• Land Warfare

  France receives first MMP weapon systems

  4th December 2017

  The French armed forces has received the first batch of 50 missiles and 20 firing posts of the medium-range Missile Moyen Portee (MMP) missile, MBDA …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Shadow UAS sustainment continues for Italy, US

  8th December 2017

  Italy will look to maintain its current Shadow V2 fleet through the next decade after awarding an $8.1 million sustainment contract to Textron Systems Unmanned …

• Defence Notes

  GDA 2017: The threat from Houthi missiles (analysis)

  12th December 2017

  A bewilderingly rapid series of events have rocked the Middle East recently as the smouldering Iran-Saudi Arabia rivalry threatened to turn hot.  This is especially …

• Military Logistics

  US Army embraces big data for logistics

  4th December 2017

  The US Army’s Logistics Support Agency (LOGSA) is enhancing its use of data, working with IBM to analyse trends and even predict failures in its …

• Training

  Singapore develops C2 tool for wargames

  7th December 2017

  The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) and Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA) collaborated to develop a networked C2 system dedicated for Exercise Forging Sabre, a …

• Training

  I/ITSEC 2017: Brazil renews MASA SWORD contract

  29th November 2017

  The Brazilian Army has chosen to renew its software maintenance contract with MASA after four years of training command staff using the MASA SWORD solution. …

• Land Warfare

  GDA 2017: Qatar becomes first VBCI export customer

  7th December 2017

  The French-made VBCI 8x8 armoured vehicle has finally secured an export customer in Qatar, following a billion-dollar trade deal finalised between France and the Gulf …

• Training

  I/ITSEC 2017: US Army trials digital sandbox

  30th November 2017

  The US Army Research Laboratory continues to advance its Augmented Reality Sandtable (ARES), which is aiming to give soldiers greater battlefield visualisation compared with older …

• Digital Battlespace

  Singapore launches bug bounty programme

  12th December 2017

  Under a computer bug bounty programme, the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) has appointed American white hat hacker firm HackerOne to test the Ministry of Defence’s …

• Training

  I/ITSEC 2017: US Army to acquire WIAMan

  30th November 2017

  The US Army is set to invest in the new Warrior Injury Assessment Manikin (WIAMan) anthropomorphic test device (ATD) which is set to go into …

• Training

  I/ITSEC 2017: US Army looks to avoid the tyranny of training

  28th November 2017

  The US Army wants to escape the ‘tyranny of training’ as it continues to look for multi-domain and home based training solutions that are viewed …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Indian military yearns for larger UAV inventory

  6th December 2017

  The Indian military’s desire for UAVs will soon be boosted with further RfPs. While the army is already processing an RfP for mini-UAVs, India is …

• Land Warfare

  Kongsberg receives additional CROWS orders

  5th December 2017

  Kongsberg will deliver additional Protector Remote Weapon System Station (RWS) Low Profile CROWS configuration for the US Army’s M1A2 Abrams main battle tank, the company …

• Defence Helicopter

  Bell 412EPs bound for Argentina

  8th December 2017

  The Argentinian Air Force is to expand its fleet of helicopters with the addition of Bell 412EP helicopters and accompanying training. The $27,256,160 contract was …

• Digital Battlespace

  NZDF fields networked elements during Southern Katipo

  1st December 2017

  The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) used the large-scale Exercise Southern Katipo in October-November to field elements of its Network Enabled Army (NEA) programme, ahead of …

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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• Corvettes

  Shadhinota Class (Type C13B)

  The Shadhinota class (Type C13B) corvettes are a platform based on the Type 056 Jiangdao class used by the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), built by the ...

• Submarines: conventional, attack

  S26T [Thailand]

  Programme Background The Royal Thai Navy has been in the process of acquiring a new submarine for a number of years. They formally selected China's ...

• Frigates

  Jiangkai III Class (Type 054B / Type 057)

  Following the rapid production and relative success of the Type 054A Jiangkai II class frigates, the Peoples Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) are developing a successor to ...

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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• Air-to-air missiles, Surface-to-air missiles

  TY-90

  TY-90 is a multi-purpose, short-range, IR-guided, tactical surface-to-air missile developed by China to defend against helicopters, fixed-wing aircraft and cruise missiles at low and super-low ...

• 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 repel submarine threats from long distances.

• Tanks

  Type 62

  The Type 62 light tank entered production for the Chinese People's Liberation Army in 1963. Essentially a smaller, lighter clone of the Type 59 MBT, it is ...