• Defence Notes

  Defence Capability Plan expands NZ’s military

  10th June 2019

  The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) will increase the size of its military and acquire new amphibious ships under the latest Defence Capability Plan (DCP) …

• Defence Notes

  Insight: China’s marine corps eyes new missions far from home

  27th June 2019

  Expanding from the two brigades it possessed just a few years ago, the People’s Liberation Army Navy Marine Corps (PLANMC) that was established in 1953 …

• Defence Helicopter

  S-97's speed remains in testing

  26th June 2019

  The co-axial S-97 Raider programme has managed to successfully overcome software-based problems that caused a past hard landing incident. A new process of qualification has …

• Defence Helicopter

  Safran extends engine support commitments in Thailand

  3rd July 2019

  Safran Helicopter Engines and Thai Aviation Industries (TAI) have signed an agreement to extend their support for helicopter engines used by the Royal Thai Armed …

• Digital Battlespace

  Paris Air Show: Leonardo, Diamond team for maritime patrol

  17th June 2019

  Leonardo and Diamond Aircraft Industries are offering a new version of the twin-engine DA62 aircraft customised for maritime surveillance missions. The DA62 Maritime Surveillance Aircraft …

• Land Warfare

  US Army to deploy enhanced Stinger missile

  21st June 2019

  The US Army is set to roll out Stinger missiles enhanced with proximity fuzes as it looks to counter the growing threat of enemy UAS.The …

• Land Warfare

  Russia reveals all-new 120mm self-propelled gun

  5th July 2019

  The 120-mm 2S42 Lotos self-propelled gun (SPG) for Russia’s elite Airborne Troops branch was shown to the public for the first time at Army-2019 defence …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Howler reaches IOC with US Army

  20th June 2019

  The Howler counter-UAS system has achieved Initial Operational Capability with the US Army, Raytheon announced on 18 June.Combining the capabilities of Raytheon's Ku band radio …

• Land Warfare

  South Korea completes development of 8x8 SPAAG

  6th June 2019

  The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) in South Korea announced on 4 June that it has completed development of a self-propelled anti-aircraft gun (SPAAG) based …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  US Army adjusts SMET robot concept

  24th June 2019

  A tiny name change – from ‘squad’ to ‘small’ – reflects a huge lesson learned in the US Army’s newly named Small Multipurpose Equipment Transport (SMET) programme. …

• Defence Notes

  Shangri-La Dialogue 2019: ASEAN mute on international rule breakers

  3rd June 2019

  In sharp contrast to China’s bellicose tone at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, the voices of most ASEAN and others’ defence ministers were particularly muted …

• Land Warfare

  Mortar-equipped CV90 sparks international interest

  6th June 2019

  Sweden's FMV recently showed off the new CV90 Mortar vehicle (designated the Grkpbv 90) to an audience of representatives from Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, the …

• Naval Warfare

  Sri Lankan Navy receives ships from regional rivals

  13th June 2019

  The strategic importance of Sri Lanka in South Asia was underlined this week when the Sri Lankan Navy (SLN) took delivery of vessels from the …

• Land Warfare

  Poland considers next-generation tank development

  24th June 2019

  As Poland considers the development of its next-generation MBT, the European nation will look to open its doors to input from both domestic and international …

• Training

  MetaVR to provide more Reaper training software

  1st July 2019

  The US Army Joint Technology Center and Systems Integration Lab (JSIL) has purchased an additional 86 MetaVR Virtual Reality Scene Generator (VRSG) licenses to provide …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - mini

  Indiza (South Africa)

  Programme Background Trials The South African National Defense Force (SANDF) is known to have begun trialling the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Indiza ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - mini

  Indiza - Additional Units (South Africa)

  Programme Background First Procurement After trialling the platform, in September 2019 the South African Army chief confirmed the Indiza had been procured to support SANDF peacekeepers ...

• Military UAS - mini

  ECAC/2022/199 [South Africa]

  Programma Background Two Tenders In March 2023, DefenceWeb reported that the South African Army's tender ECAC/2022/154 was put on hold due to bidders failing to ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | SAS Drakensberg Replacement [South Africa]

  The South African Navy needs to replace the SAS Drakensberg Combat Support Ship (CSS), which entered service in 1987. In October 2023, the South African Navy Chief ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | SAS Drakensberg Replacement [South Africa]

  The South African Navy needs to replace the SAS Drakensberg Combat Support Ship (CSS), which entered service in 1987. In October 2023, the South African Navy Chief ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Project Hoefyster (South Africa)

  Programme Background History The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) first formulated operational requirements for a new ICV in 1995, but modernisation of South Africa's ...

