• Defence Notes

  C. Africa army head came to Russia for training says minister

  10th January 2019

  The defence minister of the Central African Republic said in an interview published Thursday that the chief-of-staff of the conflict-riven nation's army had been in …

• Digital Battlespace

  General Dynamics receives Canadian Land C4ISR contracts

  4th February 2019

  General Dynamics Mission Systems Canada has received three contracts totalling $621.5 million from the Canadian government to support the Land C4ISR system for the Canadian …

• Defence Helicopter

  India gets its hands on first Chinooks

  6th February 2019

  The Indian Air Force (IAF) is to receive 15 CH-47F Chinook helicopters from Boeing, and the first was formally handed over during a ceremony at …

• Defence Notes

  South Sudan looks to foreign powers for peace deal funding

  23rd January 2019

  South Sudan has called on the international community to fund efforts to implement a peace deal, which is already four months behind schedule due to …

• Naval Warfare

  India approves Project 75(I) submarines

  1st February 2019

  India’s Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) announced on 31 January that it had approved a programme to build six diesel-electric submarines under Project 75(I), with more …

• Land Warfare

  British Army receives first production Ajax vehicles

  22nd January 2019

  Without much fanfare the UK MoD has taken delivery of the first two production standard Ajax Ares variants, Shephard has learnt. The two vehicles were …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Endeavor Robotics to support US Army UGVs

  4th February 2019

  Endeavor Robotics has received a five-year IDIQ contract to modernise and maintain the US Army’s existing fleet of UGV platforms, the company announced on 31 …

• Land Warfare

  Thailand buys more VN1s from China

  6th February 2019

  The Royal Thai Army (RTA) has approved the purchase of 39 more VN1 8x8 armoured vehicles from Norinco, following a first order of 34 vehicles in …

• Land Warfare

  Japanese future amphibious vehicle takes shape

  24th January 2019

  The research and design of the Japanese Future Amphibious Vehicle has begun to take shape as the country seeks to shore up defence of remote …

• Military Logistics

  US Army tests new boot prototypes

  14th January 2019

  The US Army will be testing new army combat boot (ACB) prototypes at three different basic training and active duty installations over the next four …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  ADECS 2019: Australian air force anticipates Triton’s prospects

  31st January 2019

  The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) is looking forward to a wide range of new capabilities and synergies when it begins operating its first MQ-4C …

• Digital Battlespace

  Russian Army receives Artek systems

  1st February 2019

  The Russian Army’s 41st Combined Arms Army stationed in the Altai Territory of the Central Military District has received three upgraded Artek radio communications stations, …

• Military Logistics

  FLIR receives CBRN DR-SKO delivery order

  1st February 2019

  FLIR Systems has received an order to deliver 24 Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Dismounted Reconnaissance Sets, Kits and Outfits (CBRN DR-SKO) systems to the …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  More FLIR Black Hornet PRS for US Army

  29th January 2019

  FLIR Systems will deliver its Black Hornet personal reconnaissance systems (PRS) in support of the US Army Soldier Borne Sensor (SBS) programme, the company announced …

• Special Operations

  USSOCOM touts ‘successes’ from high-tech suit project

  12th February 2019

  The Tactical Assault Light Operator Suit (TALOS), an effort by US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) to develop wearable technology that dramatically increases the survivability and …

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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...