• Defence Notes

  Syria Kurds battle Turkish invasion

  10th October 2019

  Kurds battled to hold off a Turkish invasion on 10 October after air strikes and shelling launched a long-threatened operation that could reshape the country …

• Land Warfare

  US approves Javelin sale to Ukraine

  7th October 2019

  The US State Department has approved a possible Foreign Military Sale of 150 Javelin man-portable anti-tank missiles to Ukraine.  Worth $39.2 million including support, Congress …

• Digital Battlespace

  NIMCIS 4.0 upgrade for the Netherlands

  16th September 2019

  General Dynamics UK will continue to roll out the New Integrated Marines Communications and Information System (NIMCIS) 4.0 programme for the Royal Netherlands Marine Corps, …

• Digital Battlespace

  DSEI 2019: Collins Aerospace Systems launches SATCOM alternative

  19th September 2019

  Collins Aerospace Systems’ new Universal Radio Group (URG)-IV wideband High Frequency (HF) communications system is aimed at land and naval customers who require a cheaper …

• Digital Battlespace

  Motorola Solutions to upgrade Pacific radio system

  10th September 2019

  Motorola Solutions has been awarded a contract modification to upgrade and expand the Pacific Japan and Korea land mobile radio system.The $10.1 million modification was …

• Digital Battlespace

  DSEI 2019: 'New' space race calls for UK strategy rethink

  9th September 2019

  In the face of a global ‘space race’ the UK is being urged to better define its role in the domain and confirm how many …

• Naval Warfare

  Bofors 57 Mk3 gun selected for Bundespolizei OPVs

  4th September 2019

  BAE Systems has been selected to provide three Bofors 57 Mk3 naval guns for the new 86m Offshore Patrol Vessels to be delivered to the …

• Defence Helicopter

  MSPO 2019: Clock ticks for Romanian rotary plans

  28th August 2019

  The Romanian MoD struggle to procure new rotary platforms has been a long-running issue, overdue correction, not only to enhance troop transport and supply capabilities …

• Defence Notes

  US Defense Secretary Esper reiterates need for NATO nations to spend more

  6th September 2019

  Mark Esper – the recently appointed US Defense Secretary – reiterated the US stance that its NATO allies should commit more to their defence expenditures …

• Defence Notes

  MSPO 2019: Turkish F-35 production aircraft left without a home

  3rd September 2019

  The Pentagon's decision to remove Turkey from the F-35 programme has since left production made aircraft readied for Ankara without an owner. Lockheed Martin has …

• Defence Notes

  US approves sale of 66 F-16 fighters to Taiwan

  21st August 2019

  The US State Department on 20 August approved the sale of 66 F-16 fighters to Taiwan, in a move expected to anger Beijing. Taiwan will …

• Land Warfare

  First Strykers hit home in Thailand

  30th August 2019

  The US military has delivered the first two M1126 Stryker 8x8 Infantry Carrier Vehicles (ICV) to the Royal Thai Army (RTA), according to US announcements …

• Naval Warfare

  USN awards LRIP contract for ESSM weapons

  27th August 2019

  The US Navy has awarded Raytheon a $190 million low-rate initial production contract for Block 2 versions of the Evolved SeaSparrow Missile (ESSM).  Block 2 …

• Digital Battlespace

  Podcast: Five Eyes Connectivity - Tactical data links

  26th September 2019

  Welcome to Shephard Studio’s special series on Five Eyes Connectivity, sponsored by our partner Viasat.  Listen on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify and more. In the Five Eyes Connectivity podcast …

• Land Warfare

  Malaysia to nix helicopter and SPH purchases

  4th September 2019

  The Malaysian government is looking to cancel procurement of six MD 530G helicopters from Destini Berhad and MD Helicopters, as well as 29 M109A5 SPHs …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | Fighter Aircraft [United Arab Emirates]

  While a formal requirement has not been announced, the United Arab Emirates is in the market for a fifth-generation fighter capability based on various media ...

• Data links

  Data links | Fighter Aircraft [United Arab Emirates]

  While a formal requirement has not been announced, the United Arab Emirates is in the market for a fifth-generation fighter capability based on various media ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  Air: Helmet-mounted displays | Fighter Aircraft [United Arab Emirates]

  While a formal requirement has not been announced, the United Arab Emirates is in the market for a fifth-generation fighter capability based on various media ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | Fighter Aircraft [United Arab Emirates]

  While a formal requirement has not been announced, the United Arab Emirates is in the market for a fifth-generation fighter capability based on various media ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | Fighter Aircraft [United Arab Emirates]

  While a formal requirement has not been announced, the United Arab Emirates is in the market for a fifth-generation fighter capability based on various media ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | A-400M [United Arab Emirates]

  At IDEX 2025, two representatives from Airbus discussed the details behind a potential bid from the United Arab Emirates for the A-400M aircraft. The A-400M ...

• Data links

  Data links | A-400M [United Arab Emirates]

  At IDEX 2025, two representatives from Airbus discussed the details behind a potential bid from the United Arab Emirates for the A-400M aircraft. The A-400M ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | A-400M [United Arab Emirates]

  At IDEX 2025, two representatives from Airbus discussed the details behind a potential bid from the United Arab Emirates for the A-400M aircraft. The A-400M ...

