• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Northrop Grumman's Hunter Reaches 75,000 Flight Hours Operational Milestone

  15th May 2009

  Northrop Grumman Corporation's Hunter Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS), in use with the US Army since 1996, recently surpassed 75,000 flight hours in service, 50,000 of …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  New UAS SIGINT Training & Simulation System Unveiled in the UK by Abacus EW and Simlat

  13th May 2009

  Simlat Ltd. and Abacus EW Consultancy Ltd. announce collaboration on providing a comprehensive training solution for the rapidly growing UAV SIGINT operator market. Abacus's training …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Northrop looks to post FCS Fire Scout future

  13th May 2009

  Northrop Grumman has revealed to Unmanned Vehicles plans to manufacture a second 'white tail' company-owned Fire Scout UAV to support company marketing activities both in …

• Defence Helicopter

  Bental's MicroBAT a Success in Demonstration by OtoMelara to Italian MOD and Military Senior Staff

  12th May 2009

  Bental Industries posts another accomplishment for its venerable MicroBAT with OtoMelara's successful multi platform MicroBAT demonstration to Italian senior MOD staff including Chief of Staff …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  French army tests new Sagem tactical terminal for direct reception of images from UAV systems

  11th May 2009

  The French army’s 61st Artillery Regiment recently field tested the new ERS-RVT terminal designed by Sagem, a SAFRAN Group company, for tactical data exchange and …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Quad-A 2009: US developing SUAV chemical / biological sensor payloads

  7th May 2009

  Under the auspices of the US Army Research, Development and Engineering Command (RDECOM) Small UAV Laboratory (SUAV Lab), government researchers are developing new chemical and …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Learning to fly the Heron

  7th May 2009

  The chance to fly a CU-170 Heron unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in Afghanistan was what prompted Captain Ken Jones, a pilot and Reservist with 408 …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Mantis maiden flight this month

  7th May 2009

  BAE Systems is to fly its Mantis UAV later this month. The news was revealed by MD of Military Air Solutions at BAE Systems, Kevin …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Quad-A 2009 - Conceptual medical UAS pod begins flight testing

  6th May 2009

  US Army Research Development and Engineering Command (RDECOM) developers have conducted flight testing on “Quick Meds,” a precision UAS medical delivery system designed for use …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Fire Scout completes second test period onboard USS McInerney

  5th May 2009

  A Northrop Grumman Corporation-developed MQ-8B Fire Scout Vertical Takeoff and Landing Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (VTUAV) successfully completed fully autonomous flight operations onboard the USS …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Armed Scout Helicopter points to unmanned vehicle expansion

  5th May 2009

  The Armed Scout Helicopter (ASH) program concept is emerging in the wake of last fall’s termination of the Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter (ARH) contract. Although the …

• Defence Helicopter

  Australian Seahawk replacement now urgent says new defence white paper

  2nd May 2009

  Australia's planned acquisition of a replacement fleet of maritime combat helicopters will be baselined on 24 new aircraft with acquisition to occur as a "matter …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  RAN embarked UAS plans shift to future frigate and OPV

  2nd May 2009

  The Royal Australian Navy will continue to explore potential acquisition of embarked maritime unmanned air systems but as part of a proposed new flotilla of …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Goodrich acquires Cloud Cap Technology

  1st May 2009

  The Goodrich Corporation  has completed the acquisition of Cloud Cap Technology, Inc. CCT will become part of Goodrich's ISR Systems business unit.  Cloud Cap will …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Thales in-theatre ISTAR contract extended

  27th April 2009

  The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has extended Thales UK's H-450 unmanned air system (UAS) contract that provides vital intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - small

  AR3 (Ukraine Aid) [UK]

  Background £270 Million investment On 15 September 2025, the UK MoD noted that, since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the UK ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - small

  Intra-Theatre Lift [UK]

  Programme Background  Relationship to the Heavy Lift Challange The Royal Navy (RN) embarked on the Heavy Lift Challenge, now called the Heavy Lift Capability (UASHLC), to explore ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - small

  StormShroud: Autonomous Collaboration Platform (ACP) [UK]

  Background Autonomous Collaboration Platform (ACP) Strategy Reflecting on lessons learned from the cancellation of the Mosquito programme, the Royal Air Force (RAF) redefined the role ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing

  Autonomous Collaboration Platform (ACP) (Project Vanquish) [UK]

  Background Autonomous Collaboration Platform (ACP) Strategy Reflecting on lessons learned from the cancellation of the Mosquito programme, the Royal Air Force (RAF) redefined the role ...

• Military UAS - mini

  Mini UAV (Bulgaria)

  Programme Background The Bulgarian Army wants to procure UAVs to enhance the organic tactical ISR capabilities of its ground forces. According to Bulgarian media, a ...

