• Digital Battlespace

  Eurosatory 2018: FLIR adopts ambitious growth strategy

  4th June 2018

  Soldier modernisation programmes pursued by militaries around the world offer lucrative opportunities for producers of advanced sensing solutions. Providing essential technology for both modern soldier …

• Special Operations

  SOFIC 2018: Special Ops Chinook contract coming soon

  27th May 2018

  In June, the US Army will move forward with plans to acquire Block II MH-47G Chinook helicopters for its special operations forces. The service though, …

• Land Warfare

  Barys 8x8 enters final field testing

  29th May 2018

  Kazakhstan Paramount Engineering's new Barys 8x8 IFV has almost completed testing and could enter service with the Kazakhstan army in the next few years.  Shephard has …

• Defence Notes

  Thai junta seeks $10 billion in new security budget

  7th June 2018

  The Thai junta is seeking a new $10 billion defence and security budget, in what may be its final opportunity to allocate funds to the …

• Digital Battlespace

  New equipment for Indian armed forces

  30th May 2018

  India’s Defence Acquisition Council has approved the procurement of equipment worth more than $1.02 billion for the Indian armed forces, the Indian MoD announced on …

• Naval Warfare

  South Korea launches second LPH

  16th May 2018

  Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction (HHIC) ceremonially launched a landing platform helicopter (LPH) – the second Dokdo-class amphibious assault ship – in Busan on 14 …

• Defence Helicopter

  Russian MoD to take Mi-38 in 2019

  6th June 2018

  The Russian MoD is set to take delivery of its first Mi-38T 15.6t transport helicopter built at Kazan Helicopters next year. According to Russian Helicopters …

• Defence Notes

  North Korea threatens to cancel US summit

  16th May 2018

  North Korea threatened on 16 May to cancel the forthcoming summit between leader Kim Jong Un and US President Donald Trump if Washington seeks to …

• Digital Battlespace

  US DoD orders MFoCS II

  30th May 2018

  DRS Network & Imaging Systems has received a contract to provide Mounted Family of Computer Systems (MFoCS) II for the US Army, the US Department …

• Defence Helicopter

  T129 Atak ready for Kazakh MoD’s fleet

  28th May 2018

  Kazakhstan is being considered as one of many potential export customers for the T129 Atak helicopter. The Turkish company expects that in the coming years …

• Special Operations

  SOFIC 2018: MRZR-X supports UK MoD

  26th May 2018

  Polaris Government and Defense will support the UK Ministry of Defence’s (MoD’s) Army Warfighting Experiment (AWE) with a single MRZR-X unmanned ground vehicle (UGV), company …

• Land Warfare

  Raytheon receives Romanian Patriot order

  29th May 2018

  Raytheon has received a $395.8 million contract from the US Army to produce the Patriot air and missile defence system for Romania, the company announced …

• Land Warfare

  VICIS to improve USMC, army’s combat helmets

  24th May 2018

  VICIS has received a contract from the US Army Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center (NSRDEC) to improve combat helmets of the army and …

• Naval Warfare

  Pakistan turns to China for modern frigates

  5th June 2018

  The Pakistan Navy (PN) signed a deal with the China Shipbuilding Trading Company (CSTC) on 1 June for two additional Type 054A multi-mission frigates. The …

• Land Warfare

  S-400 – India caught between the devil and deep blue sea

  5th June 2018

  India has started final cost negotiations for acquisition of S-400 Triumf air defence missile systems, Shephard has learned. The final deal is expected to be …

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 ...