• Defence Notes

  Zhuhai 2016: Hints detected of Chinese BMD development

  3rd November 2016

  There were small hints of a Chinese ballistic missile defence (BMD) system when Shephard attended the 11th Zhuhai Air Show in China. One was the …

• Land Warfare

  Indo Defence 2016: Small arms revolution

  27th October 2016

  Indonesia is becoming self-sufficient in small arms and ammunition production through its domestic armaments manufacturer PT Pindad. Pindad launched four new weapon types during a …

• Land Warfare

  Zhuhai 2016: Norinco unveils VT5 light tank

  4th November 2016

  China North Industries Corporation (Norinco) chose the occasion of the 11th Zhuhai Air Show in China to unveil its VT5, a new light main battle …

• Naval Warfare

  Indo Defence 2016: Lundin rises from the ashes

  3rd November 2016

  Shipbuilder PT Lundin is on track to deliver a replacement vessel for the Indonesian Navy’s KRI Klewang that was completely destroyed in a fire four …

• Land Warfare

  UK to assess laser weapon potential

  19th September 2016

  The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) is set to embark on a high energy laser demonstration programme, with a £30 million contract being finalised with …

• Land Warfare

  Indo Defence 2016: Rheinmetall aims for medium tank

  2nd November 2016

  A technology demonstrator vehicle has been developed by Rheinmetall that the company intends to use to bid for Indonesia’s future medium tank programme. Called the …

• Defence Notes

  Philippines seals deal for frigates

  22nd October 2016

  Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) announced on 24 October that it had won a contract to build two frigates for the Philippine Navy (PN). The lot …

• Training

  Inzpire expands Typhoon QWI training support

  27th October 2016

  Inzpire will support the Royal Air Force Typhoon Qualified Weapon Instructor (QWI) course under a contract extension announced on 24 October. The course, delivered by …

• Land Warfare

  AUSA 2016: GD and Boeing embark on laser quest

  5th October 2016

  General Dynamics Land Systems is displaying a Stryker MEHEL 2.0 vehicle that is fitted with a 5kW laser from Boeing. The plan is to offer …

• Naval Warfare

  Euronaval 2016: Narwhal 20mm gun on display (video)

  19th October 2016

  French armament specialists Nexter is displaying its Narwhal 20mm remotely-operated naval weapon at this year's Euronaval exhibition in Paris. There are two variants on display, …

• Naval Warfare

  Indo Defence 2016: Double happiness for SIGMA

  24th October 2016

  September was a milestone for the Indonesian Navy’s (TNI-AL) frigate programme, with the first SIGMA 10514-class frigate completing sea trials on 7 September. The sea trials included …

• Military Logistics

  US Army releases FMTVA2 RFP

  27th October 2016

  The Army has released its official request for proposals (RfP) for the new 'A2' variant of its Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTV). According to …

• Training

  USMC selects Veraxx for AH-1Z FTDs

  24th October 2016

  With the first production variant entering service in 2005 the Bell AH-1Z Viper has become a crucial part of the US Marine Corps’ expeditionary air …

• Naval Warfare

  Euronaval 2016: Vittoria Shipyard build prototype fast patrol craft

  20th October 2016

  Cantiere Navale Vittoria Shipyard is looking to further its business in the maritime defence and security market with the introduction of three types of fast …

• Naval Warfare

  Indo Defence 2016: Tank boat dominance moves up river

  1st November 2016

  The new X-18 Tank Boat built by Indonesian shipbuilder PT Lundin, named Antasena, is expected to begin firing trials next year. An actual-sized model is …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• OPVs

  Kingston Class Replacement [Canada]

  Programme Background Requirements Under the second pillar of its shipbuilding strategy, Canada is seeking to procure an undisclosed number of small vessels (below 1000t). Part ...

• Special operations vehicles

  CANSOFCOM Next Generation Fighting Vehicles [Canada]

  Several platforms are known to have been proposed for the NGFV programme. In 2015, it was reported that General Dynamics Land Systems - Canada (GDLS-C) ...

• Tanks

  NGCV: DLP

  Programme Background Requirement The DLP is one of five vehicle families being developed for the US Army's NGCV programme. Expanded to include five programmes in ...

• Destroyers

  Next-Generation Large Surface Combatants (LSC) - DDG(X) [USN]

  Programme Background Requirements The US Navy (USN) is acknowledging a need to move away from the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer design, which is slowly outgrowing. Flight III ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | Combat Fighter Jet [Ireland]

  In February 2025, Simon Harris, the Irish Minister for Defence and Tánaiste, emphasised the importance of acquiring a new combat fighter jet to address aerial ...

• Data links

  Data links | Combat Fighter Jet [Ireland]

  In February 2025, Simon Harris, the Irish Minister for Defence and Tánaiste, emphasised the importance of acquiring a new combat fighter jet to address aerial ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  Air: Helmet-mounted displays | Combat Fighter Jet [Ireland]

  In February 2025, Simon Harris, the Irish Minister for Defence and Tánaiste, emphasised the importance of acquiring a new combat fighter jet to address aerial ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | Combat Fighter Jet [Ireland]

  In February 2025, Simon Harris, the Irish Minister for Defence and Tánaiste, emphasised the importance of acquiring a new combat fighter jet to address aerial ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | Combat Fighter Jet [Ireland]

  In February 2025, Simon Harris, the Irish Minister for Defence and Tánaiste, emphasised the importance of acquiring a new combat fighter jet to address aerial ...

