• Land Warfare

  UK forces lead NATO exercise

  12th November 2015

  NATO Exercise Arrcade Fusion is underway in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania led by the British armed forces, the Ministry of Defence announced on 10 November. …

• Defence Helicopter

  UK seeks more Hellfire missiles

  12th November 2015

  The UK government has requested a new batch of Hellfire missiles from the US under an $80 million foreign military sale. The Defense Security Cooperation …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  China tests ‘military’ paragliding UAV

  12th November 2015

  In another innovation in the unmanned field from China, news emerged this week of a paragliding UAV that has recently concluded tests in Tibet. Chinese …

• Defence Notes

  D&S 2015: UK seeks Thai engagement

  12th November 2015

  UK defence companies had a muted presence at the Defence & Security 2015 exhibition in Bangkok, though an official from UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) …

• Land Warfare

  Lockheed tests precision munitions

  11th November 2015

  The Lockheed Martin Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) and Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) Unitary munitions have undergone stockpile reliability testing at White Sands …

• Military Logistics

  Iveco wins German trucks contract

  11th November 2015

  Iveco Defence Vehicles will deliver its Trakker trucks to the German military for the army’s protected transport vehicle requirement. The company announced the late October signing of …

• Defence Helicopter

  India’s LCH to receive production go-ahead

  11th November 2015

  India’s indigenous Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) is set to receive production approval before the end of November, after the project originally commenced in 2006. Having …

• Land Warfare

  UAE armour upgrade progresses

  10th November 2015

  The UAE’s 135 BMP-3 infantry fighting vehicle fleet upgrade is set to be completed in 2016. Russia’s Kurganmashzavod company has announced nearly half of the …

• Military Logistics

  US Army receives mobiles CPs

  10th November 2015

  The US Army's 7th Mission Support Command at Panzer Kaserne in Germany is replacing its DRASH military tents with Alaska Structures' rapidly deployable tactical command …

• Digital Battlespace

  NORINCO reinforces China's borders

  10th November 2015

  China’s borders are receiving high-tech protection through a newly introduced integrated C4ISR system. The system is being provided by a subsidiary of China North Industries (NORINCO) featuring radars, electro-optical cameras, …

• Defence Helicopter

  Dubai 2015: Bell sells more 525s in Middle East

  9th November 2015

  Bell Helicopter will sign a letter of intent (LOI) for two 525 Relentless super-medium helicopters with Egyptian firm Petroleum Air Services (PAS) on 9 November, …

• Military Logistics

  Newest C-17A arrives down under

  6th November 2015

  The Royal Australian Air Force’s (RAAF’S) C-17A Globemaster III fleet is now complete, with the eighth aircraft entering service at RAAF Base Amberley on 4 November. …

• Military Logistics

  GDELS receives Aussie bridge order

  6th November 2015

  The Australian Department of Defence (DoD) has ordered the Improved Ribbon Bridge (IRB) from General Dynamics European Land Systems (GDELS) in a $28 million deal …

• Defence Helicopter

  First operational aerial refuel for French EC725s

  6th November 2015

  The French Air Force (Armée de l'air) has completed its first operational air-to-air refuelling of an EC725 (H225M) helicopter, marking a significant capability enhancement for …

• Digital Battlespace

  Africa SATCOMs restricted

  6th November 2015

  African nations have a fundamental issue with ground infrastructure that is holding the region back from full SATCOM capabilities. While SATCOMs, commercial or military, can offer …

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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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.