• Land Warfare

  Thailand buys more VN1s from China

  6th February 2019

  The Royal Thai Army (RTA) has approved the purchase of 39 more VN1 8x8 armoured vehicles from Norinco, following a first order of 34 vehicles in …

• Digital Battlespace

  Russian Army receives Artek systems

  1st February 2019

  The Russian Army’s 41st Combined Arms Army stationed in the Altai Territory of the Central Military District has received three upgraded Artek radio communications stations, …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  More FLIR Black Hornet PRS for US Army

  29th January 2019

  FLIR Systems will deliver its Black Hornet personal reconnaissance systems (PRS) in support of the US Army Soldier Borne Sensor (SBS) programme, the company announced …

• Military Logistics

  FLIR receives CBRN DR-SKO delivery order

  1st February 2019

  FLIR Systems has received an order to deliver 24 Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Dismounted Reconnaissance Sets, Kits and Outfits (CBRN DR-SKO) systems to the …

• Training

  ADECS 2019: PLA emphasises force-on-force training

  22nd January 2019

  The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) is investing a lot of effort to improve the training of personnel, with the overarching goal to make combat training …

• Land Warfare

  Poland to buy US rocket system for $414 million

  11th February 2019

  On 10 February 2019 Poland said it will buy mobile rocket launchers worth $414 million (€365 million) from the US, as Warsaw seeks closer ties …

• Special Operations

  USSOCOM touts ‘successes’ from high-tech suit project

  12th February 2019

  The Tactical Assault Light Operator Suit (TALOS), an effort by US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) to develop wearable technology that dramatically increases the survivability and …

• Special Operations

  SO/LIC 2019: Industry to demonstrate loitering missiles for USSOCOM

  10th February 2019

  US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) is gearing up to host a series of loitering missile demonstrations conducted by industry, according to command officials. Six companies …

• Training

  Meggitt highlights new acoustic training system

  4th February 2019

  Meggitt Training Systems utilised the live-fire range opportunities at the recent Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade (SHOT) Show industry range day to highlight its new …

• Military Logistics

  New armoury for Halifax Army Reserve

  28th January 2019

  The Canadian Department of National Defence (DND) has officially opened a new 8,574 sqm Willow Park Armoury in Halifax, Canada. The $55.2 million project was …

• Defence Helicopter

  Mi-26T2V completes its preliminary flight testing

  11th February 2019

  Russian Helicopters has reported that it has completed the preliminary flight testing phase of the Mi-26T2V, a new-generation heavy helicopter for the Russian Army Aviation …

• Defence Notes

  US offers Niger operations centre to fight Boko Haram

  5th February 2019

  The US turned over a communications and operations centre to the Niger army on Monday to help the African nation battle Boko Haram.  The planning …

• Training

  British Army receives JFMT system

  29th January 2019

  Elbit Systems UK has delivered a mobile close air support (CAS) and joint fires simulator to the British Army, the company announced on 24 January. …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  US Army operator training on WASP ERS concluded

  24th January 2019

  Drone Aviation has concluded US Army operator training on the Winch Aerostat Small Platform (WASP) elevated relay system (ERS) at the army’s base in Pacific …

• Digital Battlespace

  Raytheon to support US Army’s Sentinel radar

  31st January 2019

  Raytheon has received a contract to provide life cycle support for the US Army’s Sentinel radar, the company announced on 28 January. The $29 million …

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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• Corvettes

  Shadhinota Class (Type C13B)

  The Shadhinota class (Type C13B) corvettes are a platform based on the Type 056 Jiangdao class used by the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), built by the ...

• Submarines: conventional, attack

  S26T [Thailand]

  Programme Background The Royal Thai Navy has been in the process of acquiring a new submarine for a number of years. They formally selected China's ...

• Frigates

  Jiangkai III Class (Type 054B / Type 057)

  Following the rapid production and relative success of the Type 054A Jiangkai II class frigates, the Peoples Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) are developing a successor to ...

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 ...

• 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 ...

• Fighter - multirole

  J-10

  The J-10 (NATO reporting name Firebird) is a multirole fighter developed by China to replace second-generation J-7 and Q-5 aircraft. The aircraft is also known ...

• 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 ...

• 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.

• 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 ...