• Military Logistics

  RFA Tidesurge enters service

  25th February 2019

  The Royal Navy’s third Tide-class tanker, Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) Tidesurge, has entered the fleet with a dedication service at Greenock’s Ocean Terminal, the navy …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  IDEX 2019: Big contracts on the horizon for Milrem

  25th February 2019

  Once again Milrem Robotics' THeMIS UGV was unavoidable at an international trade show in various weaponised configurations and after years of pushing the platform some larger …

• Naval Warfare

  Japan and China commission new destroyers

  7th March 2019

  Japan commissioned its second and final Asahi-class guided-missile destroyer on 27 February. Meanwhile, China continues its massive naval build-up with the commissioning of yet more …

• Military Logistics

  Sabena technics selects KDA for C-130 maintenance

  21st February 2019

  Kellstrom Defense Aerospace (KDA) has been selected by Sabena technics as a partner for the support of C-130 aircraft maintenance, the company announced on 18 …

• Digital Battlespace

  IDEX 2019: Hensoldt to show new sensor solutions

  15th February 2019

  Hensoldt is set to appear at 2019’s International Defence Exhibition (IDEX) in Abu Dhabi to present its new PrecISR airborne multifunction radar, in addition to …

• Training

  Avalon 2019: Boeing’s T-X spreads its wings

  26th February 2019

  After winning the US Air Force’s Advanced Pilot Training (APT) programme Boeing is now in discussions with potential international customers for the T-X training aircraft.  These are …

• Naval Warfare

  Submarine deal shows France-Australia ties in 'new phase'

  22nd February 2019

  A giant submarine deal between France and Australia is the latest sign of deepening relations between the two countries, which are being driven together by …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Avalon 2019: Australia delineates shipborne UAV approach

  27th February 2019

  The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) revealed more details of what it is looking for in its next maritime tactical UAV, which will be acquired under …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  UGVs join Crossed Swords cyber exercise

  27th February 2019

  The NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence (CCDCOE)’s recent Crossed Swords exercise broke new ground, including UGVs and a Cyber Command element for the …

• Defence Notes

  SO/LIC 2019: US DoD unveils prototyping guide

  7th February 2019

  The US DoD, which has been pushing to develop more equipment prototypes to cut through its acquisition bureaucracy and speed up modernisation, has put together …

• Digital Battlespace

  Hensoldt radars for German corvettes

  18th February 2019

  Hensoldt will deliver its TRS-4D Rotator naval radar and MSSR 2000 ID friend-or-foe identification system (IFF) for the second batch of the German Navy’s K130 …

• Land Warfare

  Magal receives contracts for electro-optic systems

  22nd February 2019

  Magal Security Systems has received $4.2 million in contracts to supply electro-optic systems to the Israeli Ministry of Defense, the company announced on 19 February. …

• Military Logistics

  West 2019: Navy points to sustainment impact on naval lethality

  18th February 2019

  US Navy leaders are highlighting the direct connection between combat system maintenance, sustainment and the delivery of lethal combat power at the West 2019 gathering in …

• Defence Helicopter

  IDEX 2019: Royal Bahraini Air Force battles on all fronts

  11th February 2019

  The Royal Bahraini Air Force (RBAF) has ‘some serious issues to address right now’, the service’s commander, Maj Gen Hamad bin Abdullah al Khalifah, told …

• Land Warfare

  IDEX 2019: Nimr details new Ajban 447A

  20th February 2019

  Nimr has revealed its new multirole Ajban 447A vehicle at IDEX 2019 following just three months of vehicle development. Speaking to Shephard, Yaser Ahmed al Hammadi, …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Landing platform docks/dock landing ships

  Landing Platform Docks [Saudi Arabia]

  Background Requirements The Royal Saudi Naval Forces (RSNF) is in the process of a fleet transformation plan (SNEP II) which, so far, has seen the procurement of ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) [Qatar]

  Background Saudi Arabia Speaking to Breaking Defense at the Dubai Airshow 2025, GA-ASI President David Alexander stated that Saudi Arabia was working to sign a procurement ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  Haboob [Saudi Arabia]

  Background Licence production In April 2020, the General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI) announced that it had granted NTRA Defense Technologies a licence to produce ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Gambit [UAE]

  Background Saudi Arabia Speaking to Breaking Defense at the Dubai Airshow 2025, GA-ASI President David Alexander stated that Saudi Arabia was working to sign a procurement ...

• Military UAS - small

  Shield AI UAVs [Saudi Arabia]

  Background Reported talks Reporting from the World Defence Show (WDS) 2026, the Middle East Eye (MEE) noted that, according to two sources, Saudi Arabia was ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  UH-60M (National Guard) [Saudi Arabia]

  Background Broader order The Saudi Arabian UH-60M order in 2017 was part of a broader contract with the US Army, which covered 257 total helicopters ...

