• Training

  RAAF to retire its PC-9/A aircraft

  5th March 2019

  The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) will officially retire its PC-9/A aircraft in 2019, the Australian Department of Defence announced on 28 February. The Roulettes …

• Special Operations

  Avalon 2019: RfT for Aussie SOF helicopters approaches

  28th February 2019

  Contenders, including Airbus Helicopters, Bell and Leonardo, have already responded to last September’s RfI for the Australian Army’s requirement for 20 light special operations helicopters. …

• Training

  Avalon 2019: GaardTech a target rich company

  26th February 2019

  Australian company GaardTech has had considerable success since its launch in September 2018 having won contracts for its target systems with the Australian Army and …

• Defence Helicopter

  GE told to freeze all EMD activity on ITEP contract (Updated)

  22nd February 2019

  The US Army has directed General Electric to indefinitely stop all work associated with its recently awarded $517 million EMD contract issued as part of …

• Land Warfare

  Indian Army to accept interim Arjun Mk IA tank

  22nd February 2019

  After a month of trials was completed in Rajasthan in December 2018, the Indian Army has accepted an updated version of the Arjun MBT developed …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  IDEX 2019: Big contracts on the horizon for Milrem

  25th February 2019

  Once again Milrem Robotics' THeMIS UGV was unavoidable at an international trade show in various weaponised configurations and after years of pushing the platform some larger …

• Special Operations

  Putin spotlights Russian SOF

  5th March 2019

  Russian special operations forces will benefit from “consistent reinforcement and development” in 2019 and beyond, according to a speech made by President Vladimir Putin on …

• Land Warfare

  Bulgaria sets back wheeled armoured vehicle tender

  6th March 2019

  Despite continuous delay in Bulgarian tender for new armoured vehicles, a number of potential bidders have confirmed their commitment to the procurement programme. After failing …

• Military Logistics

  US Army gets cooking on containerised kitchen programme

  21st February 2019

  The US Army is requesting industry assistance in the prototype development of a new Closed Combustion Containerised Kitchen (CCCK) design. Service interest in industry support for …

• Digital Battlespace

  Avalon 2019: Radar and CMS opportunities abound for Saab

  26th February 2019

  Saab has work lined up in Australia concerning radars and combat management systems (CMS), with one recent major achievement being reception of an order to …

• Land Warfare

  US Army’s AMPV enters LRIP phase

  22nd February 2019

  BAE Systems has received two contract modifications worth up to $575 million from the US Army to begin low-rate initial production (LRIP) of the Armoured …

• Digital Battlespace

  Aero India 2019: Saab is IDAS-ready for next-gen Indian platforms

  21st February 2019

  Saab and its subsidiary Grintek Defence have a long-standing history in supplying its Integrated Defensive Aids Suite (IDAS) to the Indian armed forces’ military rotary-wing …

• Defence Helicopter

  Heli-Expo 2019: Airbus pleads autorotation defence ahead of US Navy trainer award

  26th February 2019

  The upcoming US Navy Advanced Helicopter Training System (AHTS) contract is one that Airbus is confident it can win, despite suggestions that expected costs of …

• Land Warfare

  IDEX 2019: BAE Systems continues prospecting in the Middle East

  21st February 2019

  At IDEX 2019 in the vehicle domain BAE Systems showcased potential upgrade paths for nations in the region with existing equipment such as the Bradley …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  ​HAL’S RUAV for Indian services

  1st March 2019

  A long-term requirement for rotary unmanned aerial vehicles for the Indian military is now being addressed by government-owned defence manufacturer Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL). The new …

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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 defeat submarine threats from long distances.

• 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 ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - HALE

  BZK-005

  The BZK-005 is a Chinese-made HALE UAS that debuted at Airshow China in November 2018. The platform is designed for wide-area ISR tasks, and in ...