• Uncrewed Vehicles

  X-47B completes first carrier-based catapult launch

  15th May 2013

  The X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System (UCAS) demonstrator has become the first unmanned aircraft to be launched by catapult from a ship, following the completion …

• Defence Helicopter

  US furthers next-generation helicopter studies

  30th April 2013

  Plans for a next generation US helicopter to replace the AH-64 Apache and UH-60 Black Hawk have moved forward with three different configurations under evaluation. …

• Defence Helicopter

  US confirms V-22 sale to Israel

  23rd April 2013

  The US has confirmed its intention to sell the V-22 Osprey tiltrotor to Israel as part of a comprehensive defence package, in what will be the …

• Defence Helicopter

  South Korea purchase 36 AH-64E Apaches

  18th April 2013

  Boeing will supply 36 AH-64E Apache attack helicopters to South Korea after beating out Turkish Aerospace Industries and Bell for the contract, which is expected …

• Military Logistics

  RAF augments air transport fleet with new aircraft

  18th April 2013

  The Royal Air Force (RAF) has taken delivery of two BAe 146-200 Quick Change (QC) aircraft from BAE System following their conversion into military tactical …

• Land Warfare

  KMW signs Qatar MBT and artillery deal

  18th April 2013

  Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) has announced that it has signed a contract with the Emirate of Qatar to supply the PzH 2000 artillery system and Leopard …

• Defence Helicopter

  Bertling reflects on early issues at Eurocopter

  18th April 2013

  Both the Tiger and NH90 helicopter programmes were hindered in their early stages by a lack of transparency by Eurocopter, their departing CEO has admitted. …

• Defence Helicopter

  Eurocopter develops ‘interim fix’ for EC225 issue

  17th April 2013

  Eurocopter has identified both an interim fix and what it believes could be the final solution to the gearbox problems that have been plaguing the …

• Defence Helicopter

  Spain deploys Tiger attack helicopters to Afghanistan

  16th April 2013

  Despite ISAF operations winding down, Spain has sent three Eurocopter Tiger HAP attack helicopters to Afghanistan in an effort to bolster its helicopter forces which …

• Land Warfare

  LAAD 2013: ST steps up Latin American engagement

  10th April 2013

  Singapore-based ST Kinetics is making a push for military business in South America and is searching for local partners to pursue acquisition programmes. Speaking to …

• Defence Helicopter

  LAAD 2013: Boeing increases presence in Brazil

  9th April 2013

  Reflecting moves by other Western companies in recent years, Boeing plans to increase its footprint in Brazil with a new teaming agreement and the establishment …

• Defence Helicopter

  MoD enlists special effects team for CDAS flight trials

  27th March 2013

  The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has used special effects software from the film industry to complete recent flight trial tests of an integrated defensive …

• Defence Helicopter

  Colombia's new S-70i Black Hawks inducted

  21st March 2013

  Sikorsky has announced that the five new S-70i Black Hawk multi-mission helicopters delivered to the Colombian Army have been formally inducted into the force. The …

• Defence Helicopter

  Germany revises number of NH90s and Tigers on order

  18th March 2013

  After lengthy negotiations, the German Ministry of Defence announced on 15 March that it had finally reached an agreement with Eurocopter about the revision of …

• Defence Helicopter

  Heli-Expo 2013: Vector moves further into the leasing business

  7th March 2013

  Vector Aerospace Helicopter Services - North America has been approved as a service centre for the AS332 Super Puma helicopter family, as Vector moves further …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Self-propelled guns

  Mobile Tactical Cannon [US]

  Background The US Army began using the M777 in 1995. Since then, it has served as a field artillery piece providing fire support for American ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  MCH-101 [Japan]

  Programme Background At the time of the 2023 signing , Japan had a fleet of 10 MCH-101s and three CH-101.The KHI MCH-101 helicopter is a version ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  Hurkus C [Niger]

  Programme Background  In late April 2021, Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) President and CEO Temel Kotil claimed in an interview with CNN Turk TV that an export customer for ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-5 Replacement [Mexico]

  Background  Mexico's last fighter aircraft capability rested with their fleet of eight F-5E and two F-5F Tiger IIs platforms from Northrop Grumman; the units were retired ...

