• Digital Battlespace

  Say ta-ta to communication and surveillance problems

  17th May 2018

  At last month’s DefExpo 2018 exhibition in Chennai, Tata Aerospace & Defence showed a 4x4 SUV-type solution offering mobile communications for both military and disaster …

• Land Warfare

  Elbit concludes delivery of sights to ADF

  15th May 2018

  Elbit Systems of Australia has concluded the delivery phase of the Land 125 Phase 3C contract to supply XACTth65 thermal weapon sights to the Australian …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Shots fired from ground robot in live testing

  11th May 2018

  Rheinmetall Canada has confirmed it has conducted successful live firings from its weaponised 8x8 UGV. Live firing tests were conducted in Canada in the fourth quarter …

• Training

  ITEC 2018: Thales secures EDITH contract in Hungary

  17th May 2018

  During a briefing at ITEC 2018 by Thales VP training & simulation, Benoit Plantier, it emerged that Thales is under contract from Hungary to supply …

• Digital Battlespace

  PreTalen to continue to PANACEA development

  16th May 2018

  PreTalen has received a $23.9 million contract from the US Air Force to develop an automated platform that analyses wireless communication systems. Under the contract, …

• Naval Warfare

  Unfazed by frigate tracking, France expresses Asian commitment

  7th May 2018

  The French frigate FS Vendemiaire was tracked by a Chinese frigate in the South China Sea while transiting from Hong Kong to Brunei, following a …

• Defence Notes

  US-Nigeria hold military summit in Abuja

  16th April 2018

  On 16 April, military top brass from across Africa kicked off a conference co-hosted by the US aimed at boosting cooperation between countries fighting extremist …

• Special Operations

  SOFIC 2018: RAND report looks into AFSOC recruit pass rates

  21st May 2018

  The RAND Corporation has published a series of conclusions in support of the US Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC), designed to increase pass rates …

• Military Logistics

  IoT expands bot armies

  17th May 2018

  The rapidly expanding ‘Internet of Things’ (IoT) is significantly reinforcing the size and effect of the so-called ‘bot armies’ employed in Distributed Denial of Service …

• Land Warfare

  IDE delivers upgraded M109 to Hellenic Army

  8th May 2018

  Intracom Defense Electronics (IDE) has delivered the first M109s upgraded with Hybrid GenAirCon to the Hellenic Army following successful live firings, the company announced on …

• Training

  ITEC 2018: Joined-up laser thinking

  17th May 2018

  Feedback for UCATT’s Laser Engagement Interface Standard (ULEIS), now approved by SISO and also recognised as NATO STANREC 4816, is currently in process from partners, …

• Military Logistics

  US sees threats to global power projection

  17th May 2018

  The United States is facing threats to its ability to project power on a global basis. That was one of the messages from 15 May …

• Military Logistics

  China’s Y-20 conducts air delivery training

  10th May 2018

  China’s People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) has carried out airborne and air delivery training with the Y-20 heavy transport aircraft, China’s Ministry of National …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  SOFEX 2018: Machine gun robot first public sighting

  10th May 2018

  The King Abdullah II Design and Development Bureau (KADDB) showcased the first prototype of its weaponised UGV at SOFEX 2018 in Amman. Under development for …

• Training

  ITEC 2018: Growth in US Army’s simulated medical training

  15th May 2018

  The US Army is seeing a growth area in the employment of realistic medical training such as manikins, Brig Gen William Cole told delegates at …

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 ...