• Special Operations

  GA-EMS to provide LiFT batteries for USSOCOM

  26th October 2018

  General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) has received a contract from the US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) to develop and deliver a prototype Lithium-ion Fault Tolerant …

• Defence Notes

  Zhuhai Air Show 2018: Poly recycles PLA equipment for export

  9th November 2018

  The amorphous Chinese entity known as Poly Technologies highlighted its status as authorised reseller of decommissioned People’s Liberation Army (PLA) equipment at Zhuhai Air Show …

• Defence Helicopter

  Zhuhai Air Show 2018: Z-10ME attack helicopter breaks cover

  7th November 2018

  The Aviation Corporation of China (AVIC) displayed a Z-10ME attack helicopter at Zhuhai Air Show 2018, this being an export version of the Z-10 attack …

• Land Warfare

  Indo Defence 2018: Malaysia tests Starstreak missiles

  31st October 2018

  Malaysia conducted a firing of its Thales Starstreak Next Generation (NG) surface-to-air missiles on 25 October at the Tanjung Logok Ground-to-Air Firing Range in Johor, …

• Land Warfare

  France clears MMP missile for desert operations

  22nd October 2018

  The French Army has carried out operational evaluation of the MMP land combat missile system in Djibouti, to assess the weapon’s suitability for use in …

• Defence Notes

  Swiss backtrack on weapon sales to conflict states

  31st October 2018

  The Swiss government has reversed a decision to loosen restrictions on weapons exports to countries wracked by internal conflict, following outcry over the planned move. …

• Land Warfare

  Indo Defence 2018: Indonesian FNSS tank prepared for production

  31st October 2018

  Turkish company FNSS will display its medium tank at Indo Defence 2018 as the company announced the vehicle is now ready for serial production. FNSS …

• Land Warfare

  Taiwan readies for IFV production

  30th October 2018

  Taiwan is ready to commence series production of an IFV variant of its indigenous Cloud Leopard 8x8 armoured vehicle for the Republic of China Army …

• Naval Warfare

  Euronaval 2018: Leonardo continues progress with weapon systems

  23rd October 2018

  Italy’s Leonardo presented numerous weapon system updates at this year’s Euronaval including on its Black Scorpion lightweight torpedo which is set for helicopter qualification in …

• Digital Battlespace

  Euronaval 2018: Thales introduces new naval radar

  23rd October 2018

  Thales has launched a new multi-mission 4D AESA radar for small naval platforms at Euronaval 2018 in Paris. The new NS50 will complement the NS100 …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Alion to support US Navy UUVs

  23rd October 2018

  Alion Science and Technology will support the US Navy’s Unmanned Undersea Vehicle (UUV) Family of Systems (FoS) under a new contract announced on 17 October. …

• Defence Notes

  US withdrawal from INF upsets China

  30th October 2018

  Since the 1988 signing of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF) between the Soviet Union and US, the Cold War agreement abolished all nuclear and conventional …

• Digital Battlespace

  Controp releases iSea-25HD for maritime missions

  23rd October 2018

  Controp Precision Technologies has introduced the iSea-25HD surveillance system for maritime missions, the company announced on 17 October. The new system has been specially designed …

• Defence Helicopter

  Brazilian Army scouting for Fennec and Panther weapons

  1st November 2018

  The Brazilian Army Aviation is at the selection phase of suppliers to modernise its fleet of AS550 A2 Fennec and AS365 K2 Panther with a …

• Military Logistics

  US unveils steps to shore up defence industrial base

  7th October 2018

  The Trump administration is pumping millions of dollars into the US defence industrial base to address some of the nearly 300 ‘gaps and vulnerabilities’ identified …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• OPVs

  Continental Defence Corvette [Canada]

  Programme Background Requirements Under the second pillar of its shipbuilding strategy, Canada is seeking to procure an undisclosed number of small vessels (below 1000t). Part ...

• Main battle tanks

  NGCV: DLP

  Programme Background Requirement The DLP is one of five vehicle families being developed for the US Army's NGCV programme. Expanded to include five programmes in ...

• Destroyers

  Next-Generation Large Surface Combatants (LSC) - DDG(X) [USN]

  Programme Background Requirements The US Navy (USN) is acknowledging a need to move away from the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer design, which is slowly outgrowing. Flight III ...

• Destroyers

  Type 83 Future Air Defence System (FADS) [UK]

  Programme Background Requirements The Daring-class (Type 45) consists of six ships, although the original plan was to have 12 destroyers. This was cut to eight in ...

• Landing platform docks/dock landing ships

  Multi-Role Strike Ship (MRSS) Programme [UK]

  Programme Background Requirements According to the UK MoD's March 2021 Defence Command Paper, entitled 'Defence in a Competitive Age', the RN will invest in six ...

• Frigates

  European Combat Vessel [Spain]

  Programme Background Requirements The European Combat Vessel (ECV) is currently a conceptual project that seeks to design a European collaborative multi-mission, modular warship. As of ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | Combat Fighter Jet [Ireland]

  In February 2025, Simon Harris, the Irish Minister for Defence and Tánaiste, emphasised the importance of acquiring a new combat fighter jet to address aerial ...

