• Defence Notes

  3D photonic crystals could unlock wider potential of lasers

  13th October 2020

  Crystals reduce energy leaks from unwanted optical transitions, say US Army researchers

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Northrop Grumman delivers new capabilities to Global Hawk aircraft

  24th September 2020

  Northrop Grumman has delivered a pair of sensors to enhance the capability of its Global Hawk high-altitude long-endurance autonomous aircraft system. In a 24 September …

• Land Warfare

  AAVs to gain new thermal sight

  21st September 2020

  US Marine Corps Systems Command is buying up to 163 thermal sights, spare parts, special tools and test equipment from L3Harris – Space & Sensors. …

• Land Warfare

  Arnold Defense announces two major orders for FLETCHER (sponsored)

  13th October 2020

  USSOCOM and an undisclosed European specialist unit place orders for the land-based 2.75in rocket launcher.

• Digital Battlespace

  Indian and Vietnamese ships to include Israeli-made surveillance system

  8th September 2020

  Controp is to supply surveillance and observation equipment for new ships being built in India and Vietnam for the Vietnamese Border  Guard. The contracts are …

• Land Warfare

  FFG unveils fully hybrid Genesis vehicle

  5th October 2020

  The Genesis full hybrid technology solution for 8x8 armoured vehicles was designed with a modular concept, providing a low thermal signature and silent movement.

• Digital Battlespace

  USN to test MS-177A long-range imaging sensor

  16th September 2020

  Collins Aerospace has been awarded a $19.9 million contract by the Office of Naval Research (ONR), to build and provide a MS-177A long-range multi-spectral imaging …

• Land Warfare

  India wants its BMP-2s to fight at night

  8th September 2020

  The Indian Army released an RfI on 4 September to upgrade the armament sights of hundreds of BMP-2 IFVs and BMP-2K command variants, so as …

• Land Warfare

  Russians put Verba through its paces

  14th September 2020

  The 9K333 Verba MANPADS system has been used to cover a military train, in a special drill conducted by air defence units in the Russian Southern Military …

• Defence Helicopter

  Russian Helicopters enhances Mi-35P

  25th August 2020

  Rostec announced on 24 August that its subsidiary Russian Helicopters has begun serial production of the upgraded Mil Mi-35P attack helicopter. Production is being carried out at …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Australia homes in on new ASW target

  16th September 2020

  The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) will receive Saab’s AUV62-AT anti-submarine warfare target under an A$11 million ($8.07 million) deal, while elsewhere research is taking place …

• Land Warfare

  ​Kollsman to build advanced night sight prototypes for USMC

  8th September 2020

  Elbit Systems of America subsidiary Kollsman is to produce its multispectral, clip-on weapon night sight for the USMC. The selection is part of Phase II …

• Military Logistics

  USAF chases a zero-carbon future

  8th September 2020

  USAF innovation testbed AFWERX is seeking industry input on future solutions for resilient energy production, transmission, use, and storage. Submissions to participate in the Reimagining …

• Land Warfare

  IAI markets EO sensor to detect gunfire

  4th September 2020

  Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) is marketing a compact sensor that brings improved technology to detect gunfire. ELO-5220P Othello is an optical threat locator that provides precise information …

• Land Warfare

  Pakistan finally fields upgraded Al-Khalid tank

  4th August 2020

  On 28 July the Armoured Corps of the Pakistan Army held a rollout ceremony for the upgraded Al-Khalid-I MBT at a Heavy Industries Taxila (HIT) …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - micro

  NX70 Microdrone (Third Batch)

  Programme Background The French Army procured the NX70 to meet an urgent operational requirement for a small UAS that could provide short-range ISR for dismounted ...

• Military UAS - micro

  NX70 Microdrone (First Batch)

  Programme Background The French Army procured the NX70 to meet an urgent operational requirement for a small UAS that could provide short-range ISR for dismounted ...

• Military UAS - micro

  NX70 Microdrone (Second Batch)

  Programme Background The French Army procured the NX70 to meet an urgent operational requirement for a small UAS that could provide short-range ISR for dismounted ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  OC-135B Replacement [USA]

  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, ...

• ISR/special mission

  King Air 350ER ISR [Kuwait]

  Programme Background In February 2018, the US State Department has approved an estimated $259m potential foreign military sale of King Air 350ER intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance ...

• ISR/special mission

  King Air 350ER -Canada

  Background Canadian Special Forces was looking to procure ISR aircraft to support their missions both overseas and domestically.  There were few Canadian suppliers to sell the ...

• Military UAS - mini, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  FPV Drones [Moldova]

  Programme Background Lithuanian Drones Lithuania's Minister of National Defense, Laurynas Kasciunas, announced that Lithuanian-produced thermal night vision devices and FPV drones had begun being delivered to Moldova during ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Exploration and Reconnaissance Vehicle (VERT) [Spain]

  Programme Background The VAMTAC ST5 is already in Spanish service with the Spanish Army, Navy, and Air Force in various configurations. In June 2025, the ...

