• Special Operations

  Gesture control on the horizon for USSOCOM

  31st October 2020

  Technology enables heads-up control of small UAVs

• Digital Battlespace

  MAPS Gen II hardens UGVs against jamming and spoofing

  13th October 2020

  UGVs and crewed vehicles require protection levels against evolving GPS threats

• Training

  UK looks for CH-47 cabin trainers

  15th October 2020

  The stated value for supplying three mock-up Chinooks seems low for the hardware and support required; and a stipulation that devices must fit inside an ISO container inflicts design limitations on potential providers

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  FLIR lifts lid on Black Hornet software upgrade and further NBCRV SSU development

  26th October 2020

  Software upgrade to Black Hornet returns the nano-UAV to the operator if data link connection is lost

• Training

  5GAT set to take to the skies

  21st October 2020

  ​Budgetary and COVID-19 issues have delayed the first flight, now scheduled for late October

• Training

  Czechs put to the SWORD

  23rd October 2020

  MASA is to supply AI-based SWORD software to the University of Defence, Czech Republic.

• Defence Notes

  3D photonic crystals could unlock wider potential of lasers

  13th October 2020

  Crystals reduce energy leaks from unwanted optical transitions, say US Army researchers

• Land Warfare

  DoD awards IM-SHORAD contract as US Army awaits next phase of Lethality Upgrade

  7th October 2020

  IM-SHORAD is needed now more than ever to combat near-peer adversary threats; meanwhile the US Army is looking for options on the Medium Caliber Weapon System

• Defence Notes

  UK armed forces fret as review looms closer

  14th October 2020

  Have difficult decisions on intractable problems been delayed too long, as the clock ticks down to publication of the integrated review of UK defence and security capabilities?

• Land Warfare

  Jet suit could have its uses for UK armed forces

  28th October 2020

  The British Army has conducted a test with a jet pack from Gravity Industries. The equipment provides precise human mobility over short distances and can be used in SAR and military missions.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  AeroVironment in line to provide Wasp for Bangladesh

  14th October 2020

  Bangladesh would be the first Southeast Asian nation to operate the mini-UAV

• Defence Helicopter

  South Korea retires Huey and ponders Black Hawk replacement

  13th October 2020

  Is the KUH-1 Surion a suitable replacement for South Korea's Black Hawks?

• Defence Notes

  R&D plan recognises need for UK to win race for technological advantage

  20th October 2020

  ​Science and Technology Strategy for R&D ‘will lay the groundwork for decades to come’, claims UK government

• Military Logistics

  Luxembourg becomes seventh A400M operator

  8th October 2020

  The Luxembourg Army Air Force has received its Airbus A400M military transport aircraft, manufacturer Airbus Defence and Space announced on 7 October. The aircraft was …

• Land Warfare

  RBSL to upgrade and sustain UK Fuchs fleet

  7th October 2020

  The importance of counter-CBRN capabilities for the UK has been underlined by the conflict in Syria and Salisbury nerve agent incident in 2018

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Fighter - multirole

  J-10 [China]

  Programme Background The aircraft performed its maiden flight in 1998 and entered service with the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) in 2004. According to ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | Future Naval Fighter China

  China is planning to deploy stealth naval fighter aircraft with vertical take-off landing capabilities to operate from Peoples Liberation Army Navy (PLAN)'s future Type 075A class ...

• Data links

  Data links | Future Naval Fighter China

  China is planning to deploy stealth naval fighter aircraft with vertical take-off landing capabilities to operate from Peoples Liberation Army Navy (PLAN)'s future Type 075A class ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  Air: Helmet-mounted displays | Future Naval Fighter China

  China is planning to deploy stealth naval fighter aircraft with vertical take-off landing capabilities to operate from Peoples Liberation Army Navy (PLAN)'s future Type 075A class ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | Future Naval Fighter China

  China is planning to deploy stealth naval fighter aircraft with vertical take-off landing capabilities to operate from Peoples Liberation Army Navy (PLAN)'s future Type 075A class ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | Future Naval Fighter China

  China is planning to deploy stealth naval fighter aircraft with vertical take-off landing capabilities to operate from Peoples Liberation Army Navy (PLAN)'s future Type 075A class ...

