• Defence Helicopter

  Belgium to invest €9.2 billion in defence

  22nd January 2016

  The new strategic defence plan for 2030 agreed by the Belgian government on 22 December foresees 9.2 billion euros being invested in its armed forces. …

• Land Warfare

  Thailand boosts its rocket forces

  22nd January 2016

  The Royal Thai Army (RTA) showed off its latest DTI-1G truck-mounted multiple-launch rocket system (MLRS) to the public for the first time on 18 January. …

• Training

  MilSim Asia: Stacks of simulation software in Singapore

  22nd January 2016

  There was a general consensus at MilSim Asia 2016 in Singapore that simulation still has a long way to go in terms of its utilisation …

• Military Logistics

  Australia spans bridging gaps

  22nd January 2016

  Australia continues to renew its combat bridge inventory under a two-contract deal with WFEL, as announced on 20 January. The Australian Army sought new off-the-shelf …

• Land Warfare

  Hawkei undergoes fatigue testing

  20th January 2016

  The second phase of fatigue testing on Australia’s new Hawkei vehicles has now begun at at Thales Australia’s manufacturing facility in Bendigo, Victoria. The eight …

• Defence Helicopter

  TH-67s heading to new home in South America

  20th January 2016

  Thirty of the US Army’s divested TH-67 Creek helicopters are heading to South America to provide initial helicopter training for allied militaries across the region.  …

• Training

  MilSim Asia: Saab's AsPac inroads

  19th January 2016

  Saab is making significant inroads into live, virtual and constructive simulation environments in the Asia-Pacific market. This is demonstrated by the Swedish company’s imminent training …

• Land Warfare

  Colombia’s new recon and patrol vehicles

  19th January 2016

  A new light strike vehicle, the VRC Cobra, designed by Colombian National Army engineers, was launched at the Expodefensa 2015. The 4x4 off-road reconnaissance combat …

• Land Warfare

  Taiwanese IFV gains 30mm cannon

  15th January 2016

  The Materiel Production and Manufacturing Centre of Taiwan’s Armaments Bureau revealed the latest variant of its ‘Clouded Leopard’ 8x8 armoured vehicle equipped with a 30mm …

• Land Warfare

  UK to test precision rounds on AS90

  15th January 2016

  The UK Ministry of Defence will begin testing precision-guided 155mm artillery rounds with the AS90 self-propelled gun later this year. An MoD official confirmed to …

• Training

  Saab receives US Army CVTESS order

  14th January 2016

  Saab will supply additional laser-based training systems for US Army armoured combat vehicles under contract options announced on 12 January. The $32 million fourth and …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Korean Air wins UAV contract

  14th January 2016

  The Aerospace Division of Korean Air (KAL-ASD) has won a substantial contract for tactical UAVs for the Republic of Korea Army (ROKA), confirming Shephard’s report …

• Land Warfare

  New Arjun ammunition in testing

  13th January 2016

  Two new ammunition types developed for the Indian Arjun tank have been successfully tested by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). The trials of …

• Digital Battlespace

  MUOS in new army test

  13th January 2016

  During a test conducted on the Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) satellite network, General Dynamics' AN/PRC-155 MUOS-Manpack Radio successfully provided voice and data communications with …

• Defence Helicopter

  Afghanistan orders more MD 530Fs

  13th January 2016

  The Afghan Air Force (AAF) will add a dozen new armed light helicopters with enhanced mission equipment to its fleet under an award by the …

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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...