• Defence Notes

  Ten recommendations for Taiwan-US mil relations

  30th January 2017

  Taiwan fears becoming the golden peanut between two rogue elephants, said one Taiwan-based defence analyst, referring to the risk that the island will be caught …

• Training

  MilSim Asia: ISS Global defuses bomb threats

  11th January 2017

  Already with a foothold in Asia, ISS Global is eyeing further opportunities in the region for its software that is employed by militaries and law …

• Defence Helicopter

  Raytheon Stinger targets new Apaches

  16th January 2017

  Both Qatar and India have selected the Raytheon Stinger air-to-air missile system for their new Apache AH-64E aircraft, Shephard has confirmed. Under the multi-nation contract …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Drone detection reaching tipping point

  27th December 2016

  With drone proliferation and trespass over sensitive and critical infrastructure likely to reach a tipping point in the near future many companies are looking at …

• Digital Battlespace

  EW Singapore: IZT launches wideband receivers

  16th January 2017

  IZT announced the availability of two new digital wideband receivers for 2017: the R5000 and R3302. Launched at the inaugural Electronic Warfare Singapore exhibition, the R5000 …

• Military Logistics

  UDT Asia: Babcock highlights partnership potential

  16th January 2017

  Babcock is targeting Asia to become an in-country partner for naval engineering and services work. The company is set to highlight its capabilities at the UDT …

• Land Warfare

  Germany reactivates howitzers

  17th January 2017

  The German army is reactivating 12 PzH 2000 armoured howitzers this year. It is taking this move as one of the measures to improve the …

• Defence Helicopter

  VK-2500 engines in production

  11th January 2017

  Russia’s deputy defence minister responsible for procurement, Yury Borisov has revealed that the Klimov Company in St Petersburg delivered 60 VK-2500 engines in 2016 – …

• Defence Helicopter

  Russian Helicopters' after-sales approach in Asia

  13th January 2017

  Russian Helicopters’ marketing has been targeting the after-sales sector in Asia, where it sees a good potential for growth, Shephard has learnt. The business of …

• Naval Warfare

  The year ahead: Maritime security

  5th January 2017

  More than 70% of the world’s surface will still be covered by water in 2017 - although given the vagaries of climate change, maybe even …

• Land Warfare

  Rostec takes over Russian armour production

  17th January 2017

  A new Russian armour holding company will be established that combine the country’s largest tank and armoured vehicle manufacturers. It will build on the existing …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  CUSV enters water-based testing

  13th January 2017

  On-water testing has begun for the fourth-generation Common Unmanned Surface Vehicle (CUSV), Textron Systems Unmanned Systems announced on 11 January. The company is developing the …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  US demos 3-D printed UAV

  9th January 2017

  The US Army Research Laboratory (ARL) has tested a 3-D-printed UAS created with a new on-demand system as part of the Army Expeditionary Warrior Experiments. …

• Defence Helicopter

  Crowsnest to provide eyes to Merlins

  16th January 2017

  The UK’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) has announced that manufacturing of the Crowsnest airborne surveillance system for its fleet of 30 Merlin Mk2s can now begin, following the …

• Digital Battlespace

  Artisan 3D completes sea-based acceptance trials

  12th January 2017

  Sea-based acceptance trials for BAE Systems’ Artisan 3D radar system have been successfully completed on the Royal Navy’s Type 23 frigates, the company announced on …

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 - 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 ...

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

  Micro UAV [Argentina]

  Programme Background Tender The EA and MoD in April 2021 announced Public Tender 0090/2021 (UOC: 84/135), which saw the General Directorate of Material begin the process ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  ISR Civilian-Made UAVs [Taiwan]

  Background Civilian-made, Military-specification As reported by Shephard, to accelerate the acquisition process and urgently create a larger UAV inventory, Taipei is enlisting the help of the ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  AH-64E Apache (Indian Air Force)

  Programme Background The Indian Army was originally granted co-ownership of the 22 Apaches by the Indian MoD. However, the IAF refused to cede them to ...

