• Defence Notes

  Defying US, Paris and Berlin stand firm on EU defence pact

  16th February 2018

  Europe must be able to stand on its own feet militarily, France and Germany said 16 January as they made the case for a new …

• Digital Battlespace

  Spain kicks off tactical comms modernisation study

  19th February 2018

  The Spanish MoD has initiated a study to consider the future tactical communications capabilities for both the army and navy, defence sources have disclosed. According …

• Special Operations

  RAND looks at SOF cooperation

  2nd March 2018

  The RAND Corporation has published an analysis of US special operations forces aimed at increasing levels of cooperation with conventional forces, other government agencies and …

• Land Warfare

  India scurries to buy thousands of small arms

  16th February 2018

  The Defence Acquisition Council’s (DAC) approval on 13 February for procurement of small arms worth more than $2.2 billion for the Indian military is being …

• Defence Notes

  Three Egyptian soldiers killed in Sinai campaign

  19th February 2018

  Egypt said on 19 February that three of its soldiers had been killed in the Sinai Peninsula during a wide-ranging operation against the local branch …

• Defence Notes

  ADECS 2018: South Korea harbours nuclear submarine ambitions

  31st January 2018

  South Korea is airing ambitions to form a nuclear-powered submarine (SSN) fleet and the eventual commissioning of such boats is being described as ‘politically inevitable’. …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Industry readies for UK counter-UAS requirement

  27th February 2018

  While the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) remains tight-lipped about its urgent capability requirement for a counter-UAS (C-UAS) system one industry member has confirmed its …

• Digital Battlespace

  China tests ground-based missile defence system

  6th February 2018

  China said on 6 February that it successfully conducted a test of a ground-based missile defence system amid rising tensions on the Korean peninsula. Concern …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Singapore leverages unmanned and AI tech

  2nd March 2018

  The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) has begun live trials of more unmanned, data analytics and artificial intelligence (AI) systems to overcome the island-state’s constraints and …

• Special Operations

  Army steps forward on 40mm airburst

  15th February 2018

  The US Army is moving forward on development of a new 40mm low velocity airburst munition. Designated XM1166, the High Explosive Airburst (HEAB) system would …

• Defence Notes

  Top US military leader calls for BMDS space sensors

  28th February 2018

  With the US eyeing ways to bolster its Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS), the head of Strategic Command said the time has come to send …

• Land Warfare

  US Army weighs next-gen combat vehicle acceleration

  14th February 2018

  The Pentagon’s FY19 budget might still be hot off the press but the US Army is under pressure to determine if it can accelerate its …

• Defence Notes

  Spain to boost defence spending

  25th January 2018

  Spain is planning to boost defence spending by 73% to $22 billion by 2024, an announcement that sparked outrage among opposition MPs who say social …

• Defence Notes

  Russia tests over 200 new weapons in Syria

  22nd February 2018

  Russia has tested over 200 new types of arms in Syria during its campaign in support of President Bashar al-Assad, a senior lawmaker said on …

• Land Warfare

  Swedish Army selects Aimpoint’s red dot sights

  12th February 2018

  Aimpoint has received a contract worth over $2.47 million to supply its CompM5 and Multi-Purpose Sight 3 (MPS3) red dot sights to the Swedish Army. …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

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

  Indiza (South Africa)

  Programme Background Trials The South African National Defense Force (SANDF) is known to have begun trialling the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Indiza ...

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

  Indiza - Additional Units (South Africa)

  Programme Background First Procurement After trialling the platform, in September 2019 the South African Army chief confirmed the Indiza had been procured to support SANDF peacekeepers ...

• Military UAS - mini

  ECAC/2022/199 [South Africa]

  Programma Background Two Tenders In March 2023, DefenceWeb reported that the South African Army's tender ECAC/2022/154 was put on hold due to bidders failing to ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | SAS Drakensberg Replacement [South Africa]

  The South African Navy needs to replace the SAS Drakensberg Combat Support Ship (CSS), which entered service in 1987. In October 2023, the South African Navy Chief ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | SAS Drakensberg Replacement [South Africa]

  The South African Navy needs to replace the SAS Drakensberg Combat Support Ship (CSS), which entered service in 1987. In October 2023, the South African Navy Chief ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Project Hoefyster (South Africa)

  Programme Background History The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) first formulated operational requirements for a new ICV in 1995, but modernisation of South Africa's ...

