• Uncrewed Vehicles

  SOFEX 2018: Machine gun robot first public sighting

  10th May 2018

  The King Abdullah II Design and Development Bureau (KADDB) showcased the first prototype of its weaponised UGV at SOFEX 2018 in Amman. Under development for …

• Special Operations

  SOFEX 2018: Light all-terrain vehicles take the stage

  10th May 2018

  While the Jordanian armed forces already operate a fleet of MRZR 4s (pictured) light all-terrain vehicles, Polaris is keen to push its portfolio of other …

• Defence Helicopter

  Nigeria takes its second pair of Hinds

  11th May 2018

  The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has taken delivery of two more Russian Helicopters Mi-35 Hind newly-built, night-capable attack helicopters.The aircraft were airlifted to Makurda Air …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Hatchet hits target in unmanned testing

  1st May 2018

  Orbital ATK is on target to reach technology readiness level (TRL) 7 with its Hatchet munition by the end of 2018. Previously, Orbital ATK and its …

• Naval Warfare

  First China-made aircraft carrier starts sea trials

  13th May 2018

  China's first domestically manufactured aircraft carrier started sea trials on 13 May, state media said, a landmark in Beijing's plans to modernise its navy as …

• Special Operations

  International SOF Warrior Competition concludes

  9th May 2018

  Special operations units from around the world competed in the latest iteration of the annual Warrior Competition at the King Abdullah II Special Operations Training …

• Naval Warfare

  Indian Navy to purchase BAE Systems guns

  2nd May 2018

  India’s Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) has approved a programme to procure 127mm calibre guns for the Indian Navy, the Ministry of Defence announced on 27 …

• Special Operations

  Rangers to hone close combat skills

  8th May 2018

  The US Army’s 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment (1/75) wants enhanced training skills to increase their tactical efficiencies and combat lethality in extreme close quarters. A …

• Naval Warfare

  Insight: China breaks promises and militarises South China Sea reefs

  3rd May 2018

  News has emerged from a US television network, likely leaked by US intelligence sources, that China has installed two missile types onto three of its reclaimed …

• Special Operations

  SOFEX 2018: Oshkosh touts S-ATV to international market

  9th May 2018

  Having tested its Special Purpose All Terrain Vehicle (S-ATV) in an unnamed Middle Eastern country, Oshkosh is now showcasing the vehicle to the international market …

• Military Logistics

  Aviall joins AHRLAC team

  3rd May 2018

  Boeing subsidiary Aviall will lead the supply chain management for the production of the Advanced High-Performance Reconnaissance Light Aircraft (AHRLAC) developed by Paramount Group, the …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  SOFEX 2018: Jordanian CH-4 makes public debut

  8th May 2018

  The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) CH-4 MALE UAV in service with the Royal Jordanian Air Force (RJAF) has made its first public …

• Land Warfare

  Med-Eng’s EOD 10 bomb suit for USAF

  16th April 2018

  Med-Eng has received a five-year indefinite delivery indefinite quantity contract from the US Air Force (USAF) to provide its EOD 10 bomb suit for the …

• Naval Warfare

  HHI cuts steel on first Philippine frigate

  8th May 2018

  Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) hosted a ceremony on 1 May to mark the initial cutting of steel for the first of the Philippine Navy’s (PN) …

• Defence Notes

  Saudi Arabia hosts multi-nation military drills

  16th April 2018

  Saudi Arabia concluded a month-long military exercise involving more than 24 nations on 16 April, a day after hosting an Arab summit that slammed what …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  M1135 Stryker NBC Reconnaissance Vehicle

  Programme Background According to the DSCA's notification to Congress, the acquisition of 50 M1135 Strykers was intended to allow the Iraqi government to identify harmful ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  Ka-52M Alligator-Russia

  Programme Background The loss of 66 Ka-52s and 8 Mi-24s damaged and/or destroyed leaves the Russian Military with an acute need of replacements.  The Ka-52M will ...

• Military UAS - mini

  Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Sensor Integration on Robotic Platforms (CSIRP) [US Army]

  Background  Requirements The purpose of the CSIRP is to repackage and integrate modular CBRN sensors onto uncrewed systems to provide increased situational awareness on the ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  BMPT Terminator

  Despite having earlier rejected the BMPT vehicle, the Russian MoD tested BMPT prototypes in Syria, where the vehicles performed well in combat conditions. This culminated ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  MALE UAVs [Thailand]

  Background Roadmap In February 2024, the RTAF unveiled its White Paper 2024. Incorporating lessons from the Russo-Ukrainian War, the Israel-Hamas War, and other events such ...

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

  Micro/Nano Drone Swarms [Thailand]

  Programme Background Roadmap In February 2024, the RTAF unveiled its White Paper 2024. Incorporating lessons from the Russo-Ukrainian War, the Israel-Hamas War, and other events ...

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

  Tactical-Level Armed Drone [Thailand]

  Programme Background Roadmap In February 2024, the RTAF unveiled its White Paper 2024. Incorporating lessons from the Russo-Ukrainian War, the Israel-Hamas War, and other events ...

