• Land Warfare

  Saab to support South Korea’s Arthur weapon locating system

  29th November 2023

  Saab will provide support and spare parts for South Korea’s Arthur weapons locating systems. Arthur has been in service with South Korea since 2009 and the country has been the largest operator of the system.

• Air Warfare

  South Korea and Boeing to jointly research long-endurance aerial UAVs

  24th November 2023

  Boeing and South Korea have solidified plans that would see Boeing UAV design and technology capabilities implemented locally by South Korean companies.

• Land Warfare

  Poland to spend billions of dollars on K9 howitzers as it continues massive equipment refresh

  4th December 2023

  The deal between Poland and Hanwha has been valued at US$2.6 billion and is part of a larger agreement for 672 K9 howitzers and 288 Chunmoo MLRS.

• Air Warfare

  US approves South Korean US$52.1 million Sidewinder missiles deal

  16th November 2023

  Raytheon Missiles and Defense will provide dozens of AIM-9X Sidewinder Tactical and Training Missiles for the South Korean military.

• Land Warfare

  South Korea displays L-SAM at Seoul ADEX for first time

  17th October 2023

  Worried by the proliferation of new North Korean missile types, South Korea is going all out to improve its Korea Air and Missile Defense (KAMD) system.

• Land Warfare

  JLTVs bound for five export customers under US$160 million deal with Oshkosh

  17th November 2023

  Oshkosh has added more than a thousand Joint Light Tactical Vehicles (JLTVs) to its books this month alone with this order and another announced on 4 November for the US Army, USMC and USAF.

• Defence Helicopter

  Dubai Airshow 2023: South Korean homegrown helicopters make international debut

  14th November 2023

  Two KAI helicopters, the KUH-1E utility helicopter and the Light Attack Helicopter (LAH), have taken centre stage at the Dubai Airshow 2023.

• Air Warfare

  Canada buys weaponised MQ-9B SkyGuardian drones

  21st December 2023

  The deal signed between Canada and General Atomics included ground control stations and initial weapons for the MQ-9B SkyGuardian, with deliveries expected to commence in 2028.

• Land Warfare

  Texelis goes alone as it unveils Celeris

  28th November 2023

  Texelis and Nexter, a KNDS company, manufacture the Serval 4x4 lightweight multi-role armoured vehicle together but Texelis has started selling the rolling chassis of the vehicle as a separate system.

• Training

  KAI, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries and LIG Nex1 to develop naval training solutions

  3rd November 2023

  The Korean defence consortium will aim to provide modern naval training solutions for current and future warships domestically and abroad.

• Land Warfare

  Oshkosh lands JLTV order from Israel

  1st December 2023

  November was a good month for Oshkosh Defence and JLTV orders, and December has started just as well with the company contracted to supply 75 vehicles to Israel.

• Digital Battlespace

  NATO selects companies for innovation hub

  13th December 2023

  NATO launched it DIANA programme in 2021 to provide a network of technology test centres and accelerator sites that harness civilian innovation within the defence industry.

• Air Warfare

  Greece favours Leonardo AW139 over Black Hawk and H175 as Super Puma replacement

  12th December 2023

  Greece’s air force has said it has been leaning towards the Leonardo AW139 multirole military helicopter as the Super Puma replacement, pending official approval, marking a potential shift in its search and rescue capabilities.

• Land Warfare

  Morocco deploys new version of Abrams MBT

  5th December 2023

  The acquisition of M1A2 SEPv3 tanks by Morocco reflects the high demand for the Abrams platform in the region. The tanks will enhance Morocco’s land forces capabilities and deterrence posture.

• Training

  Dubai Airshow 2023: First Bell 505 training helicopters delivered to Royal Jordanian Air Force

  17th November 2023

  Jordan ordered ten helicopters 12 months ago and joins Montenegro and the army and navy of South Korea as military operators of the 505.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | AEW&C Aircraft [South Korea]

  The Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) has a long-standing requirement for two additional AEW&C; aircraft to enhance its early warning capabilities against potential threats ...

• Data links

  Data links | AEW&C Aircraft [South Korea]

  The Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) has a long-standing requirement for two additional AEW&C; aircraft to enhance its early warning capabilities against potential threats ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | AEW&C Aircraft [South Korea]

  The Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) has a long-standing requirement for two additional AEW&C; aircraft to enhance its early warning capabilities against potential threats ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | AEW&C Aircraft [South Korea]

  The Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) has a long-standing requirement for two additional AEW&C; aircraft to enhance its early warning capabilities against potential threats ...

• Maritime patrol

  P-8 Poseidon [South Korea]

  Programme Background South Korea is facing an imminent submarine threat from North Korea. The Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN) is operating an aging fleet of P-3C ...

• Loitering munitions

  Small-Sized Suicide Drones [South Korea]

  Programme Background Drone Ambition As reported by Shephard, South Korea has ambitions to possess a large arsenal of drones. In May 2024, the presidential office ...