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

  Mini UAV - Land Exploration and Reconnaissance Vehicle (VERT) [Spain]

  Background VERT In June 2025, the Spanish Government announced a €72 million (US$82.5 million) investment in the Vehículo de exploración y reconocimiento terrestre (VERT), which translates ...

• Military UAS - micro, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Micro UAV - Land Exploration and Reconnaissance Vehicle (VERT) [Spain]

  Background VERT In June 2025, the Spanish Government announced a €72 million (US$82.5 million) investment in the Vehículo de exploración y reconocimiento terrestre (VERT), which translates to the land exploration ...

• UAS: communication systems

  UAS: communication systems | Small UAV [Belgium]

  According to reports, the Belgian Land Force is set to launch various procurement programmes to expand and diversify its UAV fleet. One of these is ...

• UAS: flight control systems

  UAS: flight control systems | Small UAV [Belgium]

  According to reports, the Belgian Land Force is set to launch various procurement programmes to expand and diversify its UAV fleet. One of these is ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  Mi2 Challenge [USN]

  Programme Background Requirements The USN wants a UAV to be flown in austere environments without dedicated launch or recovery equipment; since it would be launched ...

• Military UAS - small

  Small UAV (Bulgaria)

  Programme Background The Bulgarian Army wants to procure UAVs to enhance the organic tactical ISR capabilities of its ground forces. According to Bulgarian media, a ...

• Military UAS - micro, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Parrot Anafi (Singapore)

  Programme Background On 7 February 2022, the Singapore Army posted photographs on Facebook that showed the Anafi UAV used as training devices in a five-day ...

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

  Thor [Israel]

  Background Various Contracts On 3 December 2024, the Israeli Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced it had purchased “advanced drones and autonomous systems” from Elbit Systems in various ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing

  Fixed-Wing VTOL UAV (Malaysia)

  Programme Background Tender Issued As reported by Shephard, on 18 June 2021, Malaysia issued a tender for fixed-wing hybrid VTOL UAVs.  Requirement The tender stated that Malaysia required ...

• Military UAS - small

  Penguin C (Latvia)

  Programme Background In 2018, the Latvian MoD signed an agreement with Latvian companies UAV Factory and Atlas Aerospace to procure UAVs for the LNAF. Under ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  AR5

  First announced in October 2012, the AR5 is a MALE UAS designed for SAR, surveillance and maritime patrol missions. The AR5 can be flown manually or commanded ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - small

  AR3 EVO

  Unveiled at DSEI 2025, the AR3 EVO is a small fixed-wing UAV from Tekever. The system is highly modular and can be configured in a ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - small

  AR3

  The AR3, or AR3 Net Ray, is an autonomous small-UAS designed to support land-based and maritime missions.  In May 2025, the Royal Air Force announced ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  ARX

  Unveiled at Xponential 2024, the ARX is a fixed-wing drone developed by Tekever.  It features common electronics and software with other Tekever drones. Unlike those ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - small

  AR2 Carcará

  The AR2 Carcará is a hand- or catapult-launched mini-UAV designed to support search and rescue, surveillance and patrol operations in amphibious and maritime environments. It is ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - mini

  AR4

  The AR4 is a hand-launched mini-UAS designed for rapid mobile deployment. Manufactured by Tekever, the UAS is suitable for both military and commercial ISTAR applications.  A ...

• EO/IR systems

  PT-8N

  The PT-8D is an IR system from Overwatch Imaging. It is fitted with multiple HD thermal cameras and has been designed to conduct missions at dusk ...

• EO/IR systems

  PT-8D

  Marketed as a cost-effective solution, the PT-8D is a wide-area search and ISR payload from Overwatch Imaging. It features an RGB colour camera and a ...

• EO/IR systems

  PT-8DN

  The PT-8DN is a versatile day-night payload from Overwatch Imaging.  It has dual RGB sensors of different focal lengths and an HD LWIR sensor. It also ...

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

  VTOL UAV

  The Defence Technology Institute launched the VTOL UAV R&D; project in cooperation with the Naval Research and Development Office, Royal Thai Navy and private sector ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  MCOM UAV

  The Mundo Compuesto (MCOM) UAV is a fixed-wing UAV designed to provide surveillance during both day and night for military and security force users. It uses ...

• Universal UAV

  Universal UAV is designed for multiple missions in the field of surveillance and reconnaissance, monitoring forest fires or fisheries. It consists of a carbon-fibre composite ...

• UAS: Integrated systems - uncrewed

  UAV TRS

  Celestia’s UAV Tactical Recovery System (TRS) assures controlled and safe landing of a UAV at a pre-designated GPS location. It can be deployed on command ...

• Air: UAV simulators

  UAV Simulators

  Elbit Systems has developed simulation systems to train personnel in UAV operation, from generic UAV training for initial screening procedures up to full mission, high-fidelity ...

• Air: UAV simulators

  UAV Training

  Resource UAS offers a range of UAV training, from foundation courses to live flying on a range of aircraft. Each can be tailored to suit ...