• Defence Helicopter

  Lab tests for V-280 on track

  23rd November 2016

  The Bell V-280 Valor is on track for its first flight in September 2017 aided by recent successful testing in the company's laboratory of the …

• Defence Helicopter

  Merlin Mk4 upgrades progress

  23rd November 2016

  The first AW101 Merlin Mk4 upgraded for the Royal Navy by Leonardo-Finmeccanica has completed its maiden flight, the company announced on 21 November. Leonardo is …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  uAvionix, PrecisionHawk team for LATAS

  22nd November 2016

  uAvionix and PrecisionHawk have teamed up to develop a new generation of Low Altitude Traffic and Airspace Safety (LATAS) hardware for UAS. Under the teaming …

• Digital Battlespace

  Miysis countermeasure system ready

  22nd November 2016

  Leonardo has begun assembling the first production examples of its Miysis directed infrared countermeasure (DIRCM) system for an undisclosed NATO launch customer, the company has …

• Naval Warfare

  Indian Ocean attack likely a one-off

  22nd November 2016

  The attack on a chemical tanker off the east coast of Somalia in late October brought piracy in the region once more into focus. However, …

• Digital Battlespace

  South Korean F-16 upgrade: BAE out, Lockheed in

  22nd November 2016

  After South Korea reneged on a contract with BAE Systems to upgrade its KF-16 fighter fleet, Seoul has now inked an alternative contract with Lockheed …

• Defence Helicopter

  Rockwell to support US CH-47F CAAS

  21st November 2016

  Rockwell Collins has won a follow-on service and support contract for its Common Avionics Architecture System (CAAS) on the US Army’s CH-47F helicopter fleet. The …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  I/ITSEC 2016: Elbit introduces B-SIM for Hermes 900 HFE

  21st November 2016

  Elbit Systems has contracted Bagira Switzerland to supply the B-SIM, an arena and image simulator, for its Hermes 900 HFE multi-payload unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), …

• Training

  I/ITSEC 2016: US gears up for red air adversary procurements

  21st November 2016

  The US Air Force and US Navy are both due to issue requirement documents in January for the provision of live red air aggressor training …

• Training

  I/ITSEC 2016: US Air Force addresses critical pilot shortage

  21st November 2016

  The impasse between the US Congress and the White House that led to sequestration and forced the US Air Force to reduce training and stand …

• Training

  I/ITSEC 2016: JTAC sim finds target

  21st November 2016

  Following its success in securing a contract on the US Air Force’s Joint Terminal Control Training and Rehearsal System (JTC TRS) programme, Virginia-based QuantaDyn is …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Monaco installs UAS countermeasures

  21st November 2016

  The principality of Monaco has installed a counter-UAS system to protect the city against threats posed by small unmanned aircraft.  The system has been operational …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  LDS introduces SpectroDrone

  18th November 2016

  Laser Detect System (LDS) has unveiled a UAS-operated system designed to detect explosives, improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and other chemical compounds from standoff distances, called …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  AeroVironment unveils Quantix UAS

  18th November 2016

  AeroVironment has introduced a new UAS aimed at the commercial market called Quantix, the company announced on 14 November. The system is capable of operator-in-the-loop …

• Defence Notes

  EU baby steps to defence cooperation

  18th November 2016

  The glacial pace of security and defence policy development in the EU edged forwards this week. Plans are afoot to ensure that the EU is …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Loitering munitions

  DELI [Türkiye]

  Programme Background Speaking to Shephard at SAHA Expo 2022, a spokesperson stated that the platform was expected to enter into service with the Turkish Armed ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Bayraktar TB2 [UK]

  Background Rumours In mid-October 2022, Mustafa Varank, Turkey’s minister of industry, revealed to CNN Turk that the UK was interested in Turkish armed drones. The ...

• Military UAS - micro

  Short Range Reconnaissance (SRR) (Tranche 2) / 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 - micro

  Micro UAV [Argentina]

  Background Tender The EA and MoD in April 2021 announced Public Tender 0090/2021 (UOC: 84/135), which saw the General Directorate of Material begin the process of ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  AH-64E Apache (Indian Air Force)

  Programme Background The Indian Army was originally granted co-ownership of the 22 Apaches by the Indian MoD. However, the IAF refused to cede them to ...

• Land: air defence radar

  Ground Master 403 Radar [Egypt]

  Background In 2020, Egypt ordered four of France-based Thales Ground Master 403 radars, the mobile member of their GM400 radar family.  At least one of the ...

• Military UAS - small

  ScanEagle [Czechia]

  Programme Background Earmarked The ACR took delivery of ten ScanEagle systems (100 UAVs), which were received as a donation from the US in 2015. In ...