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

  M Solar-X [Thailand]

  Programme Background Roadmap In February 2024, the RTAF unveiled its White Paper 2024. Incorporating lessons from the Russo-Ukrainian War, the Israel-Hamas War, and other events ...

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

  High-Altitude Pseudo-Satellite (HAPS) [Thailand]

  Programme Background Roadmap In February 2024, the RTAF unveiled its White Paper 2024. Incorporating lessons from the Russo-Ukrainian War, the Israel-Hamas War, and other events ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing

  MUM-T Drone [Thailand]

  Programme Background Roadmap In February 2024, the RTAF unveiled its White Paper 2024. Incorporating lessons from the Russo-Ukrainian War, the Israel-Hamas War, and other events ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Atlet [Russia]

  Programme Background The Military Industrial Company (VPK) began development of the Atlet 4x4 armoured vehicle in 2017 to meet a requirement from the Russian Army ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Boxer (Heavy Weapons Infantry Carrier) [Germany]

  Programme Background Whilst Germany already has a number of Boxer APCs in service, the rationale behind the purchase of Australian Boxers was to replace its ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Patrul-A (Military Police)

  Programme Background The Russian Military Police is increasingly being called upon to carry out patrols and escort convoys in support of international peacekeeping missions. It ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  IAR-99 Replacement (Romania)

  On 29 August 2017, Leonardo announced that the IAR-99 trainer technology demonstrator (TD) will be fitted with company's Vixen 500E AESA radar. The Vixen 500E AESA ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Boxer (Heavy Weapons Infantry Carrier) [Germany]

  Programme Background The German Army is believed to require a total of 43 Boxer Heavy Weapons Infantry Carriers to equip its Division 2027. 36 of ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Land: infantry weapon simulators

  Less Than Lethal Weapon Simulators

  Meggitt produces wireless simulators for the X26 Taser and chemical spray less-lethal weapons. These accessories are supported with specialised courseware.

• Surface-to-surface missiles

  Hwasong-6

  The Hwasong-6 is a North Korean tactical ballistic missile based on the Hwasong-5, which itself is based on the Soviet R-17 Elbrus. Its NATO reporting ...

• Land: air defence radar

  JY-27

  The JY-27 is a Chinese long-range surveillance radar manufactured by ECRIEE. It was developed to provide early warning information and detect low-observable air targets. It ...

• Air: Electronic Attack - Jamming

  Rychag-AVM

  KRET’s Rychag-AVM radio frequency jammer is designed to perform electronic attack against hostile communications and radar systems. The Rychag-AVM ensemble is mounted onboard dedicated Mil ...

• Surface-to-surface missiles

  Fateh-110

  The Fateh-110 is a short-range ballistic missile produced in Iran with help from China.

• Land: counter-IED simulators

  Large IED Trainer

  The Large IED Trainer can be integrated into a number of training scenarios including convoy roadside bombs, vehicle-borne IEDs, artillery/mortar impact, vehicle search and/or destruction, ...

• Core systems: cameras and IR detectors

  Reveal D&I

  Reveal D&I; is a real-time gas detection and identification chemical imaging software for hyperspectral data. This software allows the real-time detection of a large portfolio ...

• Land: infantry weapon simulators

  Weapons Technology

  Laser Shot designs, engineers and fabricates simulated recoil weapons, drop-in recoil conversion kits, inert training weapons and laser inserts. The company offers individual and crew-served simulated ...

• Guided munitions

  KAB-500/1500

  The KAB-500 and KAB-1500 were Soviet electro-optical TV-guided bombs that were part of the KAB family. It is thought that this family of weapons were ...

• Core systems: cameras and IR detectors

  Hyper-Cam

  The Hyper-Cam is a passive IR hyperspectral imaging system that combines high spatial and spectral resolution. It provides real-time radiometrically calibrated data for gas and ...

• Core systems: cameras and IR detectors

  HD-IR

  HD-IR high-resolution cameras have high sensitivity for surveillance and airborne mapping applications. The camera features a four-position filter wheel, 1.3MP spatial resolution and an IP67-certified ...

• Trainer

  T-4

  Developed by Kawasaki, the T-4 is an intermediate jet trainer successor to the T-33A and Fuji T-1A/B. Its first flight was performed on 29 July ...

• Heavy UGVs

  Uran-9

  The Uran-9 is a Russian UGV designed to support troops operating in urban environments. Equipped with EO/IR sensors and typically armed with a 30mm automatic cannon, ...

• UAS: Integrated systems - uncrewed

  Bright Onyx Chemical Sensor

  Active multi-spectral chemical sensor operating in the 5µm region. The Bright Onyx sensor must operate at UAV airspeeds and ranges with detection sensitivities of 10ppmm ...

• Landing craft and hovercraft

  ​Zubr (Project 1232)

  The Zubr-class (Project 1232) amphibious assault ships are air-cushioned landing craft. The vessels were sold to the Chinese, Greek, Russian and Ukrainian naval forces. Four ...