• Defence Notes

  Beijing's South China Sea bombers fly in face of protests

  22nd May 2018

  China's brazen landing of nuclear-capable bombers on anisland in the disputed South China Sea is a bold power play to bolster its territorial claims while …

• Defence Notes

  Netanyahu says Iran crossed 'red line' with rocket fire

  10th May 2018

  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Iran had crossed a ‘red line’ by firing rockets at Israeli forces from Syria, leading to major Israeli air …

• Land Warfare

  SOFEX 2018: Workhorse of the German Army rehomed in Jordan

  9th May 2018

  With the ex-German Army Marder 1A3s now making a home in Jordan, Rheinmetall says it has plenty of stock left of the IFV for other …

• Land Warfare

  Vilkha missile system completes testing

  1st May 2018

  The Ukraine-built Vilkha missile system has completed final testing, Ukroboronprom announced on 25 April. The missile has been under development for the Ukraine Army for …

• Defence Helicopter

  SOFEX 2018: Hulk Mi-26 steals the show

  8th May 2018

  Some calling it the star of this year’s SOFEX exhibition, the Russian Helicopters Mil Mi-26T2 cargo helicopter for the Jordanian armed forces has made its first …

• Digital Battlespace

  USAF baseline SBIRS constellation complete

  4th May 2018

  The US Air Force's (USAF's) fourth Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS) Geosynchronous Earth Orbit (GEO) satellite has transmitted its first images back to Earth, Lockheed …

• Naval Warfare

  Raytheon wins Barracuda system contract

  25th April 2018

  Raytheon has received an $83 million contract to design, test and deploy the Barracuda mine neutralisation system for the US Naval Sea Systems Command, the …

• Digital Battlespace

  CIA faces crippling challenges in China

  17th May 2018

  China’s perfection of facial recognition and gait detection software, integrated into algorithms that have access to millions of profiles of ‘blacklisted’ individuals, would give Cold …

• Naval Warfare

  Hanoi demands Beijing withdraw missiles from disputed islands

  9th May 2018

  Hanoi has demanded Beijing remove military equipment from contested islands in the South China Sea, saying reported missile installations are a ‘serious violation’ of Vietnam's …

• Military Logistics

  Germany requests C-130J and KC-130Js

  8th May 2018

  The US State Department has made a determination approving a potential foreign military sale of three C-130J-30 and three KC-130J aircraft to Germany, the Defense …

• Defence Notes

  Israeli strikes used 28 planes, 70 missiles: Russia

  10th May 2018

  Israel's strikes on Syria saw 28 planes take part in raids with a total of around 70 missiles fired, the Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) …

• Defence Notes

  US commandos help Saudis against Yemen rebels

  4th May 2018

  A team of elite US Green Beret commandos were deployed to the Saudi border of Yemen in 2017 to help find and destroy Huthi rebel …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Delair introduces UX11 UAS

  1st May 2018

  Delair has developed a new fixed-wing UAS for survey-grade mapping called the UX11, the company announced on 26 April. The UAS is a hardware-software solution that …

• Defence Notes

  Saudi Arabia downs Yemeni rebel missile

  27th April 2018

  Saudi Arabia's air defences on 27 April intercepted a missile fired by Yemeni rebels, days after the insurgents' second-in-command was killed in an air raid …

• Naval Warfare

  Insight: China breaks promises and militarises South China Sea reefs

  3rd May 2018

  News has emerged from a US television network, likely leaked by US intelligence sources, that China has installed two missile types onto three of its reclaimed …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Fighter - multirole

  Rafale [France]

  Programme Background Rafale F4 is the latest configuration of the Rafale fighter jet family. New functions will also be developed to improve the aircraft’s capabilities ...

• Military helicopters - maritime

  MH-60R [Australia]

  Programme Background Requirement The RAN already has 24 MH-60R Seahawks (the last delivered in September 2016), so this represents a 50% increase in fleet size. ...

• ISR/special mission

  ISTAR Aircraft [South Korea]

  Programme Background 2018 - Issue of RfI The South Korean Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) stated that Seoul planned to procure additional aircraft to minimise potential surveillance ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  Project Sea 129 Phase 5 [Australia]

  Programme Background Requirement Project Sea 129 Phase 5 was intended to acquire a new ISR UAS capability for the RAN. The aircraft was required to perform ...

• Landing craft and hovercraft

  Littoral Manoeuvre Vessel - Medium (Project Land 8710 Phase 1A) [Australia]

  Programme Background Requirements Australia has set out requirements for a fleet of up to 18 Littoral Manoeuvre Vessels - Medium (LMV-M) with the release of ...

• Military UAS - rotary-wing

  VTOL UAV [New Zealand]

  Background Defence Capability Plan (DCP) In April 2025, the New Zealand government published the DCP, a document that is essentially a blueprint for what procurements ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | ISTAR Aircraft [South Korea]

  The Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) has a requirement for up to four intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance (ISTAR) aircraft to supplement its ...