• OPVs

  Project Biro (1-3) [South Africa]

  Programme Background Three multi-mission inshore patrol vessels (MMIPVs) have been procured for the South African Navy under Project Biro. Based on Damen's Stan Patrol 6211 ...

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

  Milkor 380 [South Africa]

  Programme Background According to Milkor, as reported by defenceWeb, during its successful showing of the UAV at AAD 2022, an MoU was signed with the South ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  Project Kiepie [South Africa]

  Programme Background South African Air Force has been planning to replace 47TP (DC-3)s and C212s since mid-2010s. However, budget issues put this replacement programme behind the other ...

• Sealift/replenishment vessels

  SAS Drakensberg Replacement [South Africa]

  Programme Background Requirements The South African Navy needs to replace the SAS Drakensberg Combat Support Ship (CSS). SAS Drakensberg was launched in 1986 and commissioned ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | C-130 Replacement [South Africa]

  The South African Air Force (SAAF) is actively exploring options to replace its ageing fleet of Lockheed Martin C-130BZ Hercules transport aircraft, which have been ...

• Data links

  Data links | C-130 Replacement [South Africa]

  The South African Air Force (SAAF) is actively exploring options to replace its ageing fleet of Lockheed Martin C-130BZ Hercules transport aircraft, which have been ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | C-130 Replacement [South Africa]

  The South African Air Force (SAAF) is actively exploring options to replace its ageing fleet of Lockheed Martin C-130BZ Hercules transport aircraft, which have been ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  RG32M Replacement [Ireland]

  Programme Background Ireland currently maintains a small army designed for home defence. It is only deployed abroad as part of operations authorised by the UN. ...

• Main battle tanks

  Project Aorta

  During the 1990s, the SANDF envisioned the procurement of 282 new MBTs to replace the Olifants then in service. Should a similar tender be initiated ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Wheeled assault guns

  Rooikat

  The 76mm-armed Rooikat 6x6 armoured car was developed in 1976-89 for the South African Army and the first of 240 vehicles was delivered in 1989. The ...

• Trucks and utility vehicles - 4x4

  SAMIL 50

  Like other vehicles in the South African Military (SAMIL) series the SAMIL 50 all-wheel-drive 4x4 truck was developed in the 1980s to meet the requirements ...

• Trucks and utility vehicles - 4x4

  SAMIL 20

  The all-wheel-drive 4x4 SAMIL 20 is the smallest member in the South African Military (SAMIL) truck range developed in the 1980s to meet the requirements ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - small

  Indiza

  The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Indiza small fixed-wing mini-UAV started its development in 2017 and was deployed to the Democratic Republic of Congo ...

• Naval guns

  Denel 35mm Dual Purpose

  The Denel 35mm Dual-Purpose is a naval dun system developed by South African Denel. The Denel 35mm comprises two Denel GA35 cannons and the non-deck-penetration ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Casspir

  Originally adopted by the Apartheid-era South African Police for COIN operations in Namibia, the Casspir is generally regarded as having pioneered the development of the ...

• Patrol boats

  Warrior Class (Stan Patrol 6211)

  Under Project Biro, the South African Navy is acquiring three new multi-mission inshore patrol vessels. The project is expected to run for approximately seven years, ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  Oryx

  The Oryx is a medium-sized utility helicopter based on the Airbus SA 330 Puma. It was manufactured to meet South African military requirements during the ...

• Surface-to-air missiles

  Umkhonto-IR Block II

  The Umkhonto-IR Block II is a South African-developed medium-range surface-to-air missile. It was designed for all-around defence against simultaneous air attacks from multiple targets. The ...

• Air: aerial targets

  Skua

  The Skua is a high-speed aerial target in service with the South African National Defence Force since 1994.

• Trucks and utility vehicles - 6x6

  SAMIL 100

  The all-wheel-drive 6x6 SAMIL 100 is the largest member of the South African Military (SAMIL) truck series developed in the 1980s to meet the requirements ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  AML

  Panhard developed the 4x4 AML (Auto Mitrailleuse Légère) in 1956-1960 to meet a French Army requirement for a fast, long range light armoured car which carried ...

• Land: air defence radar

  RSR 320 – DBRXL

  The RSR 320 – DBRXL 3D ground-based dual-band radar is based on the ESR 220 Thutlwa local warning radar already in service with the South ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  Ratel

  The Ratel Infantry Combat Vehicle (ICV) was developed to meet the specific operational requirements of the Apartheid-era South African military for a highly mobile, reliable ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Maatla 4x4

  Paramount's Maatla 4x4 is a Light Protected Vehicle (LPV) aimed at the African off-road armoured vehicle market. Announced at the African Aerospace and Defence Expo (AAD 2022) in ...