• Main battle tanks

  Leclerc XLR [France]

  Programme Background The French Army originally planned to upgrade a total of 322 of its Leclercs to the Leclerc XLR standard by 2030. A total ...

• Military UAS - small

  Black Hornet 3 PRS (UK)

  Programme Background The British Army operated approximately 160 first-generation Black Hornet PD-100 nano UAS between 2013 and 2017, when the decision was made to retire ...

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

  DEF129 (Nano UAS) [Australia]

  Programme Background DEF129 The Australian Ground Service has combined various army procurement efforts under the DEF129 programme to increase the abundance and proliferation of UAVs ...

• Main battle tanks

  Viatura Blindada de Combate-Carro de Combate (VBC-CC) [Brazil]

  Programme Background Several key technical requirements have been outlined by the Brazilian MoD. Among the most important are that the platform should weigh less than ...

• Trainer

  Joint Terminal Attack Controller (Project Air 6016)[Australia]

  Programme Background Requirements Project Air 6016 aims to deliver a sovereign training system to ensure the sustainable generation of sufficient and appropriately skilled Joint Terminal Attack ...

• Military UAS - mini, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Project Tiquila [UK]

  Programme Background Tender Notice On 18 September 2020, the MoD Combat Air Unmanned Air Systems (UAS) Team published a tender notice for a system integrator ...

• Main battle tanks

  VT5 [Bangladesh]

  Programme Background The Bangladesh MoD issued an RfI for a new light tank and a related ARV in September 2017. This will be easier to ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• EO/IR systems

  USG-261T

  The USG-261T is a night-view, light-weight mini camera gimbal designed for small fixed-wing and multirotor platforms. It has a thermal imaging camera to capture videos in ...

• Land: handheld NV devices

  Vipir-2S+

  Vipir-2S+ is a lightweight, military-standard, handheld thermal sight designed for medium-range surveillance and target observation. Vipir-2S+ utilises uncooled thermal imaging technology. 

• Land: handheld NV devices

  Alice HH

  The Alice HH is an uncooled handheld thermal imaging camera based on a high-resolution focal plane, using uncooled IR technology with no need for cryo-cooling ...

• Core systems: cameras and IR detectors

  Piranha ZTI

  The Piranha ZTI is an uncooled thermal imaging camera. The lens features anti-reflective coatings throughout and a diamond-line carbon coating on the external surface.

• Core systems: cameras and IR detectors

  Juniper

  The Juniper is a miniature, uncooled, wide-FOV thermal imaging camera which can be integrated into miniature UAVs, small robotic vehicles, small maritime EO payloads and ...

• Core systems: cameras and IR detectors

  CamSight

  CamSight is a family of lightweight, compact core cameras to be integrated into complex optronic systems equipping UAV, UGV, and UGS systems. The CamSight optronic modules ...

• Land: handheld NV devices

  U3061i

  The U3061i is an uncooled thermal imaging camera used for individual soldier observation. Its detection range is 2.5km for personnel and up to 14km for ships. ...

• EO/IR systems

  SPARROW SR-HD

  The SPARROW SR-HD is a thermal imaging camera for versatile applications such as intelligence gathering, surveillance, and long-range control systems.  This uncooled infrared system operates ...

• EO/IR systems

  MicroPOP

  IAI has upgraded the Micro Plug-In Optronic Payload (Micropop). It is an observation payload designed for integration on small UAVs and UGVs. The MicroPOP is ...

• Land: vehicle surveillance/target acquisition systems

  STAWS

  The Surveillance Target Acquisition and Weapon Aiming Sight (STAWS) provides 24-hour all-weather surveillance and target acquisition. It is an integrated, passive, multispectral sighting system utilising ...

• Core systems: cameras and IR detectors

  Atom

  Atom is a high-resolution IR camera core, available based on uncooled microbolometer IR detectors of either 1,024x768 or 640x480px. The cores can be integrated into ...

• EO/IR systems

  Micro-STAMP

  The MICRO-STAMP is an ultra-small EO/IR payload. It features an uncooled IR thermal imaging camera, a high-resolution TV CMOS camera and a dual FOV uncooled IR detector. It ...

• Weapon sights for night use (thermal imaging)

  ZiR-60

  The ZiR-60 thermal imaging attachment is designed to be used with day optical sights mounted on sniper weapons, to convert them into functional thermal sights ...

• EO/IR systems

  Denizgözü Martı

  The Denizgözü Martı is an Electro-Optical Reconnaissance and Surveillance System designed for marine applications. Its main components include an uncooled LWIR thermal imaging sensor, a ...

• EO/IR systems, Land: unattended sensor/surveillance systems

  DANIS

  The Day and Night Integrated System (DANIS) is a short-range (up to 1,000m) day and night observation camera system for security applications. The mechanical two-axis ...