• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Finnish coast guard agency to use Camcopter S-100

  6th July 2020

  The Finnish Border and  Coast Guard is to operate the Schiebel Camcopter S-100 VTOL UAS for maritime surveillance, in a service offered by the European …

• Digital Battlespace

  LTAMDS to include SecureSync time and frequency system

  13th July 2020

  Orolia will provide its SecureSync low-SWaP rugged time and frequency system for the Lower Tier Air and Missile Defence Sensor (LTAMDS) radar programme for the US …

• Land Warfare

  German Army implements new BMS for tanks

  2nd July 2020

  In order to improve the speed, accuracy and responsiveness of MBT crews on the battlefield, the German Army is operating a new BMS to enhance …

• Digital Battlespace

  BeiDou constellation reaches fruition to fuel Chinese global ambitions

  25th June 2020

  China launched its final BeiDou (Compass) satellite from the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre on the morning of 23 June. This completes the country’s global coverage …

• Defence Notes

  Bloody violence explodes on Sino-Indian border

  23rd June 2020

  Chinese and Indian troops engaged in savage hand-to-hand fighting in the Galwan Valley on 15 June, just one location where a border dispute between the two …

• Land Warfare

  US orders HMMWV engines

  10th July 2020

  The DoD has awarded AM General a $44.1 million contract to provide the US Army with HMMWV diesel engines and containers. Work on the contract, which …

• Training

  Britannica Knowledge secures US Army contract

  29th June 2020

  Britannica Knowledge Systems has secured a $70 million contract to supply its Fox Training Management System to the US Army. It will form part of …

• Naval Warfare

  PLAN aircraft carrier sea trials on schedule

  2nd June 2020

  The People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) is conducting sea trials of its latest Type 001A aircraft carrier, the Shandong (Hull 17), according to the Chinese …

• Defence Notes

  USMC Commandant takes on China (and the Marine Corps)

  16th June 2020

  Some USMC commandants set their sights higher than others. One’s recent crowning achievement was to antagonise marines by forcing them to unroll their uniform sleeves …

• Digital Battlespace

  Netherlands introduces EW-modified Bushmaster

  2nd July 2020

  The Royal Netherlands Army confirmed on 1 July that it has converted one of its in-service Bushmaster 4x4 vehicles into an EW variant. The Multirole EW …

• Land Warfare

  Spain modernises Leopard simulators

  30th June 2020

  The Spanish Army operates a relatively large fleet (by Western European standards) of about 300 Leopard tanks, so the training burden is significant to ensure crews are …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  AeroVironment to modify Raven RF

  9th July 2020

  The US Army is exercising a contract option with AeroVironment for avionics and RF data link upgrade packages on Raven tactical UASs. The two-year deal …

• Land Warfare

  LMUK expects to seal Warrior deal next year

  20th July 2020

  Lockheed Martin UK (LMUK) expects to sign a £800 million ($1 billion) sole-source contract in 2021 for the Warrior Capability Sustainment Programme (WCSP).  Currently, the …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  US Army selects Smart Shooter C-UAS solution

  30th June 2020

  The US Army has selected the SMASH Counter-small Unmanned Aircraft System (C-sUAS) solution from Smart Shooter after it was endorsed by the US DoD. The system is …

• Air Warfare

  Indonesian interest in Osprey wavers

  10th July 2020

  The 6 July announcement of a potential FMS deal for eight Bell-Boeing MV-22B Block C Ospreys to Indonesia took many by surprise. Including some in …

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 ...