• Defence Notes

  Singapore hedges its bets with F-35 decision

  22nd January 2019

  Catching few by surprise, Singapore’s Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen announced in a terse statement on 18 January that his country had identified the F-35 …

• Defence Helicopter

  Kazakhstan to begin Mi-8AMT and Mi-171 local assembly

  23rd January 2019

  Kazakhstan’s fledging aerospace and defence industry has received one of its largest ever deals, foreseeing the local assembly of Russian-made 13t helicopters for military and …

• Digital Battlespace

  Russia bolsters its long-range EW capabilities

  18th January 2019

  The Russian MoD has reported the completion of the first deployment phase of a multi-level early warning (EW) radar network.  The four newly-commissioned long-range radar …

• Military Logistics

  Kellstrom Defense acquires WAM

  9th January 2019

  Kellstrom Defense Aerospace has acquired California-based Williams Aerospace and Manufacturing (WAM), the company announced on 7 January. WAM has developed a range of tooling for …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Herons to migrate to Vietnam

  12th December 2018

  It is believed that Vietnam has ordered the Heron UAVs from Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), with a contract apparently being signed in recent days. Vietnam …

• Military Logistics

  Brazil approves Embraer-Boeing strategic partnership

  14th January 2019

  The Brazilian government has approved a strategic partnership between Embraer and Boeing that will position the companies to accelerate growth in global aerospace markets, Embraer …

• Naval Warfare

  US Navy names DDG 128

  8th January 2019

  The US Navy will name incoming Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, DDG 128, as USS Ted Stevens, the navy announced on 4 January. The ship is …

• Naval Warfare

  Azerbaijan completes OPV sextet, explores new shipbuilding programmes

  14th January 2019

  Azerbaijan’s Coast Guard – a branch of its Border Guard Service - is set to induct its sixth 62m Tufan-class OPV with pennant S-206 shortly. …

• Military Logistics

  Vertex to continue to USAF C-12 support

  11th January 2019

  Vertex Aerospace will continue providing contractor logistics support to the US Air Force’s C-12 aircraft fleet, the company announced on 10 January. The option year …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Chinese FL-1 UCAV makes maiden flight

  23rd January 2019

  Yet another Chinese MALE UCAV has taken to the air, with the FL-1 successfully achieving its maiden flight from Pucheng Neifu Airport in Shaanxi Province, …

• Naval Warfare

  US lawmaker monitoring elevator woes on new aircraft carrier

  10th January 2019

  The chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) has pledged to keep a close eye on US navy efforts to fix the advanced weapons …

• Naval Warfare

  HII to build additional NSCs for USCG

  4th January 2019

  Huntington Ingalls Industries’ (HII) Ingalls Shipbuilding division received contracts in December to build additional National Security Cutters (NSC) for the US Coast Guard. The contract …

• Defence Notes

  US withdrawal from Syria to be done in 'prudent' way: Trump

  8th January 2019

  President Donald Trump on Monday sought to end fears of an abrupt US pull-out from Syria, saying the fight against the Islamic State group is …

• Military Logistics

  Marshall to sustain RNLAF C-130H fleet

  3rd January 2019

  Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group has signed a contract with the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) to support its C-130H military transport aircraft fleet through …

• Defence Helicopter

  Japan’s UH-X achieves maiden flight

  7th January 2019

  A prototype of the UH-X medium multipurpose helicopter, slated to equip the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF), successfully completed its maiden flight in Japan in …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• UAS: communication systems

  UAS: communication systems | Hermes 900 Replacement [Chile]

  The three Hermes 900 UAVs that the Chilean Air Force acquired from Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) in 2011 will reach their estimated out-of-service date in the ...

• UAS: flight control systems

  UAS: flight control systems | Hermes 900 Replacement [Chile]

  The three Hermes 900 UAVs that the Chilean Air Force acquired from Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) in 2011 will reach their estimated out-of-service date in the ...

• 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 ...

• Loitering munitions

  Harop [Morocco]

  Programme Background In November 2021, Haaretz reported that a $22 million drone sale between Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and Morocco had occurred. That publication and ...

• 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 ...

• Loitering munitions

  Loitering Munitions (Longer-Range) [Estonia]

  Background Previous Loitering Munition purchase In February 2023, the Estonian MoD announced its intention to acquire loitering munitions to significantly increase its indirect fire capability ...

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

  Heron TP [India]

  Programme Background Emergency Procurement The Narendra Modi-led Indian government granted the Armed Forces Rs 500 crores to upgrade their warfighting capabilities due to the ongoing ...