• Military UAS - micro

  Sovereign UAS Challenge [Australia]

  Background Chinese Drones Banned As reported by Shephard in August 2023, the Australian Defence Force (ADF) previously used commercial UAS from companies such as DJI ...

• Military UAS - small

  Domestically developed UAV [Mexican Army]

  Background Domestic development In 2025, President Claudia Sheinbaum announced initiatives for the Army and Navy to independently develop UAV prototypes, as part of a broader ...

• Military UAS - small

  HUSAR (2023 Order) [Germany]

  Programme Background First Order In 2015, the German Army launched the HUSAR programme to identify a replacement for its Airbus Defence & Space KZO and ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Akinci [Libya]

  Programme Background 2022 Reports In October 2022, various Libyan media outlets reported that the country was eyeing a possible procurement from Baykar, possibly the Akinici ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  TUAS [Malaysia]

  Programme Background Tender & Requirments The Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) issued a tender in May 2020 to provide a new Tactical Uncrewed Aerial System (TUAS). ...

• Military UAS - mini

  Wizjer [Poland]

  Programme Background Requirements In its Technical Modernisation Programme 2013-2022, the Polish Ministry of National Defense (MND) identified the need for several new types of UAVs ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Aerial Logistics Connector (ALC) [USMC]

  Background US Marine ULS-A programmes The US Marines are seeking a family of Unmanned Logistics Systems-Air (ULS-A) that will provide logistics and ground units with their ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  OC-135B Replacement [USA]

  Programme Background The modification and Treaty Certification works include Digital Visual Imaging System kits, design and development for mission system integration (structural design, interphone communications systems, ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - small

  Skylark 3

  The Skylark 3 is a small UAS manufactured by Elbit Systems. It is designed for both dismounted and vehicle-based operations.  It can perform a range of ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  M12 Monitor

  The Saxon Remote Systems M12 Monitor UAV is a commercial and military system designed to perform a range of roles such as surveillance, pipeline inspection ...

• Military UAS - small, Military UAS - tactical

  Resolute Eagle

  The Resolute Eagle is a tactical Group 3 UAS with fuselage and underwing payload bays, which is able to carry multiple sensors. The UAS has been ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  SICX-10E

  The SICX-10E is a rotary-wing UAV suitable for a range of military and civil roles, including tactical ISR, bomb damage assessment, homeland security, aerial surveillance, ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  SICX-25

  The SICX-25 is a rotary-wing UAV suitable for a range of military, commercial and civil missions, including tactical ISTAR, bomb damage assessment, civil air surveillance, ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  30 June

  Developed by the Egyptian Ministry of Military Production, the 30 June is a MALE fixed-wing UAV designed for reconnaissance missions.  Additionally, it features an electromagnetic system and ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  Wulung

  The Wulung is an Indonesian tactical UAV. First displayed at the Indo Defence Expo and Forum in November 2014, the aircraft entered mass production in May ...

• EO/IR systems

  Skybox

  The Skybox allows gimballed camera systems developed for small UAVs to be integrated on the nose of manned helicopters. It accommodates cameras such as DJI’s ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Yagu

  Plasan unveiled the Yagu 4x4 at the March 2018 Expo Seguridad event. It is based on the Arctic Cat Wildcat 4 1000 commercial all-terrain vehicle. The ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  StratoAirNet

  The StratoAirNet is a lightweight MALE UAV that is solar-powered and designed for commercial and military applications. It can accommodate multiple payloads weighing up to ...

• Air: mission management systems

  TM-100 Map and Video Management system

  Trakka Systems introduced a new TM-100 Map and Video Management system at HAI Heli-Expo 2017 in Dallas. The augmented reality mapping system with metadata video and audio ...

• EO/IR systems

  Geodetic photomapping and monitoring payload and blind zone cameras

  Heliatica unveiled a geodetic mapping and monitoring payload with Geoscan at Heli-Expo 2017. The system is designed to fit two Sony DSC-RX1 (24MP resolution) cameras ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  EJ-30

  Produced by Industrial Complex Engineering Robots in cooperation with the Egyptian Ministry of Military Production, the EJ-30 is a MALE UAV with visual similarity to the ...

• Military UAS - mini

  Dragonfish (Series)

  The Dragonfish is a series of mini fixed-wing tiltrotor UAVs from Autel Robotics. The series consists of the Lite, Standard and Pro dragonfish, with the ...

• OPVs

  Shachi Class (Project 21)

  Project 21 (P-21) Naval Offshore Patrol Vessels (NOPVs)  was intended to enhance the maritime surveillance and patrol capabilities of the Indian Navy. The design of ...