• Defence Notes

  LIMA 2017: MRCA contenders jockey for pole position

  22nd March 2017

  European aviation companies are playing tug of war over Malaysia's next fighter aircraft selection, with Saab and BAE Systems making counter-claims that each has been …

• Naval Warfare

  DCNS push the Gowind

  14th March 2017

  The recent opening of a representative office in Bogata, Colombia, by French shipbuilders DCNS again highlights the value it places on the global export market.Having …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  IDEX 2017: Middle East market still relevant (video)

  16th February 2017

  The Middle East market still maintains its relevance, particularly for Western defence manufacturers, but also for emerging suppliers in China and Russia.However, low oil prices …

• Land Warfare

  IDEX 2017: Pro-active support offer for high tempo Patriot

  21st February 2017

  The increased use of the Patriot air defence system by Middle East countries means that the maintenance and sustainment requirements become more urgent.Therefore system manufacturer …

• Military Logistics

  IDEX 2017: Rubb seeks shelter opportunities

  16th February 2017

  With nations in the Middle East increasing their air power many will now be looking at where to store new aircraft. Hangar systems are an …

• Land Warfare

  IDEX 2017: Denel targets Middle East market

  15th February 2017

  Denel recently began delivery of RG-31 Mk5 mine-resistant vehicles to the UAE and now the company is keen to highlight its capabilities during IDEX as …

• Land Warfare

  IDEX 2017: Nimr gets UAE vehicle order boost

  23rd February 2017

  The UAE Land Forces has ordered thousands of vehicles from their domestic manufacturer, Nimr, it was announced at IDEX.Although the value of the contract was …

• Naval Warfare

  IDEX 2017: Navies look to address militant threat

  13th February 2017

  Recent events off the coast of Yemen and an uptick in militant activity, including a suicide attack against a Saudi vessel last month, are expected …

• Land Warfare

  IDEX 2017: The lay of the land

  13th February 2017

  The Middle East is about as unstable as anyone can remember with the civil war in Syria, the continuing fight against Daesh in Iraq and …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Saudi Arabia requests PTDS from US

  24th January 2017

  The US State Department has made a determination approving a $525 million foreign military sale to Saudi Arabia of 74K Persistent Threat Detection System (PTDS) …

• Defence Helicopter

  Saudi helicopter force stands up

  1st February 2017

  The first operational brigade of the Saudi Arabian National Guard (SANG) will receive 12 Boeing AH-6i armed scout helicopters in May as the new aviation …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Armed UAV export reform pressure mounts

  3rd February 2017

  While the US regularly exports billions of dollars-worth of fighter jets, missiles and other advanced military systems to its closest allies, one piece of equipment …

• Defence Helicopter

  Rockwell Collins partners with Taqnia

  27th December 2016

  Rockwell Collins and Taqnia Aeronautics will collaborate on military rotary and fixed wing avionics opportunities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia under an agreement announced …

• Land Warfare

  Lockheed Martin receives $1.45b for PAC-3/MSE

  27th December 2016

  Lockheed Martin has received a $1.45 billion contract for production and delivery of Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) and PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (PAC-3 MSE) interceptors, …

• Defence Notes

  Growing threats shape Middle East (video)

  22nd December 2016

  The Middle East region continues to play a major part in world politics, particularly when it comes to defence and security.Growing threats in the region …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Transport

  C-130 Replacement [Saudi Arabia]

  Programme Background Requirement The Royal Saudi Air Force operates 33 C-130H, 7 KC-130H aircraft and two KC-130Js. The country has been seeking to replace its ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Kozak 5 (Saudi Arabia)

  Programme Background  In 2021, Ukrainian firm Pracktika announced that they had fulfilled an export contract to deliver 60 Kozak-5 armoured vehicles to Saudi Arabia. The ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | Typhoon Tranche 3A [Saudi Arabia]

  In June 2018, Saudi Arabia agreed to procure 48 Eurofighter Typhoon multirole fighter aircraft from BAE. The total procurement cost for 48 aircraft is estimated at ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  Air: Helmet-mounted displays | Typhoon Tranche 3A [Saudi Arabia]

  In June 2018, Saudi Arabia agreed to procure 48 Eurofighter Typhoon multirole fighter aircraft from BAE. The total procurement cost for 48 aircraft is estimated at ...

• Data links

  Data links | Typhoon Tranche 3A [Saudi Arabia]

  In June 2018, Saudi Arabia agreed to procure 48 Eurofighter Typhoon multirole fighter aircraft from BAE. The total procurement cost for 48 aircraft is estimated at ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | Typhoon Tranche 3A [Saudi Arabia]

  In June 2018, Saudi Arabia agreed to procure 48 Eurofighter Typhoon multirole fighter aircraft from BAE. The total procurement cost for 48 aircraft is estimated at ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | Typhoon Tranche 3A [Saudi Arabia]

  In June 2018, Saudi Arabia agreed to procure 48 Eurofighter Typhoon multirole fighter aircraft from BAE. The total procurement cost for 48 aircraft is estimated at ...

