• Defence Notes

  Top US military leader calls for BMDS space sensors

  28th February 2018

  With the US eyeing ways to bolster its Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS), the head of Strategic Command said the time has come to send …

• Defence Helicopter

  UK helo engine support wanted

  19th February 2018

  Leonardo Helicopters is seeking an engine support provider for the UK Ministry of Defence’s Merlin and Apache helicopters. Bids are being invited for the £1.1-£1.4 …

• Special Operations

  Global SOF 2018: Has US developed 'over reliance' on SOF?

  20th February 2018

  The US and its partners across the Central Command region may have developed an over-reliance on special operations forces (SOF), sometimes at the expense of …

• Defence Notes

  Canada to accept bid from Boeing for new fighter jets

  23rd February 2018

  Canada said on 22 February that it was allowing Boeing to submit a bid to replace the country's aging F-18 fleet, after an earlier trade …

• Digital Battlespace

  Japan, China enhance recon satellite coverage

  1st March 2018

  The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries launched an optical reconnaissance satellite into orbit aboard an H-IIA launch vehicle from the Tanegashima …

• Digital Battlespace

  Palomar receives display system contracts

  20th February 2018

  Palomar Display Products has received three contracts for the delivery of display systems for the M1 Abrams tank, M2/M3 Bradley fighting vehicle and Light Armored …

• Digital Battlespace

  Featured: JSTARS is just the start

  2nd March 2018

  The US Air Force's expected ‘system of systems’ approach to aerial surveillance for its JSTARS follow on capability could be replicated for other replacement programmes. …

• Special Operations

  Lockheed delivers 400th C-130J Super Hercules

  15th February 2018

  Lockheed Martin’s C-130J Super Hercules programme has reached a major milestone with the delivery of its 400th aircraft, the company announced on 12 February. The …

• Digital Battlespace

  SpaceX thrusts Spanish military satellite into orbit

  22nd February 2018

  Elon Musk's SpaceX sent a Spanish military satellite into orbit on 22 February in a day late liftoff from California, extending the private space company's …

• Digital Battlespace

  Saab rolls out first GlobalEye destined for UAE

  23rd February 2018

  Saab has rolled out the first of three GlobalEye Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C;) aircraft for the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The UAE selected …

• Defence Notes

  China boosts defence budget by 8.1%

  5th March 2018

  Kicking off the National People’s Congress session on 5 March, China announced a defence budget of RMB1.107 trillion ($175 billion), which equates to an increase …

• Defence Helicopter

  Heli-Expo 2018: MD softly, softly on 6XX

  28th February 2018

  Despite an aggressive timeline for MD Helicopters' 6XX attack helicopter to be market-ready this year, certification delays have hindered this process with the aircraft now …

• Defence Notes

  Putin sets course for new US arms race with 'invincible' weapons

  1st March 2018

  President Vladimir Putin on Thursday launched what appeared to be the start of a new arms race with Washington, as he boasted of a new …

• Land Warfare

  Featured: Philippines eyes wheeled and tracked AFVs

  6th March 2018

  The Philippine Army told Shephard as far back as 2014 that it harboured ambitions to procure main battle tanks within the 2020-28 period. However, a …

• Defence Notes

  Singapore Airshow 2018: Leonardo to deepen Asia-Pacific footprint

  12th February 2018

  Leonardo is planning a significant network expansion in the Asia-Pacific region, with the company expecting to increase the number of regional offices it has by …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

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

  V-Bat 128 [Brazil]

  Background Contract award On 7 February 2022, Shield AI announced on its website that it had, on 21 January 2021, signed a contract with VSK Tactical, through ...

• Military UAS - HALE

  Alliance Ground Surveillance (AGS) [NATO]

  Background Purchase While NATO doesn’t have its own forces and depends on its allies, the alliance does have some of its own assets and equipment. In ...

• Military UAS - HALE

  RQ-4 Global Hawk [South Korea]

  Background Requirments Seoul required UAS assets to help monitor its neighbour to the north and, increasingly, Chinese activities in waters and in the air near ...

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

  V-Bat [India]

  Background Make In India The ‘Make In India’ is an initiative by the Indian government to grow the domestic manufacturing industry. In the defence context, ...

• 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 ...

• AEW&C

  GlobalEye (1-3) [UAE]

  Programme Background The GlobalEye is a modification of Bombardier's Global 6000 jet aircraft fitted with the S-band Erieye Extended Range (ER) radar and mission system ...

• ISR/special mission

  Pegasus SIGINT Aircraft (1-3) [Germany]

  Programme Background Requirement The Pegasus (Persistent German Airborne Surveillance System) project aims to fulfil a SIGINT capability which has been missing in the German Armed ...

