• Defence Helicopter

  Iran brings in rotary firepower

  28th July 2016

  The firepower of the Iranian Army Aviation’s (IRIAA) helicopter units has been starkly illustrated during a recent counter-narcotics operation. On 21 July, the IRIAA’s 3rd …

• Defence Helicopter

  Farnborough 2016: FLIR showcases 380-HLDc for military market

  11th July 2016

  FLIR Systems launched its Star SAFIRE 380-HLDc airborne thermal imaging system at the Farnborough International Airshow (FIA 2016) on 11 July. The new gimbal is …

• Land Warfare

  Northrop Grumman receives JCREW award

  8th July 2016

  Northrop Grumman has received a $103 million contract modification from the US Department of Defense for Joint Counter Radio-Controlled Improvised Explosive Device (RCIED) Electronic Warfare, Joint …

• Land Warfare

  FLIR acquires Armasight for $41 million

  1st July 2016

  FLIR Systems has acquired precision optics company Armasight for around $41 million, it announced on 28 June, with the acqusition set to enhance FLIR's tactical …

• Training

  Serious Simulations selected for US Army VCTS

  27th June 2016

  Orlando-based Serious Simulations LLC has begun work for FAAC Incorporated, on the upgrade for the US Army’s Virtual Clearance Training System (VCTS). As the prime …

• Digital Battlespace

  IEE to provide CDU for JCREW I1B1

  24th June 2016

  IEE will provide its 3.5-inch handheld control display unit (CDU) for Northrop Grumman's Joint Counter Radio-Controlled Improvised Explosive Device (RCIED) Electronic Warfare (JCREW) system under …

• Land Warfare

  Northrop completes CDR of AEODRS

  10th June 2016

  Northrop Grumman and the US Navy have successfully completed the Critical Design Review (CDR) for increment one of the Advanced Explosive Ordnance Disposal Robotic System …

• Digital Battlespace

  FLIR unveils ground-surveillance systems

  31st May 2016

  FLIR Systems has released two new ground surveillance systems designed for border security and force protection, the company announced on 24 May. The first is …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Chinese UCAVs proliferate unexpectedly

  10th June 2016

  Chinese UCAVs capable of deadly armed missions have been turning up in odd places in recent times, including Kazakhstan and Myanmar. Kazakhstan displayed a Wing …

• Land Warfare

  US Army tests Spider 1A (video)

  13th May 2016

  One aspect of the US Army’s ongoing Network Integration Evaluation (NIE) 16.2 involves limited user testing (LUT) for the Spider M7E1 Network Command Munition Increment …

• Digital Battlespace

  US Army starts NIE 16.2 exercise

  12th May 2016

  The US Army’s Brigade Modernization Command (BMC) has started the Network Integration Evaluation (NIE) 16.2 exercise at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico and Fort …

• Training

  ITEC 2016: Airbus UAS trainer ready to fly

  17th May 2016

  Airbus Defence and Space (DS) is showcasing its customer-ready UAS Mission and Tactics Training (MTT) at ITEC in London. The generic system can be used …

• Defence Helicopter

  Switching to BrightNite

  3rd May 2016

  Elbit Systems believes it has made a significant breakthrough in night vision technology, following a series of demonstration flight tests of its BrightNite system in …

• Naval Warfare

  US plans Latin American patrol vessel

  29th April 2016

  The US Navy has released details of a 75-85ft (23-26m) 'mothership' which officials hope will bolster the maritime security capabilities of partner nations in and …

• Land Warfare

  TrackingPoint launches firearm attachments

  25th April 2016

  TrackingPoint has launched three new military-spec firearm stealth attachments for night-time missions - Hush Silencer, Vivid Gen-3 Night Vision and Torrid Thermal Imaging, it announced …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

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

  Future Tactical UAS (FTUAS) (Increment 1) [USA]

  Programme Background Programme Objective The Future Tactical UAS (FTUAS) was to provide a tactical ISTAR capability for US Army Brigade Combat Teams (BCTs). It was ...

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

  Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) (Increment 2) [USAF]

  Background Requirements The baseline requirements for Increment 2 of the CCA effort are similar to Increment 1, which is covered in a separate entry on Defence ...

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

  Future Tactical UAS (FTUAS) (Increment 2) [USA]

  Programme Background Programme Objective The Future Tactical UAS (FTUAS) was to provide a tactical ISTAR capability for US Army Brigade Combat Teams (BCTs). It was intended to ...

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

  Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) Unmanned Expeditionary (MUX) (Increment 2) [USMC]

  Programme Background MUX Since 2016, the USMC has wished to acquire a UAV that could be deployed from a vessel, used for various missions, and ...

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

  Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) (Increment 1) [USAF]

  Background Requirements The programme's requirements are based on the USAF's belief that it requires mass to compete effectively with an adversary in symmetrical warfare. However, ...

• Military UAS - small

  Black Hornet 3 PRS (UK)

  Programme Background The British Army operated approximately 160 first-generation Black Hornet PD-100 nano UAS between 2013 and 2017, when the decision was made to retire ...