• OPVs

  Project Biro (1-3) [South Africa]

  Programme Background Three multi-mission inshore patrol vessels (MMIPVs) have been procured for the South African Navy under Project Biro. Based on Damen's Stan Patrol 6211 ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  Project Kiepie [South Africa]

  Programme Background South African Air Force has been planning to replace 47TP (DC-3)s and C212s since mid-2010s. However, budget issues put this replacement programme behind the other ...

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

  Milkor 380 [South Africa]

  Programme Background According to Milkor, as reported by defenceWeb, during its successful showing of the UAV at AAD 2022, an MoU was signed with the South ...

• Sealift/replenishment vessels

  SAS Drakensberg Replacement [South Africa]

  Programme Background Requirements The South African Navy needs to replace the SAS Drakensberg Combat Support Ship (CSS). SAS Drakensberg was launched in 1986 and commissioned ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | C-130 Replacement [South Africa]

  The South African Air Force (SAAF) is actively exploring options to replace its ageing fleet of Lockheed Martin C-130BZ Hercules transport aircraft, which have been ...

• Data links

  Data links | C-130 Replacement [South Africa]

  The South African Air Force (SAAF) is actively exploring options to replace its ageing fleet of Lockheed Martin C-130BZ Hercules transport aircraft, which have been ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | C-130 Replacement [South Africa]

  The South African Air Force (SAAF) is actively exploring options to replace its ageing fleet of Lockheed Martin C-130BZ Hercules transport aircraft, which have been ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  RG32M Replacement [Ireland]

  Programme Background Ireland currently maintains a small army designed for home defence. It is only deployed abroad as part of operations authorised by the UN. ...

• Main battle tanks

  Project Aorta

  During the 1990s, the SANDF envisioned the procurement of 282 new MBTs to replace the Olifants then in service. Should a similar tender be initiated ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Wheeled assault guns

  Rooikat

  The 76mm-armed Rooikat 6x6 armoured car was developed in 1976-89 for the South African Army and the first of 240 vehicles was delivered in 1989. The ...

• Trucks and utility vehicles - 4x4

  SAMIL 50

  Like other vehicles in the South African Military (SAMIL) series the SAMIL 50 all-wheel-drive 4x4 truck was developed in the 1980s to meet the requirements ...

• Trucks and utility vehicles - 4x4

  SAMIL 20

  The all-wheel-drive 4x4 SAMIL 20 is the smallest member in the South African Military (SAMIL) truck range developed in the 1980s to meet the requirements ...

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

  Indiza

  The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Indiza small fixed-wing mini-UAV started its development in 2017 and was deployed to the Democratic Republic of Congo ...

• Naval guns

  Denel 35mm Dual Purpose

  The Denel 35mm Dual-Purpose is a naval dun system developed by South African Denel. The Denel 35mm comprises two Denel GA35 cannons and the non-deck-penetration ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Casspir

  Originally adopted by the Apartheid-era South African Police for COIN operations in Namibia, the Casspir is generally regarded as having pioneered the development of the ...

• Patrol boats

  Warrior Class (Stan Patrol 6211)

  Under Project Biro, the South African Navy is acquiring three new multi-mission inshore patrol vessels. The project is expected to run for approximately seven years, ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  Oryx

  The Oryx is a medium-sized utility helicopter based on the Airbus SA 330 Puma. It was manufactured to meet South African military requirements during the ...

• Surface-to-air missiles

  Umkhonto-IR Block II

  The Umkhonto-IR Block II is a South African-developed medium-range surface-to-air missile. It was designed for all-around defence against simultaneous air attacks from multiple targets. The ...

• Air: aerial targets

  Skua

  The Skua is a high-speed aerial target in service with the South African National Defence Force since 1994.

• Trucks and utility vehicles - 6x6

  SAMIL 100

  The all-wheel-drive 6x6 SAMIL 100 is the largest member of the South African Military (SAMIL) truck series developed in the 1980s to meet the requirements ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  AML

  Panhard developed the 4x4 AML (Auto Mitrailleuse Légère) in 1956-1960 to meet a French Army requirement for a fast, long range light armoured car which carried ...

• Land: air defence radar

  RSR 320 – DBRXL

  The RSR 320 – DBRXL 3D ground-based dual-band radar is based on the ESR 220 Thutlwa local warning radar already in service with the South ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  Ratel

  The Ratel Infantry Combat Vehicle (ICV) was developed to meet the specific operational requirements of the Apartheid-era South African military for a highly mobile, reliable ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Maatla 4x4

  Paramount's Maatla 4x4 is a Light Protected Vehicle (LPV) aimed at the African off-road armoured vehicle market. Announced at the African Aerospace and Defence Expo (AAD 2022) in ...