• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Textron tests Shadow Block III capabilities

  26th April 2019

  Textron Systems has commenced flight testing of the Shadow Block III UAS, the company announced on 23 April.The company is working with the US Army …

• Military Logistics

  FNSS demos Pars III 8x8 engineering vehicle

  29th April 2019

  FNSS has demonstrated the modularity and adaptability of the Pars III 8x8 for different missions. The armoured engineering vehicle, developed for the Royal Army of …

• Defence Helicopter

  IMDEX Asia 2019: India seeks more Ka-31 AEW helicopters

  7th May 2019

  India’s Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) has approved the acquisition of ten Kamov Ka-31 airborne early warning (AEW) helicopters for the Indian Navy (IN). The deal …

• Military Logistics

  Honeywell to help upgrade facilities at Fort Benning

  23rd April 2019

  Honeywell will help upgrade facilities and reduce overall energy usage at Fort Benning, a US Army post located on the border of Alabama and Georgia. …

• Defence Helicopter

  Sea-Air-Space 2019: FAA to sign off on TH-119 IFR certification

  7th May 2019

  The FAA is due to approve IFR certification for Leonardo’s US Navy TH-XX training helicopter entrant – the TH-119 single engine aircraft – within ‘the …

• Training

  ITEC 2019: Kratos unveils first MQM-178 built in Oklahoma

  1st May 2019

  Kratos Defense has formally unveiled the first MQM-178 Firejet aerial target to be built in its new manufacturing facility in Oklahoma City. Kratos’ CEO, Eric …

• Training

  US Army to open MSAR in American Samoa

  19th April 2019

  The US Army is set to open its first indoor training rifle range, a Modular Small Arms Range (MSAR), at the Army Reserve in American …

• Defence Helicopter

  L3 MAS to sustain Canadian Chinooks

  24th April 2019

  L3 MAS has been awarded a five-year contract option to continue providing support for the Canadian Department of National Defence’s CH-147F Chinook helicopter fleet, the …

• Land Warfare

  DeepStrike passes critical test

  26th April 2019

  Raytheon’s new DeepStrike missile rocket motor passed a static test conducted at the Allegany Ballistics Laboratory in West Virginia, the company announced on 23 April. …

• Land Warfare

  IDEF 2019: Next generation howitzer production on the horizon

  2nd May 2019

  The 155mm Firtina Next Generation (NG) Howitzer will begin live fire testing in June 2019 ahead of serial production, according to a Turkish MoD official. …

• Defence Helicopter

  Quad A 2019: MD Helicopters Swift disqualified from FARA

  17th April 2019

  The US Army has officially disqualified MD Helicopters' Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) Swift demonstrator from competition consideration.  In response, the OEM is claiming the decision …

• Land Warfare

  UK funds new Foxhound upgrades

  25th April 2019

  The UK MoD has confirmed to Shephard that it has awarded General Dynamics a £2.8 million ($3.6 million) contract to design and deliver upgrade kits …

• Defence Helicopter

  Quad A 2019:​ Bell makes V-280 FLRAA tri-service pitch

  18th April 2019

  Based on its recent Future Long Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) RfI submission, Bell is confident the company’s Joint Multi-Role-Technology Demonstrator (JMR-TD) the V-280 Valor tiltrotor can …

• Defence Helicopter

  IMDEX Asia 2019: Australian Tigers deploy overseas by air and sea

  29th April 2019

  Australia despatched four Australian Army Tiger Armed Reconnaissance Helicopters (ARH) to join the Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2019 (IPE 19) task force in Malaysia, marking just the …

• Land Warfare

  Expal ammunition completes Spain's firing tests

  16th April 2019

  Expal’s extended range 155mm ammunition has successfully completed firing tests with the Spanish Army, carried out at the Torregorda Test Center in Cádiz, Spain. The …

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 ...