• Defence Notes

  UK force deployment at risk

  21st November 2015

  The underlying basis for UK defence policy – to deploy forces strategically – is being undermined by technology and tactics adopted by potential adversaries. In …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Rising sun beckons for Global Hawk

  20th November 2015

  The US State Department has approved a possible foreign military sale (FMS) of three RQ-4 Global Hawk UAVs to Japan, with associated equipment, in a …

• Naval Warfare

  US considers Korean Harpoon sale

  19th November 2015

  The US state department is considering a potential foreign military sale (FMS) to South Korea for UGM-84L Harpoon Block II missiles and associated equipment, parts …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Apache and Gray Eagle team up in Korea

  19th November 2015

  The US Army is able to conduct aerial manned-unmanned teaming missions in South Korea, according to an announcement from General Atomics on 18 November. In …

• Training

  GA-ASI’s RPA training facility breaks ground

  13th November 2015

  Construction is now underway for General Atomics Aeronautical Systems’ (GA-ASI’s) new RPA training facility at Grand Sky Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) business and aviation park …

• Land Warfare

  Russia seals SAM exports

  13th November 2015

  China will begin receiving its first S-400 Triumf medium-/long-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems within 12-18 months, it has emerged from the TASS news agency. Meanwhile, …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  China tests ‘military’ paragliding UAV

  12th November 2015

  In another innovation in the unmanned field from China, news emerged this week of a paragliding UAV that has recently concluded tests in Tibet. Chinese …

• Defence Notes

  D&S 2015: UK seeks Thai engagement

  12th November 2015

  UK defence companies had a muted presence at the Defence & Security 2015 exhibition in Bangkok, though an official from UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) …

• Digital Battlespace

  NORINCO reinforces China's borders

  10th November 2015

  China’s borders are receiving high-tech protection through a newly introduced integrated C4ISR system. The system is being provided by a subsidiary of China North Industries (NORINCO) featuring radars, electro-optical cameras, …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Dubai 2015: GCC customers eye V200 UAV

  9th November 2015

  Lebanese-based manufacturer SkyPro UAV have received interest from GCC customers for potential commercial applications for the V200 platform, which is currently in service with militaries …

• Military Logistics

  Dubai 2015: Auto refuelling for MRTTs

  9th November 2015

  A human boom operator on the A330 multi-role tanker transport (MRTT) could soon be a thing of the past as Airbus Defence and Space (DS) …

• Defence Helicopter

  Dubai 2015: Bell sells more 525s in Middle East

  9th November 2015

  Bell Helicopter will sign a letter of intent (LOI) for two 525 Relentless super-medium helicopters with Egyptian firm Petroleum Air Services (PAS) on 9 November, …

• Defence Helicopter

  KAI helicopters set for global market

  4th November 2015

  Korea Aerospace Industries’ (KAI’s) Light Civil Helicopter (LCH) and Light Armed Helicopter (LAH) will be marketed globally under a new Memorandum of Understanding signed with …

• Digital Battlespace

  Second Global Xpress satellite goes live

  4th November 2015

  Commercial satellite company Inmarsat is making waves in the military satellite world with its second Global Xpress (GX) satellite going live on 3 November. The …

• Land Warfare

  D&S 2015: First Win wins first exports

  4th November 2015

  Chaiseri Metal and Rubber Company, the Thai developer and manufacturer of the First Win 4x4 mine resistant ambush protected (MRAP) vehicle, is accumulating its first …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Maritime patrol

  P-8 Poseidon [South Korea]

  Programme Background South Korea is facing an imminent submarine threat from North Korea. The Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN) is operating an aging fleet of P-3C ...

• Directed energy weapons

  Cheongwang [South Korea]

  Background South Korea will produce the Laser-Based Anti-Aircraft Weapon Block-I (Cheongwang) for the Republic of Korea Armed Forces. The laser weapons will be deployed and ...

• Medium Range Missile Defence Systems: 20-90km range

  Cheongung Block II [South Korea]

  Background South Korea launched a plan to convert its Cheongung-I systems to the M-SAM Block II configuration. It was announced in July 2025 that it ...

• Medium Range Missile Defence Systems: 20-90km range

  Cheongung Block III [South Korea]

  Background South Korea's Defense Project Promotion Committee approved the basic strategy for the development of M-SAM Block III (Cheongung Block III). The system will modernise South Korea's ...

• Long Range Missile Defence Systems: > 90km range

  L-SAM-II Prototype [South Korea]

  Background In June 2025, it was announced that South Korea had awarded a $144 million contract with Hanwha Aerospace to develop a prototype for the L-SAM-II high-altitude surface-to-air missile ...

• Loitering munitions

  Small-Sized Suicide Drones [South Korea]

  Programme Background Drone Ambition As reported by Shephard, South Korea has ambitions to possess a large arsenal of drones. In May 2024, the presidential office ...

