• Defence Notes

  US coalition to block North Korean oil

  20th September 2018

  A US government effort to build a multinational coalition to monitor North Korean violations of fuel smuggling appears to be gaining steam. The Trump administration, …

• Land Warfare

  India approves military equipment procurement

  24th September 2018

  India’s Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) has approved procurement of equipment valued at $1.25 billion for the Indian defence forces, the Indian Ministry of Defence announced …

• Defence Helicopter

  AUSA 2018: Need for speed dominates S-97 Raider tests

  4th October 2018

  Sikorsky’s future generation light attack S-97 Raider aircraft is set to push beyond speeds of 220kts, a benchmark which represents uncharted territory on the programme’s …

• Digital Battlespace

  Thales looks to digitise Thai APCs

  18th September 2018

  Thales and its Thai partner Datagate have signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with the Thai Defence Technology Institute (DTI) to enhance digital communications for …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Indian Army orders SpyLite UAS

  7th September 2018

  Cyient Solutions & Systems (CSS) has received an order from the Indian Army to supply SpyLite mini UAS systems for high altitude aerial surveillance, the …

• Training

  Singapore commissions LMV Simulator Centre

  26th September 2018

  The Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) inaugurated a new Littoral Mission Vessel (LMV) simulation centre on 26 September at the same time as commissioning its …

• Digital Battlespace

  Five Eyes nations turn to software to boost interoperability

  27th September 2018

  Interoperability between the Five Eyes nations is likely to be significantly enhanced in the future as connected devices integrate more software-defined features, including radio waveforms, …

• Land Warfare

  Northrop to support GMLRS programme

  21st September 2018

  Northrop Grumman has received a full rate production contract from Lockheed Martin to deliver insensitive munitions (IM) rocket motors for the Guided Multiple Launch Rocket …

• Naval Warfare

  US Navy NSWC selects Sonardyne’s Ranger 2

  24th September 2018

  Sonardyne’s underwater target tracking technology has been selected by the US Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC), Carderock Division for use at its South Florida Ocean …

• Land Warfare

  AAD 2018: Rand advancing armoured plate technology

  20th September 2018

  South Africa-based Rand Armour is advancing its armoured plate technology to incorporate liquid composite capabilities within its protective systems for military and security users. Rodney Anderson, …

• Defence Notes

  Mattis holds UAE talks after Yemen support warning

  10th September 2018

  Pentagon Chief James Mattis held talks in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on 7 September after warning in August 2018 that US support for its …

• Naval Warfare

  New naval vessel concepts appear in Taiwan

  2nd October 2018

  New designs appeared at the Kaohsiung International Maritime and Defense Expo from 27-30 September, including a multipurpose frigate cooperatively designed by the National Chung-Shan Institute …

• Land Warfare

  Nioa delivers Assegai 155mm munitions for ADF

  6th September 2018

  Nioa has delivered the first batch of Assegai 155mm munitions for the Australian Defence Force’s (ADF's) M777 A2 howitzers. The delivery is a part of …

• Land Warfare

  MDM 2018: Oshkosh looks beyond HIMARS with JLTV concept

  27th September 2018

  Nearly hidden from view in a reception area at the back of the Oshkosh Defense booth at this week’s Modern Day Marine is a conceptual …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Mexican cartels present new security threat with drone IEDs

  16th September 2018

  A shift in tactics by Mexico’s drug cartels is underway, incorporating unmanned technology into their armed wings instead of simply using the devices for surveillance, …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - micro

  eBee Vision [US]

  Background Multiple orders In November 2025, the US Army acquired three eBee Vision systems to enhance training operations at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Germany. A ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Invincible Class (Type 218SG) (5-6) [Singapore]

  In March 2025, the Singapore Ministry of Defence (Mindef) announced it would acquire two more submarines to complement its four Type 218SG Invincible-class submarines. Speaking to ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Invincible Class (Type 218SG) (5-6) [Singapore]

  In March 2025, the Singapore Ministry of Defence (Mindef) announced it would acquire two more submarines to complement its four Type 218SG Invincible-class submarines. Speaking to ...

• Loitering munitions

  Small-Sized Suicide Drones [South Korea]

  Programme Background Drone Ambition As reported by Shephard, South Korea has ambitions to possess a large arsenal of drones. In May 2024, the presidential office ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  Next-Generation Air-Refueling System (NGAS) [USA]

  Background The U.S. Air Force originally planned the KC-Y programme as a follow-on acquisition of an estimated 179 tankers to bridge the gap between the delayed ...

• Sealift/replenishment vessels

  Type 707 (1-2) [Germany]

  Programme Background Requirements The German Navy approved an acquisition to start replacing the two ageing Rhön-class (Type 704) class single-hulled tankers, which were constructed in the ...

• AEW&C

  GlobalEye [Canada]

  Programme Background Canada and Sweden have been strengthening ties, particularly in defence, as middle powers continue to diversify their relationships due to increasingly strained relations ...