• Main battle tanks

  M1A2S (Saudi Arabia)

  Programme Background Saudi Arabia was the first export customer for the M1A2 Abrams. 315 were delivered between 1993 and 1994 as part of a $1.5 ...

• Main battle tanks

  T-90S (Saudi Arabia)

  Programme Background.  The status of the Saudi Arabian T-90 deal is unclear, it is possible that these tanks may be purchased to replace stocks of ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Jais 4x4 [Saudi Arabia]

  Programme Background The Saudi Arabian government is aiming to localise 50% of its investment into defence by 2030 in line with the country's Vision 2030 ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Saudi Arabia National Guard LAV 700

  The Saudi Arabian LAV 700 order is believed to encompass several variants including APC, ambulance, armoured recovery vehicle, command post, ATGM carrier, IFV, VIP transport ...

• Main battle tanks

  M1A2 Abrams [Saudi Arabia]

  Programme Background The USA has historically been Saudi Arabia's largest arms supplier. The M1A2 Abrams is currently the backbone of Saudi Arabia's MBT fleet, with an estimated ...

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

  CH-4 [Saudi Arabia]

  Background 2014 Order According to the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), in 2014, Saudi Arabia ordered two CH-4 aircraft from China. However, information from the Stockholm International Peace ...

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

  Anka-S (Saudi Arabia)

  Programme Background Desired Procurement Saudi Arabia has reportedly been in negotiations to procure six Anka UAVs since 2013. It has not been disclosed which Anka ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  Titus

  While there has been no direct confirmation that Nexter has sold the Titus to Saudi Arabia, it has been confirmed that Nexter has delivered CAESAR ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Hazem

  Produced by SAMI Navantia, Hazem is a combat management system designed for the Royal Saudi Naval Forces. Based on the Cadiz CMS, it is integrated ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Eurofighter Typhoon Tranche 2 (Block 8, 8A, 9, 10, 10C, 11, 11C, 15, 15C)

  Under the Typhoon Tranche 2 procurement,  the four European partner nations of Germany, Italy, Spain, the UK and the export customer Saudi Arabia took delivery ...

• Transport

  An-132

  The An-132 is a multipurpose transport aircraft based on the Soviet-era An-32. It is being jointly developed by Antonov and Saudi Arabia's Technology Development and ...

• SH-01

  The SHAHEEN SH-01 is a VTOL UAS manufactured by Prince Sultan Defense in Saudi Arabia. The aircraft is designed for surveillance and reconnaissance purposes. 

• Ship-launched torpedoes, Submarine-launched torpedoes

  F17

  The F17 is a wire-guided anti-surface ship torpedo developed for the French Navy and purchased by Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. The latest version is the F17 ...

• Air: helicopter radar, Air: surveillance and maritime patrol radar

  Agrion

  The Agrion is a surveillance and missile targeting pulse radar manufactured by Thomson-CSF (now Thales). It is designed to work alongside the AS-15TT anti-ship missiles ...

• Land: air defence radar

  Shahine

  The Shahine radar is a key component of the Shahine self-propelled surface-to-air missile system, developed by Thomson-CSF (now Thales) for Saudi Arabia in the 1970s. ...

• Data links

  TTR

  Offered through Data Link Solutions (DLS) – Rockwell Collins' joint venture with BAE Systems – TacNet Tactical Radio (TTR) is claimed to be the smallest ...

• Laser-directed energy weapons

  Silent Hunter

  Silent Hunter, also known as the low-altitude laser defence system (LASS), is a Chinese laser energy weapon believed to have been developed by the China Electronics ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

  Interceptor HSI32

  The Interceptor HSI32 was designed by French shipbuilder CMN to meet the needs of modern navies and coastguards. The vessel's primary missions are sea policing ...

• Sea: sonar systems

  Captas-1

  CAPTAS-1 is a low-frequency Variable Depth Sonar (VDS) developed by Thales. It is the smallest member of the CAPTAS family optimised for littoral and shallow water ...

• Corvettes

  Avante 2200 (Combatant)

  The Avante 2200 corvettes from Spanish shipbuilder Navantia are currently under construction for Saudi Arabia. A contract was signed for five corvettes in July 2018. ...

• Land: battlefield and ground surveillance radar

  Cymbeline

  The Cymbeline is a phased-array, mortar-locating radar that detects the flight path of a mortar bomb at two points in its trajectory as it passes ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  RG32M

  BAE Systems Land Systems South Africa produced more than 600 RG32-series vehicles before its acquisition in 2014 by state-owned Denel.  According to the company, the ...

• Naval: COMINT and ELINT systems

  ALTESSE

  Thales' Alert and Surface Ship Evaluation (ALTESSE) provides alerts on communication signals, tactical situation development and COMINT capabilities. Its wideband instantaneous bandwidth and processing capacities ...