• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Eurosatory: At the end of the tether

  17th June 2016

  ECA Group have shown the IT180-999 tethered UAV system in public for the first time, as they pursue potential programmes in France and other countries …

• Defence Helicopter

  FL Technics helps with Chinook maintenance

  9th June 2016

  FL Technics has completed a cooperation project involving the maintenance of CH-47 Chinook heavy-lift helicopters of the US Army, the company said on 6 June. …

• Land Warfare

  Eurosatory: CMI bids for Challenger 2

  14th June 2016

  Belgian turret manufacturer CMI Cockerill has teamed with engineering company Ricardo UK to bid for the British Army’s Challenger 2 tank life extension programme. The …

• Land Warfare

  Eurosatory: CAESAR 8x8 howitzer to qualify

  21st June 2016

  Nexter Systems is ready to begin qualification trials of its new CAESAR (CAmion équipé d'un système d'artillerie) 8x8 155mm/52cal self-propelled howitzer (SPH) immediately after Eurosatory.  …

• Land Warfare

  Eurosatory: Rheinmetall reveals Lynx IFV (video)

  14th June 2016

  Rheinmetall has unveiled its new armoured vehicle at Eurosatory 2016. The Lynx armoured infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) is the company’s entrance into the medium weight …

• Defence Helicopter

  Laos to refurbish Hips

  24th May 2016

  Much mystery surrounds the state of Laos’ small military helicopter fleet, but a little clarity emerged from a recent deal inked by Russian Helicopters. This …

• Land Warfare

  Eurosatory: MMP series production begins

  15th June 2016

  The Missile Moyenne Portée (MMP) medium-range modular land combat missile system from MBDA has started series production. The multi-mission missile provides engagement and destruction of …

• Land Warfare

  Eurosatory: UK edges forward

  9th June 2016

  With the Ajax reconnaissance vehicle family programme underway the British Army is looking ahead to its next set of armoured vehicles. However, a decision on …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  China’s unmanned plans for SCS

  31st May 2016

  Unmanned technology is set to play a pivotal role in Chinese monitoring of the South China Sea, where Beijing has been robustly claiming territory and …

• Digital Battlespace

  Eurosatory: Thales present new radio family

  13th June 2016

  Thales has introduced a new family of software defined radios (SDR) for the export market at Eurosatory 2016. Three new SDRs will make up the …

• Land Warfare

  Eurosatory: Permali bags Ajax, HMT Extenda orders

  15th June 2016

  Permali Gloucester will supply composite armour materials to General Dynamics European Land Systems for the British Army’s Ajax vehicle, under a £15 million contract announced …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  One in a million

  6th June 2016

  The Shadow has become the first UAS of its size to achieve one million flight hours, more than 85% of which have taken place during …

• Military Logistics

  EPF 7 completes acceptance trials

  9th June 2016

  Austal’s Expeditionary Fast Transport 7 (EPF 7) has successfully completed US Navy acceptance trials, it announced on 7 June. The trials were conducted in the …

• Defence Helicopter

  Qatar orders 24 AH-64Es

  8th June 2016

  Boeing has received a foreign military sales (FMS) contract from the Qatari Government for 24 AH-64E Apache helicopters, the US Department of Defense (DoD) has …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Eurosatory: BAE eye Black Hornet, CV90 teaming

  15th June 2016

  BAE Systems Hägglunds are looking into the potential for integrating Black Hornet UAS into CV90 armoured vehicles, as they continue to refine the BattleView 360 …

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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• Corvettes

  Shadhinota Class (Type C13B)

  The Shadhinota class (Type C13B) corvettes are a platform based on the Type 056 Jiangdao class used by the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), built by the ...

• Submarines: conventional, attack

  S26T [Thailand]

  Programme Background The Royal Thai Navy has been in the process of acquiring a new submarine for a number of years. They formally selected China's ...

• Frigates

  Jiangkai III Class (Type 054B / Type 057)

  Following the rapid production and relative success of the Type 054A Jiangkai II class frigates, the Peoples Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) are developing a successor to ...

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 ...

• Fighter - multirole

  J-10

  The J-10 (NATO reporting name Firebird) is a multirole fighter developed by China to replace second-generation J-7 and Q-5 aircraft. The aircraft is also known ...

• 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.

• 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 ...