• AEW&C

  GlobalEye (4-5) [UAE]

  Programme Background The United Arab Emirates Air Force is taking delivery of three GlobalEye (known also as Global 6000) aircraft from Saab. The UAE signed a contract ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  A330 MRTT (4-5) [UAE]

  Programme Background United Arab Emirates Air Force had a requirement for three tanker aircraft. Boeing confirmed that the UAE sent an official request for three ...

• Transport

  A-400M [United Arab Emirates]

  Programme Background At IDEX 2025, two Airbus representatives shared insights into a possible offer from the United Arab Emirates for the A-400M aircraft. The A-400M ...

• Corvettes

  Gowind 2500 (1-2) [UAE]

  Programme Background Timeline The Gowind 2500 design has proved a popular export, and variants have been ordered by four countries. Naval Group confirmed the sale of ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Fighter Aircraft [United Arab Emirates]

  Programme Background Competitors and Bids Lockheed Martin On 25 September, the United Arab Emirates submitted a FMS request for the F-35A; the proposal was approved ...

• Corvettes

  Gowind 2500 Procurement (3-4) [UAE]

  Programme Background Timeline The Gowind 2500 design has proved a popular export and variants have been ordered by four countries. Naval Group confirmed the sale ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Sherpa Light [Egypt]

  Programme Background Egypt is believed to have taken delivery of at least 173 Sherpa Lights and 18 Sherpa Light Scout 4x4 armoured vehicles from Arquus ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• MPVs - 4x4

  Kasser II

  Produced by M4 Industries based in Abu Dhabi, Kasser is a 4x4 MRAP that is currently being developed for the United Arab Emirates. The vehicle ...

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

  JERNAS-S

  The JERNAS-S, formerly known as the Jeer, is a fixed-wing UAV developed by ADASI, a subsidiary of the EDGE Group. The UAV is designed to conduct ...

• Air: Integrated Defensive Systems

  Falcon Edge/IEWS

  Northrop Grumman’s Falcon Edge Integrated Self-Protection System (ISPS) equips the United Arab Emirates Air Force’s (UAEAF) Lockheed Martin F-16E/F Block-60 fighters.  The first incarnation of ...

• Air: Defensive Systems - MLDS, Land: Defensive Systems - Gunshot Detection / Hostile Fire Indicator

  ShotFinder Acoustic Hostile Fire Detection

  Northrop Grumman’s ShotFinder is a hostile fire detection system designed to protect aircraft against small arms and light weapons fire. The apparatus employs acoustic technology ...

• Self-propelled rocket launchers

  MCRL

  The Multiple Cradle Rocket Launcher (MCRL) was developed by Al Jaber Land Systems (AJLS) in cooperation with Roketsan to meet the requirements of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and ...

• Air: Displays

  Digital Light Engine Head-Up Display

  BAE Systems Digital Light Engine (DLE) HUD is designed to upgrade existing display equipment with a modular, electro-optic digital system. According to the manufacturer, DLE HUDs ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM, Land: Radio and SATCOM

  AN/ARS-6(V12) PLS

  The new AN/ARS-6 (V12) Personnel Locator System (PLS) Receiver/Transmitter (R/T) is a functional replacement for the old AN/ARS-6. These systems are used to locate missing ...

• Sealift/replenishment vessels

  Al Saadiyat (Logistics Support Vessel)

  Al Saadiyat is the most recent logistics support vessel to be built for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Navy. The vessel is effectively a large ...

• Fixed wing aircraft engines, Uncrewed aerial systems engines

  F110-GE-129

  The F110-GE-129, manufactured by GE Aviation, is a derivative of the F110-GE-100 engine. It powers the F-16V Block 70, the F-16C/D Block 50 and Japan's ...

• Air: Electronic Attack - Jamming

  ELT/558

  The ELT/558 is a low-band jammer designed for the self-protection of fighter aircraft and combat helicopters. Systems support platform protection using jamming and deception of search/scanning, ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  IPN

  Produced by Selex ES (now part of Leonardo), the IPN is a family of combat management systems. Also known as SADOC 2, it is in ...

• Air: Defensive Systems - Radar Warning Receivers

  AN/APR-48B

  Lockheed Martin’s AN/APR-48B is a modernised radar frequency interferometer. The digital receiver-based system features enhanced receiver sensitivity to allow the system to detect a threat, ...

• Air: AEW/fire control radar

  AN/APG-80

  The AN/APG-80 is an X-band active electronically scanned array radar system with approximately 1,000 transmit/receive modules, designed for continuous search and multi-target tracking capabilities in ...

• Corvettes

  Comandanti/Sirio Class (FCX15)

  The Comandanti-class corvettes designed and built by Italian company Financatieri are in service with the Italian Navy, which operates four, with the first commissioned in 2001, ...

• Surface-to-air missiles

  SkyKnight

  The SkyKnight missile, developed by Halcon—a subsidiary of the UAE's EDGE Group—is the nation's first indigenous counter-rocket, artillery, and mortar (C-RAM) system. Unveiled at IDEX ...