• Air Warfare

  USAF engine programmes tell a contrasting story

  27th September 2021

  A winning bidder has been chosen to implement the B-52H Commercial Engine Replacement Program — but a plan to re-engine the F-35A has encountered technical and affordability issues.

• Air Warfare

  DSEI 2021: Tekever and Aerovel announce collaboration

  15th September 2021

  Aerovel’s Flexrotor will be incorporated into Tekever’s line of UAS as part of a new collaboration agreement.

• Naval Warfare

  AUKUS – Sweet in the mouth, bitter in the belly (Opinion)

  14th October 2021

  Australia is looking at decades before receiving its first nuclear-powered submarines. But surely there are faster options available?

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  DSEI 2021: BAE Systems debuts weaponised T-650 heavy-lift UAV

  16th September 2021

  BAE Systems and Malloy Aeronautics have teamed up to develop the T-650 heavy-lift UAV armed with the ASW Sting Ray torpedo.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  DSEI 2021: Blue Bear emphasises swarm control

  19th September 2021

  UK SME Blue Bear has put a 20-drone swarm through its paces.

• Naval Warfare

  DSEI 2021: Australia opened nuclear submarine discussions in March

  17th September 2021

  The new submarine deal has opened a rift between Australia, the US and UK on the one hand, and France on the other.

• Defence Notes

  DSEI 2021: Anduril and jHub seal deal under TALOS programme

  13th September 2021

  The UK MoD has awarded Anduril Industries a £3.8 million ($5.2 million) contract to support its TALOS programme. Under the new contract, expected to last …

• Land Warfare

  DSEI 2021: Texelis puts mobility solution on show

  15th September 2021

  Texelis presented what it calls ‘the future of armoured vehicle mobility’ at DSEI on 14-17 September, in the form of the MR400 mobility solution for …

• Air Warfare

  Enhanced V-Bat spreads its wings

  1st September 2021

  V-Bat small UAS demonstrates GPS-denied navigation and target designation capabilities.

• Air Warfare

  USN contracts PteroDynamics to deliver VTOL cargo aircraft

  27th August 2021

  Using UAS to transport cargo would free up helicopters and V-22 aircraft for other missions.

• Land Warfare

  DSEI 2021: IAI reveals its newest UGV

  16th September 2021

  IAI has revealed the successor to its REX UGV, the new REX MK II.

• Defence Notes

  DSEI 2021: Magtec electrifies British Army vehicles

  15th September 2021

  Magtec is supporting the British Army’s hybrid military vehicle assessment programme.

• Naval Warfare

  Australia has much to mull for its nuke sub hull

  6th October 2021

  The announcement of AUKUS and nuclear-propelled submarines for Australia raised more questions than it answered.

• Land Warfare

  DSEI 2021: NP Aerospace pushes vehicle integration

  15th September 2021

  UK company seeks to enhance British Army vehicle performance and sustainability.

• Land Warfare

  DSEI 2021: Ricardo goes hybrid on Ford Ranger chassis

  15th September 2021

  UK-based engineering services firm Ricardo provides electrical and autonomous solutions to refresh light utility vehicle.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - mini

  K1000ULE [USMC]

  Programme Background Contact Award After a comprehensive down-selection evaluation, Kraus Hamdani Aerospace's K1000ULE drone won the USN's PMA 263 contract in April 2024. The company will now provide the USN ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  Class 2 Tactical UAS [Ireland]

  Background EU Tender On 13 March 2024, the Irish Department of Defence released a planning notice on the EU tenders website, confirming that the Irish ...

• Military UAS - small

  AdvaNced airCraft Infrastructure-Less Launch And RecoverY (ANCILLARY) [US]

  Background Aims & Timeline As stated by DARPA, the ANCILLARY programme aims to develop and fly an X-plane that will provide a “leap-ahead” in long-endurance, VTOL-capable ...

• Military UAS - mini

  Medium Range Tactical (MRT) [USMC]

  Background Request for Information (RFI) In February 2026, the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) issued an RFI for solutions for a Medium Range Tactical (MRT) ...

• Military UAS - mini

  VTOL-Capable Group 2 UAV [USA]

  Background Request for Information (RFI) In March 2026, the USAF issued an RFI seeking a VTOL-capable UAV capable of operating in austere environments to support ...

• Military UAS - small

  Onboard Mini-Drone Systems (SMDM) (69-90) [France]

  Background Contract Announcement On 3 February 2026, Airbus, Survey Copter’s parent company, announced that the French Directorate General of Armament (DGA) had ordered the Aliaca VTOL variant ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  Camcopter S-300 [South Korea]

  Programme Background Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) On 18 January 2023, Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with Northop Grumman at a ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  Embarked VTOL UAV [South Korea]

  Background VTOL Development In January 2024, South Korea's Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) announced that it would commence development of a VTOL-capable rotary-wing UAV to be ...