• Corvettes

  Jiangdao Class (Type 056)

  Programme Background The Type 056 corvette is referred to by the Chinese as the new-generation light guided-missile frigates. They have been built for the People's Liberation ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | S26T (2-3) [Thailand]

  The Royal Thai Navy were in the process of acquiring up to three new submarines derived from the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) Yuan-class (Type ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | S26T (2-3) [Thailand]

  The Royal Thai Navy were in the process of acquiring up to three new submarines derived from the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) Yuan-class (Type ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

  Rapid Minelayers Procurement (1-4) [Taiwan]

  Development and Procurement Four new rapid minelayers are being built for the Taiwanese Navy in a bid to counter the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

  Rapid Minelayers Procurement (5-10) [Taiwan]

  Programme Background Requirements The revelation of a Chinese bridge-barge landing system for amphibious operations, designed for a Taiwan invasion, has underscored the need for Taipei ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Kalyani M4 (India)

  Programme Background In the wake of border clashes with the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) in 2020, the Indian Army has accelerated several of its ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  UH-60M Black Hawk [Taiwan]

  Programme Background The Black Hawks are intended to defend against potential threats from China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA), as they possess rapid response capability in ...

• Frigates

  Jiangkai II Class (Type 054A)

  Built by Hudong-Zhonghua shipyard and Huangpu shipyards the frigates were first seen being constructed from 2005. The class is referred to as the workhorses of China's ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  VP1/Type 89 (Nigeria)

  Programme Background The Nigerian Army has an ongoing need for new armoured vehicles to replace losses incurred in its conflict with extremist organisations operating within ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• AEW&C, Transport

  Y-8

  The Y-8 (Yunshuji-8) medium-sized transport and multirole aircraft was developed by Shaanxi Aircraft Corporation and is based on the Soviet Antonov An-12. More than 36 ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Type 19 8x8

  The Type 19 8x8 is a family of vehicles developed for use by the People's Liberation Army (PLA).

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  Z-8

  Developed by Changhe Aircraft Industry Group, the Z-8 (known also as Z-18) is a derivative of the AC313 civil helicopter, which is itself a copy of ...

• Submachine guns

  CS/LS2

  Norinco’s CS/LS2 is a 9mm bullpup SMG designed for use with a suppressor. It has been in service with the People's Liberation Army since about ...

• Fighter - multirole

  J-8

  The J-8 (NATO reporting name Finback) is a multirole fighter domestically developed by China. It has design similarities with Soviet MiG-21 and Su-15 aircraft.  The ...

• Air: COMINT and ELINT systems

  KZ-800

  China National Electronics Import and Export’s (CEIEC) KZ-800 is an airborne Electronic Intelligence (ELINT) gathering system believed to be in widespread use onboard People’s Liberation ...

• Armoured engineer vehicles

  Type GCZ110

  Norinco announced in 2014 that it had completed development of the Type GCZ110 armoured engineer vehicle based on a modified Type 79 tank chassis equipped ...

• Main battle tanks

  VT2

  The 125mm-armed VT2 tracked MBT, which was unveiled at DSA 2012, is the export version of the People's Liberation Army Type 96A. As of early ...

• Fighter - ground attack

  J-16

  The J-16 is a multirole fighter developed by China. It is based on the J-11 air superiority fighter, itself a licence-built version of the Russian ...

• EO/IR systems

  Loong Eye LE380

  The Loong Eye (Dragon's Eye) LE380 is a two-axis stabilised gimbal incorporating EO/IR sensors, laser designators, and laser rangefinders. Originally developed by the Luoyang Opto-Electro ...

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

  Sky Saker FX400A

  The Sky Saker FX400A is a fixed-wing drone manufactured by Norinco. Capable of hosting both ISR and attack payloads, such as the Blue Arrow 7 ...

• Air-to-air missiles, Surface-to-air missiles

  TY-90

  TY-90 is a multi-purpose, short-range, IR-guided, tactical surface-to-air missile developed by China to defend against helicopters, fixed-wing aircraft and cruise missiles at low and super-low ...

• Medium/general-purpose machine guns

  Type 80

  The Type 80 is a general-purpose machine gun (GPMG) manufactured by Norinco in China, based on the Soviet PKM. Certified in 1980, it entered PLA ...

• Air-launched ASW torpedoes, Ship-launched torpedoes

  Yu-11 lightweight torpedo

  Yu-11 is a Chinese-made surface and air-launched lightweight torpedo to repel submarine threats from long distances.

• Light tanks

  Type 62

  The Type 62 light tank entered production for the Chinese People's Liberation Army in 1963. Essentially a smaller, lighter clone of the Type 59 MBT, it is ...