• Defence Notes

  China snares Su-35 fighters…finally

  20th November 2015

  After protracted negotiations, Russia has finally inked a deal with China for the sale of 24 Sukhoi Su-35 multirole fighters. Sergey Chemezov, the CEO of …

• Land Warfare

  New VAB vehicle variant qualifies

  20th November 2015

  A new engineer variant of the VAB (Véhicule de l'avant blindé) Ultima APC for the French Army has passed qualification. This variant called the ‘Génie’ is on schedule …

• Land Warfare

  Australia goes IFV shopping

  19th November 2015

  Australia has issued an RfI for a new tracked infantry carrier for the Australian Defence Force (ADF).  Issued under Project Land 400 Phase 3 for …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Apache and Gray Eagle team up in Korea

  19th November 2015

  The US Army is able to conduct aerial manned-unmanned teaming missions in South Korea, according to an announcement from General Atomics on 18 November. In …

• Training

  Aegis supports USMC trainer

  18th November 2015

  Aegis Technologies will continue supporting Riptide Software’s work on the United States Marine Corps’ (USMC’s) Combined Arms Command and Control Trainer Upgrade System (CACCTUS) programme, …

• Military Logistics

  Australia closes Afghan logistics base

  18th November 2015

  The Australian Defence Force (ADF) has closed Camp Baker in Southern Afghanistan, following the end of mission for the Australian-led 205th Corps Advisory Team, the …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  India pulls plug on Nishant UAV

  18th November 2015

  In a blow to Indian efforts to field indigenously developed tactical UAVs, the Indian Army is abandoning the two-decade-old Nishant. Phase 1 of the Nishant …

• Digital Battlespace

  IAMD Battle Command System in new test

  17th November 2015

  The US Army’s Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) Battle Command System (IBCS) has provided the command and control (C2) for a Patriot Advanced Capability …

• Land Warfare

  Czech army tests RBS 70 NG

  16th November 2015

  The Army of the Czech Republic has carried out a life-fire test of Saab’s RBS 70 Next Generation (NG) missile system, with all missile firings …

• Digital Battlespace

  CACI wins I2WD support task order

  16th November 2015

  The US Army has awarded a task order to CACI International to continue its support for the fabrication, integration, and fielding facility (FIFF) requirements of …

• Defence Helicopter

  Additional UH-72A Lakotas for US Army

  13th November 2015

  The US Army has exercised contract options worth $65.8 million for 12 additional UH-72A Lakota helicopters and associated mission equipment packages, Airbus Helicopters announced on 12 November. …

• Military Logistics

  Sweden set for IRB delivery

  13th November 2015

  General Dynamics European Land Systems (GDELS) will deliver the first batch of the Improved Ribbon Bridge (IRB) to the Swedish Army in November, the company announced …

• Land Warfare

  Russia seals SAM exports

  13th November 2015

  China will begin receiving its first S-400 Triumf medium-/long-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems within 12-18 months, it has emerged from the TASS news agency. Meanwhile, …

• 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 …

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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  Z-19/Z-19E

  The Z-19 is an armed reconnaissance helicopter developed for the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA). It reportedly made its first flight in 2011 and was ...

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

  Nimble Loong

  Nimble Loong is a smaller version of the Wing Loong UAV, which is currently operational with the People's Liberation Army Air Force. It is designed ...

• Wheeled assault guns

  ST1

  The ST1 Wheeled Tank Destroying Vehicle is a 105mm-armed 8x8 mobile gun system developed by Norinco for the export market. It is a derivative of ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  Z-10

  The Z-10 is a tandem two-seat attack helicopter developed for the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) by Changhe Aircraft Industries Corporation, now part of AVIC ...

• Wheeled assault guns

  WMA301 Assaulter

  Norinco developed the WMA301 Assaulter 105mm mobile gun system for the export market. Based on the hull of Norinco's WZ551B 6x6 APC series, the Assaulter ...

• Land: air defence radar

  JY-9

  The JY-9 is a Chinese mobile air surveillance radar manufactured by CRIEE and first introduced in 1989. It is designed for the detection of targets ...

• Medium mortars

  W87 81mm Mortar

  In service with the People's Liberation Army since the early 1980s to replace older 82mm mortars, the W87 was the first 81mm mortar to enter ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

  Houjian Class (Type 037/2)

  China's People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has six Houjian-class fast attack craft in service based in the South Sea Fleet in Hong Kong. The class is also ...

• Land: air defence radar

  JY-29

  The JY-29 (LSS-1) is a Chinese two-dimensional L-band radar manufactured by CETC. It is a highly mobile, low-altitude tactical radar that was first presented in ...