• Defence Notes

  GDA 2017: US talks up strategic partnership with Kuwait

  6th December 2017

  Days away from the start of the Gulf Defence and Aerospace exhibition in Kuwait, senior US officials have spoken highly of the country’s ‘strategic partnership’ …

• Military Logistics

  Dstl working on new armour project

  7th December 2017

  A new armour to protect British armed forces personnel from bullets on the battlefield is being developed by the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), …

• Naval Warfare

  Korea opens fire on intruding Chinese fishing fleet

  22nd December 2017

  The Korea Coast Guard (KCG) was forced to take stringent measures against intruding Chinese fishing boats on 19 December.  In the confrontation, KCG personnel fired …

• Defence Helicopter

  Thales new threat warning system to enter LRIP

  20th December 2017

  Thales expects its Elix-IR threat warning system to enter low-rate initial production before the end of 2018, with helicopters seen as a major potential market …

• Naval Warfare

  India’s INS Kalvari submarine commissioned

  20th December 2017

  The Indian Navy has commissioned INS Kalvari, the first of six indigenously-built submarines, Naval Group announced on 15 December. The submarines are being built by …

• Land Warfare

  GDA 2017: Kuwait National Guard modernisation continues

  15th December 2017

  The Kuwait National Guard is pushing forward with an extensive modernisation agenda with ground vehicles, command and control (C2) infrastructure and airborne assets at the …

• Special Operations

  Singapore hones SF capabilities in joint exercise

  12th December 2017

  Commandos of the Singapore Armed Force (SAF) maximised their training opportunities at Arizona’s Barry M. Goldwater Range alongside air force counterparts in Exercise Forging Sabre …

• Defence Helicopter

  Pakistan and USMC to procure AH-1Z gun turrets

  18th December 2017

  The Pakistan government and USMC are set to procure an arsenal of 41 A/A49E-7 (V4) gun turrets for their respective Bell AH-1Z Viper attack helicopter fleets. Contractor General …

• Digital Battlespace

  Northrop’s IBCS tested in joint environment

  15th December 2017

  Northrop Grumman’s Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) Battle Command System (IBCS) has demonstrated its ability to perform in a joint complex environment, the company …

• Defence Helicopter

  Ukrainian MoD completes heli rocket-firing testing

  12th December 2017

  The Ukrainian MoD has completed a test campaign firing new rockets from its two new transport/combat helicopters types, the Mi-8MSB and Mi-2MSB, which, in turn, …

• Naval Warfare

  Ukraine gains four more Gyurza-M boats

  12th December 2017

  The Ukrainian Navy is set to take delivery of four more Project 58155 Gyurza-M armoured artillery boats alongside announcing ambitious plans for building of a …

• Digital Battlespace

  Northrop awarded LTAMDS work

  13th December 2017

  Northrop Grumman has received a contract from the US Army’s Lower Tier Programme Office to perform work under the Lower Tier Air and Missile Defense …

• Training

  I/ITSEC 2017: Meggitt launches FATS 300 VSAT

  5th December 2017

  Meggitt Training Systems has launched its new immersive, multi-screen FATS 300 system at I/ITSEC 2017. The system is designed to provide an immersive training environment …

• Land Warfare

  Kongsberg receives additional CROWS orders

  5th December 2017

  Kongsberg will deliver additional Protector Remote Weapon System Station (RWS) Low Profile CROWS configuration for the US Army’s M1A2 Abrams main battle tank, the company …

• Land Warfare

  Al-Khalid production lags behind capacity

  12th December 2017

  Heavy Industries Taxila (HIT), the Pakistani state-owned manufacturer of heavy weapons, is producing around 18 Al-Khalid-I MBTs annually, but this figure is nowhere near its …

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 ...