• Military UAS - HALE

  RQ-4 Global Hawk [South Korea]

  Background Requirments Seoul required UAS assets to help monitor its neighbour to the north and, increasingly, Chinese activities in waters and in the air near ...

• Loitering munitions

  Loitering Munitions (Special Mission Brigade) [South Korea]

  Programme Background Drone Ambition As reported by Shephard, South Korea has ambitions to possess a large arsenal of drones. In May 2024, the presidential office ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-X III Phase II (F-35) [South Korea]

  Programme Background On 14 September 2014, South Korea signed an FMS contract under the first phase of F-X III programme to supply 40 F-35As for ...

• CUAS - interceptors

  P-1 Sun C-UAS [Japan]

  Background In June 2026, Japan announced plans to install interceptor drone systems by 2027 at radar sites, bases, vessels, and other critical locations, joining a global ...

• Frigates

  Daegu Class (FFX Batch II) [South Korea]

  Programme Background The Incheon and Daegu classes are part of a re-capitalisation effort to replace the older Pohang-class corvettes and Ulsan-class frigates with a new FFX class ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  KAAV II

  Programme Background The Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN) operates one Dokdo-class amphibious assault ship and has launched another to support provide operational lift for the ROKMC. ...

• AEW&C

  AEW&C Aircraft [South Korea]

  Programme Background Requirement The requirement was initially reported in 2016 when it was noted as being part of a long-term development plan, however, reports from ...

• OPVs

  Taepyungyang Class (15) [South Korea]

  Programme Background Timeline The South Korean Coast Guard (KGC) currently operates 13 Taepyungyang-class large patrol vessels, also referred to as offshore patrol vessels (OPV), but ...

• Destroyers

  Joint Strike Ship [South Korea]

  Programme Background Requirements The third element of South Korea's "Three Axis System" - a complex of measures designed to track, detect, and eliminate an adversary’s ballistic missiles and ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Surface-to-surface missiles

  Hwasong-7 (Nodong-1)

  The Hwasong-7 is a North Korean tactical ballistic missile based on the Hwasong-6. It has the NATO reporting name Scud D. It was designed with ...

• CUAS - interceptors

  Drone Killer

  The Uconsystem Drone Killer was unveiled in October 2015 and was developed in response to a UAV threat from North Korea, which saw four North ...

• Surface-to-surface missiles

  Hwasong-6

  The Hwasong-6 is a North Korean tactical ballistic missile based on the Hwasong-5, which itself is based on the Soviet R-17 Elbrus. Its NATO reporting ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

  Gumdoksuri Class (PKX-A)

  The Gumdoksuri-class fast attack craft, also known as the PKX-A-class, was designed to replace the Republic of Korea Navy's ageing fleet of Sea Dolphin-class vessels ...

• Artillery rockets

  K33

  K33 is a 130 mm unguided artillery rocket developed by South Korean Hanwha for the K136 Kooryong MLRS and currently in use with the K239 ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Saetbyol-4

  North Korea unveiled two drones at the Weapons and Equipment Exhibition 2023 in Pyongyang on 2 August  One drone, which appears to be called the Saetbyol-4, ...

• Destroyers

  Sejong the Great Class (KDX-III/HDD-10000) Batch 1

  The Sejong the Great-class destroyers were built for the Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN) as the third iteration of its KDX continuous destroyer construction programme ...

• Light UGVs

  SCOBOT 200

  The SCOBOT 200 is a larger, two-tracked version of the SCOBOT 100 (see separate entry). It can be used for EOD tasks. It was tested ...

• Destroyers

  Maya Class (27DD)

  The Maya-class (27DD) destroyers are the latest in a long line of modern destroyer classes for the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF). Well aware of ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Saetlbyol-9

  North Korea unveiled two drones at the 2023 Weapons and Equipment Exhibition in Pyongyang on 2 August 2023. One drone, the Saetlbyol-9, or Morning Star-9,  ...

• Directed energy weapons

  Cheongwang

  The Anti-Aircraft Laser Weapon System, Block-I (Cheongwang) is a laser weapon system developed by Hanwha Aerospace. The system can strike small drones and multicopters at ...

• Corvettes

  Hainan Class (Type 037)

  The Hainan-class (Type 037) class is a range of corvette-sized vessels, mostly in service with the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy, which cover a range ...

• Frigates

  Krivak Class

  The Krivak-class (Project 1135) frigates first entered service in 1970 and various types of the class have entered service, particularly the Indian Navy's Talwar-class (see ...

• Anti-ship missiles

  HY-2/C-201

  The HY-2/C-201, NATO reporting name CSS-C-3 Seersucker, is a Chinese liquid-fuel rocket-powered anti-ship cruise missile developed as an evolution of the earlier HY-1 missile. The ...

• Anti-ship missiles

  SSM-700K Haeseong (C-Star)

  The SSM-700K Haeseong, also known as the C-Star, is a surface-launched, anti-ship cruise missile. It was designed as a replacement for the Hae Ryong anti-ship ...