormShroud: Autonomous Collaboration Platform (ACP) [UK]

  Background Autonomous Collaboration Platform (ACP) Strategy Reflecting on lessons learned from the cancellation of the Mosquito programme, the Royal Air Force (RAF) redefined the role ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  AR5 [Portugal]

  Methodology PGO The PGO has been set to 100% because the programme has been contracted, with deliveries due very shortly. Units required No details were ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Autonomous Collaboration Platform (ACP) (Project Vanquish) [UK]

  Background Autonomous Collaboration Platform (ACP) Strategy Reflecting on lessons from the cancellation of the Mosquito programme, the Royal Air Force (RAF) redefined the role of ...

• Military UAS - mini

  Mini UAV (Bulgaria)

  Programme Background The Bulgarian Army wants to procure UAVs to enhance the organic tactical ISR capabilities of its ground forces. According to Bulgarian media, a ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  Heavy Lift VTOL (HVTOL) [US Army]

  Background USMC First, Army Second In September 2021, Kaman unveiled its Kargo UAV, specifically designed to meet the requirements of the Medium Aerial Resupply Vehicle – Expeditionary ...

• Military UAS - small

  Small UAV [Peru]

  Background UAV FAP UAV FAP is a family of Peruvian UAVs that have been developed by the Peruvian Air Force and the Centre for Research ...

• Military UAS - mini

  Land Exploration and Reconnaissance Vehicle (VERT) (Mini UAV) [Spain]

  Background VERT In June 2025, the Spanish Government announced a €72 million (US$82.5 million) investment in the Vehículo de exploración y reconocimiento terrestre (VERT), which translates ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - small

  AR3 EVO

  Unveiled at DSEI 2025, the AR3 EVO is a small fixed-wing UAV from Tekever. The system is highly modular and can be configured in a ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  AR5

  First announced in October 2012, the AR5 is a MALE UAS designed for SAR, surveillance and maritime patrol missions. The AR5 can be flown manually or commanded ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  AR6

  Unveiled in mid-2026, the AR6 is an autonomous heavy-lift drone from Tekever. It features a unique digital-displacement hydraulic powertrain and has been designed from the ...

• Military UAS - small

  AR3

  The AR3, or AR3 Net Ray, is an autonomous small-UAS designed to support land-based and maritime missions.  In May 2025, the Royal Air Force announced ...

• 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

  AR2 Carcará

  The AR2 Carcará is a hand- or catapult-launched mini-UAV designed to support search and rescue, surveillance and patrol operations in amphibious and maritime environments. It is ...

• Military UAS - mini

  AR4

  The AR4 is a hand-launched mini-UAS designed for rapid mobile deployment. Manufactured by Tekever, the UAS is suitable for both military and commercial ISTAR applications.  A ...

• EO/IR systems

  PT-8N

  The PT-8D is an IR system from Overwatch Imaging. It is fitted with multiple HD thermal cameras and has been designed to conduct missions at dusk ...

• EO/IR systems

  PT-8D

  Marketed as a cost-effective solution, the PT-8D is a wide-area search and ISR payload from Overwatch Imaging. It features an RGB colour camera and a ...

• EO/IR systems

  PT-8DN

  The PT-8DN is a versatile day-night payload from Overwatch Imaging.  It has dual RGB sensors of different focal lengths and an HD LWIR sensor. It also ...

• Military UAS - small

  Raybird

  Developed by Skyeton, the Raybird is a versatile fixed-wing UAV. The Ukrainian Armed Forces have used the aircraft since late 2021. In July 2025, Skyeton and Prevail Partners ...

• Military UAS - small

  VTOL UAV

  The Defence Technology Institute launched the VTOL UAV R&D; project in cooperation with the Naval Research and Development Office, Royal Thai Navy and private sector ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  MCOM UAV

  The Mundo Compuesto (MCOM) UAV is a fixed-wing UAV designed to provide surveillance during both day and night for military and security force users. It uses ...

• UAS: Integrated systems - uncrewed

  UAV TRS

  Celestia’s UAV Tactical Recovery System (TRS) assures controlled and safe landing of a UAV at a pre-designated GPS location. It can be deployed on command ...

• Air: UAV simulators

  UAV Simulators

  Elbit Systems has developed simulation systems to train personnel in UAV operation, from generic UAV training for initial screening procedures up to full mission, high-fidelity ...