• Defence Helicopter

  MSPO 2018: Rafael unveil Spike ER2

  4th September 2018

  Precision weapons system manufacturer Rafael is debuting its latest extended range missile - the Spike ER2 - at MSPO 2018.  Marketed as a 'fifth generation' …

• Defence Notes

  Mattis rejects proposal to replace US troops in Afghanistan with private contractors

  29th August 2018

  US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis shot down a proposal to outsource military personal's role in Afghanistan to private contractors.  In a rare joint appearance in …

• Defence Notes

  Pentagon report claims Chinese bombers training for US strikes

  17th August 2018

  Chinese bombers are likely training for strikes against US and allied targets in the Pacific, according to a new Pentagon report that also details how …

• Digital Battlespace

  Japan’s military unveils new EW system

  31st August 2018

  The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) unveiled a prototype of its new Network Electronic Warfare System (NEWS) to the public at the Fuji Firepower event …

• Digital Battlespace

  Boeing highlights Currawong progress, eyes Five Eyes alliance

  7th September 2018

  This week Boeing Defence Australia sent the last of 56 nodes to the Australian Defence Force (ADF) as part of its A$650 million ($468 million) …

• Military Logistics

  US Army receives silk ballistic shootpack panels

  22nd August 2018

  Kraig Biocraft Laboratories has delivered ballistic shootpack panels made from its Dragon Silk material to the US Army, the company announced on 20 August. The …

• Defence Notes

  US Army continues to question AI role in modernisation plans

  22nd August 2018

  Just days before the US Army activates its new Futures Command in Austin, Texas, top brass is urging that the service come to terms with …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Australian Army receives DJI Phantom 4 UAS

  22nd August 2018

  The Australian Army’s 17th Combat Service Support Brigade (17 CSS Bde) has received its first DJI Phantom 4 UAS, the Australian Department of Defence announced …

• Land Warfare

  Curtain call for Iron Curtain APS

  24th August 2018

  Fear of going toe-to-toe in a land battle with the Russian military has US Army leaders laying out plans to field a much delayed technology …

• Military Logistics

  Australian KC-30As reach refuelling milestone

  16th August 2018

  The Royal Australian Air Force’s KC-30A Multi Role Tanker Transport aircraft has delivered 100,000,000lbs of fuel during air-to-air refuel missions on Operation OKRA in the …

• Defence Helicopter

  Mi-26TV2 kicks-off flight testing

  28th August 2018

  The Mi-26T2V, a heavy helicopter for the Russian Army Aviation branch, was unveiled to the public for the first time at the Army 2018 defence …

• Land Warfare

  Ukraine shows off heavy weapons at Kiev parade

  29th August 2018

  A number of new and experimental heavy weapons were displayed by the Ukrainian Army during the country's 24 August military parade held in the capital …

• Special Operations

  Army SOF responds to multi-domain threats

  22nd August 2018

  US Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) is responding to a range of emerging threats in the multi-domain battlespace. Some representative examples of those responses were …

• Land Warfare

  Lockheed Martin receives HIMARS contract

  21st August 2018

  Lockheed Martin has received a $218 million contract from the US Army to produce High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) launchers and associated hardware for …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Network Rail seeks drones for inspection

  16th August 2018

  The UK’s Network Rail Infrastructure is seeking UAS services to complete general infrastructure inspections and surveys across England. The contract, divided into three lots, is …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - mini

  Indiza (South Africa)

  Programme Background Trials The South African National Defense Force (SANDF) is known to have begun trialling the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Indiza ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - mini

  Indiza - Additional Units (South Africa)

  Programme Background First Procurement After trialling the platform, in September 2019 the South African Army chief confirmed the Indiza had been procured to support SANDF peacekeepers ...

• Military UAS - mini

  ECAC/2022/199 [South Africa]

  Programma Background Two Tenders In March 2023, DefenceWeb reported that the South African Army's tender ECAC/2022/154 was put on hold due to bidders failing to ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | SAS Drakensberg Replacement [South Africa]

  The South African Navy needs to replace the SAS Drakensberg Combat Support Ship (CSS), which entered service in 1987. In October 2023, the South African Navy Chief ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | SAS Drakensberg Replacement [South Africa]

  The South African Navy needs to replace the SAS Drakensberg Combat Support Ship (CSS), which entered service in 1987. In October 2023, the South African Navy Chief ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Project Hoefyster (South Africa)

  Programme Background History The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) first formulated operational requirements for a new ICV in 1995, but modernisation of South Africa's ...