• Destroyers

  Sejong the Great Class (KDX-III) Batch 2 (1-3) [South Korea]

  Programme Background Requirements The Sejong the Great class (KDX-III) Batch 2 will consist of three improved Sejong the Great-class (KDX-III) batch 1 guided-missile destroyers, which ...

• Landing platform docks/dock landing ships

  Landing Platform Docks [India]

  Programme Background Requirements The LPD tender, although more akin to an LHD, specifies that the quartet of ships must be built within India, although collaboration ...

• Minehunters

  Mine Countermeasure Vessel [India]

  Programme Background Requirements In August 2023, the Indian MoD issued a new Request for Information (RfI) for the procurement of 12 Mine Countermeasures (MCM) Vessels. The ...

• Transport

  C-27J [Azerbaijan]

  Programme Background The Azerbaijani Air Force signed a contract with Leonardo in June 2023 to procure the C-27J Spartan tactical transport aircraft. This move is ...

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

  MQ-9B (Tri-Service) [India]

  Programme Background Inception & The Indian Navy In 2016, reports suggested India was looking to acquire the MQ-9A Reaper. The two parties developed this requirement, and in June ...

• Military helicopters - maritime

  MH-60R Seahawk (Saudi Arabia)

  The sale is aimed at improving Saudi Arabia’s capability to meet current and future threats from enemy weapon systems, provide the capability to identify, engage ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Naval guns, Land: RWS

  DragonFire

  Dragonfire is a new laser weapon system built for the UK MoD, receiving £30 million of funding in early 2017. The design of the gun ...

• Counter-UAS systems

  DroneDefender

  DroneDefender is a directed-energy UAS countermeasure that disrupts the adversary's control of the aircraft, neutralising it so that no remote action (including detonation) can occur, ...

• Counter-UAS systems

  MEHEL 2.0

  The Mobile Expeditionary High-Energy Laser (MEHEL) is a C-UAS-capable vehicle that employs directed energy to neutralise targets. MEHEL 2.0 was first seen at AUSA 2016, ...

• Destroyers

  Flight III Destroyer

  During Indo Pacific 2023, Navantia Australia unveiled a 10200t destroyer design. Dubbed as Flight III Destroyer, the Spanish shipbuilder is pitching the ship for the ...

• ISR/special mission

  AC-130J

  The AC-130J 'Ghostrider' is a fifth-generation gunship manufactured by Lockheed Martin to replace the AC-130U/W gunships for the USAF deployed in 2019. The Ghostrider is a highly modified C-130J ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Bushmaster ePMV

  The electric Protected Mobility Vehicle (ePMV), also known as the 'electric Bushmaster,' is a prototype 4x4 armoured vehicle unveiled at the Chief of Army Symposium in ...

• Naval guns

  HELIOS

  HELIOS (High-Energy Laser and Integrated Optical-Dazzler with Surveillance) is a high-energy weapon system developed by Lockheed Martin. According to the producer, the system is specially ...

• Medium Range Missile Defence Systems: 20-90km range, Self-propelled missile systems

  Multi-Mission Launcher

  The Multi-Mission Launcher (MML) was developed by the U.S. Army's Aviation and Missile Research, Development, and Engineering Center (AMRDEC) as part of the Indirect Fire ...

• Land: RWS

  R800

  The R800 is a RWS developed by EOS for integration on heavy armoured vehicle platforms. It is designed to offer the capabilities of a medium ...

• Frigates

  Omega

  At IndoDefence 2018, Damen unveiled a 6000t Omega frigate design aimed at the Indonesian Navy's future frigate procurement. The Omega frigate design builds on the MKS180 ...

• Air: Electronic Attack - Jamming

  Miysis DIRCM

  Leonardo’s Miysis Directed Infrared Countermeasure (DIRCM) system provides high power, all aspect protection against modern and legacy Infrared Man-Portable Air Defence Systems (IR MANPADS) for ...

• Corvettes

  MEKO A210

  During Indo Pacific 2023, TKMS unveiled the MEKO A210 corvette. According to the manufacturer, the ship is an evolution of the existing MEKO A200 design. ...

• OPVs

  PPA/MultiPurpose Combat Ship (MPCS) EVO

  The PPA/MultiPurpose Combat Ship (MPCS) EVO is an enhanced version of the Thaon di Revel-class PPAs unveiled at Euronaval 2024. The PPA/MPCS EVO retains the core platform ...

• Man-portable missile systems

  Igla/SA-18

  The 9K38 Igla (US DoD designation SA-18, NATO reporting name Grouse ) IR-homing MANPADS was developed by KBM and entered service in 1983 to meet the requirements ...

• Counter-UAS systems, Land: air defence radar

  Retinar FAR-AD Drone Detection Radar

  Retinar FAR-AD Drone Detection Radar, developed by Meteksan Defence, is a radar system to enable security against mini/micro unmanned aerial vehicles. Retinar FAR-AD can automatically ...