• Naval Warfare

  DSEI 2019: Royal Navy watchers a-quiver as Arrowhead 140 gets the go-ahead

  12th September 2019

  The multi-episode marathon that has been the UK Royal Navy’s Type 31e light frigate saga has finally come to a conclusion with the announcement on …

• Land Warfare

  Malaysia to nix helicopter and SPH purchases

  4th September 2019

  The Malaysian government is looking to cancel procurement of six MD 530G helicopters from Destini Berhad and MD Helicopters, as well as 29 M109A5 SPHs …

• Defence Notes

  Seoul announces major defence boost in 2020-24 plans

  15th August 2019

  The South Korean Ministry of National Defense's (MND) latest Defense Mid-Term Plan covering the five-year period from 2020-24 foresees an ambitious increase in spending.  The …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  MSPO 2019: Russia's Altius-U kicks off flight testing

  30th August 2019

  The latest member of the Russian made Altius UAV family - Altius-U - has commenced flight testing, despite the country's MoD yet to publicise or confirm …

• Defence Helicopter

  Support contract awarded for German NH90 fleet

  29th August 2019

  Germany’s NH90 rotorcraft fleet will be supported by a new 10-year contract signed on 28 August between the government and two domestic suppliers. The Federal …

• Digital Battlespace

  Lockheed Martin led team gets MBMM protoype award

  23rd July 2019

  Lockheed Martin, Ball Aerospace, and Kratos Defense & Security Solutions have been awarded a $7.2 million prototype agreement by the US Defense Innovation Unit to …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Phantom 4 UAS using Correlator3D software

  7th August 2019

  SimActive’s Correlator3D is being used in Japan for mapping projects on the DJI Phantom 4 quadcopter UAS, the company announced on 6 August. The equipment …

• Special Operations

  USSOCOM looks to combat diver experimentation

  8th August 2019

  USSOCOM is preparing to hold a technical experimentation (TE) event focused on enhancing the capabilities of special operations forces combat swimmers/divers.  The upcoming event was …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Kratos logs new orders

  12th August 2019

  Kratos Defense & Security Solutions’ Unmanned Systems Division has received approximately $4.8 million in new awards for its high performance jet drones.The orders also include …

• Defence Helicopter

  Trakka to provide searchlight for Black Hawk

  16th August 2019

  Trakka Systems has been awarded a contract by Sikorsky to supply its high intensity, multi-mission TrakkaBeam A800 searchlight for the UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter. ‘We are …

• Digital Battlespace

  Hughes awarded SATCOM R&D contract

  25th July 2019

  Hughes Network Systems has been awarded an $11.8 million military satellite communications (SATCOM) research and development contract by the US Army, the company announced on …

• Digital Battlespace

  Ampex receives E-2D FRP contract

  29th July 2019

  Ampex Data Systems has received a contract from Northrop Grumman for full rate production of file servers and supporting storage media for the US Navy’s …

• Land Warfare

  Australian Army awards GBAD/C-RAM support work to Saab

  23rd August 2019

  Saab has received an order from the Australian Army to extend the support of its ground-based air defence (GBAD) and counter-rocket, artillery and mortar (C-RAM) …

• Land Warfare

  Honeywell awarded funding for Abrams TIGER engine work

  19th August 2019

  Honeywell has been awarded a $110.9 million contract amendment to provide Total Integrated Engine Revitalization (TIGER) hardware for the Anniston Army Depot’s production of the …

• Defence Notes

  Turkish Aerospace, Royal Netherlands Aerospace Center team up

  1st August 2019

  Turkish Aerospace has signed a framework agreement with the Royal Netherlands Aerospace Center (NLR) to cooperate on future aerospace research projects. The two organisations plan …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - HALE

  Long-Endurance UAV [US AFRICOM]

  Programme Background Ageing MQ-9A Reapers In November 2022, Shephard reported that GA-ASI would continue supporting contractor SMX with its MQ-9A after winning a $2.3 billion task ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  HH-60W - Combat Rescue Helicopter (CRH)

  According to the FY2021 Base funding, the HH-60W helicopter unit cost is $43.2 million. The HH-60W will be capable of employment day or night, in ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  Bayraktar TB2 [Pakistan]

  Programme Background Requirement Following a 2019 skirmish with India, Pakistan placed newfound importance on EW and ISR, primarily due to the significant advantage gained during that ...

• Military UAS - micro, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Multidomian Micro Drones [USSOCOM]

  Background Special Notice On 14 November 2024, a Special Notice was released that informed the industry that the US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) was looking for ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  MQ-9B SkyGuardian [Denmark]

  Background Arctic Capability Package In February 2021, Denmark published the Arctic Capability package, a commitment to invest in new technologies, particularly uncrewed systems, to improve surveillance ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - HALE

  Long-Range Drones [Norway]

  Background Andøya Ambition On 3 April 2023, the Norwegian MoD released a statement confirming its plans for Andøya, the northernmost island in its Vesterålen archipelago. In addition to ...