• Data links

  Data links | Combat Fighter Jet [Ireland]

  In February 2025, Simon Harris, the Irish Minister for Defence and Tánaiste, emphasised the importance of acquiring a new combat fighter jet to address aerial ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  Air: Helmet-mounted displays | Combat Fighter Jet [Ireland]

  In February 2025, Simon Harris, the Irish Minister for Defence and Tánaiste, emphasised the importance of acquiring a new combat fighter jet to address aerial ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | Combat Fighter Jet [Ireland]

  In February 2025, Simon Harris, the Irish Minister for Defence and Tánaiste, emphasised the importance of acquiring a new combat fighter jet to address aerial ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | Combat Fighter Jet [Ireland]

  In February 2025, Simon Harris, the Irish Minister for Defence and Tánaiste, emphasised the importance of acquiring a new combat fighter jet to address aerial ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  A400M [Germany]

  Programme Background Germany originally said it would but 60 A400Ms, but when the program was re-baselined in 2010 reduced its planed off take to 53, ...

• Destroyers

  Sejong the Great Class (KDX-III) Batch 2 (1-3) [South Korea]

  Programme Background Requirements The Sejong the Great class (KDX-III) Batch 2 will consist of three improved Sejong the Great-class (KDX-III) batch 1 guided-missile destroyers, which ...

• Landing platform docks/dock landing ships

  Landing Platform Docks [India]

  Programme Background Requirements The LPD tender, although more akin to an LHD, specifies that the quartet of ships must be built within India, although collaboration ...

• Medium UGVs

  Mission Master (RPV Sprial 2) [UK]

  Programme Background First announced in April 2017 and referred to in early MOD documents as the ‘last mile resupply’ initiative, the British Army is reportedly ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Laser-directed energy weapons

  Fractl:2

  Fractl:2, developed and manufactured by AIM Defence, is an Australian laser directed energy weapon (LDEW). The high-powered portable system is Australia's first acquisition of a directed ...

• Laser-directed energy weapons

  Apollo

  Apollo is a High-Energy Laser Weapon System manufactured by Electro Optic Systems (EOS). Apollo's laser utilises directed energy to disable or destroy aerial targets without ...

• Laser-directed energy weapons

  DIAL

  The Laser Weapon Instrumental Demonstrator (DIAL), in joint development with Indra and Escribano Mechanical Engineering, is a Spanish laser directed energy weapon (LDEW). The system ...

• Laser-directed energy weapons

  Minotaur

  Minotaur, developed by Soukos Robots, is a Greek laser directed energy weapon (LDEW). Minotaur is an anti-drone platform with the ability to shoot down unmanned ...

• Laser-directed energy weapons

  Italian LDEW (Leonardo/MBDA)

  As announced in December 2024, Leonardo and MBDA are collaborating to produce a Fire Unit Laser Directed Energy Weapon (LDEW) for the Italian Navy. The ...

• Laser-directed energy weapons, Self-propelled guns, Self-propelled missile systems

  SkyRanger 30

  SkyRanger 30 is a mobile ground-based air defence (GBAD) laser directed energy weapon (LDEW) system designed by Rheinmetall. The system comprises automatic cannons, guided missiles, and a ...

• Laser-directed energy weapons

  CROSSBOW MINI

  CROSSBOW MINI, developed by IPG Photonics, is a laser-directed energy weapon (LDEW). The LDEW has multiple deployable configurations and is a part of the manufacturers ...

• Laser-directed energy weapons

  Archimedes

  Archimedes, developed by Aurelius Systems, is a laser-directed energy weapon designed to stop drones at scale. The system is still in development, though Aurelius received ...

• Laser-directed energy weapons

  ALKA-KAPLAN

  ALKA-KAPLAN is a collaborative effort between Turkish manufacturers ROKETSAN and FNSS. The system is a mobile armoured anti-drone system, which integrates the ALKA directed energy-weapon ...

• Laser-directed energy weapons

  German LDEW (Rheinmetall/MBDA)

  Rheinmetall and MBDA Germany's collaborative work on laser-directed energy weapon (LDEW) technology has resulted in a German laser weapon system that is close to being ...

• Laser-directed energy weapons

  Guorong-1 Anti Drone System

  Guorong-1 is an anti-drone system developed by China. The system is jointly developed by the Chinese Electronics Technology Group (CETG), Guorong Technology, and the Chinese public ...

• Counter-UAS systems

  DroneDefender

  DroneDefender is a directed-energy UAS countermeasure that disrupts the adversary's control of the aircraft, neutralising it so that no remote action (including detonation) can occur, ...

• Destroyers

  Flight III Destroyer

  During Indo Pacific 2023, Navantia Australia unveiled a 10200t destroyer design. Dubbed as Flight III Destroyer, the Spanish shipbuilder is pitching the ship for the ...

• Counter-UAS systems

  MEHEL 2.0

  The Mobile Expeditionary High-Energy Laser (MEHEL) is a C-UAS-capable vehicle that employs directed energy to neutralise targets. MEHEL 2.0 was first seen at AUSA 2016, ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  Kaplan Hybrid Carrier Platform

  Unveiled at IDEF 2025, the Kaplan Hybrid Carrier Platform (HCP) is a tracked vehicle with a hybrid propulsion system manufactured by FNSS. It is designed ...