• Loitering munitions

  Mini Harpy [Estonia]

  Programme Background Russia's Aggression In February 2023, Estonian Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur said the country was set to procure loitering munitions to enhance its indirect ...

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

  MALE UAV [Argentina]

  Background Requirement Argentina has an outstanding requirement for a MALE-class UAV to conduct ISR operations in its airspace and along its long coastline. The Argentine ...

• Loitering munitions

  Harop (Amphibious Transport Ships) [Netherlands]

  Programme Background Multifunctional Support Vessels In September 2024, the Dutch MoD announced that the Royal Netherlands Navy would receive two new Multifunctional support vessels from Dutch ...

• Loitering munitions

  Loitering Munitions (First Batch) [Japan]

  Background Appreciation of Loitering Munitions After years of not operating loitering munitions and armed UAVs, Japan’s position towards them has changed. Belatedly, the MoD realised the ...

• Loitering munitions

  Harop [Israeli Navy]

  Programme Background MADEX 2023 At MADEX 2023, IAI displayed the Mini-Harpy, dubbed the Green Dragon, loitering munition in a 12-system launcher mounted to an Israel ...

• 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 ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Air: COMINT and ELINT systems

  ELL-8385

  Israel Aerospace Industries’ (IAI) ELL-8385 is an integrated electronic support measure designed to equip Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV). Open source imagery intelligence indicates that the ...

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

  Rotem

  The Rotem, or Rotem L, is a loitering munition based on a multi-rotor UAV. Manufactured by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), the quadcopter features an EO/IR camera payload ...

• Loitering munitions

  ASN-301

  The ASN-301 is a Chinese anti-radiation loitering munition. Likely based on Israel's Harpy drone, the ASN-301 features a delta-wing configuration and a pusher propeller, and ...

• Heavy UGVs

  RobDozer

  The RobDozer, or Panda, is an uncrewed ground combat engineering system manufactured by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and ELTA Systems.  The UGV is designed for breaching tasks, ...

• Loitering munitions

  Kargi (Improved)

  At ADEX 2022, Lentatek unveiled a new, as-yet-unnamed version of the Kargi loitering munition.  Instead of Kargi's radio frequency (RF) seeker, this new version features an under-nose EO/IR ...

• Air: COMINT and ELINT systems

  ELI-3120

  Israel Aerospace Industries’ (IAI) ELI-3120 is a Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) system designed for use at the operational and tactical levels. The ELI-3120 architecture also includes ...

• Air: COMINT and ELINT systems

  ELK-7071

  Israel Aerospace Industries’ (IAI) EL/K-7071 is an integrated electronic support measure designed to equip UAVs. While not explicitly stated by the system’s manufacturer, it is ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM, Data links

  ELK-1891 SATCOM

  The ELK-1891 is a full duplex X- or Ku-band SATCOM network, intended for uninterrupted mid-rate OTH communications (eg voice, data, compressed video). Each subscriber port ...

• Heavy UGVs

  RobARC

  The RobARC, or Sahar, is a military UGV manufactured by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). The UGV's payload comprises a variety of sensors, allowing the Sahar to detect above-ground, ...

• Heavy UGVs

  RoBattle

  The RoBattle, or LR3, is a six-wheeled military UGV developed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI).  Intended to assist troops engaged in mobile operations, it is a ...

• Medium Range Missile Defence Systems: 20-90km range, Self-propelled missile systems

  ABISR

  The ABISR is a medium-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) system developed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), introduced around 2017.  ABISR is a more compact and mobile counterpart ...

• Military - UUVs

  BlueWhale

  BlueWhale (ELI-3325) is an autonomous uncrewed underwater vessel (UUV) developed by Israel's Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). It is designed for Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW), Mine Countermeasures (MCM) and ...

• Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - small

  Sky Saker FX80

  The Sky Saker FX80 is a VTOL-capable fixed-wing drone from Norinco. Designed explicitly for artillery spotting operations, the drone was unveiled at the 14th Chinese ...

• Short Range Missile Defence Systems: 0 to 20 km range

  SPYDER-SR

  Rafael Advanced Defense Systems developed the SPYDER-SR (Short-Range) air defence system with support from Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) to provide rapid-response, all-weather protection against various ...

• Air: COMINT and ELINT systems

  ELI-3001 AISIS

  Israel Aerospace Industries’ (IAI) ELI-3001 Airborne Integrated Signals Intelligence System equips the Israeli Air Force’s (IAF) three Gulfstream G-550 Shavit SIGINT aircraft. IAI’s official literature ...