• Loitering munitions

  Long Range One-way Platforms [US]

  Solicitation In October 2024, the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) released a solicitation for long-range, one-way platforms. The DIU noted recent conflicts highlighted the asymmetric impact of low-cost, ...

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

  V-Bat 128 [Canada]

  Programme Background Requirement Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC) was seeking a platform for the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) that would significantly expand its surveillance range ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - mini

  Mini Intelligence Drone System (SMDR) [France]

  Background Requirement The French Army identified a need for a new tactical UAS to replace the Drac, which entered service in 2008. The Mini Reconnaissance ...

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

  M Solar-X [Thailand]

  Programme Background Roadmap In February 2024, the RTAF unveiled its White Paper 2024. Incorporating lessons from the Russo-Ukrainian War, the Israel-Hamas War, and other events ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  Seeker 400 - First Batch (UAE)

  Programme Background The UAE has a long history of transactions with Denel Dynamics. The country has been purchasing various Seeker systems from as far back ...

• Military helicopters - maritime

  NH90 NFH-Italy

  Programme Background  The Italian Navy has taken delivery of its first NH90 NFH helicopter in Full Operational Capability (or Step B) configuration in November 2013. ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  CH-4 (First Batch) [Pakistan]

  Programme Background First Batch According to the Pakistan Exim Trade Info website, five aircraft were delivered to the country on 15 January 2021. According to a ...

• Loitering munitions

  Medium-Range Loitering Munition with LEO Satellite Data Link [South Korea]

  Background New Project In April 2025, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) and the Agency for Defense Development (ADD) announced a new project titled “Development of Medium-Range ...

• Military UAS - small

  Small UAV (Bulgaria)

  Programme Background The Bulgarian Army wants to procure UAVs to enhance the organic tactical ISR capabilities of its ground forces. According to Bulgarian media, a ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - HALE

  Caihong

  The Caihong (Rainbow), also known as the Cai Hong or CH, is a solar-powered HALE platform designed for near-space flight. It is suitable for military ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - HALE

  Morning Star

  Aviation Industry Corporation of China’s Morning Star is a quasi-satellite, near-space, solar-powered platform. It is designed for both military and civilian applications, including reconnaissance, navigation ...

• FL-3

  The FL-3 is a planned solar-powered, long-endurance, near-space platform with an 85,300ft ceiling. Speculated future uses include communication, ground observation, meteorological monitoring and operation as ...

• ISR/special mission, Maritime patrol

  A320neo M3A

  Currently under development by Airbus, the A320 M3A is the Maritime Patrol version of the civilian A320neo aircraft. The aircraft can be fitted with a wide ...

• Space: radar systems

  SARah

  SARah is the planned follow-on system for the SAR-Lupe radar satellite constellation operated by the German Armed Forces. In 2013, it was announced that OHB ...

• Major networking projects

  EAC

  The NATO Communications and Information Agency awarded ACTIA Sodielec a contract in June 2013 to provide NATO with an Extended Advanced SATCOM Network Monitoring and ...

• Space: radar systems

  ESA Sentinel-1

  Sentinel-1 is a planned constellation of four satellites with two already in orbit and two on order. They carry a payload of a C-band SAR ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  Vocality Pro Series

  The Pro Series includes the V25, V50, V150 and V20. These are designed to be used in a central communications hub or as part of ...

• Air: COMINT and ELINT systems

  FlyingFish Maritime

  The FlyingFish Maritime SIGINT system is one of several derivatives of the FlyingFish Airborne Satellite Monitoring System developed by Horizon Technologies. Designed to be mounted ...

• Military UAS - rotary-wing

  S-70UAS U-Hawk

  Unveiled at AUSA 2025, the S-70UAS U-Hawk is an uncrewed version of Sikorsky’s crewed UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter.  It will act as a delivery aircraft for medium-sized uncrewed ground vehicles ...

• Air: COMINT and ELINT systems

  FlyingFish

  FlyingFish is an Airborne Satellite Monitoring System designed to detect and intercept SATCOM from airborne ISR platforms. As a passive system, it cannot be detected ...

• Guided munitions

  GP155B

  The GP155B is a 155mm artillery round developed by Norinco. The GP155B integrates satellite-based guidance systems that are compatible with both the Chinese Beidou Navigation ...

• Data links

  Space CDL

  The Space Common Data Link (CDL) system provides a wideband data link capability adaptable to a variety of space-based applications. It consists of separate transmitter ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  ULTRA

  The Unmanned Long-endurance Tactical Reconnaissance Aircraft (ULTRA) is a fixed-wing drone from DZYNE Technologies.  It is described as a long-endurance, GPS-harded intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance platform with full ...

• Naval: COMINT and ELINT systems

  FlyingFish Naval

  The FlyingFish Naval SIGINT system is one of several derivatives of the FlyingFish Airborne Satellite Monitoring System (ASMS) developed by Horizon Technologies. Whereas the original ...