• Military UAS - HALE

  RQ-4 Global Hawk [South Korea]

  Background Requirments Seoul required UAS assets to help monitor its neighbour to the north and, increasingly, Chinese activities in waters and in the air near ...

• Loitering munitions

  Loitering Munitions (Special Mission Brigade) [South Korea]

  Programme Background Drone Ambition As reported by Shephard, South Korea has ambitions to possess a large arsenal of drones. In May 2024, the presidential office ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-X III Phase II (F-35) [South Korea]

  Programme Background On 14 September 2014, South Korea signed an FMS contract under the first phase of F-X III programme to supply 40 F-35As for ...

• Frigates

  Daegu Class (FFX Batch II) [South Korea]

  Programme Background The Incheon and Daegu classes are part of a re-capitalisation effort to replace the older Pohang-class corvettes and Ulsan-class frigates with a new FFX class ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Stryker (North Macedonia)

  Programme Background In its Long-Term Defence Capabilities Development Plan (LTDCDP) published in 2019, the North Macedonian MoD outlined plans to acquire Light Armoured Vehicles (LAVs) ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  KAAV II

  Programme Background The Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN) operates one Dokdo-class amphibious assault ship and has launched another to support provide operational lift for the ROKMC. ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Light Protected Mobility Vehicles [North Macedonia]

  Programme Background The acquisition of an LPMV to equip the North Macedonian Armed Forces' Light Infantry Battalion Group (LIBG) is considered the most urgent priority for ...

• AEW&C

  AEW&C Aircraft [South Korea]

  Programme Background Requirement The requirement was initially reported in 2016 when it was noted as being part of a long-term development plan, however, reports from ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-5 Replacement [Mexico]

  Background  Mexico's last fighter aircraft capability rested with their fleet of eight F-5E and two F-5F Tiger IIs platforms from Northrop Grumman; the units were retired ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Surface-to-surface missiles

  Hwasong-7 (Nodong-1)

  The Hwasong-7 is a North Korean tactical ballistic missile based on the Hwasong-6. It has the NATO reporting name Scud D. It was designed with ...

• Counter-UAS systems

  Drone Killer

  The Uconsystem Drone Killer was unveiled in October 2015 and was developed in response to a UAV threat from North Korea, which saw four North ...

• 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 ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

  Gumdoksuri Class (PKX-A)

  The Gumdoksuri-class fast attack craft, also known as the PKX-A-class, was designed to replace the Republic of Korea Navy's ageing fleet of Sea Dolphin-class vessels ...

• Artillery rockets

  K33

  K33 is a 130 mm unguided artillery rocket developed by South Korean Hanwha for the K136 Kooryong MLRS and currently in use with the K239 ...

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

  Saetbyol-4

  North Korea unveiled two drones at the Weapons and Equipment Exhibition 2023 in Pyongyang on 2 August  One drone, which appears to be called the Saetbyol-4, ...

• Destroyers

  Sejong the Great Class (KDX-III/HDD-10000) Batch 1

  The Sejong the Great-class destroyers were built for the Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN) as the third iteration of its KDX continuous destroyer construction programme ...

• Light UGVs

  SCOBOT 200

  The SCOBOT 200 is a larger, two-tracked version of the SCOBOT 100 (see separate entry). It can be used for EOD tasks. It was tested ...

• Destroyers

  Maya Class (27DD)

  The Maya-class (27DD) destroyers are the latest in a long line of modern destroyer classes for the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF). Well aware of ...

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

  Saetlbyol-9

  North Korea unveiled two drones at the 2023 Weapons and Equipment Exhibition in Pyongyang on 2 August 2023. One drone, the Saetlbyol-9, or Morning Star-9,  ...

• Corvettes

  Hainan Class (Type 037)

  The Hainan-class (Type 037) class is a range of corvette-sized vessels, mostly in service with the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy, which cover a range ...

• Frigates

  Krivak Class

  The Krivak-class (Project 1135) frigates first entered service in 1970 and various types of the class have entered service, particularly the Indian Navy's Talwar-class (see ...

• Anti-ship missiles

  HY-2/C-201

  The HY-2/C-201, NATO reporting name CSS-C-3 Seersucker, is a Chinese liquid-fuel rocket-powered anti-ship cruise missile developed as an evolution of the earlier HY-1 missile. The ...

• Anti-ship missiles

  SSM-700K Haeseong (C-Star)

  The SSM-700K Haeseong, also known as the C-Star, is a surface-launched, anti-ship cruise missile. It was designed as a replacement for the Hae Ryong anti-ship ...

• Guided munitions

  GBU-28

  The Guided Bomb Unit-28 (GBU-28) is a special weapon designed to penetrate hard, deeply buried targets. The GBU-28 is a 4,700 lb. laser-guided conventional munition ...