• Air Warfare

  India tests Dhruvastra helicopter missile

  30th July 2020

  India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) conducted three ground-based tests of its Nag/Helina helicopter-launched missile on 15-16 July in direct and top-attack modes. To …

• Defence Helicopter

  US Army places major Hellfire order

  24th July 2020

  The US Army is buying more AGM-114 Hellfire air-to-surface missiles from Lockheed Martin under a $702.88 million contract modification awarded on 22 July. Work will …

• Defence Helicopter

  Airbus to make more Lakotas for US Army​​

  24th July 2020

  Airbus Helicopters Inc (AHI) has received a $74 million contract modification from the US Army to produce 15 UH-72A Lakota helicopters, with the option for …

• Land Warfare

  US Army confirms SRC as E-LIDS provider

  24th July 2020

  SRC is to develop, produce, deploy and support the Expeditionary-Low, Slow, Small Unmanned Aircraft System Integrated Defeat System (E-LIDS) for the US Army. Work under …

• Defence Notes

  UAVs, loitering munitions play significant role in latest Armenia-Azerbaijan clashes

  7th August 2020

  Hostility between Armenia and Azerbaijan in recent years tended to focus on the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh, notably in April 2016, but the ongoing flare-up …

• Land Warfare

  Spanish Army releases tender to procure SF vehicle

  24th July 2020

  Spain is running a competition to procure the Light Vehicle for Special Operations (VLOE in Spanish) as the country progresses efforts to improve the mobility …

• Air Warfare

  Final captive-carry test heralds next chapter for ARRW

  11th August 2020

  US efforts to rapidly develop and field hypersonic weapons within the next three years took a step forward on 8 August, with a final captive-carry …

• Land Warfare

  JV between Rafael and Raytheon to make Iron Dome in US

  3rd August 2020

  Following more than a decade of co-operation on Iron Dome, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and Raytheon Missiles & Defense have officially set up a JV …

• Military Logistics

  IoT to enhance US military logistics

  23rd July 2020

  Savi has received a $45 million contract from US Army Contracting Command to provide Internet of Things asset tracking and in-transit visibility across the global …

• Land Warfare

  US long-range precision strike to encompass 155mm shells

  23rd July 2020

  BAE Systems will continue development of a long-range precision strike capability for the US Army, under a new $33 million contract. In particular, the company …

• Defence Helicopter

  Bell enhances industrial capabilities with FVL in mind

  10th August 2020

  Bell Textron officially unveiled its new 140,000ft2 (13,000m2) Manufacturing Technology Center at Fort Worth, Texas on 10 August, underlining its bullish mood regarding development and rapid …

• Land Warfare

  Leonardo DRS continues C-UAS development for US Army

  21st July 2020

  The US Army has awarded Leonardo DRS Sustainment Systems another contract to develop, produce, deploy and support a mobile system that protects troops from UAV …

• Land Warfare

  Romania stays the course with Piranha V

  27th July 2020

  Romania will maintain its programme to acquire the Piranha V 8x8 APC, as the NATO member state continues plans to modernise the Romanian Army's wheeled …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  UK holds landmark MUM-T flight

  21st July 2020

  QinetiQ has completed the UK’s first manned/unmanned aircraft team (MUM-T) demonstration, featuring a manned H125 helicopter and semi-autonomous UAV. The event took place on 19 …

• Land Warfare

  US Army orders Carl-Gustaf ammunition and AT4 systems

  16th July 2020

  Saab has announced a $100 million order for Carl-Gustaf ammunition and AT4 disposable weapon systems from the US Army, with deliveries taking place in 2021.   …

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 ...