• Naval Warfare

  ADECS 2019: A ‘dragon’ is tilting the Indo-Pacific’s naval balance of power

  30th January 2019

  At this year’s ADECS 2019 conference in Singapore, there were few delegates willing to address the South China Sea and China’s growing assertive in the …

• Training

  ADECS 2019: Asia has taste for Russian and Chinese trainers

  22nd January 2019

  The Lao People’s Liberation Army Air Force received its first Yakovlev Yak-130 advanced jet trainer (AJT) from Russia on 20 December, and three more have …

• Land Warfare

  US Army seeks new 155mm munitions

  12th February 2019

  In a sources sought request posted on 11 February 2019, the US Army stated its interest in a new 155mm Cannon-Delivered Area Effects Munition (C-DAEM) anti-personnel, …

• Military Logistics

  US Army looks to recapitalise more HEMTTs

  8th February 2019

  On 7 February 2019 the US announced four more contracts with Oshkosh Defense for recapitalised Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Trucks (HEMTT). These contracts total $233 …

• Digital Battlespace

  US Army seeks follow-up to IAMD Raytheon A-Kit

  8th February 2019

  The US Army announced that it is looking for developers interested in creating a follow-up to Raytheon’s A-kit of the Integrated Air and Missile Defense …

• Defence Notes

  US Army to buy two Israeli Iron Dome air defence systems

  7th February 2019

  The US Army said on 6 February 2019 that it wants to purchase a pair of Iron Dome short-range air defence systems, an interceptor technology …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  US Army to reach RQ-7B Shadow downselect decision shortly

  7th February 2019

  The US Army is due to downselect three unmanned systems and issue associated testing contracts for its RQ-7B Shadow tactical UAS (pictured) replacement programme before the …

• Training

  British Army tests VR technology for training

  7th February 2019

  The British Army has awarded a £1 million contract to Bohemia Interactive Simulations (BISim) to demonstrate the use of virtual reality (VR) for soldier training …

• Special Operations

  JSOU looks to yoga and meditation

  12th February 2019

  Readiness and resilience of special operations forces could be extended through increased emphasis on yoga and meditation, a Joint Special Operations University (JSOU) report has …

• Defence Helicopter

  Eight Mi-8 helicopters for Russian Army CMD

  11th February 2019

  The Russian Army’s aviation brigade stationed in the Chelyabinsk region of the Central Military District (CMD) has received eight new Mi-8 MTV-5 transport combat helicopters, …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Avalon 2019: Seeds sown for Team Reaper in Australia

  1st March 2019

  Team Reaper is preparing for business opportunities as the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) edges closer to buying the MQ-9 Reaper armed MALE platform from …

• Land Warfare

  Full rate production delay for JLTV

  6th February 2019

  There will now be a delay in the full-rate production (FRP) decision for the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) which was originally planned for December 2018, Shephard has …

• Land Warfare

  Leonardo DRS to expand in Missouri

  12th February 2019

  Leonardo DRS is set to build a new engineering, development and light manufacturing facility in Bridgeton, Missouri, to accommodate its growing land systems business, the …

• Defence Notes

  Planes, tanks, subs: the Thai generals' shopping list

  14th February 2019

  Defence spending in Thailand has surged over the last decade, during which the military has seized power twice. The junta-picked National Legislative Assembly has proposed …

• Land Warfare

  SIG Sauer M18 clears reliability testing

  7th February 2019

  Sig Sauer’s M18 modular handgun system (MHS) has successfully completed a lot acceptance test with zero stoppages during US Army material reliability testing, the company …

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 ...