• Digital Battlespace

  Zhuhai 2016: Stealth aircraft on China’s radar

  10th November 2016

  China displayed its technological prowess with a number of air surveillance radars at the 11th Zhuhai Air Show in China. Among them were ‘cutting-edge’ radars - …

• Land Warfare

  Indo Defence 2016: Beretta builds Asia presence (video)

  10th November 2016

  Italian firearms group Beretta displayed its wares at this year's Indo Defence exhibition in Jakarta, Indonesia, including several weapons that have been sold to the …

• Digital Battlespace

  NZ Army confirms SitaWare

  9th November 2016

  The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) announced on 7 November that the government had approved acquisition of the SitaWare battle management system. Built by Danish firm …

• Digital Battlespace

  Australia reveals new Bushmaster variant

  9th November 2016

  Australia’s Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group (CASG) showcased a new variant of the Thales Bushmaster 4x4 protected mobility vehicle. Displayed at the Land Forces 2016 …

• Land Warfare

  Zhuhai 2016: China shows off brawn

  9th November 2016

  The variety of armoured vehicles on display at the 11th Zhuhai Air Show in southern China was dazzling, as China South Industries Group Corporation and …

• 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 …

• Military Logistics

  New buildings for UK military bases

  8th November 2016

  KBR has announced that its Aspire Defence joint venture will design and build an additional 130 buildings in support of the UK Ministry of Defence’s …

• 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 …

• 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 …

• 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

  Zhuhai 2016: Chinese firepower proliferates

  7th November 2016

  Both China South Industries Group Corporation and China North Industries Corporation (Norinco) exhibited a wide array of artillery systems at the 11th Zhuhai Air Show …

• Defence Notes

  Indo Defence 2016: That's a wrap (video)

  7th November 2016

  Shephard Media's land warfare editor Tim Fish and staff reporter Grant Turnbull discuss some of the main events at this year's Indo Defence 2016 exhibition …

• 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 …

• Digital Battlespace

  Thailand upgrades FCS of M60A3

  6th November 2016

  The Royal Thai Army (RTA) received its first five M60A3 MBTs following an upgrade of their fire control system from analogue to digital, plus installation …

• Land Warfare

  Indo Defence 2016: Hopes for light artillery expansion

  6th November 2016

  French defence manufacturer Nexter expects further orders for its LG1 light artillery gun in Indonesia. The company has already delivered 20 to the Indonesian Marines. …

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 ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Type 19 8x8

  The Type 19 8x8 is a family of vehicles developed for use by the People's Liberation Army (PLA).

• 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 ...