• Data links

  Data links | ISTAR Aircraft [South Korea]

  The Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) has a requirement for up to four intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance (ISTAR) aircraft to supplement its ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | ISTAR Aircraft [South Korea]

  The Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) has a requirement for up to four intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance (ISTAR) aircraft to supplement its ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | ISTAR Aircraft [South Korea]

  The Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) has a requirement for up to four intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance (ISTAR) aircraft to supplement its ...

• ISR/special mission

  E-6 TACAMO Recapitalisation Programme (E-130J) [USN]

  Programme Background The E-6 Take Charge and Move Out (TACAMO) Recapitalisation Programme (E-XX) provides for air vehicle replacement and mission systems modernization to augment and eventually ...

• Main battle tanks

  M1A2T Abrams [Taiwain]

  Programme Background Taiwan has had a long-standing desire to attain M1A1 or M1A2 Abrams from the US in order to replace elderly M60A3 TTS and CM11 ...

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

  MQ-9A Reaper Block 5 [Italy]

  Programme Background Initial Procurement Italy submitted a $330 million FMS request through the Defence Security Cooperation Agency for four MQ-9A aircraft, four GCS and five ...

• 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 ...

• Submarines: nuclear/ballistic missile

  Dreadnought Class (Successor Programme) (1-4) [UK]

  Programme Background Requirements The Dreadnought-class, prior to being named in October 2016, was known as the Successor programme, which was approved by the government in May ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Surface-to-air missiles

  SM-2 Block IIIC/Block IIICU

  The SM-2 Block IIIC and Block IIICU are medium-range, surface-to-air missiles with active radio frequency seekers. Both missiles are modifications to legacy SM-2 Block III/IIIA/IIIB ...

• Man-portable missile systems

  FIM-92 Stinger

  The FIM-92 Stinger, passive-guided MANPADS, was developed by General Dynamics to meet the requirements of the US Army to defence against low-flying threats. It replaced ...

• Air: Integrated Defensive Systems

  ESTL

  The Enhanced Survivability Technology (ESTL) is an integrated self-protection pod with missile approach warning (MAWS) manufactured by Saab. It is designed to counter RF and IR ...

• Surface-to-air missiles

  SkyCeptor

  The SkyCeptor missile is a multi-mission interceptor developed collaboratively by Raytheon and Israel's Rafael Advanced Defense Systems. It is a derivative of the Stunner missile ...

• Surface-to-air missiles

  RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) Block 2

  The RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) Block 2 is a short-range, ship-launched missile designed primarily to defend naval vessels against incoming anti-ship missiles and aerial ...

• Surface-to-air missiles

  SM-1MR Block VI

  The RIM-66 Standard-1MR is a medium-range surface-to-air missile that can also take on the role of an anti-ship missile. It was developed as part of ...

• Multipurpose missiles

  BGM-71 TOW

  The BGM-71 Tube-launched Optically tracked Wire-guided (TOW) missile entered US Army service in 1970. As well as being integrated on vehicles and helicopters, TOW can be ...

• Sea: ship surveillance and fire control systems

  MK 99

  The MK 99 is a fire control system developed and produced by Raytheon.  The system works as an interface to connect a vessel's missiles and ...

• Sea: weapon training

  SM-1 and SM-2 Standard Missile and Harpoon Missile with Guided Missile Launcher Mk 13 Mod 4 Simulator

  Textron's SM-1 and SM-2 Standard Missile and Harpoon Missile simulator simulates a guided missile launching system and guided missile launcher, Mk 13 Mod 4, in ...

• Air-to-air missiles

  AIM-92 Stinger

  The Air-to-Air Stinger (ATAS), designated as the AIM-92 Stinger, is a short-range air-to-air missile developed as a helicopter-launched configuration of the FIM-92 Stinger MANPADS. It ...

• Land: air defence radar

  LTAMDS

  The Raytheon Lower Tier Air and Missile Defense System (LTAMDS) is an active electronically scanned array Gallium Nitrade (GaN) radar. The use of GaN strengthens ...

• Surface-to-air missiles

  RIM-161 Standard Missile 3 Block IIA

  The SM-3 Block IIA is an advanced interceptor missile designed for exo-atmospheric engagements against intermediate-range ballistic missiles and limited intercontinental ballistic missile threats. The SM-3 Block ...

• Sea: naval surveillance radar

  AN/SPY-3

  The AN/SPY-3 is a multifunction naval radar developed and manufactured by Raytheon. Its intended uses include horizon and surface search, navigation, periscope detection, discrimination, and ...

• Surface-to-air missiles, Surface-to-surface missiles

  RIM-174 Standard ERAM SM-6 Block I/IA

  The SM-6 (RIM-174 Standard ERAM) is a surface-to-air supersonic missile launched from cruisers and destroyers, capable of successfully engaging crewed and uncrewed, fixed- or rotary-wing ...

• Surface-to-air missiles

  MIM-104 A/B Patriot (PAC-1)

  The MIM-104 Phased Array Tracking to Intercept of Target (Patriot) is an American Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM) designed for air defence duties. The original Patriot entered US ...