• Defence Helicopter

  US approves $203 million sale of Hellfire missiles for French Tiger helicopters

  10th July 2023

  The US State Department has approved the sale of AGM-114R2 Hellfire missiles to France for use on Tiger HAD attack helicopters.

• Naval Warfare

  BAE Systems to design next-gen SeaSparrow missile launch system

  7th July 2023

  BAE Systems has been awarded a $37 million contract to develop the Next Generation Evolved SeaSparrow Missile Launch System (NGELS), providing the USN and allied countries with an enhanced ship self-defence capability.

• Training

  IT2EC 2023: Training for multi-domain ops needs a fresh approach to succeed

  25th April 2023

  The complexity of multi-domain operations (MDO) requires a new approach as commanders will no longer be able to rely on their past experience and will need new decision support tools, according to the head of NATO's C2 centre of excellence.

• Training

  India trains fighter pilots in buddy-buddy refuelling as aerial tanker shortage hits home

  2nd May 2023

  Poor serviceability rates of India's Ilyushin Il-78 tanker aircraft mean fighter pilots are training using buddy-buddy refuelling between fast jets.

• Training

  Northrop Grumman fields Polish battle command system trainer

  28th June 2023

  Northrop Grumman has delivered an Integrated Battle Command System (IBCS) trainer for Poland two years ahead of schedule.

• Air Warfare

  Quantum Systems, Airbus, and Spleenlab team up to research artificial intelligence from drone swarms

  3rd July 2023

  The German Armed Forces Planning Office has awarded Airbus Defence and Space, Quantum-Systems and Spleenlab a research contract to demonstrate and analyse the AI building blocks required for swarms of tactical UAS.

• Land Warfare

  Lockheed Martin unveils plans to develop new class of 500kW laser weapon

  31st July 2023

  Lockheed Martin will scale its technology to a 500kW-class laser under a new contract, aiming to optimize efficiency and size while increasing power for high-powered directed energy weapon systems.

• Air Warfare

  BAE Systems future-proofs Typhoon with 'Tranche 5' upgrades and GCAP synergies

  7th July 2023

  BAE Systems is working to enhance the Eurofighter Typhoon multirole fighter with advanced chip technology, delivering significant computational power and improved cyber-resilience for future air combat capabilities.

• Special Operations

  UPDATED: Romania orders Polaris DAGOR special operations vehicles

  12th July 2023

  Polaris has been awarded a contract to provide 50 of its DAGOR ultralight tactical vehicles to Romania, joining other NATO countries such as Canada, the UK and US as operators.

• Land Warfare

  New Zealand receives first Bushmaster protected vehicles

  28th May 2023

  New Zealand has 43 Bushmaster vehicles from Australia on order, comprised of five different variants.

• Naval Warfare

  New Turkish naval mines will be able to distinguish between friend and foe

  9th August 2023

  The Malaman smart bottom mine and Uça guided smart bomb will use acoustic, magnetic and pressure sensors to detect and classify targets.

• Land Warfare

  Igla-S MANPADS enters Thai naval service

  5th April 2023

  The Royal Thai Navy has enhanced air defence coverage with mobile Igla-S MANPADS purchased from Russia.

• Air Warfare

  Paris Air Show: Ukraine to benefit from billion-dollar AMRAAM deal

  22nd June 2023

  Ukraine will benefit from a new $1.15 billion AMRAAM contract awarded to RTX – the company formerly known as Raytheon - by the US Air Force.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  ESEN Gördes demonstrates S-100 UAS navigation system

  25th July 2023

  The ESEN GöRDES vision based navigation system was successfully demonstrated on the Schiebel Camcopter S-100 UAS, showcasing its capability to operate in GPS-denied environments and offering a jam and spoofing resilient platform.

• Naval Warfare

  UK, Italy and France embark on destroyer upgrade programmes

  28th June 2023

  At the Paris Air Show, France and Italy signed an MoU for the mid-life upgrade of their Horizon-class destroyers. The upgrades will focus on anti-air defences, including radar, weapons and combat systems, while the UK's Daring-class destroyers will receive air defence capability enhancements.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | Additional FLIT-LCA [Malaysia]

  The Royal Malaysian Air Force is planning to acquire Fighter Lead-In Training - Light Combat Aircraft (FLIT-LCA). This will provide an interim solution for the ...

• Data links

  Data links | Additional FLIT-LCA [Malaysia]

  The Royal Malaysian Air Force is planning to acquire Fighter Lead-In Training - Light Combat Aircraft (FLIT-LCA). This will provide an interim solution for the ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  Air: Helmet-mounted displays | Additional FLIT-LCA [Malaysia]

  The Royal Malaysian Air Force is planning to acquire Fighter Lead-In Training - Light Combat Aircraft (FLIT-LCA). This will provide an interim solution for the ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | Additional FLIT-LCA [Malaysia]

  The Royal Malaysian Air Force is planning to acquire Fighter Lead-In Training - Light Combat Aircraft (FLIT-LCA). This will provide an interim solution for the ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | Additional FLIT-LCA [Malaysia]

  The Royal Malaysian Air Force is planning to acquire Fighter Lead-In Training - Light Combat Aircraft (FLIT-LCA). This will provide an interim solution for the ...

