• Air Warfare

  US Air Force prepares next stage of E-3 Sentry modernisation

  12th May 2026

  The USAF intends to conduct the second phase of the DRAGON programme from FY2026 to FY2030, while the future of the E3 replacement remains unknown.

• Land Warfare

  Sweden seeks US HIMARS missile system to expand long-range strike capability

  13th March 2026

  The proposed $920 million deal would provide Sweden with a step up from its existing tube artillery and align the country with other northern European nations that have selected the HIMARS platform.

• Land Warfare

  World Defense Show 2026: Saudi Arabia’s record defence spend highlights uncertain times

  6th February 2026

  Saudi Arabia’s investment in its land forces, notably in the area of air defence as recently as 30 January, is a sign of the challenges the Gulf State faces, particularly the threat from Houthi rebels in Yemen.

• Naval Warfare

  SAHA 2026: Turkey markets modular undersea systems to European buyers

  13th May 2026

  Turkey’s defence industry is pushing a class of platform and building an entire philosophy of cost-imposition around it.

• Air Warfare

  Why the F-16 fighter jet remains a force to be reckoned with (updated 2026)

  28th January 2026

  The Lockheed Martin F-16 fighter jet remains in the limelight more than 40 years after its first flight. Shephard sums up the latest developments and details everything you need to know about the aircraft in 2026.

• Land Warfare

  World Defense Show 2026: Middle East remains focused on US equipment and local industry involvement

  10th February 2026

  Vehicle procurement in the Middle East continues to target big-ticket main battle tanks, with lighter platform purchases also potentially on the horizon including tactical, infantry fighting and armoured personnel carrier vehicles.

• Defence Notes

  Nuclear costs crowd out key defence priorities in UK investment plan, say SDR authors

  8th July 2026

  The UK government’s Defence Investment Plan has been criticised by the authors of the Strategic Defence Review (SDR) 2025 which formed the basis of the plan. The SDR’s external reviewers told the country’s defence committee how the plan misses the mark.

• Land Warfare

  K9 rolls on as Egypt unveils systems, Australia fires and Vietnam and Norway place orders

  4th December 2025

  Hanwha Aerospace’s tracked K9 Thunder 155mm/52-calibre self-propelled howitzer has had notable success in the market over the past few years in Europe and Asia, with Poland alone ordering 316 systems.

• Land Warfare

  Europe’s eastern flank moves on air defence radars with wider efforts also underway

  28th July 2026

  Air defence radars have become more important assets in the past year with incursions in NATO countries on Europe’s eastern flank highlighting the need.

• Air Warfare

  UH-60M Black Hawk: export demand underpins $13 billion market opportunity

  19th May 2026

  The UH-60M is the latest variant of the UH-60, a workhorse multirole helicopter that continues to attract further orders from across the globe. With further modernisation upgrades underway, the platform is expected to remain in operation until 2050.

• Land Warfare

  World Defense Show 2026: Rostec unveils new infantry fighting vehicle

  9th February 2026

  The latest infantry fighting vehicle from Rosoboronexport draws on experience from the war in Ukraine, and is designed to be more lethal and more survivable than its predecessors.

• Land Warfare

  Estonia drops CV90 plan as it shifts towards uncrewed systems and firepower

  13th April 2026

  The country is scaling back its reliance on heavy battlefield equipment in favour of upgrading existing platforms and investing in firepower, mobility, unmanned systems and situational awareness.

• Air Warfare

  Baykar’s Kizilelma drone makes progress with first air-to-air kill

  1st December 2025

  This test is the latest milestone achieved by the indigenous drone, destroying a target using a beyond-visual-range missile.

• Defence Notes

  As the new year starts, the UK defence spending delay continues

  6th January 2026

  The UK’s defence spending commitments remain uncertain as the government’s Defence Investment Plan, which had been due by the end of 2025, is yet to be published.

• Air Warfare

  BAE Systems and Turkish Aerospace team up on UAS opportunities

  7th November 2025

  The two companies will work together to explore ways to collaborate on the development of uncrewed air systems.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• 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 - MALE

  Bayraktar TB2 [Libya]

  Programme Background Acquired & Lost In 2019 and 2020, the Government of National Accord (GNA) used TB2 units against the Libyanian National Army (LNA). Al Marsad ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  MQ-9A Reaper (7-8) [Italy]

  Background Initial purchases (1-6) The Italian Air Force acquired four MQ-9A Reapers in the Block 1 standard in 2008. A further two UAVs were acquired ...

• ISR/special mission

  C-208B ISR [Tunisia]

  Programme Background Requirement The acquisition of the C-208B Grand Caravan EX aircraft is part of Tunisia’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its ISR capabilities in response ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-35A [Turkey]

  Background Programme involvement Turkish involvement in the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter programme began in the early 2000s, with the country's participation beginning in the concept demonstration ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  A330 MRTT (1-9) [NATO]

  Programme Background Following operations in Libya and extensive analyses by the European Defence Agency (EDA), it was agreed at the NATO Summit in 2012 that ...

