• Digital Battlespace

  Zhuhai 2016: China demonstrates better C4 capabilities

  4th November 2016

  Two new C4 systems were introduced at the 11th Zhuhai Air Show from 1-6 November in southern China. The systems, both developed by the China …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  German Heron 1 UAS flies in Mali

  7th November 2016

  Germany's Heron 1 UAS has completed its first operational flight in support of the German Army’s mission in Mali on 1 November, Airbus Defence and Space …

• Land Warfare

  Ceradyne to provide SPS components

  2nd November 2016

  Ceradyne will provide equipment for two components of the US Army’s Soldier Protection System (SPS) under two separate low-rate initial production (LRIP) contracts announced on …

• Military Logistics

  Singapore fields deployable medical container

  7th November 2016

  The Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) publicly debuted its Naval Rapidly Deployable Maritime Container (RDMC) at the SGDefence exhibition from 4-8 November.  A joint project …

• Military Logistics

  US Army to field test PowerWalk

  1st November 2016

  The US Army is set to start field trials of the PowerWalk bionic energy-harvesting device in 2017, it announced on 26 October. PowerWalk is an …

• Defence Notes

  Type 26 Sea Ceptor contract signed

  7th November 2016

  The British Royal Navy’s Type 26 Global Combat Ships are set to carry the Sea Ceptor air defence system, with a £100 million demonstration and …

• Land Warfare

  Indo Defence 2016: Turkey and Indonesia team on new tank (video)

  3rd November 2016

  Plans for the Indonesian Army to acquire a new medium tank are developing with a Modern Medium Weight Tank (MMWT) offering from Turkish vehicle manufacturer …

• Land Warfare

  Indo Defence 2016: Rheinmetall aims for medium tank

  2nd November 2016

  A technology demonstrator vehicle has been developed by Rheinmetall that the company intends to use to bid for Indonesia’s future medium tank programme. Called the …

• Land Warfare

  Indo Defence 2016: Clouds gather on air defence

  2nd November 2016

  Suppliers of air defence equipment are heading towards a fight as contenders to provide Indonesia with a short-medium range system build up their bids. The …

• Military Logistics

  New IMX facility for US Army ammo plant

  31st October 2016

  BAE Systems has been awarded a $146.5 million contract modification from the US Army to build and commission a new facility to increase the production …

• Defence Helicopter

  Afghans MD 530F proving worth, says NATO

  8th November 2016

  The MD530F Cayuse Warrior light attack helicopter has been cited as one of the improvements in the Afghan national defence and security forces (ANDSF) over …

• Land Warfare

  Indo Defence 2016: New light strike vehicle on offer

  3rd November 2016

  A new armoured variant of the 4x4 Indonesian Light Strike Vehicle (ILSV) is being offered to the Indonesian military. The ILSV, built by domestic manufacturer …

• Land Warfare

  M1061 mortar cartridge gets full materiel release

  1st November 2016

  Orbital ATK’s M1061 60mm mortar cartridge has been approved for full materiel release (FMR) by the US Joint Munitions Command, the company announced on 27 …

• Defence Helicopter

  Experimental helicopter hits 218kts

  8th November 2016

  The highly-modified Mi-24R flying laboratory, dubbed LL-PSV, intended to test new technologies for high-speed flight, has achieved a maximum speed of 218kts (405km/h). The development …

• Special Operations

  Indo Defence 2016: New Indo SF vehicle launched

  4th November 2016

  A new all-terrain assault vehicle, known as the P6 ATAV, has been unveiled at the Indo Defence exhibition. The 4x4 has been designed by Indonesian …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Fighter - multirole

  J-10 [China]

  Programme Background The aircraft performed its maiden flight in 1998 and entered service with the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) in 2004. According to ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | Future Naval Fighter China

  China is planning to deploy stealth naval fighter aircraft with vertical take-off landing capabilities to operate from Peoples Liberation Army Navy (PLAN)'s future Type 075A class ...

• Data links

  Data links | Future Naval Fighter China

  China is planning to deploy stealth naval fighter aircraft with vertical take-off landing capabilities to operate from Peoples Liberation Army Navy (PLAN)'s future Type 075A class ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  Air: Helmet-mounted displays | Future Naval Fighter China

  China is planning to deploy stealth naval fighter aircraft with vertical take-off landing capabilities to operate from Peoples Liberation Army Navy (PLAN)'s future Type 075A class ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | Future Naval Fighter China

  China is planning to deploy stealth naval fighter aircraft with vertical take-off landing capabilities to operate from Peoples Liberation Army Navy (PLAN)'s future Type 075A class ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | Future Naval Fighter China

  China is planning to deploy stealth naval fighter aircraft with vertical take-off landing capabilities to operate from Peoples Liberation Army Navy (PLAN)'s future Type 075A class ...