• Maritime patrol

  Maritime Patrol Aircraft [Malaysia]

  Programme Background In June 2019, The Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) has confirmed to Shephard that the government has given approval for the service to prepare ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | Multi-Role Combat Aircraft [Malaysia]

  Malaysia’s Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MRCA) programme is part of a broader effort to modernise the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) under the Capability Development Plan ...

• Data links

  Data links | Multi-Role Combat Aircraft [Malaysia]

  Malaysia’s Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MRCA) programme is part of a broader effort to modernise the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) under the Capability Development Plan ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  Air: Helmet-mounted displays | Multi-Role Combat Aircraft [Malaysia]

  Malaysia’s Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MRCA) programme is part of a broader effort to modernise the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) under the Capability Development Plan ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | Multi-Role Combat Aircraft [Malaysia]

  Malaysia’s Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MRCA) programme is part of a broader effort to modernise the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) under the Capability Development Plan ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | Multi-Role Combat Aircraft [Malaysia]

  Malaysia’s Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MRCA) programme is part of a broader effort to modernise the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) under the Capability Development Plan ...

• Landing platform docks/dock landing ships

  Multi-Role Support Ship (MRSS) (3) [Malaysia]

  Programme Background Requirements The Royal Malaysian Navy are in the process of a fleet transformation plan known as the 15 to 5 Transformation Plan, which ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  Additional FLIT-LCA [Malaysia]

  Programme Background Malaysia released a RfI in early January 2019 seeking light combat aircraft capable of some air-to-air and full air-to-ground missions. The requirement is ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Multi-Role Combat Aircraft [Malaysia]

  Programme Background Requirement Malaysia has long had a requirement known as the Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MRCA) designed to replace the MiG-29 fleet. The MRCA programme ...

• Corvettes

  New Generation Patrol Vessels Batch III (13-18) [Malaysia]

  Programme Background Requirements Malaysia unveiled a plan in 2015 to restructure and recapitalise its navy. The plan is called the 15 to 5 Plan and ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Light attack

  Hawk 200

  The Hawk 200 is a single-seat light attack iteration of the Hawk 100 (see separate entry) and Advanced Jet Trainer or AJT (see separate entry). ...

• Subsystems: software

  SimuSphere HD-9

  SimuSphere HD-9 is an HD visual display solution that can be upgraded to trainers currently integrated with SimuSphere systems or as an option for a ...

• Air: COMINT and ELINT systems

  ESP

  The Electronic Surveillance Payload (ESP) is a lightweight system providing capabilities for Electronic Support Measures(ESM)/ELINT operations. It is designed to operate as a standalone ESM ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  SISTELA

  Developed by the Naval Group's Malaysian division, the SISTELA Combat Management System supports diverse naval missions such as surface warfare and air defence. Developed for the ...

• Air-launched ASW torpedoes, Ship-launched torpedoes

  Sting Ray

  The Sting Ray Mod 1 is an air- and surface-launched, lightweight ASW torpedo. It can be deployed from frigates, helicopters and maritime patrol aircraft against ...

• Air: air combat simulators

  Royal Malaysian Air Force F/A-18D TOFT

  In 2014, L3 Link (now L3Harris Technologies) delivered an F/A-18D Tactical Operations Flight Trainer (TOFT) to the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF). The TOFT consists ...

• OPVs

  New Generation Patrol Vessel

  LUNAS unveiled the New Generation Patrol Vessel (NGPV) at DSA 2018. The NGPV is intended for the Royal Malaysian Navy's (RMN) New Generation Patrol Vessels ...

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

  Tactical UAV

  Unveiled at DSA 2022, the Deftech Tactical UAV is an indigenously developed platform based on the Aldura Mk1. The platform is aimed at the Royal Malaysian ...

• EO/IR systems

  Damocles

  The Damocles is a third-generation targeting pod developed by Thales Group, designed for advanced reconnaissance and laser designation. It is modular, features an eye-safe laser, ...

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

  M Solar-X

  First revealed in August 2020, in February 2024, at its symposium, the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) showcased the M Solar-X. This solar-powered fixed-wing drone was ...

• Corvettes

  Laksamana Class

  The Royal Malaysian Navy's Laksamana-class corvettes originated under an order placed with Fincantieri by the Iraqi government, but this was cancelled in the 1980s after ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - HALE

  Anka-3

  The Anka-3 MIUS, or Anka-III, is a developmental low-observable flying wing UCAV from Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI).  The UCAV has been designed to work alongside Turkey's ...

• Air: transport/tanker simulators

  A330 MRTT Training Devices

  Under subcontract to Airbus Defence and Space, CAE has provided A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) training devices to the UAE Air Force and Royal Saudi ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  SETIS

  SETIS is Naval Group's integrated combat system designed initially for French Navy's FREMM-frigates. It is currently being used on Naval Group's Gowind-class corvettes. SETIS is ...

• Air: Electronic Attack - Jamming

  J/ALQ-8

  Like Israel, Japan elected to outfit its McDonnell Douglas/Boeing F-15J/DJ combat aircraft with an indigenous self-protection system. This takes the form of Mitsubishi Electric’s J/ALQ-8 ...