• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Avalon: Please stop droning on

  28th February 2013

  There’s a word not being used around the Australian Airshow or at least only being whispered in dark corners away from the prying ears of …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Avalon: Australian opposition hints at return to BAMS

  28th February 2013

  Northrop Grumman has noted a commitment by Australia’s conservative opposition that Australia would return to the Broad Area Maritime Surveillance (BAMS) system, but is not …

• Military Logistics

  Avalon: Airbus expects A400M type certification mid-year

  26th February 2013

  Airbus Military aircraft expects the type certification of the A400M transport and refueling aircraft before the middle of 2013 after the aircraft completed cold weather …

• Military Logistics

  Avalon: RAAF operational with MRTT

  26th February 2013

  The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) has declared initial operational capability (IOC) for its Airbus KC-30A Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft. The aircraft has …

• Military Logistics

  Arotech receives US Army Swipes order

  25th February 2013

  Arotech has announced that its Battery and Power Systems Division will supply over 1,500 units of the Soldier Wearable Integrated Power Equipment System (SWIPES) under …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Insitu announces SOCOM ScanEagle UAV contract

  25th February 2013

  Insitu will continue to provide intelligence gathering, target surveillance, and reconnaissance services for US Special Operations Command (SOCOM) under a new 26 month contract announced …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Australian Shadow nears full operational capability

  25th February 2013

  An ‘Australianised’ variant of the Shadow 200 unmanned air system (UAS) should achieve full operating capability by the end of this year. Speaking at the …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Triton set to make first flight this year

  25th February 2013

  Northrop Grumman’s Triton MQ-4C will fly for the first time before the middle of 2013, and two system development and demonstration (SDD) platforms will likely …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Elbit Systems announces new Hermes 900 delivery

  25th February 2013

  Elbit Systems has announced that it has delivered a Hermes 900 unmanned aircraft system (UAS) to an unnamed customer in the Americas. The order will …

• Military Logistics

  A400M undergoes cold weather testing

  21st February 2013

  Airbus Military has announced that the A400M has successfully passed a renewed series of cold weather tests in a production-representative configuration. The testing is an …

• Defence Notes

  Ocean Eagle 40 design makes waves

  20th February 2013

  CMN has launched a new multirole fast patrol boat design named Ocean Eagle 40 at the IDEX/NAVDEX exhibition in Abu Dhabi. Ocean Eagle 40 is …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Integrator Block 2 UAV completes first flight

  20th February 2013

  Insitu has successfully completed the first flight of the Block 2 version of the Integrator unmanned aircraft system (UAS). The latest technology release of the …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  I-Master-equipped Camcopter S-100 conducts trials

  19th February 2013

  Schiebel has announced that its Camcopter S-100 UAV has conducted flight trials equipped with a Thales I-Master radar system at the Schiebel test facility in …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Selex ES successfully integrates Gabbiano radar on Falco

  17th February 2013

  Selex ES announced at IDEX that it had completed a series of flight trials with its Falco UAS integrated with a T-20 version of the …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  GA unveils full-scale Predator XP at IDEX

  17th February 2013

  General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc (GA ASI) is continuing its push in to the Middle East at IDEX 2013 exhibiting a full-scale mock-up of its …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - small

  Medium Range Reconnaissance (MRR) / Rucksack Portable UAS (RPUAS) [USA]

  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 organic, ...

• Military UAS - mini

  U&C reconnaissance drones [US Army]

  Methodology PGO The programme has been assigned a PGO of 100%, as a contract has been awarded. Unit cost It has not been clarified what ...

• Transport

  C-27J [Azerbaijan]

  Programme Background The Azerbaijani Air Force signed a contract with Leonardo in June 2023 to procure the C-27J Spartan tactical transport aircraft. This move is ...

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

  Mini Reconnaissance Drones [Lithuania]

  Programme Background Planned Purchases On 14 September 2022, the Lithuanian MoD announced in a short statement on Twitter, now X, that it had begun organising ...

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

  ISTAR UAS project [Canada]

  Programme Background Objective The Royal Canadian Navy's (RCN) main significant UAV project is the RCN Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance Unmanned Aircraft System (RCN ...

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

  Small Reconnaissance Drones [Lithuania]

  Programme Background Planned Purchases On 14 September 2022, the Lithuanian MoD announced in a short statement on Twitter, now X, that it had begun organising ...

• Frigates

  European Combat Vessel [Spain]

  Programme Background Requirements The European Combat Vessel (ECV) is currently a conceptual project that seeks to design a European collaborative multi-mission, modular warship. As of ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | Combat Fighter Jet [Ireland]

  In February 2025, Simon Harris, the Irish Minister for Defence and Tánaiste, emphasised the importance of acquiring a new combat fighter jet to address aerial ...