• Military UAS - mini

  Ship-Bourne VTOL UAV [Singapore]

  Background Multi-Role Combat Vessel  The Republic of Singapore Navy will retire its six Victory-class corvettes and replace them with a new platform, the Multi-Role Combat ...

• Military UAS - small

  Shipborne Small UAV [Portugal]

  Background Shipborne UAV trials In August 2026, during the Iniciativa Mar Aberto 2026 mission, the Portuguese Navy conducted shipborne flight trials of uncrewed aircraft from ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  UAV Tactical Level [Norway]

  Background Request for Information (RfI) In September 2022, the Norwegian Defence Material Agency (NDMA) launched a request for information in preparation for a possible procurement ...

• Military UAS - small

  VTOL UAV [New Zealand]

  Background Defence Capability Plan (DCP) In April 2025, the New Zealand government published the DCP, a document that is essentially a blueprint for what procurements ...

• Military UAS - small

  Cargo UAV (Turkey)

  Programme Background Inception & Requirment Turkey's Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB) initiated a programme to procure VTOL-capable cargo drones in June 2018. These were planned for ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | KSS-III (Boats 7-9) [South Korea]

  The Republic of Korean Navy's (RoKN), formerly named Jangbogo III-class (KSS-III) submarines are the latest variant of diesel-electric attack boats (SSKs) entering service under South ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | KSS-III (Boats 7-9) [South Korea]

  The Republic of Korean Navy's (RoKN), formerly named Jangbogo III-class (KSS-III) submarines are the latest variant of diesel-electric attack boats (SSKs) entering service under South ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - small

  QTP-UAV

  The Quad Tilt Prop UAV (QTP-UAV) is an electric platform that is designed to provide VTOL capability with high-speed horizontal flight. 

• Military UAS - small

  Zala 421-22

  The Zala 421-22 is a rotary-wing UAV designed for ship- or land-based reconnaissance and surveillance, bomb damage assessment and real-time target acquisition. The VTOL UAV ...

• Military UAS - small

  VU-R70

  The VU-R70 is a small fixed-wing VTOL-capable UAV from Viettel. A gasoline engine powers its horizontal flight, while four electric motors give it a VTOL capability. The ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  A-Hawk I (Cloud-1)

  Part of a strike-capable ISTAR series of A-Hawk platforms is the A-Hawk I (Cloud-1) VTOL developed by AVIC. Reports indicate that the A-Hawk I enables ...

• Military UAS - mini

  Zada

  Zada is a mini fixed-wing UAV designed for intelligence, reconnaissance and surveillance (ISR) missions. It features tilt-rotor systems, which give it a VTOL capability.

• Military UAS - tactical

  CL-9

  The CL-9 is a fixed-wing VTOL UAV. It is fitted with two underwing pylons with electric brushless motors at each end powering rotors to provide ...

• Military UAS - mini

  SR-10 VTOL

  Deftech showcased the SR-10 VTOL at DSA 2022. It has been locally designed in Malaysia to conduct aerial mapping, surveillance and line inspection missions. The hand-launched platform is powered ...

• Military UAS - small

  Maya Mk1

  The Maya Mk1 is a small, electric VTOL UAV with a 'tail-sitting' design. It is an encased system that allows for safe operation in urban ...

• Military UAS - small

  CW-25D

  The CW-25D is VTOL capable UAV manufactured by Chengdu Jouav Automation Technology Co CW (JOUAV). It is a hybrid platform containing a 64cc two-stroke gasoline engine and electric ...

• Military UAS - small

  PEN 35VE/VH

  The PEN 35VE/VH is a fixed-wing, VTOL-capable drone from Pen Aviation. Available in two variants, an electric and an electric hybrid, the UAV is designed for surveillance, ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  Turac VTOL UAV

  The Turac is a fixed-wing VTOL UAV developed jointly by Havelsan and Istanbul Technical University Aerospace Research Center. It can be used for traditional military ISR ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  Drako

  Drako is a quadrotor electric VTOL UAV suitable for close-range surveillance and reconnaissance on SF and police missions, especially in urban areas. It is available ...

• Military UAS - small

  Rakshak VTOL

  The Rakshak VTOL is a fixed-wing UAV with an EO/IR sensor for ISR missions. Developed by TATA Advanced Systems, the UAV is VTOL-capable, allowing it to operate ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  H12 Poseidon

  The H12 Poseidon is the largest member of Swarmly's UAV family. Designed to compete with other theatre-level UAVs, the fixed-wing VTOL capable H12 integrates many payload options, such ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  XV-24A LightningStrike

  The XV-24A LightningStrike, developed by Aurora Flight Sciences and its partners Rolls-Royce and Honeywell, was a project for a tilt-wing UAV powered by an electric-distributed ...