• Military Logistics

  UAE follows Saudi in joining US-led Gulf flotilla

  19th September 2019

  The UAE followed Saudi Arabia on 19 September in joining a US-led force to protect Gulf shipping as tensions with Iran soared following twin attacks …

• Defence Notes

  After long wait, India anticipates new fighters

  26th September 2019

  The Indian Air Force (IAF) will commission its first four Rafael fighters in Dassault’s Bordeaux-Mérignac facility on 8 October, an event to be attended by …

• Defence Helicopter

  First production Mi-38 set for delivery

  16th September 2019

  The first production Mil Mi-38 helicopter has been declared ready for customer delivery and will be operated by Russian Helicopter Systems, a privately owned Russian …

• Naval Warfare

  Bangladesh receives final Indonesian-designed patrol boats

  16th September 2019

  North Sea Boats, the trading name for the Indonesian shipbuilder PT Lundin, has completed delivery of the final examples of 18 fast patrol boats for …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Indonesia tries out Chinese CH-4B drones

  19th September 2019

  The Indonesian Air Force (TNI-AU) trialled a couple of Chinese-manufactured CH-4B MALE UAVs during the Dharma Yudha joint exercise from 9-12 September. This was the …

• Land Warfare

  MSPO2019: Modernised Leopard 2PL makes European debut

  9th September 2019

  Polish manufacturer ZM Bumar-Labedy, a member of the PGZ holding, displayed the first production model of its modernised Leopard 2PL MBT at MSPO, with several modifications …

• Land Warfare

  DSEI 2019: Dutch Army leads on CV90 Iron Fist integration

  11th September 2019

  The Royal Netherlands Army is a step closer to equipping its CV90 IFV fleet with a new active protection systems (APS) following the completion of testing …

• Land Warfare

  Philippine marines rehearse at sea with AAVs

  10th September 2019

  Philippine Marine Corps (PMC) crews trained on their new Korea Amphibious Assault Vehicles (KAAV), acquired from Hanwha Techwin, alongside the USMC in early September. US …

• Digital Battlespace

  NZ issues RfI to advance its networked army

  12th September 2019

  New Zealand has initiated Tranche 2 of its Network Enabled Army (NEA) programme following governmental approval in July. The project is digitising the New Zealand …

• Defence Helicopter

  China finally signs AHL contract

  29th August 2019

  China and Russia, after a long passage of time, have finally signed a commercial contract to jointly develop the Advanced Heavy Lift (AHL) helicopter, a …

• Special Operations

  US joint special ops identifies new technology needs

  30th July 2019

  USSOCOM’s Program Executive Office Special Operations Forces Warrior (PEO-SW) and Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) have identified a number of their emerging technology needs.  The …

• Defence Notes

  India’s budget shortfall is thwarting modernisation

  8th August 2019

  India’s defence budget for April 2019-March 2020 presented by the re-elected government has fallen short of expectations, with planned modernisation of the military i likely …

• Training

  CPI to supply T-38C modification kits

  30th July 2019

  CPI Aerostructures has received a $65.7 million IDIQ contract from the US Air Force to supply T-38 aircraft modification kits, the company announced on 29 …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  GA-ASI continues collaboration with Cobham for Protector

  23rd July 2019

  General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI), announced in July that it has reaffirmed its collaboration with Cobham Aviation Services UK for through-life support strategies for the …

• Defence Helicopter

  India receives its first Apaches

  29th July 2019

  The first batch of four Boeing AH-64E Apache Guardian attack helicopters reached Indian shores ahead of schedule on 27 July. They were airlifted into Hindan …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Loitering munitions

  DELI [Türkiye]

  Programme Background Speaking to Shephard at SAHA Expo 2022, a spokesperson stated that the platform was expected to enter into service with the Turkish Armed ...

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

  Akinci [Libya]

  Programme Background 2022 Reports In October 2022, various Libyan media outlets reported that the country was eyeing a possible procurement from Baykar, possibly the Akinici ...

• Transport

  C-130J [Vietnam]

  Programme Background Requirement Vietnam’s interest in acquiring the C-130J reflects a broader effort to modernise its air transport fleet, which was previously dominated by Russian ...

• Corvettes

  Steregushchy Class (Project 20380) (11-18)

  Programme BackgroundThe Steregushchiy class (Project 20380) corvettes are designed to operate in littoral combat zones and engage with enemy ships and submarines. The multi-role missions ...

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

  Short Range Reconnaissance (SRR) (Tranche 2) / Rucksack Portable UAS (RPUAS) [USA]

  Programme Background The Rucksack Portable UAS (RPUAS) Programme The RPUAS programme will provide the battalion and below-ground manoeuvre elements within the US Army with an ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | JF-17 [Azerbaijan]

  Azerbaijan has been known to be a potential buyer of JF-17 Thunder aircraft since 2015. The country is operating Su-24/25 and MiG-29 jets in service; ...