• Data links

  Data links | Combat Fighter Jet [Ireland]

  In February 2025, Simon Harris, the Irish Minister for Defence and Tánaiste, emphasised the importance of acquiring a new combat fighter jet to address aerial ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  Air: Helmet-mounted displays | Combat Fighter Jet [Ireland]

  In February 2025, Simon Harris, the Irish Minister for Defence and Tánaiste, emphasised the importance of acquiring a new combat fighter jet to address aerial ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | Combat Fighter Jet [Ireland]

  In February 2025, Simon Harris, the Irish Minister for Defence and Tánaiste, emphasised the importance of acquiring a new combat fighter jet to address aerial ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | Combat Fighter Jet [Ireland]

  In February 2025, Simon Harris, the Irish Minister for Defence and Tánaiste, emphasised the importance of acquiring a new combat fighter jet to address aerial ...

• OPVs

  Harry DeWolf Class (AOPS) Coast Guard (7-8) [Canada]

  Background Requirements The new vessels will replace the CCGS Leonard J Cowley, an ice-strengthened fisheries patrol vessel that entered service in 1984 and CCGS Cygnus, a ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  A400M [Germany]

  Programme Background Germany originally said it would but 60 A400Ms, but when the program was re-baselined in 2010 reduced its planed off take to 53, ...

• Destroyers

  Next-Generation Large Surface Combatants (LSC) - DDG(X) [USN]

  Programme Background Requirements The US Navy (USN) is acknowledging a need to move away from the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer design, which is slowly outgrowing. Flight III ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Counter-UAS systems

  MEHEL 2.0

  The Mobile Expeditionary High-Energy Laser (MEHEL) is a C-UAS-capable vehicle that employs directed energy to neutralise targets. MEHEL 2.0 was first seen at AUSA 2016, ...

• Laser-directed energy weapons

  Fractl:2

  Fractl:2, developed and manufactured by AIM Defence, is an Australian laser directed energy weapon (LDEW). The high-powered portable system is Australia's first acquisition of a directed ...

• Counter-UAS systems

  DroneDefender

  DroneDefender is a directed-energy UAS countermeasure that disrupts the adversary's control of the aircraft, neutralising it so that no remote action (including detonation) can occur, ...

• Counter-UAS systems, Land: Electronic Attack - Jamming

  EJDERHA HPEM System

  The EJDERHA is a high power electromagnetic system manufactured by Aselsan. It generates high-amplitude electromagnetic fields and directs them to potential targets such as IEDs ...

• Laser-directed energy weapons

  Apollo

  Apollo is a High-Energy Laser Weapon System manufactured by Electro Optic Systems (EOS). Apollo's laser utilises directed energy to disable or destroy aerial targets without ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  SCATA Mk1

  The SCATA Mk1 is the first military vehicle developed by Finland's SCATA.

• 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 ...

• Laser-directed energy weapons

  Minotaur

  Minotaur, developed by Soukos Robots, is a Greek laser directed energy weapon (LDEW). Minotaur is an anti-drone platform with the ability to shoot down unmanned ...

• Laser-directed energy weapons, Self-propelled guns, Self-propelled missile systems

  SkyRanger 30

  SkyRanger 30 is a mobile ground-based air defence (GBAD) laser directed energy weapon (LDEW) system designed by Rheinmetall. The system comprises automatic cannons, guided missiles, and a ...

• OPVs

  PPA/MultiPurpose Combat Ship (MPCS) EVO

  The PPA/MultiPurpose Combat Ship (MPCS) EVO is an enhanced version of the Thaon di Revel-class PPAs unveiled at Euronaval 2024. The PPA/MPCS EVO retains the core platform ...

• Laser-directed energy weapons

  CROSSBOW MINI

  CROSSBOW MINI, developed by IPG Photonics, is a laser-directed energy weapon (LDEW). The LDEW has multiple deployable configurations and is a part of the manufacturers ...

• Laser-directed energy weapons

  DIAL

  The Laser Weapon Instrumental Demonstrator (DIAL), in joint development with Indra and Escribano Mechanical Engineering, is a Spanish laser directed energy weapon (LDEW). The system ...

• Laser-directed energy weapons

  Archimedes

  Archimedes, developed by Aurelius Systems, is a laser-directed energy weapon designed to stop drones at scale. The system is still in development, though Aurelius received ...

• Laser-directed energy weapons

  ALKA-KAPLAN

  ALKA-KAPLAN is a collaborative effort between Turkish manufacturers ROKETSAN and FNSS. The system is a mobile armoured anti-drone system, which integrates the ALKA directed energy-weapon ...

• Laser-directed energy weapons

  Italian LDEW (Leonardo/MBDA)

  As announced in December 2024, Leonardo and MBDA are collaborating to produce a Fire Unit Laser Directed Energy Weapon (LDEW) for the Italian Navy. The ...