• Military UAS - mini, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Switch V2 [India]

  Background June 2025 In June 2025, India’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced the signing of 13 contracts under the Emergency Procurement (EP) mechanism. The procurements, ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  Wolf 2 [Germany]

  Programme Background The Wolf 2 was designed by Mercedes-Benz to replace the German Bundeswehr's ageing fleet of Wolf utility vehicles. The Bundeswehr is currently replacing its ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Indonesian Interim Readiness Submarine Class (IRSC) Programme

  Following the sinking of KRI Nanggala in April 2021, the Indonesia Ministry of Finance (MoF) has granted approval to obtain up to $600 million in foreign loans ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Indonesian Interim Readiness Submarine Class (IRSC) Programme

  Following the sinking of KRI Nanggala in April 2021, the Indonesia Ministry of Finance (MoF) has granted approval to obtain up to $600 million in foreign loans ...

• AEW&C

  E-7 Wedgetail (737) - UK

  Programme Background Seeking to replace its six ageing Boeing E-3 Sentry AEW&C;, the British Royal Air Force awarded Boeing a £1.89 billion contract in 2019 covering the ...

• Corvettes

  Ada Class Corvettes (1-2) [Ukraine]

  Programme Background Timeline In October 2020, the MoD of Ukraine and the President of the Turkish Defence Industries signed a memorandum of understanding. This outlined ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  CH-47F (Australia)

  Programme Background The government of Australia has requested to buy four CH-47F cargo helicopters with unique modifications: eight T55-GA-714A aircraft turbine engines, five AN/AAR-57 common ...

• AEW&C

  E-7 Wedgetail (Second Order) [U.K.]

  Programme Background Seeking to replace its six ageing Boeing E-3 Sentry AEW&C;, the British Royal Air Force awarded Boeing a £1.89 billion contract in 2019 ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Guided munitions

  LG-155

  Unveiled for the first time at Saha Expo 2024, the LG-155 is a 155 mm artillery round developed by Roketsan. This laser-guided projectile is engineered ...

• Deployable/static missile systems

  Oerlikon Laser Gun

  Rheinmetall showcased the applications for its High Energy Laser (HEL) guns for the first time at IDEX 2015 in Abu Dhabi. The Oerlikon Laser Gun ...

• Laser-directed energy weapons

  Locust

  BlueHalo's Locust is a laser weapon system. The system delivers a complete kill chain, providing a layered and broadband detection capability that is coupled with electronic ...

• Light machine guns

  LSAT LMG

  Textron Systems Unmanned Systems is developing and maturing a Lightweight Small Arms Technologies (LSAT) family of weapons and ammunition with the US Army that fires ...

• Loitering munitions, Military UAS - mini, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Attritable Multirotor First Person View (AM-FPV)

  Unveiled in May 2025, the Attritable Multirotor First Person View (AM-FPV) is a low-cost, rapidly deployable platform for strike and ISR missions, inspired by battlefield lessons from ...

• Land: COMINT and ELINT systems

  MEWS

  The Modular Electronic Warfare System (MEWS) is a land COMINT sensor that was jointly developed by L3 TRL and Qinetiq. Utilising L3 TRL compact receiver ...

• Land: fire control systems

  Oerlikon Skymaster

  Oerlikon Skymaster is the command and control unit of Rheinmetall's Skynex air defence system. The Skymaster is intended to support tactical and operational level air ...

• Land: air defence radar

  X-TAR 3D

  The X-Band Tactical Acquisition Radar 3D (X-TAR 3D) air surveillance and acquisition radar is the newest member of Rheinmetall’s X-TAR family. The fully coherent phased-array ...

• Land: COMINT and ELINT systems

  Smartscan- MEWS

  MEWS (Modular Electronic Warfare System) is a software-driven spectrum surveillance system covering two megahertz to three gigahertz. It is designed to detect, collect and geolocate ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  CM32/33/34 Yunpao

  The CM32 Yunpao (Cloud Leopard) family of 8x8 armoured vehicles has been developed to meet the requirements of the Republic of China Army to replace ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  SBTS

  The Shore-Based Sonar Training System (SBTS), launched in 2016, incorporates technology from the Model 997 Hull/Bow-Mounted Sonar Model 980 ALOFTS system to help support sonar ...

• Subsystems: visual

  Apogée 7

  Apogée 7 is an integrated COTS-based image generation system. It provides functions enhancing overall fixed- or rotary-wing simulation efficiency, image quality and supports large-area realistic ...

• Land: handheld NV devices

  NVS 7 Binocular Series

  Based on the NVS 7-3AG NVG, the NVS 7 Binocular Series uses Gen III auto-gated NV technology and is suitable for defence, marine and SAR ...

• Loitering munitions

  Lumberjack

  The Lumberjack is a one-way attack drone from  Northrop Grumman. The company describes the aircraft as a force multiplier. The drone follows an open systems architecture, ...

• Land: handheld NV devices

  Jaguar

  MKU's Jaguar 14 monoculars and Jaguar 7 binoculars have Gen III technology with military-grade Schott lenses. An automatic bright light cut-off sensor provides protection from ...