• Special Operations

  SAS 2017: 3D printing meets swimmer delivery?

  6th April 2017

  While at first glance, the US Navy's Optionally Manned Technology Demonstrator looks like an elongated Mk VIII SEAL delivery vehicle (SDV), the new tech demonstrator …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  OceanServer Technology acquired by L3

  6th April 2017

  L3 Technologies has acquired OceanServer Technology, the company announced on 4 April. The business has been renamed as L3 OceanServer and will be integrated into …

• Military Logistics

  SOFINS: ​Airbus DS details A400M milestones

  6th April 2017

  Airbus Defence and Space used the recent SOFINS exhibition to detail the latest achievements of its A400M aircraft and the fact the tactical transporter is …

• Land Warfare

  LAAD 2017: Budget delays projects (video)

  6th April 2017

  Gen Div Guido Amin Naves of the Brazilian Army speaks with Shephard about current programmes and the economic challenges facing future projects.With budget restrictions influencing …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  SAS 2017: USCG envisions UAS blend

  6th April 2017

  The United States Coast Guard (USCG) has made no secret of its interest in small unmanned aircraft systems (SUAS) for shipboard operations aboard its new …

• Defence Helicopter

  LAAD 2017: Helibras outlines helo upgrade prospects

  6th April 2017

  Brazilian helicopter manufacturer Helibras, based in Itajubá, Brazil, is looking to grow further through additional Panther and Dauphin upgrades.Currently, there are two ongoing contracts at …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Subscale LightningStrike completes flight test

  6th April 2017

  Aurora's XV-24A LightningStrike VTOL XPlane subscale demonstrator has completed its flight test programme at Webster Outlying Field in Southern Maryland in the US, the company …

• Defence Notes

  Korea decisions - shutting down the DPRK's business

  6th April 2017

  With North Korea responding to international sanctions against its weapons of mass destruction (WMD) development programme with smirks, the US administration has a myriad of …

• Naval Warfare

  Orbital ATK awarded MFF contract

  6th April 2017

  Orbital ATK has received a $20.8 million contract for first article test and production of the MK419 Mod 1 Multi-Function Fuze (MFF) for use on …

• Defence Helicopter

  Sea Venom cleared for Lynx exports

  6th April 2017

  European missile manufacturer MBDA has successfully completed air carriage and jettison trials of its new Sea Venom anti-ship missile from a Royal Navy Lynx Mk8 …

• Digital Battlespace

  SharpEye radar for Canadian Navy subs

  6th April 2017

  Kelvin Hughes will supply its SharpEye downmast submarine navigation radar system for the Royal Canadian Navy's long range patrol submarines. The company announced the contract …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Kongsberg unveils Eelume underwater robot

  6th April 2017

  Kongsberg Maritime has unveiled its new Eelume underwater robot on 4 April. With a flexible and adaptable body, Eelume is designed to live permanently underwater …

• Defence Helicopter

  Philippine Navy bolsters patrol fleet

  6th April 2017

  The Philippines received the first two of five leased TC-90 (a Beechcraft King Air variant) aircraft from Japan on 27 March, with a formal transfer …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  The secret sauce of the Vertex

  6th April 2017

  Lausanne-based unmanned systems manufacturer Hydromea has showcased the Vertex AUV, which officials aim to market towards a variety of commercial and civil applications in the …

• Digital Battlespace

  Milipol Asia 2017: SuperneT U-Agile+ bridges comms gaps

  6th April 2017

  Seeing a gap between military and homeland security communication networks, ST Electronics has developed application-based software named SuperneT U-Agile+ to bridge the two systems.Its release …

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 ...