• Uncrewed Vehicles

  AUVSI 2017: The week ahead (video)

  7th May 2017

  As the start of the AUVSI Xponential exhibition and conference in Dallas nears Beth Maundrill and Richard Thomas discuss key themes in the industry and …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  AUVSI 2017: Behind the scenes (video)

  7th May 2017

  Richard Thomas, Shephard's editor of Unmanned Vehicles magazine, gives an overview of some of the platforms and hot topics to expect at this year's AUVSI …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  AUVSI 2017: Valmie ventures into the unmanned

  6th May 2017

  US company Valmie Resources will be rolling out a new aircraft at AUVSI Xponential after conducting flight tests in Nevada at the beginning of May …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  AUVSI 2017: Textron dedicated to navy solutions

  5th May 2017

  Textron Systems Unmanned Systems will be showcasing its latest development of the Aerosonde UAV, the Aerosonde hybrid quad (HQ) SUAS variant, at AUVSI Xponential in …

• Defence Helicopter

  ​Ka-52K first phase of sea testing completed

  5th May 2017

  The shipborne Ka-52K has successfully completed the first phase of its naval testing programme. It involved the participation of two aircraft.The aircraft were then transferred …

• Naval Warfare

  Singapore commissions first LMV

  5th May 2017

  The Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) commissioned its first Independence-class Littoral Mission Vessel (LMV) on 5 May, with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong performing the …

• Defence Helicopter

  Curtiss-Wright Fortress for Canadian CH-146

  4th May 2017

  Curtiss-Wright will supply its cockpit voice and flight recorder technology for the upgrade of the Canadian armed forces' fleet of Bell CH-146 Griffon multi-role utility …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  AUVSI 2017: ArcticShark equipped with new engine

  4th May 2017

  UAV Turbines (UAVT) and Navmar Applied Sciences Corporation (NASC) will be showcasing the ArcticShark aircraft with a UAVT micro-turboprop propulsion system.ArcticShark will be displayed with …

• 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 …

• Military Logistics

  NATO requests C-17 logistics support

  4th May 2017

  The US State Department has made a determination approving a potential $300 million foreign military sale to the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) for …

• Military Logistics

  Updated ALIS for F-35 sites

  3rd May 2017

  Lockheed Martin has received approval to install the updated version of the F-35's Autonomic Logistics Information System (ALIS) software at US Air Force (USAF) and …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  AUVSI 2017: FAA evaluates UAS detection systems

  3rd May 2017

  The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and its partners are continuing to conduct detection research into UAS with a number of recent evaluations of detection systems …

• Training

  CAE aims for fixed wing training growth

  2nd May 2017

  Building on the success of its new Army fixed wing training program, CAE USA is looking for new opportunities and synergies at its facility in …

• Digital Battlespace

  German battle managers line up

  2nd May 2017

  The German Army's next-generation communications and battle management system (BMS) solutions must be capable of providing the armed forces with IP-based and continuous information, a …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  AUVSI 2017: Northwest UAV begins new engine development

  2nd May 2017

  The Northwest UAV (NWUAV) NW-44 Multi-Fuel Engine has reached a milestone of 1,000 combat flight hours on board small UAS.The NW-44 electronic fuel-injected engine is …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Transport

  Medium Transport Aircraft (DROP) [Poland​]

  Background Requirement Poland acquired the C-130E Hercules over a decade ago under the US FMS programme. Deliveries started in 2009 and ran through to summer ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  Armoured Infantry Combat Vehicle (VBC Fuz) [Brazil]

  Programme background Technical requirements The Brazilian Army released two documents outlining the technical and operational requirements for the VBC Fuz in early 2020. These outline ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  C-130H Replacement [Sweden]

  Programme Background Requirements Sweden has five C-130H aircraft (designated Tp-84) and one KC-130H. Two C-130Es bought in the 1960s have retired, but the six H ...

• Military UAS - mini

  RQ-11 Raven [Czech Republic]

  Methodology PGO and programme status The contract has been awarded and completed, giving a PGO of 100%. Units required The 2009 programme involved the procurement ...

• Loitering munitions

  Warmate [Ukraine]

  Programme Background Ukraine placed an order for an undisclosed number of Warmate systems in 2017. Shepherd believes units acquired in this order later were utilised ...

• Military UAS - small

  ScanEagle (11-20) [Czech Republic]

  Methodology PGO and programme status Since Defence Insight cannot find any evidence of a procurement, the effort has been marked as cancelled. Therefore, it has ...

• Minehunters

  Awaji Class (1-4) [Japan]

  Programme Background Two Awaji class mine countermeasures vessels (MCMV) were ordered from the Japanese shipyard Japan Marine United (JMU) for the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) initially. ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Ejder Yalçın (Batch 1) [Qatar]

  Background In the face of deteriorating relations with some of its neighbours in the Gulf, Qatar has forged closer defence ties with Turkey. This has ...

