• Defence Notes

  Singapore Airshow 2018: Saab gets a grip on the region

  8th February 2018

  The Gripen E variant of the multirole fighter is ready for the next test phase that will see external stores loadouts, release tests and ground …

• Defence Helicopter

  Singapore Airshow 2018: Philippine Air Force purchases 412EPI

  6th February 2018

  A major announcement emanating from Bell Helicopter at Singapore Airshow 2018 on 6 February covered a long-expected purchase agreement for 16 Bell 412EPI helicopters for …

• Defence Notes

  Egyptian Army announces major anti-jihadist operation

  9th February 2018

  The Egyptian Army announced the launch of a major operation against jihadists across swathes of territory including the Sinai Peninsula, heart of a persistent Islamic …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Airbus, Naval Group collaborate on RUAV project

  17th January 2018

  Airbus Helicopters and Naval Group have been contracted by the French Defence Procurement Agency (DGA) to develop technologies for the integration of a rotary-wing UAV …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Aurora and Socionext to develop RFCM

  2nd February 2018

  Aurora Flight Sciences is partnering with Socionext to develop a Radar Flight Control Module (RFCM) for civil UAS, Aurora announced on 30 January. The radar-enabled …

• Defence Notes

  Singapore Airshow 2018: F-35B makes it debut (video)

  29th January 2018

  The USMC first entered the Asia Pacific region with its F-35B 12 months ago when the next generation fighter arrived at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni in …

• Naval Warfare

  Singapore Airshow 2018: Maritime patrol paramount in Asia-Pacific

  7th February 2018

  With procurement opportunities for maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) ongoing in the region companies present at the Singapore Airshow jockeyed to shine the spotlight on their …

• Defence Helicopter

  Jordan gets more Black Hawks to bolster defences

  28th January 2018

  The United States delivered another two Black Hawk helicopters to key Arab ally Jordan on 28 January to help protect the kingdom's borders and counter …

• Defence Notes

  Russia dismisses evidence of Iran-made missiles to Yemen

  31st January 2018

  Russia on 31 January dismissed evidence presented by the US and UN experts that Iran had supplied missiles to Yemen's Houthi rebels as inconclusive, signalling …

• Land Warfare

  SA-10U production begins in Ukraine

  31st January 2018

  Ukroboronprom’s Impulse has launched production of the SA-10U vehicle for the Ukrainian Army, the company announced on 29 January. The vehicle is designed to provide …

• Defence Helicopter

  Airbus fires laser-guided rockets from H145M

  2nd February 2018

  Airbus Helicopters has demonstrated the ability to fire 70mm laser-guided rockets (LGR) from its H145M helicopter, the company announced on 31 January. The firings of …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Unmanned Systems 2018: US Army’s SMET stalled

  7th February 2018

  While the US is once again on the brink of a government shutdown, the US Army is warning that programmes like its Squad Multipurpose Equipment …

• Land Warfare

  Bulgaria set to launch long-delayed armour upgrades

  31st January 2018

  The Bulgarian MoD has indicated it will acquire new wheeled IFVs as part of its modernisation agenda, in addition to upgrading existing Soviet-era armour. According …

• Defence Helicopter

  Lithuanians seek Hip replacement

  5th February 2018

  The commander of Lithuania’s Šiauliai Air Base, Lt Colonel Antanas Matutis, has outlined the Lithuanian Air Force’s (LAF) plans to introduce a new utility helicopter …

• Defence Helicopter

  Ecuadorian MoD receives first H125

  31st January 2018

  Airbus Helicopters has delivered the first H125 helicopter to the Ecuadorian Ministry of Defense, the company announced on 26 January.The company signed a contract in …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Loitering munitions

  DELI [Türkiye]

  Programme Background Speaking to Shephard at SAHA Expo 2022, a spokesperson stated that the platform was expected to enter into service with the Turkish Armed ...

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

  Short Range Reconnaissance (SRR) (Tranche 2) / Rucksack Portable UAS (RPUAS) [USA]

  Programme Background The Rucksack Portable UAS (RPUAS) Programme The RPUAS programme will provide the battalion and below-ground manoeuvre elements within the US Army with an ...

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

  Micro UAV [Argentina]

  Programme Background Tender The EA and MoD in April 2021 announced Public Tender 0090/2021 (UOC: 84/135), which saw the General Directorate of Material begin the process ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  AH-64E Apache (Indian Air Force)

  Programme Background The Indian Army was originally granted co-ownership of the 22 Apaches by the Indian MoD. However, the IAF refused to cede them to ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  ISR Civilian-Made UAVs [Taiwan]

  Background Civilian-made, Military-specification As reported by Shephard in April 2025, to accelerate the acquisition process and urgently build a larger UAV inventory, Taipei is enlisting the private ...