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

  Xtender [US]

  Programme Background Previous Procurement In early 2021, the US Department of Defence awarded a contract to XTEND for the platform in partnership with Isreal's MoD. ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | MVX Programme [Finland]

  Seeking to replace its two ageing Dornier 228 Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA), the Finnish Border Guard commenced its MVX program in 2019. The programme, which was ...

• Data links

  Data links | MVX Programme [Finland]

  Seeking to replace its two ageing Dornier 228 Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA), the Finnish Border Guard commenced its MVX program in 2019. The programme, which was ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | MVX Programme [Finland]

  Seeking to replace its two ageing Dornier 228 Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA), the Finnish Border Guard commenced its MVX program in 2019. The programme, which was ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | MVX Programme [Finland]

  Seeking to replace its two ageing Dornier 228 Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA), the Finnish Border Guard commenced its MVX program in 2019. The programme, which was ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | GlobalEye [Canada]

  In February 2026, the Canadian AI company Cohere signed a new partnership with Saab for integration of Artificial Intelligence technologies onto the Global Eye AEW&C; ...

• Data links

  Data links | GlobalEye [Canada]

  In February 2026, the Canadian AI company Cohere signed a new partnership with Saab for integration of Artificial Intelligence technologies onto the Global Eye AEW&C; ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | GlobalEye [Canada]

  In February 2026, the Canadian AI company Cohere signed a new partnership with Saab for integration of Artificial Intelligence technologies onto the Global Eye AEW&C; ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Heavy UGVs

  WOLF-X

  The WOLF-X is a wheeled 8x8 Robotic Combat Vehicle developed by HDT Global in partnership with McQ and BAE Land & Armament Systems. In September 2023, as ...

• Trainer

  HJT-36 Sitara

  Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) designed and developed the subsonic HJT-36 Sitara single-engine aircraft to meet the requirements of the Indian Air Force (IAF) and Indian ...

• Military UAS - HALE

  RQ-4 Global Hawk

  The Global Hawk is a HALE UAV manufactured by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI). Primarily designed to carry ISTAR payloads, the platform has accumulated more ...

• Deployable/static missile systems

  Khordad-3

  Khordad-3 is a long-range air defence missile system in service with the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Force of Iran.  The system was unveiled ...

• Heavy UGVs

  Robotics Technology Demonstrator

  BAE Systems unveiled its Robotics Technology Demonstrator (RTD) at the AUSA exhibition in 2019. Designed to meet the requirements of the US Army's Robotic Combat ...

• EO/IR systems

  MS-177 (series)

  The MS-177 is an EO/IR sensor designed to enhance the strategic ISR capabilities of the US military's RQ-4 Global Hawk UAS over land and maritime ...

• Short Range Missile Defence Systems: 0 to 20 km range

  Initial Maneuver - SHORAD

  Unveiled at AUSA 2019, Initial Maneuver Short Range Air Defense (IM-SHORAD) is a multipurpose platform, based on the Stryker IFV, which moves and maneuvers in ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV)

  BAE Systems' Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV) was developed in response to a US Army requirement for a platform to replace the ageing M113 APCs in ...

• Data links

  GSNC

  Global Secure Network Connection (GSNC) provides a global data communications solution for military aircraft, including bomber, refuelling and transport aircraft. The GSNC system uses Iridium ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  Bradley NG/RB301

  BAE Systems introduced the Bradley Next Generation (NG) at AUSA 2016 to showcase a cost-effective option for extending the M2 Bradley's service life into the 2030s. Centred around ...

• Heavy UGVs

  Ripsaw M5

  The Ripsaw M5 has been developed to meet the requirements of the US Army's Robotic Combat Vehicle (RCV) programme for a family of new UGVs. ...

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

  Fang

  Fang is a first-person view (FPV) UAS for precision strike roles. The drone is aimed to launch in Q2 2025. Developed by Red Cat, the drone ...

• Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - small

  Golden Eagle HS

  The Golden Eagle HS (Heavy Strike) is a rotary-wing UAV that can be armed with Rafael's powerful Spike SR and LR2 missiles, providing ground troops with anti-armour ...

• Military helicopters - scout/light attack

  H125M

  The H125M, formerly the AS550 C3e Fennec, is a military version of the civil H125. The helicopter platform is manufactured by Airbus Helicopters, through the manufacturer's ...

• Loitering munitions

  L-Spike 4X

  The L-Spike 4X is a loitering munition first displayed by Rafael US at AUSA 2025.  iI will be offered with two primary warhead configurations: Tandem HEAT ...