• ISR/special mission

  MC-27J [Algeria]

  Programme Background Algeria has a long standing ISR aircraft requirement to support its Beech 1900 fleet comprised of six aircraft. The new ISR fleet is ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  A330 MRTT Follow-On [NATO]

  Programme Background Following operations in Libya and extensive analyses by the European Defence Agency (EDA), it was agreed at the NATO Summit in 2012 that ...

• Landing platform docks/dock landing ships

  LPD replacements [Turkey]

  Background Turkey currently operates 5 LSTs, two Bayraktar-class, two Sarucabey-class and one Osmangazi-class. Defence Insight has identified that the Sarucabey-class LSTs are expected begin to ...

• Submarines: nuclear/attack

  Nukden SSN [Turkey]

  Background Requirements Turkey aims to procure SSNs to support its foreign policy aim to grow as a global power and increase its deterrence against regional ...

• Submarines: conventional/attack

  Reis Class (1-6) [Turkey]

  Background Turkey is taking delivery of six Reis-class Type 214TN diesel-electric attack (SSK) submarines from German shipbuilder ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS). The new boats are ...

• Trainer

  Hurjet (1-17) [Turkey]

  Background Platform development The Turkish Executive Committee of Defence Industry (SSIK) has officially given the green light to mass production of the Hürjet trainer and ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  A400M [Turkey]

  Background OCCAR The Turkish A400M order was placed through the organisation for joint armament and cooperation (OCCAR), a six nation development and production programme. OCCAR's ...

• Amphibious assault ships

  TCG Anadolu LHD [Turkey]

  Background TCG Anadolu is a Multipurpose Assault Ship (LHD) built by Sedef in Tuzla for the Turkish Navy. The vessel, which is the single largest ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-16V [Turkey]

  Background Requirement Turkish Air Force ordered 100 F-35A aircraft as a partner nation, however, the country was removed from the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter programme in ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - mini

  Bayraktar Mini

  The Bayraktar Mini UAS is used for short-range ISR applications and can be deployed in harsh environments. It is hand-launched and is powered by an ...

• Self-propelled guns

  Firtina

  The Fırtına 155mm/52cal tracked SPH is a Turkish-built version of the Samsung Techwin (now Hanwha) K9 Thunder. Production began in 2001, and it is estimated that more ...

• Trainer

  SF-260

  The SF-260 is a piston-engined or turboprop-powered screener/primary trainer that made its first flight in July 1964. It is a single-engine, low-mounted, cantilever-wing aircraft with ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  ACV-15

  The Armoured Combat Vehicle (ACV) is the generic designation for a tracked, diesel engine powered, heavy armoured platform in the 13-15 tons class, capable of ...

• Fighter - ground attack

  Su-24

  The Su-24 (NATO reporting name Fencer) is a fighter-bomber aircraft designed to meet Soviet Air Force requirements to replace the Yak-28. Its variants include tactical ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Kirpi I/Kirpi II

  The Turkish Land Forces Command (TLFC) selected BMC's 350-16 Z Kirpi (Hedgehog) 4x4 MRAP vehicle to meet its requirements following a competitive evaluation and ordered ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6, MPVs - 4x4

  Jais MRAP

  The Jais 4x4 and 6x6 are Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles from the UAE's NIMR. Formally known as both the RG35 and N35, the Jais ...

• Loitering munitions, Military UAS - mini

  Kargu

  The Kargu, or Kargu-2, is a quadcopter loitering munition and UAS manufactured by Turkish company STM. The platform is designed for asymmetric warfare or anti-terrorist ...

• Air-to-surface missiles, Surface-to-surface missiles

  Brimstone

  MBDA developed the Brimstone missile to provide an air-to-surface missile to equip UK RAF Tornados. The Dual Mode Brimstone (DMB) semi-active laser and the millimetre-wave, ...

• Fighter - air superiority

  F-5A/B Freedom Fighter

  The F-5A (single-seat)/B (twin-seat) is a supersonic fighter aircraft developed by Northrop originally to meet the USN's requirement for a light jet to operate from ...

• Main battle tanks

  Upgraded M60

  IMI's Upgraded M60, originally known as the Sabra, is rooted in the company's experience upgrading M48 and M60 MBTs to the Magach standard for the Israel ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Vuran

  A prototype of the Vuran 4x4 multipurpose armoured vehicle was first exhibited in 2009, but the design continued to evolve until 2018 when the production ...

• Naval: COMINT and ELINT systems

  ARES 2-NC Compact ESM System

  The Aselsan ARES 2-NC Naval Platform Compact ESM System has been designed specifically for attack boats. Offering the capabilities of detection, interception, classification and tracking of ...

• Self-propelled guns

  Attila

  The Attila is a wheeled 155mm self-propelled howitzer (SPH) developed by MKE. Unveiled at SAHA 2026, the Attila is intended to provide Turkey with a ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

  Multi Role Tactical Platform (MRTP) 16

  The Multi Role Tactical Platform (MRTP) 16 is an interceptor craft designed by Yonca Onuk JV. A number of units are currently on active duty ...