• Corvettes

  Jiangdao Class (Type 056)

  Programme Background The Type 056 corvette is referred to by the Chinese as the new-generation light guided-missile frigates. They have been built for the People's Liberation ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | S26T (2-3) [Thailand]

  The Royal Thai Navy were in the process of acquiring up to three new submarines derived from the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) Yuan-class (Type ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | S26T (2-3) [Thailand]

  The Royal Thai Navy were in the process of acquiring up to three new submarines derived from the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) Yuan-class (Type ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

  Rapid Minelayers Procurement (1-4) [Taiwan]

  Development and Procurement Four new rapid minelayers are being built for the Taiwanese Navy in a bid to counter the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

  Rapid Minelayers Procurement (5-10) [Taiwan]

  Programme Background Requirements The revelation of a Chinese bridge-barge landing system for amphibious operations, designed for a Taiwan invasion, has underscored the need for Taipei ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Kalyani M4 (India)

  Programme Background In the wake of border clashes with the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) in 2020, the Indian Army has accelerated several of its ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  UH-60M Black Hawk [Taiwan]

  Programme Background The Black Hawks are intended to defend against potential threats from China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA), as they possess rapid response capability in ...

• Frigates

  Jiangkai II Class (Type 054A)

  Built by Hudong-Zhonghua shipyard and Huangpu shipyards the frigates were first seen being constructed from 2005. The class is referred to as the workhorses of China's ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  VP1/Type 89 (Nigeria)

  Programme Background The Nigerian Army has an ongoing need for new armoured vehicles to replace losses incurred in its conflict with extremist organisations operating within ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• AEW&C, Transport

  Y-8

  The Y-8 (Yunshuji-8) medium-sized transport and multirole aircraft was developed by Shaanxi Aircraft Corporation and is based on the Soviet Antonov An-12. More than 36 ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  Z-8

  Developed by Changhe Aircraft Industry Group, the Z-8 (known also as Z-18) is a derivative of the AC313 civil helicopter, which is itself a copy of ...

• Submachine guns

  CS/LS2

  Norinco’s CS/LS2 is a 9mm bullpup SMG designed for use with a suppressor. It has been in service with the People's Liberation Army since about ...

• Fighter - multirole

  J-8

  The J-8 (NATO reporting name Finback) is a multirole fighter domestically developed by China. It has design similarities with Soviet MiG-21 and Su-15 aircraft.  The ...

• Air: COMINT and ELINT systems

  KZ-800

  China National Electronics Import and Export’s (CEIEC) KZ-800 is an airborne Electronic Intelligence (ELINT) gathering system believed to be in widespread use onboard People’s Liberation ...

• Armoured engineer vehicles

  Type GCZ110

  Norinco announced in 2014 that it had completed development of the Type GCZ110 armoured engineer vehicle based on a modified Type 79 tank chassis equipped ...

• Main battle tanks

  VT2

  The 125mm-armed VT2 tracked MBT, which was unveiled at DSA 2012, is the export version of the People's Liberation Army Type 96A. As of early ...

• Fighter - ground attack

  J-16

  The J-16 is a multirole fighter developed by China. It is based on the J-11 air superiority fighter, itself a licence-built version of the Russian ...

• EO/IR systems

  Loong Eye LE380

  The Loong Eye (Dragon's Eye) LE380 is a two-axis stabilised gimbal incorporating EO/IR sensors, laser designators, and laser rangefinders. Originally developed by the Luoyang Opto-Electro ...

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

  Sky Saker FX400A

  The Sky Saker FX400A is a fixed-wing drone manufactured by Norinco. Capable of hosting both ISR and attack payloads, such as the Blue Arrow 7 ...

• Air-to-air missiles, Surface-to-air missiles

  TY-90

  TY-90 is a multi-purpose, short-range, IR-guided, tactical surface-to-air missile developed by China to defend against helicopters, fixed-wing aircraft and cruise missiles at low and super-low ...

• Medium/general-purpose machine guns

  Type 80

  The Type 80 is a general-purpose machine gun (GPMG) manufactured by Norinco in China, based on the Soviet PKM. Certified in 1980, it entered PLA ...

• Air-launched ASW torpedoes, Ship-launched torpedoes

  Yu-11 lightweight torpedo

  Yu-11 is a Chinese-made surface and air-launched lightweight torpedo to repel submarine threats from long distances.

• Light tanks

  Type 62

  The Type 62 light tank entered production for the Chinese People's Liberation Army in 1963. Essentially a smaller, lighter clone of the Type 59 MBT, it is ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  CTL-181

  Produced by Dongfeng Motor Corporation, the CTL-181 is a 6x6 armoured tactical vehicle designed for the People's Liberation Army (PLA). The PLA uses the CTL-181 ...