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

  French Operational Pocket Drone / DrOP (France)

  Programme Background French UAV Procurment / DrOP Under its 2019-2025 Military Programming Law (LPM), France aims to introduce 1,200 new UAVs into service with the ...

• Loitering munitions

  Organic Precision Fire - Light (OPF-L) [USMC]

  Programme Background Force Design 2030 The USMC Force Design 2030 is a modernisation effort to create a lighter, more agile maritime force. In May 2022, an annual ...

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

  Black Hornet 3 (First Order) [Norway]

  Programme Background First Batch The Norwegian Home Guard has procured the Black Hornet 3 to provide each of its districts with a nano UAS that ...

• Military UAS - small

  Bug Nano UAS (UK)

  Programme Background The British Army previously took delivery of 160 first-generation Black Hornet PD-100 nano UAS in 2013 to support operations in Afghanistan. After these ...

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

  Black Hornet 4 [Germany]

  Programme Background BAAINBw In February 2025, Shephard reported that Teledyne FLIR had been awarded a $15 million contract from Germany’s Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology ...

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

  Black Hornet 3 (Second Order) [Norway]

  Programme Background First Order The Norwegian Home Guard has procured the Black Hornet 3 to provide each of its districts with a nano UAS that ...

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

  Soldier Borne Sensor (SBS) (Phase II) [USA]

  Programme Background Requirement The Soldier Borne Sensor (SBS) provides short-range day and night ISR to US Army units at the squad, platoon and other small ...

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

  DEF129 (Nano UAS) [Australia]

  Programme Background DEF129 The Australian Ground Service has combined various army procurement efforts under the DEF129 programme to increase the abundance and proliferation of UAVs ...

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

  Black Hornet 3 (Ukraine Aid) [UK & Norway]

  Programme Background Russo-Ukraine War Since Russia invaded Ukraine on 24 February 2022, UAVs have proved vital to the country's defence. Consequently, as in this programme, the ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Military UGVs

  Centaur

  The Centaur is a military UGV developed specifically for the US Army's Man Transportable Robotic System Increment II (MTRS Inc II), a requirement for a ...

• Military UGVs

  Andros Nomad

  Unveiled in 2017, the Andros Nomad is the latest UGV designed by Northrop Grumman to carry out civil and military applications. The platform, which is able ...

• Major networking projects

  WIN-T Increment 1

  WIN-T Increment 1 is defined as providing ‘networking at the halt’ and is divided into two sub-increments defined as Increment 1a (‘extended networking at the ...

• Surface-to-surface missiles

  Precision Strike Missile (PrSM)

  The Precision Strike Missile (PrSM), developed by Lockheed Martin, is a next-generation surface-to-surface missile system designed to provide the US Army with enhanced long-range precision ...

• Major networking projects

  WIN-T Increment 2

  WIN-T Increment 2 ('networking on the move') adds soldier mobility and provides a communications network down to company level. Tactical communication nodes in Increment 2 ...

• Land: air defence radar

  AN/TPS-80 G/ATOR

  AN/TPS-80 Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar (G/ATOR) is a multi-mission system designed to support worldwide expeditionary requirements. It provides detection and tracking capabilities and offers traffic ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  MPU5

  The MPU5 (WR-5100) has been described as a smart MANET radio, designed for connectivity, interchangeable frequency module, stream HD video and integrated Radio over IP functionality. ...

• EO/IR systems

  FLIR 111

  The FLIR 111 is a field-proven, high-performance, compact, and lightweight Forward Looking InfraRed (FLIR) system designed for utility and attack helicopters.  It is jointly produced ...

• EO/IR systems

  KUH FLIR

  The KUH FLIR is an IR system from Hanwha Systems for the Korean Utility Helicopter (KUH). Hanwha says it provides stable infrared images at night and/or under limited ...

• EW test systems

  CRIIS

  The Common Range Integrated Instrumentation System (CRIIS) provides time, space and position information (TSPI) as well as systems evaluation data to support testing for a ...

• Land: soldier modernisation systems - national programmes

  FIST

  In March 2003, Thales UK was selected as prime contractor for the UK’s Future Integrated Soldier Technology (FIST) programme. The project has since evolved into ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  Voly M20

  The Voly M20 is a fixed-wing UAS with a VTOL capability. The hybrid platform is highly flexible and can simultaneously carry 20lb of cargo and ...

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

  Voly 50 (Series)

  The Voly 50 is a VTOL-capable, multi-role, long-haul UAV primarily designed to conduct ISR applications on a small footprint. It has a modular, open-system design.  The UAV was ...

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

  Jump 20

  The Jump 20 is a VTOL-capable variant of the T-20 platform manufactured by Arcturus UAV, a wholly-owned subsidiary of AeroVironment. The platform has an open ...

• Air: Electronic Attack - Jamming

  Next Generation Jammer - Low-Band

  The Next Generation Jammer-Low Band (NGJ-LB), also known as NGJ-LB Increment-2, is the latest effort in the US Navy’s prevailing NGJ initiative. The project is ...