• Naval Warfare

  High degree of commonality between Hunter and City class as contract signed for Aus programme

  14th December 2018

  With the award and signing of the contract to begin the formal design and build work of the Hunter-class frigates destined for the Royal Australian …

• Special Operations

  Global SAR units take to the sky

  30th November 2018

  Search and Rescue (SAR) units from around the world gathered in Israel to share concepts of operation, tactics, techniques and procedures with senior service officials …

• Military Logistics

  Slovakia seals its largest-ever arms deal

  12th December 2018

  Slovakia will purchase 14 US-made F-16 war planes in the NATO member's largest-ever military purchase, the prime minister said on 12 December, dropping his earlier …

• Training

  I/ITSEC 2018: Show talking points (video)

  30th November 2018

  As this year's I/ITSEC draws to a close, Shephard reflects on the key messages across the show floor and the next steps in technology for the training …

• Defence Notes

  Kosovo tests Serbia with vote to build an army

  13th December 2018

  Kosovo will vote 14 December on whether to create its own army, in a heavily symbolic show of independence from Serbia that has inflamed tensions …

• Defence Notes

  Pentagon conducts latest test of US-Japan interceptor

  12th December 2018

  The US military on 11 November successfully conducted a test of a new ballistic-missile interceptor system, which is being co-developed with Japan. The launch marks …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  US DoD evaluates DroneShield products

  13th December 2018

  DroneShield’s DroneSentry and DroneGun Tactical products have been evaluated by the US Department of Defense Asymmetric Warfare Group, the company announced on 10 December. The …

• Defence Notes

  EDEX 2018: UK companies on Egyptian sales drive

  10th December 2018

  The UK defence industry made a concerted drive into the Egyptian market with nearly 30 British companies making the trek to Cairo to show off …

• Military Logistics

  Canada receives Kerax trucks fitted with Marshall loadbeds

  5th December 2018

  The first Mack Defense Kerax trucks fitted with Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group’s loadbeds have been delivered to the Canadian armed forces as part of …

• Naval Warfare

  Pentagon sends flight over Ukraine following Russian naval incident

  7th December 2018

  A US Air Force observation plane flew over Ukraine on 6 December in a mission to show US support for Kiev following Russia's seizure of …

• Training

  I/ITSEC 2018: Show opens (video)

  26th November 2018

  I/ITSEC 2018 sees a host of high-fidelity projectors, VR and AR technologies on display. Shephard considers the key themes and trends which are likely to dominate …

• Defence Helicopter

  UK MoD set to amend Apache AH Mk 1 contract

  12th December 2018

  The Apache delivery team, part of the UK MoD, is preparing to change an Apache AH Mk 1 integrated operational support (IOS) pricing period contract held …

• Training

  I/ITSEC 2018: CAE on the Rise

  26th November 2018

  Many companies have been looking to exploit the large amounts of data collected during the training process and using that data to enhance training or …

• Naval Warfare

  Naval Group signs ISS agreement with Egypt

  10th December 2018

  Naval Group has signed an agreement with the Egyptian Navy for the in-service support (ISS) of vessels delivered by the group over the next five …

• Defence Helicopter

  Safran to support Danish Arriel engines

  7th December 2018

  Safran Helicopter Engines is to support engines on the Royal Danish Air Force’s AS550 C2 Fennec helicopters, the company announced on 3 December.   Under …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Landing platform docks/dock landing ships

  Landing Platform Docks [Saudi Arabia]

  Programme 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 ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, 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 UAS - fixed-wing, 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 - fixed-wing, 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 ...

• Frigates

  Frigates Procurement Programme [Saudi Arabia]

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

• 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 ...

• 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, ...

• 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 - fixed-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  Watchkeeper X (Uncontracted) [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 ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, 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 ...

• UAS: communication systems

  UAS: communication systems | Carrier-based Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) [French Navy]

  In May 2025, the French Navy presented a broad plan for its carrier air wing, outlining its composition at three points in time: 2038, 2040 ...

• UAS: flight control systems

  UAS: flight control systems | Carrier-based Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) [French Navy]

  In May 2025, the French Navy presented a broad plan for its carrier air wing, outlining its composition at three points in time: 2038, 2040 ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) [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), ...

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

  Akinci [Saudi Arabia]

  Programme Background Erdogan Visit On 17 July 2023,  President Tayyip Erdogan arrived in Jeddah for the first stop of his Gulf tour. The following day, ...

• Loitering munitions

  Harop [Morocco]

  Programme Background In November 2021, Haaretz reported that a $22 million drone sale between Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and Morocco had occurred. That publication and ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, 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 - fixed-wing, 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 ...

• Loitering munitions

  Jaser

  The Jaser is an electronically powered loitering munition manufactured by Serb Advanced Industries. It is pneumatically launched, and is qquipped with both day and thermal imaging cameras. At ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...