• OPVs

  Inlay Class (second OPV)

  Programme Background The Inlay class originally consists of a single OPV in service with the Myanmar Navy. However, a second Inlay-class OPV has been reported under construction since ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  Aerostar [Mexico]

  Methodology Unit cost Based on the UAV’s MTOW and the Defence Insight database, Shephard estimates the aircraft’s 2026 gross and flyaway unit costs are $1.95 million and $1.58 million, respectively. Based ...

• Military UAS - small

  HUSAR (2023 Order) [Germany]

  Programme Background First Order In 2015, the German Army launched the HUSAR programme to identify a replacement for its Airbus Defence & Space KZO and ...

• OPVs

  Cyprus Second Sa'ar 62 OPV

  Programme BackgroundThe Republic of Cyrus' Ministry of Defence placed an order with Israel Shipyards for its first Sa'ar 62  OPV in December 2015 in a project valued ...

• Patrol boats

  Rajshree Class (Flight II)

  Programme BackgroundThe Rajshree class is to consist of 13 FPVs built in two separate flights. Flight I saw construction begin in 2010 and all eight vessels ...

• Maritime patrol

  P-8A Poseidon [Germany]

  Background 2017 MPA programme (cancelled) In 2017, Germany and France announced that they would be developing a maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) to replace their current ...

• Landing platform docks/dock landing ships

  Makassar Class LPD (7)

  Indonesia signed a contract for $150 million for two LPDs in the Makassar class, KRI Makassar and KRI Surabaya, with South Korean shipbuilder Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Pistols

  Jericho Pistol 941

  Designed for military and law enforcement users, the Jericho Pistol 941 is available in 9mm, .40 S&W; and .45 ACP calibres and in standard, short ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Guará WS

  Avibras is marketing the 4x4 Guará WS light armoured vehicle, a further development of its 4x4 AV-VB4 RE Guará prototype. Developed in cooperation with the ...

• Land: manned turrets

  TORC30

  The TORC30 is a stabilised unmanned turret armed with a Rheinmetall MK30-2/ABM 30mm cannon being developed by Ares, an Elbit subsidiary, and the Brazilian Army’s ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  V-RAPTOR

  Unveiled at LAAD 2023 in Rio de Janeiro, the V-RAPTOR is a tactical police armoured vehicle from domestic manufacturer Combat Armor Defense do Brasil.

• Military UAS - mini

  Nauru 100D

  The Nauru 100D is a mini fixed-wing UAV from Xmobots. Unveiled at the 2025 LAAD Defence & Security tradeshow, the aircraft is VTOL-capable, developed for ISTAR, and ...

• Air: Displays

  Panoramic Cockpit Display

  Developed by L3Harris and Elbit Systems America, the Panoramic Cockpit Display (PCD) is a touchscreen MFD integrated into F-35 aircraft. It provides two electronically divided ...

• Anti-ship missiles

  MANSUP/MANSUP-ER

  MANSUP (Míssil Antinavio Nacional de Superfície) is a surface-to-surface anti-ship missile developed in Brazil. Its first test launch was conducted in 2018. MANSUP is going to ...

• Self-propelled rocket launchers

  Armadillo TA-2

  The Armadillo TA-2 is an automatic or manned rocket launcher system designed to be fully retracted inside a 4x4 light vehicle.The concept, which was being ...

• EW test systems, Air: chaff/flare/decoy systems

  CAST-easy

  RUAG unveiled the Countermeasure Advanced System Test Equipment (CAST-easy) in 2017 earmarking it for the Panavia Tornado series of combat aircraft. The 2017 announcement stated ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  KC-390/C-390 Millennium

  The KC-390 is a high-wing, twin-turbofan, T-tail design intended to meet the needs of the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) for a tanker/transport aircraft. Developed and ...

• CUAS - hybrid effector systems

  Drone Deterrence System

  First unveiled at the LIMA 2017 exhibition by Mitsubishi Electric, the Drone Deterrence System began to be developed in 2014 and made its first sale in ...

• Individual assault/anti-tank weapons

  Fletcher

  Arnold Defense, which has produced more than 1.1 million 2.75in/70mm rocket launchers for airborne applications since 1961, unveiled the Fletcher 2.75in/70mm Weapon System at the September ...

• Landing platform docks/dock landing ships

  Albion Class

  The two Albion-class Landing Platform Dock (LPD) ships, HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark, were built for the UK Royal Navy to replace the older 1960s vintage ...

• Uncrewed aerial systems engines

  FJ33-5A

  The FJ33-5A is a turbofan engine manufactured by Williams. The engine achieved EASA certification in April 2017, and is used onboard the XQ-58 Valkyrie UAV. 

• Minehunters

  Kormoran II Class

  Three Kormoran II-class minehunters were budgeted for the Polish Navy in 2011, and a contract was placed for a prototype in 2013, with the first ...