• OPVs

  Project Biro (1-3) [South Africa]

  Programme Background Three multi-mission inshore patrol vessels (MMIPVs) have been procured for the South African Navy under Project Biro. Based on Damen's Stan Patrol 6211 ...

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

  Milkor 380 [South Africa]

  Programme Background According to Milkor, as reported by defenceWeb, during its successful showing of the UAV at AAD 2022, an MoU was signed with the South ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  Project Kiepie [South Africa]

  Programme Background South African Air Force has been planning to replace 47TP (DC-3)s and C212s since mid-2010s. However, budget issues put this replacement programme behind the other ...

• Sealift/replenishment vessels

  SAS Drakensberg Replacement [South Africa]

  Programme Background Requirements The South African Navy needs to replace the SAS Drakensberg Combat Support Ship (CSS). SAS Drakensberg was launched in 1986 and commissioned ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | C-130 Replacement [South Africa]

  The South African Air Force (SAAF) is actively exploring options to replace its ageing fleet of Lockheed Martin C-130BZ Hercules transport aircraft, which have been ...

• Data links

  Data links | C-130 Replacement [South Africa]

  The South African Air Force (SAAF) is actively exploring options to replace its ageing fleet of Lockheed Martin C-130BZ Hercules transport aircraft, which have been ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | C-130 Replacement [South Africa]

  The South African Air Force (SAAF) is actively exploring options to replace its ageing fleet of Lockheed Martin C-130BZ Hercules transport aircraft, which have been ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  RG32M Replacement [Ireland]

  Programme Background Ireland currently maintains a small army designed for home defence. It is only deployed abroad as part of operations authorised by the UN. ...

• Main battle tanks

  Project Aorta

  During the 1990s, the SANDF envisioned the procurement of 282 new MBTs to replace the Olifants then in service. Should a similar tender be initiated ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Wheeled assault guns

  Rooikat

  The 76mm-armed Rooikat 6x6 armoured car was developed in 1976-89 for the South African Army and the first of 240 vehicles was delivered in 1989. The ...

• Trucks and utility vehicles - 4x4

  SAMIL 50

  Like other vehicles in the South African Military (SAMIL) series the SAMIL 50 all-wheel-drive 4x4 truck was developed in the 1980s to meet the requirements ...

• Trucks and utility vehicles - 4x4

  SAMIL 20

  The all-wheel-drive 4x4 SAMIL 20 is the smallest member in the South African Military (SAMIL) truck range developed in the 1980s to meet the requirements ...

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

  Indiza

  The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Indiza small fixed-wing mini-UAV started its development in 2017 and was deployed to the Democratic Republic of Congo ...

• Naval guns

  Denel 35mm Dual Purpose

  The Denel 35mm Dual-Purpose is a naval dun system developed by South African Denel. The Denel 35mm comprises two Denel GA35 cannons and the non-deck-penetration ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Casspir

  Originally adopted by the Apartheid-era South African Police for COIN operations in Namibia, the Casspir is generally regarded as having pioneered the development of the ...

• Patrol boats

  Warrior Class (Stan Patrol 6211)

  Under Project Biro, the South African Navy is acquiring three new multi-mission inshore patrol vessels. The project is expected to run for approximately seven years, ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  Oryx

  The Oryx is a medium-sized utility helicopter based on the Airbus SA 330 Puma. It was manufactured to meet South African military requirements during the ...

• Surface-to-air missiles

  Umkhonto-IR Block II

  The Umkhonto-IR Block II is a South African-developed medium-range surface-to-air missile. It was designed for all-around defence against simultaneous air attacks from multiple targets. The ...

• Air: aerial targets

  Skua

  The Skua is a high-speed aerial target in service with the South African National Defence Force since 1994.

• Trucks and utility vehicles - 6x6

  SAMIL 100

  The all-wheel-drive 6x6 SAMIL 100 is the largest member of the South African Military (SAMIL) truck series developed in the 1980s to meet the requirements ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  AML

  Panhard developed the 4x4 AML (Auto Mitrailleuse Légère) in 1956-1960 to meet a French Army requirement for a fast, long range light armoured car which carried ...

• Land: air defence radar

  RSR 320 – DBRXL

  The RSR 320 – DBRXL 3D ground-based dual-band radar is based on the ESR 220 Thutlwa local warning radar already in service with the South ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  Ratel

  The Ratel Infantry Combat Vehicle (ICV) was developed to meet the specific operational requirements of the Apartheid-era South African military for a highly mobile, reliable ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Maatla 4x4

  Paramount's Maatla 4x4 is a Light Protected Vehicle (LPV) aimed at the African off-road armoured vehicle market. Announced at the African Aerospace and Defence Expo (AAD 2022) in ...