• Training

  Royal Navy gets new sonar training facility

  30th January 2018

  Thales has inaugurated a new sonar training facility for the Royal Navy at Clyde Naval Base at Faslane, Scotland, the company announced on 26 January.The …

• Defence Helicopter

  ​US Navy increases Saudi MH-60R support

  1st February 2018

  The USN has awarded Sikorsky a modified $19 million contract to support the service’s Saudi Arabia MH-60R Seahawk FMS work. A recent US Department of …

• Naval Warfare

  FAB orders additional C295s

  24th January 2018

  The the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) has placed an order with Airbus Defence and Space for three Airbus C295 maritime search and rescue (SAR) aircraft, …

• Naval Warfare

  C-130J Minotaur options exercised

  16th January 2018

  L3 Technologies Integrated Systems has had two contract options exercised by the US Coast Guard (USCG) for installation of the Minotaur mission system suite on …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Skeldar V-200 selected for OCEAN2020

  24th January 2018

  UMS Skeldar has received a contract to provide unmanned surveillance capabilities using the Skeldar V-200 UAS as part of the OCEAN2020 programme, the company announced …

• Naval Warfare

  Royal Navy accepts OPV

  29th January 2018

  The Royal Navy has accepted the delivery of its newest Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV), HMS Forth, from BAE Systems at the company’s Scotstoun shipyard. Forth …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  ADECS 2018: Singapore police leverages unmanned technologies

  26th January 2018

  The Singapore Police Coast Guard (PCG) is exploring unmanned technology as a force multiplier to better cope with changing threats at sea. The PCG has …

• Land Warfare

  Russia's Central MD unit receives Aistyonok system

  19th January 2018

  The Russian Army Central Military District's (MD) 90th Tank Division in Ural has deployed the portable Aistyonok radar reconnaissance and fire control system, the Russian …

• Naval Warfare

  Bahrain receives upgraded Al Manama ship

  25th January 2018

  Leonardo has delivered the first of six upgraded Al Manama naval vessels to the Royal Bahrain Naval Force, the company announced on 23 January. The …

• Naval Warfare

  Belgium moves forward on MCM replacement

  30th January 2018

  The Belgian government has approved the purchase of six new mine countermeasures (MCM) vessels under a €1.1 billion ($1.36 billion) investment. The nation will work …

• Training

  Raytheon receives BMDS radar test work

  18th January 2018

  Raytheon has received an IDIQ contract worth up to $642 million from the Missile Defense Agency to perform Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS) test related …

• Defence Notes

  Opinion: Indo-Pacific submarine proliferation affects safety

  24th January 2018

  The Indo-Pacific will be a focal point of submarine proliferation in coming years, with an estimated 250 boats expected to be operating in the region …

• Land Warfare

  With Russia and China in mind, US nuclear review calls for low-yield weapons

  2nd February 2018

  The Pentagon has unveiled the official version of its Nuclear Posture Review, which calls for a revival of nuclear sea-launched cruise missiles and a less powerful …

• Naval Warfare

  L&T launches second coast guard OPV

  23rd January 2018

  Larsen and Tourbo (L&T;) has launched the second in a series of seven offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) being built for the Indian Coast Guard, the …

• Naval Warfare

  Commtact introduces Maritime Data Terminal

  19th January 2018

  Commtact has developed a wireless datalink maritime solution called the Maritime Data Terminal (MDT), the company announced on 17 January. The MDT has been designed …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Maritime patrol

  Challenger 650 ISR [UAE]

  Background First order In February 2019 at IDEX, the UAE announced that it will procure a new special mission aircraft with an option for the ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  Seeker 400 (1-6) [UAE]

  Background Long history The UAE has a long history of transactions with Denel Dynamics. The country has been purchasing various Seeker systems from as far ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  Acquisition of an Initial Depth Support Drone Capacity (ADAPT) [France]

  Background Aftermath of SDT To fill the capability void left by the cancellation of the second section of the Tactical Drone System (SDT) programme, three ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  Chinese UAVs [Bangladesh]

  Background Request for Proposals (RFP) In 2023, as reported by Shephard at the time, the Bangladesh Army released a 106-page tender document to gather information ...

• Military UAS - small

  Jump 20 [Denmark]

  Background 2020 Tender In January 2018, Denmark's three main political parties signed the Danish Defence Agreement, a cross-party defence white paper covering the period between ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  MQ-9A Reaper (First batch) [Netherlands]

  Background Acquisition decision The Netherlands cancelled a project to procure an MALE UAV in 2007. Six years later, in 2013, it was revealed that the ...

• 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 ...

