• Digital Battlespace

  Warp speed for Beidou constellation

  28th July 2016

  Last month China’s State Council released a white paper outlining its national Beidou (which translates as Compass) satellite positioning, navigation and timing system. But it has …

• Defence Helicopter

  Iran brings in rotary firepower

  28th July 2016

  The firepower of the Iranian Army Aviation’s (IRIAA) helicopter units has been starkly illustrated during a recent counter-narcotics operation. On 21 July, the IRIAA’s 3rd …

• Defence Helicopter

  Thailand fails to sell Chinooks

  28th July 2016

  The Royal Thai Army (RTA) will divest its six Boeing CH-47D Chinooks after failing to sell the 25-year-old aircraft on the second-hand market. Thailand found …

• Land Warfare

  Canada’s TAPV in initial acceptance

  26th July 2016

  The first batch of Tactical Armoured Patrol Vehicles (TAPV) for the Canadian Army are on track to be delivered next month, with the Department of …

• Defence Helicopter

  Overhauled Chinook delivered to Iranian Air Force

  26th July 2016

  The Iranian Air Force’s (IRIAF) 11 Squadron received a freshly-overhauled CH-47C from the Iranian Helicopter Support and Renewal Company (IHSRC) on 19 July.  With the …

• Training

  NZDF continues Exercise Joint Waka

  26th July 2016

  The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) has continued its Exercise Joint Waka for Amphibious Task Force (ATF) training with a simulated stability and support exercise …

• Training

  ADF PC-21 takes flight

  26th July 2016

  Pilatus Aircraft and Lockheed Martin have successfully completed the initial production test flight of the first Pilatus PC-21 single-turboprop advanced trainer aircraft for the Australian …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Airbus to operate German Heron 1 UAS

  25th July 2016

  Airbus Defence and Space will operate Germany’s Heron 1 UAS in support of the German Army’s mission in Mali, the company announced on 21 July. …

• Land Warfare

  Ajax data sharing platform selected

  25th July 2016

  Sighting systems on the British Army’s Ajax vehicle fleet will use PrismTech’s Vortex OpenSplice as the data-sharing platform. The system’s selection by Thales was announced …

• Naval Warfare

  China rolls out AG600 amphibian

  25th July 2016

  The AG600, a new amphibian aircraft from the China Aviation Industry General Aircraft Company (CAIGA), enjoyed its official rollout from a factory in Zhuhai, southern …

• Defence Helicopter

  V-280 for tomorrow's pilots

  22nd July 2016

  The V-280 Valor is a demonstrator born from many of the lessons learnt from the V-22 tiltrotor, but with the pilots of tomorrow in mind. Bell …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  US Army REF to assess PARC system

  21st July 2016

  CyPhy Works’ Persistent Aerial Reconnaissance and Communications (PARC) system is to be assessed by the US Army’s Rapid Equipping Force (REF), with an order for …

• Land Warfare

  Singapore Marauders to be commissioned next year

  21st July 2016

  The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) will be commissioning the Paramount Marauder mine-protected vehicle next year to complement the army’s growing motorised capabilities.  The SAF calls …

• Defence Helicopter

  Turkish coup: Helicopters central to failed operation

  20th July 2016

  As the political upheaval continues across Turkey following the attempted coup on 15 July, details have emerged of the aviation assets involved in the failed …

• Land Warfare

  Elbit Systems details new contracts

  20th July 2016

  Elbit Systems will supply thermal imaging observation systems to an unnamed European country under contracts worth a combined $30 million announced on 20 July. Systems …

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 ...