• Naval Warfare

  French Navy to get Belharra frigates

  26th April 2017

  DCNS has been selected for the development and construction of five intermediate-size frigates for the French Navy, the company announced on 21 April. Known as …

• Defence Notes

  PGZ signs MoU with IAI

  24th July 2017

  Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa (PGZ) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to cooperate on a number of aviation technologies for …

• Naval Warfare

  Sonardyne Sentinel equips OPVs in Asia

  27th July 2017

  Sonardyne International is supplying its Sentinel diver detection sonar technology for a fleet of offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) under construction in Asia, the company announced on …

• Digital Battlespace

  Leonardo DRS wins MFoCS orders

  24th July 2017

  Leonardo DRS has received orders to supply its Mounted Family of Computer Systems (MFoCS) to the US Army, the company announced on 20 July. The …

• Military Logistics

  Comment: More than just aircraft parts

  27th July 2017

  In order to improve inventory visibility, accountability and command and control (C2), the US Air Force has sought to centralise Class of Supply management in …

• Digital Battlespace

  Ferra Engineering bags export contract

  25th July 2017

  Ferra Engineering has received a contract from Thales Germany to build sub-assemblies for Phoenice, Thales’ tactical navigation radar system for submarines, the Australian Department of …

• Land Warfare

  Russia delays Kurganets-25 production

  22nd May 2017

  The launch of series production of the Kurganets-25 family of armoured combat vehicles has been postponed beyond 2021, Russian officials have disclosed.  The delay was …

• Naval Warfare

  US Navy commissions Gerald R Ford

  24th July 2017

  The US Navy has commissioned its newest aircraft carrier, USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), at Naval Station Norfolk on 22 July. USS Gerald R. …

• Defence Helicopter

  Industry waits for USN training heli needs

  27th July 2017

  The RfI for an Advanced Helicopter Training System (AHTS) to replace the USN’s TH-57 Sea Ranger was laid out four years ago. The RfP was …

• Military Logistics

  Rheinmetall buying stake in Supashock

  24th July 2017

  Rheinmetall Defence is acquiring a 49% stake in Australia-based Supashock to help develop suspension and load handling products for its military vehicles, the company announced …

• Defence Notes

  Challenges to UK equipment plan

  3rd May 2017

  The UK Ministry of Defence's equipment plan is at risk of becoming unaffordable according to the Public Accounts Committee.The report released by the PAC on …

• Military Logistics

  US Army looks to possible M113 upgrades

  21st July 2017

  A recent US Army announcement seems to indicate that the service is still struggling with the future of the M113 armoured personnel carrier and its …

• Naval Warfare

  IMDEX Asia: Security at India’s minor ports shockingly low

  12th May 2017

  India's porous 7,500km coastline is dotted with fishing harbours, and because these are often adjacent to major ports, an incident could have severe security ramifications. …

• Defence Helicopter

  ​US clears potential MD 530F FMS to Kenya

  4th May 2017

  The US State Department has approved a possible Foreign Military Sale (FMS) to Kenya worth an estimated US$253 million for 12 MD 530Fs as stated …

• Land Warfare

  ​Saab presents mockup of new mobile RBS 70 NG air defence launcher

  12th May 2017

  Saab Dynamics has unveiled a full scale mockup of its RBS 70 NG (New Generation) RWS short range air defence (SHORAD) missile launcher at its …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military helicopters - multirole

  Joint Light Helicopter (HIL) Programme

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

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  NH90 TTH [France]

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

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  A330 MRTT (13-15) [France]

  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 as ...

• 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 ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  NH90 Special Forces [France]

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

• 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 ...

• 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 [France]

  Background Origins French Ministry of Armed Forces spokesperson Hervé Grandjean stated in a press conference in May 2022 that the Direction Générale de l'Armement (DGA) and ...

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

  French MALE UAVs [France]

  Background Requirements The French Ministry of the Armed Forces wishes to develop a French MALE offering comparable to the MQ-9 Reaper, which would, it is hoped, promote ...

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

  UX11 (Ukraine Aid) [France]

  Programme Background First Batch On 6 September 2023, Sébastien Lecornu, the French Minister of Defence, announced Delair was providing Ukraine with more than 150 drones. ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  PLFS [France]

  Programme Background The Sabre, then known as the Sherpa FS, was developed as a response to a 2014 requirement for three types of new vehicles ...

• Loitering munitions

  Larinae [France]

  Background Origins French Ministry of Armed Forces spokesperson Hervé Grandjean stated in a press conference in May 2022 that the Direction Générale de l'Armement (DGA) ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

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

  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 ...

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

  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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 - 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 ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, 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 - 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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. ...

• 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 ...

• Loitering munitions

  Toutatis

  The Toutatis is an in-development loitering munition from Thales. According to Thales, the platform is effective against groups of fighters and unarmored and light-armoured vehicles. Unveiled at ...

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

  Sky Keeper

  The Sky Keeper is a rotary-wing UAV from Milton International.  The UAV is capable of carrying a 10kg payload and features a modular gimbal, meaning ...