• Loitering munitions, Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Containerized Autonomous Drone Delivery System (CADDS) [US]

  Background CADDS Concept In early February 2026, the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) stated that it required the ability to rapidly deploy large quantities of UAS ...

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

  Sovereign UAS Challenge [Australia]

  Background Chinese Drones Banned As reported by Shephard in August 2023, the Australian Defence Force (ADF) previously used commercial UAS from companies such as DJI ...

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

  Akinci [Libya]

  Programme Background 2022 Reports In October 2022, various Libyan media outlets reported that the country was eyeing a possible procurement from Baykar, possibly the Akinici ...

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

  ScanEagle [Czechia]

  Programme Background Earmarked The ACR took delivery of ten ScanEagle systems (100 UAVs), which were received as a donation from the US in 2015. In ...

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

  TUAS [Malaysia]

  Programme Background Tender & Requirments The Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) issued a tender in May 2020 to provide a new Tactical Uncrewed Aerial System (TUAS). ...

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

  Large ULS-A / Aerial Logistics Connector (ALC) [USMC]

  Background US Marine ULS-A programmes The US Marines are seeking a family of Unmanned Logistics Systems-Air (ULS-A), which will provide logistics and ground units with their ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  C-37A - USAF

  Programme Background The USAF was using C-20B transport aircraft, variant of civilian Gulfstream III, to provide worldwide airlift for DoD and government officials. With the ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  OC-135B Replacement (USAF- Cancelled)

  Programme Background The modification and Treaty Certification works include Digital Visual Imaging System kits, design and development for mission system integration (structural design, interphone communications systems, ...

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

  HUSAR (2023 Order) [Germany]

  Programme Background First Order In 2015, the German Army launched the HUSAR programme to identify a replacement for its Airbus Defence & Space KZO and ...

• Loitering munitions

  ZT-180 [Russia]

  Background Claims On 23 February 2023, DER SPIEGEL reported that, according to information it had gathered, China and Russia were negotiating the purchase of 100 ZT-180 drones, ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• md4-3000

  The md4-3000 is a small VTOL quadcopter UAV with a maximum take-off weight of 15kg, one-third of which can be payload. It can fly by remote ...

• Neo V2

  Flycam UAV displayed the Neo V2 at the Commercial UAV Expo in Las Vegas in November 2016. Developed in 2014, the UAV has a twin-boom ...

• Falcon 8+

  Intel unveiled the Falcon 8+ for the first time at the Commercial UAV Expo in Las Vegas in November 2016. The V-Form octocopter, which will ...

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

  Skylark 3

  The Skylark 3 is a small UAS manufactured by Elbit Systems. It is designed for both dismounted and vehicle-based operations.  It can perform a range of ...

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

  M12 Monitor

  The Saxon Remote Systems M12 Monitor UAV is a commercial and military system designed to perform a range of roles such as surveillance, pipeline inspection ...

• H520

  The H520 is a hexarotor VTOL UAV designed for the commercial and industrial markets by Yuneec International. The system was unveiled in January 2017. It ...

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

  Resolute Eagle

  The Resolute Eagle is a tactical Group 3 UAS with fuselage and underwing payload bays, which is able to carry multiple sensors. The UAS has been ...

• Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  SICX-10E

  The SICX-10E is a rotary-wing UAV suitable for a range of military and civil roles, including tactical ISR, bomb damage assessment, homeland security, aerial surveillance, ...

• Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  SICX-25

  The SICX-25 is a rotary-wing UAV suitable for a range of military, commercial and civil missions, including tactical ISTAR, bomb damage assessment, civil air surveillance, ...

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

  30 June

  Developed by the Egyptian Ministry of Military Production, the 30 June is a MALE fixed-wing UAV designed for reconnaissance missions.  Additionally, it features an electromagnetic system and ...

• EO/IR systems

  Skybox

  The Skybox allows gimballed camera systems developed for small UAVs to be integrated on the nose of manned helicopters. It accommodates cameras such as DJI’s ...

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

  Wulung

  The Wulung is an Indonesian tactical UAV. First displayed at the Indo Defence Expo and Forum in November 2014, the aircraft entered mass production in May ...

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

  StratoAirNet

  The StratoAirNet is a lightweight MALE UAV that is solar-powered and designed for commercial and military applications. It can accommodate multiple payloads weighing up to ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Yagu

  Plasan unveiled the Yagu 4x4 at the March 2018 Expo Seguridad event. It is based on the Arctic Cat Wildcat 4 1000 commercial all-terrain vehicle. The ...

• Air: mission management systems

  TM-100 Map and Video Management system

  Trakka Systems introduced a new TM-100 Map and Video Management system at HAI Heli-Expo 2017 in Dallas. The augmented reality mapping system with metadata video and audio ...