• Man-portable missile systems

  Mistral 3 [North Macedonia]

  Background North Macedonia signed a contract for the procurement of Mistral 3 short-range air defence systems. The systems will modernise the Army and are expected ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Light Protected Mobility Vehicle (Phase 1) [North Macedonia]

  Background The acquisition of an LPMV to equip the North Macedonian Armed Forces' Light Infantry Battalion Group (LIBG) is considered the most urgent priority for the ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Stryker [North Macedonia]

  Background In its Long-Term Defence Capabilities Development Plan (LTDCDP) published in 2019, the North Macedonian MoD outlined plans to acquire Light Armoured Vehicles (LAVs) to ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  AW169M [North Macedonia]

  Background Bids and suppliers Prior to Leonardo's award of the North Macedonian contract, Airbus, Lockheed Martin and Bell Helicopters had all put in bids for ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  AW149 [North Macedonia]

  Background Bids and suppliers Prior to Leonardo's award of the North Macedonian contract, Airbus, Lockheed Martin, and Bell Helicopters had all put bids in for ...

• Military UAS - small

  Tactical UAVs [North Macedonia]

  Background European Peace Facility (EPF) The EPF, established in 2021, operates separately from the EU budget. Between 2021 and 2027, the EPF has a financial ...

• Military UAS - small

  Small Surveillance Drones [Denmark]

  Background Second Agreement on the Arctic and North Atlantic In October 2025, Denmark, the Faroe Islands, and Greenland announced the second agreement of the Arctic and ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) [Netherlands]

  Background Dutch and American collaboration On 16 October 2025, the Dutch MoD announced a Letter of Intent (LOI) had been signed to join the USAF’s ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  MQ-9B SkyGuardian [Denmark]

  Background Arctic Capability Package In February 2021, Denmark published the Arctic Capability package, a commitment to invest in new technologies, particularly uncrewed systems, to improve surveillance ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Stryker [Greece]

  Background The Greek Army currently operates a number of outdated vehicles, the majority of which are older American platforms like the M113. As part of ...

• Military UAS - small

  Air-Launched Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (ALUAV) [India]

  Background  Origins The development programme has its origins in the US-India Defence Technology and Trade Initiative signed between the nations in 2006 and renewed in 2015. This ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Major networking projects

  BCS

  Battle Control System (BCS) is a USAF Acquisition Category 1 major automated information system programme that provides air sovereignty C2 for the North American Aerospace ...

• Major networking projects

  BCS-F

  Battle Control System-Fixed (BCS-F) is a replacement for the fixed sites for the Region/Sector Air Operations Center, also known as Region Air Operations Center-Air Defense ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  TW-860 TSM Sprit

  TrellisWare TW-860 is a MANET-capable software-defined radio designed specifically for body wearable applications. It provides voice and data connectivity in a small form factor, featuring ...

• Light UGVs

  PackBot

  PackBot, previously designated 510 PackBot, is a tracked, tactical, mobile UGV with forward-articulated flippers that can perform multiple missions. PackBot is being delivered to customers ...

• Land: air defence radar

  JLENS

  The Joint Land Attack Cruise Missile Defense Elevated Netted Sensor System (JLENS), often referred to as the "Spy Balloon", was a tethered aerial detection system ...

• Frigates

  GMF 140

  The GMF 140 is a concept frigate designed by Rheinmetall Naval Systems. It is initially being marketed towards North American procurement as a next-generation integrated air ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  TW-135 TSM Shadow

  TrellisWare TW-135 is a MANET-capable, high-power radio designed for manpack, vehicular, fixed-site and airborne applications. Marketed as a networking radio, it provides high-speed voice, video ...

• Ultra-light UGVs

  FirstLook

  The Endeavor Robotics (now FLIR Systems) FirstLook is a tracked, compact, rugged, expendable and lightweight robot that provides situational awareness, performs persistent observation and investigates ...

• 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,  ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Predator XP

  The Predator XP is an updated unarmed version of the original Predator UAV that the US government has licensed for sale to a broader customer ...

• Fighter - ground attack, ISR/special mission

  Hürkuş-C

  The Hürkuş-C is a light attack and reconnaissance aircraft developed by Turkish Aerospace Industries based on the Hürkuş trainer to meet the requirements of the ...

• Trainer

  T-34 Mentor

  The T-34 Mentor is a trainer aircraft developed by Beechcraft (now Raytheon) to meet the requirements of the USAF and USN to replace the North American ...

• Loitering munitions

  PS Killer (PSK)

  The PS Killer (PSK) is a throw-and-forgot loitering munition developed by an American startup, XDOWN.  Uniquely, the system is shaped like a size 7 American football and is ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F/A-18A/B

  The F/A-18 Hornet A and B aircraft, or F-18A/B ('CF-18' in Canada and 'EF-18' in Spain), were the first models in the USN’s line of ...

• 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 ...