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

  Sovereign UAS Challenge [Australia]

  Request for Information (RFI) In July 2023, the Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator (ASCA) released a Request for Information (RFI) for the Sovereign Uncrewed Aerial Systems Challenge, which sought ...

• 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 ...

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

  ScanEagle [Czechia]

  Programme Background Earmarked The ACR took delivery of ten ScanEagle systems (100 UAVs), which were received as a donation from the US in 2015. In ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  TUAS [Malaysia]

  Programme Background Tender & Requirments The Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) issued a tender in May 2020 to provide a new Tactical Uncrewed Aerial System (TUAS). ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  C-37A - USAF

  Programme Background The USAF was using C-20B transport aircraft, variant of civilian Gulfstream III, to provide worldwide airlift for DoD and government officials. With the ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  OC-135B Replacement (USAF- Cancelled)

  Programme Background The modification and Treaty Certification works include Digital Visual Imaging System kits, design and development for mission system integration (structural design, interphone communications systems, ...

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

  Large ULS-A / Aerial Logistics Connector (ALC) [USMC]

  Background US Marine ULS-A programmes The US Marines are seeking a family of Unmanned Logistics Systems-Air (ULS-A), which will provide logistics and ground units with their ...

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

  HUSAR (2023 Order) [Germany]

  Programme Background First Order In 2015, the German Army launched the HUSAR programme to identify a replacement for its Airbus Defence & Space KZO and ...

• OPVs

  Offshore Patrol Vessels [Sri Lanka]

  Programme Background Timeline The Sri Lankan Coast Guard is expected to receive three new offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) to be built locally. Sri Lanka's cabinet ...

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

  Special Forces Micro-UAV (India)

  Programme Background Mass of Requests In October 2022, the Indian Army released a flurry of RfIs for various UAVs, showing its desperation to get UAVs ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• md4-3000

  The md4-3000 is a small VTOL quadcopter UAV with a maximum take-off weight of 15kg, one-third of which can be payload. It can fly by remote ...

• Neo V2

  Flycam UAV displayed the Neo V2 at the Commercial UAV Expo in Las Vegas in November 2016. Developed in 2014, the UAV has a twin-boom ...

• Falcon 8+

  Intel unveiled the Falcon 8+ for the first time at the Commercial UAV Expo in Las Vegas in November 2016. The V-Form octocopter, which will ...

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

  Skylark 3

  The Skylark 3 is a small UAS manufactured by Elbit Systems. It is designed for both dismounted and vehicle-based operations.  It can perform a range of ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  M12 Monitor

  The Saxon Remote Systems M12 Monitor UAV is a commercial and military system designed to perform a range of roles such as surveillance, pipeline inspection ...

• H520

  The H520 is a hexarotor VTOL UAV designed for the commercial and industrial markets by Yuneec International. The system was unveiled in January 2017. It ...

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

  Resolute Eagle

  The Resolute Eagle is a tactical Group 3 UAS with fuselage and underwing payload bays, which is able to carry multiple sensors. The UAS has been ...

• Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  SICX-10E

  The SICX-10E is a rotary-wing UAV suitable for a range of military and civil roles, including tactical ISR, bomb damage assessment, homeland security, aerial surveillance, ...

• Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  SICX-25

  The SICX-25 is a rotary-wing UAV suitable for a range of military, commercial and civil missions, including tactical ISTAR, bomb damage assessment, civil air surveillance, ...

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

  30 June

  Developed by the Egyptian Ministry of Military Production, the 30 June is a MALE fixed-wing UAV designed for reconnaissance missions.  Additionally, it features an electromagnetic system and ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  Wulung

  The Wulung is an Indonesian tactical UAV. First displayed at the Indo Defence Expo and Forum in November 2014, the aircraft entered mass production in May ...

• 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 ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Yagu

  Plasan unveiled the Yagu 4x4 at the March 2018 Expo Seguridad event. It is based on the Arctic Cat Wildcat 4 1000 commercial all-terrain vehicle. The ...

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

  StratoAirNet

  The StratoAirNet is a lightweight MALE UAV that is solar-powered and designed for commercial and military applications. It can accommodate multiple payloads weighing up to ...

• 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 ...