• Military UAS - HALE

  RQ-4 Global Hawk [Japan]

  Background Selection and contract award In 2015, Northrop Grumman’s RQ-4 Global Hawk UAS and E-2D Advanced Hawkeye airborne early warning aircraft were selected by Japan ...

• 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 - small

  AR3 (Ukraine Aid) [UK]

  Background £270 Million investment On 15 September 2025, the UK MoD noted that, since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the UK ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  MQ-9A Reaper (9-12) [Italy]

  Background Initial purchases (1-6) The Italian Air Force acquired four MQ-9A Reapers in the Block 1 standard in 2008. A further two UAVs were acquired ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  Tactical UCAV [Czechia]

  Programme Background Inception In November 2017, the Chief of Staff of the Army of the Czech Republic (ACR) announced that the service had earmarked CZK1 billion ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  MQ-9A Reaper (Second batch) [Netherlands]

  Background First batch Following a cancelled MALE UAV project in 2007, the Dutch MOD revealed its intention to acquire four MQ-9A Reapers from General Atomics ...

• Military UAS - small

  Intra-Theatre Lift [UK]

  Background  Relationship to the Heavy Lift Challenge The Royal Navy (RN) embarked on the Heavy Lift Challenge, now called the Heavy Lift Capability (UASHLC), to explore cargo-carrying ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  MQ-9A Reaper (7-8) [Italy]

  Background Initial purchases (1-6) The Italian Air Force acquired four MQ-9A Reapers in the Block 1 standard in 2008. A further two UAVs were acquired ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Subsystems: software

  Radar Simulation Systems

  The Digital Radar Landmass Simulator (DRLMS) model accurately simulates real-world terrain and cultural feature returns, as well as weather patterns and targets. Configurable parameters allow ...

• Air: surveillance and maritime patrol radar

  Seaspray 7500E V2

  The Seaspray 7500E V2 is a long-range, maritime-focused multi-mode surveillance radar produced by Leonardo and manufactured in the UK. The system can rapidly interleave radar modes ...

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

  AN/APS-147

  The AN/APS-147 is a multi-mode maritime surveillance radar manufactured by Telephonics. It was designed for the requirements of the Sikorsky MH-60R, providing target imaging, small ...

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

  AN/APS-153(V)1

  The AN/APS-153(V)1 is a multi-mode surveillance radar manufactured by Telephonics. It is designed as a premier surveillance radar for maritime helicopters, specifically to the requirement of ...

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

  Seaspray 7000E

  The Seaspray 7000E is an AESA multi-mode surveillance radar manufactured by Leonardo. It is intended for modern airborne platforms and is designed for air, land ...

• Subsystems: software

  VR-Forces

  VR-Forces is a flexible computer-generated forces platform used to fill a customer’s synthetic environments with urban, battlefield, maritime and airspace activity. Uses include a threat ...

• Air: fixed-wing flight simulators

  Integrated Training Systems

  IAI provides a range of integrated training packages to support pilot training and meet the requirements of complex battle scenarios. 

• Air: surveillance and maritime patrol radar

  ELM-2022A

  The ELM-2022A is an aircraft maritime surveillance radar manufactured by Elta Systems. It is part of the ELM-2022 maritime surveillance radar family which are designed ...

• Air: helicopter radar

  RDR-1500B

  Telephonics’ RDR-1500B search and surveillance and weather avoidance radar system is designed to provide multi-mode radar capability for helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft in low- and ...

• Subsystems: hardware

  Maritime Console

  The Discovery Machine Maritime Console can create highly intelligent entities for use in simulated training events. It is designed to work with the USN Joint ...

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

  RDR-1700A

  The RDR-1700A is a lightweight, 360° digital colour, airborne surveillance radar manufactured by Telephonics. It is designed for fixed- or rotary-wing aircraft engaging in maritime patrol, ...

• Land: vehicle simulators

  M1A1 IGT

  The M1A1 Individual Tabletop Gunnery Trainer (IGT) is used to instruct and reinforce search and scan techniques, target identification skills and engagement techniques for the ...

• EO/IR systems

  Gyrocam 15HDIR

  The 38cm (15in) Gyrocam 15HDIR (HD IR) sensor is designed as a multi-mission surveillance system that allows law enforcement and military personnel to perform long-distance ...

• Subsystems: visual

  Quest2 Sensor Simulation

  Quest2 is a plug-in developed by Quantum3D to extend Independence IDX 7000’s software suite, Mantis, to include shader-based, simulated sensor post-processing. Using programmable vertex and ...

• EO/IR systems

  Gyrocam 15HDIR

  The 38cm Gyrocam HD IR sensor (15HDIR) is designed as a multi-mission surveillance system that allows law enforcement and military personnel to perform long-distance aerial ...