• Data links

  Data links | JF-17 [Azerbaijan]

  Azerbaijan has been known to be a potential buyer of JF-17 Thunder aircraft since 2015. The country is operating Su-24/25 and MiG-29 jets in service; ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  Air: Helmet-mounted displays | JF-17 [Azerbaijan]

  Azerbaijan has been known to be a potential buyer of JF-17 Thunder aircraft since 2015. The country is operating Su-24/25 and MiG-29 jets in service; ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | JF-17 [Azerbaijan]

  Azerbaijan has been known to be a potential buyer of JF-17 Thunder aircraft since 2015. The country is operating Su-24/25 and MiG-29 jets in service; ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | JF-17 [Azerbaijan]

  Azerbaijan has been known to be a potential buyer of JF-17 Thunder aircraft since 2015. The country is operating Su-24/25 and MiG-29 jets in service; ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  AH-64E Apache (Indian Army)

  It is a hybrid procurement, as was the 2015 Air Force one (see separate entry), employing both a direct commercial sale with Boeing and an ...

• Submarines: conventional, attack

  Hangor Class Submarines [Pakistan]

  Programme Background Timeline Chinese media first reported that the Pakistan Navy had agreed to buy eight modified Type 039B submarines in April 2015. The contract ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  T-15 Armata (Contracted)

  Programme Background The first contract for 132 Armatas was signed by the Russian MoD in 2015. This will comprise sufficient T-14, T-15 heavy IFV and ...

• Tanks

  T-14 Armata (Contracted)

  Programme Background The first contract for 132 Armatas was signed by the Russian MoD in 2015. This will comprise sufficient T-14, T-15 heavy IFV and ...

• Submarines: conventional, attack

  Horizon 3 - Submarines Procurement Programme [Philippines]

  Programme Background Requirements The Philippines began its Future Submarine Acquisition back in 2015. The Philippines has no experience in operating submarines, but there is a ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• H160

  Airbus Helicopters unveiled a full-scale model of the H160 medium twin rotorcraft on 3 March 2015 at Heli-Expo. The utility helicopter, the first to be ...

• EO/IR systems

  Skybox

  The Skybox allows gimballed camera systems developed for small UAVs to be integrated on the nose of manned helicopters. It accommodates cameras such as DJI’s ...

• EO/IR systems

  OWLS

  Observation Wide-area Low-altitude Sensor (OWLS), demonstrated at Heli-Expo 2015, is a two-axis micro gimbal imager that combines a night vision sensor and an image-stabilised enclosure. ...

• Helicopter engines

  RR300

  The RR300 combines new design methodologies with the legacy of the M250 engine to produce a new engine family for the small rotorcraft market. Intended ...

• Air: mission management systems

  TM-100 Map and Video Management system

  Trakka Systems introduced a new TM-100 Map and Video Management system at HAI Heli-Expo 2017 in Dallas. The augmented reality mapping system with metadata video and audio ...

• EO/IR systems

  Geodetic photomapping and monitoring payload and blind zone cameras

  Heliatica unveiled a geodetic mapping and monitoring payload with Geoscan at Heli-Expo 2017. The system is designed to fit two Sony DSC-RX1 (24MP resolution) cameras ...

• Military helicopters - scout/light attack

  6XX

  Publicly unveiled at Heli-Expo in March 2017, the MD Helicopters 6XX is the next evolution in the MD 500 series and is a redesigned, single-engine ...

• Multipurpose missiles

  LAHAT

  The Laser Homing Attack (LAHAT) is an Israeli, semi-active, laser homing guided, low-weight, ATGM. It was designed to be fired from 105mm and 120mm tank guns.

• Tiltrotors

  AW609

  The Bell/Agusta BA609 became the first tiltrotor designed for the civilian market to fly in March 2003. In June 2011, Leonardo announced that it had ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  525 Relentless

  Bell Helicopter announced in February 2012 that it was developing the Model 525 Relentless. The Relentless features an ARC Horizon flight deck, including the Garmin ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Bars-8

  Following on from the 7t Bars-6 4x4 multipurpose armoured vehicle, Bogdan developed the 10t Bars-8 4x4 multipurpose armoured vehicle which was unveiled at the September ...

• Land: RWS

  AU-220M

  The AU-220M unmanned turret, developed by TsNII Burevestnik, a subsidiary of Uralvagonzavod (UVZ), mounts a dual-feed 57mm automatic cannon and a PKTM 7.62mm coaxial machine ...

• Military helicopters - maritime, Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  S-92/H-92

  The H-92 is the military version of the commercial S-92. It has a stand-up cabin, higher gross weight, more power and new composite rotor blades. ...

• Military vehicle engines

  TCD 2015

  The TCD 2015 is a modern water-cooled four stroke diesel V-engine that is currently integrated on the RG41 armoured vehicle.

• P1AR Virtual Hoist SAR simulator

  Priority 1 Air Rescue demonstrated an operational model of its Virtual Hoist SAR simulator for the first time at Heli-Expo 2017 with a small, transportable ...