• Loitering munitions

  Loitering Munitions [Czech Republic]

  Background KVAČR Concept In February 2024, the Czech Army unveiled the Construction of the Army of the Czech Republic (KVAČR) concept, which outlined an increase ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  Hawk Mk 165 Advanced Jet Trainer- Saudi Arabia

  Background Requirement The Hawk Mk 165 fleet will be used to train Saudi pilots before they transition to the Eurofighter Typhoon and F-15 in service with RSAF.  Under ...

• Frigates

  Frigates Procurement Programme [Saudi Arabia]

  Background Requirements The Royal Saudi Navy urges to enhance its combat capabilities and to replace older vessels. Riyadh has recently embarked on major naval procurement ...

• Loitering munitions

  Deep-strike, low-cost, loitering munition [India]

  Background Effectiveness of the capability Following the launch of Operation Epic Fury on 28 February 2026, which marked the beginning of the 2026 Iran war, ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Kaan [Saudi Arabia]

  Background 2024 and 2025 discussions Reports in the Saudi Arabian interest in the Kaan aircraft first emerged in 2024 during a visit of the commander ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  Surion Marine Attack Helicopter [South Korea]

  Programme Background The ROKMC has planned to obtain 24 attack helicopters for the first time. When bidding opened in January 2019, there were five contenders: Bell ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  StormFighter [UK]

  Background Project Mosquito and its cancellation Beginning in 2019, the UK’s Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL), in collaboration with the Royal Air Force (RAF), ...

• Transport

  C-130 Replacement [Saudi Arabia]

  Background Requirement The Royal Saudi Air Force operates 33 C-130H, 7 KC-130H aircraft and two KC-130Js. The country has been seeking to replace its older ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  Watchkeeper X (Contracted) [Romania]

  Background 2021 In mid-2021, the Romanian manufacturer Aerostar signed a collaboration with U-TacS to potentially produce the Watchkeeper X in Romania. U-TacS is a joint ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - MALE

  Samoom

  Unveiled at the World Defence Show 2022, the Samoon is a Saudi Arabian UCAV manufactured by Intra Defence Technologies.  It is powered by Belgian ULPower Aero ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

  2800 ASW Patrol Boat

  The 2800 ASW Patrol Boat, developed by Couach, is a vessel designed for ASW operations. Unveiled at the 2022 World Defence Show, the vessel can be ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Cockerill i-X

  The Cockerill i-X is a wheeled armoured vehicle designed as a light armoured platform with a modular turret for intercepting enemy forces. John Cockerill Defense unveiled the new ...

• Land: battle management systems

  Mulhim

  Developed by Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI), Mulhim is a developmental Battle Management System designed for brigade-level and below formations. First unveiled in 2022, it ...

• UAS: communication systems

  SkyARX Ku-18

  CTech SkyARX Ku-18 is a lightweight, SATCOM-on-the-move terminal designed for air applications. The Ku-band terminal supports the secure transmission of full-motion video, data, and mission-critical ...

• EO/IR systems

  PT-8N

  The PT-8D is an IR system from Overwatch Imaging. It is fitted with multiple HD thermal cameras and has been designed to conduct missions at dusk ...

• Military UAS - mini

  SKAT 350

  Based on the Supercam 350, the SKAT 350 is a mini fixed-wing UAV manufactured by Kalashnikov Concern JSC. The drone was revealed in early 2024, ...

• EO/IR systems

  PT-8D

  Marketed as a cost-effective solution, the PT-8D is a wide-area search and ISR payload from Overwatch Imaging. It features an RGB colour camera and a ...

• Air: Displays

  LAD2008DA

  Produced by Psion DSP, LAD2008DA is a 20"x8" Large Area Display for full-glass cockpit applications. It was showcased during the 2022 Farnborough Air Show and the 2023 ...

• Land: RWS

  TEBER-II 30/40

  The Teber II-30/40 is a remote-controlled turret developed by Turkish manufacturer FNSS. This RCT is designed to fit tracked or wheeled armour vehicle programs. FNSS ...

• EO/IR systems

  PT-8DN

  The PT-8DN is a versatile day-night payload from Overwatch Imaging.  It has dual RGB sensors of different focal lengths and an HD LWIR sensor. It also ...

• Man-portable missile systems

  Dzhigit

  Dzhigit is a two-barrel, pedestal air defence missile launcher intended for single or salvo launches of Igla family surface-to-air missiles. Developed in the 1990s, the Dzhigit ...

• Loitering munitions

  Hamza-3

  Egypt’s state-owned Arab Organisation for Industrialisation (AOI) unveiled its Hamza-3 at the World Defence Show 2026. It is fitted with cameras and anti-jamming systems, and can ...

• Air: Displays

  RDU-4208 LAD

  ScioTeq RDU-4208 is a 20"x8" Large-Area Display. It features a fully redundant, high-resolution screen with multitouch support. Unveiled in 2022, it was also demonstrated in ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  D-Tiger

  Thai Defense Industry (TDI) unveiled its D-Tiger 4x4 armoured tactical vehicle at Defense & Security 2022 in Bangkok. The D-Tiger is aimed at export sales, with ...