• Land Warfare

  Rostec spearheads fourth-generation Sotnik R&D effort

  29th January 2021

  Robotic equipment will form part of the next wave of Russian combat gear.

• Digital Battlespace

  HattoriX completes demonstration tour

  21st January 2021

  Elbit showcases AI-enabled target acquisition system in Europe.

• Land Warfare

  PLA modernises its artillery inventory

  12th February 2021

  Tube artillery, rocket launchers, self-propelled howitzers - all are being modernised in China's army to gain mobility, speed and precision and replace old stock.

• Naval Warfare

  Ecuador builds for the future

  3rd February 2021

  Shipyard ASTINAVE is expanding its facilities as it builds a new multi-purpose vessel for the Ecuadorian Navy, but the project has been hampered by COVID-related delays and its overall cost is unclear.

• Land Warfare

  Austria signs up for more Pandur Evos

  1st February 2021

  The Austrian Minister of Defence signed a €106 million ($128 million) contract to procure 30 Pandur 6x6 Evolution (Evo) wheeled armoured vehicles. Deliveries are scheduled to take place between 2022 and 2023.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Callen-Lenz Mosquito omission is a tale of the unexpected

  27th January 2021

  In an odd twist, Callen-Lenz has been omitted from Team Mosquito — the industry collaboration contracted to design and manufacture a low-cost, 'loyal wingman' type UAV for the RAF.

• Air Warfare

  Greece signs on the dotted line for Rafale

  26th January 2021

  Official contract is signed for 18 aircraft, following provisional agreement in September 2020.

• Land Warfare

  Collins Aerospace Building Key Technology for the Future of Multi-Domain Test and Training Capability (sponsored)

  15th February 2021

  This article is brought to you by Raytheon Technologies In an age of ever-evolving complexity of the battlefield, as there is a need for bringing …

• Defence Helicopter

  New member joins German CH-53K team

  28th January 2021

  Rheinmetall-led industry team keeps faith despite cancellation of German heavy-lift helicopter tender.

• Defence Helicopter

  Israel enhances Seahawk sensors and weapons suite

  27th January 2021

  SH-60Fs are expected to operate from Sa’ar 6 corvettes with Elta ELM-family maritime radar and other classified sensors, as well as Spike missile variants.

• Defence Helicopter

  Sikorsky to evolve capability of Australian-made ViDAR

  27th January 2021

  Optical radar system to be refined for use by MH-60R Seahawk helicopters.

• Land Warfare

  Spanish Army demonstrates indigenous NBC system to NATO members

  24th November 2020

  Atila shines UV rays to neutralise bacteria and viruses such as COVID-19. It integrates a sanitisation system with the Avenger and tEODor EOD robots.

• Military Logistics

  F-35 sustainment continues at RAF Marham

  18th January 2021

  BAE Systems acts as industry lead for Lightning Team UK.

• Land Warfare

  US Army focuses on Project Convergence to ensure readiness

  27th January 2021

  Focused on the 'joint fight' with other branches of the armed forces, the US Army is hoping to apply lessons learned from Project Convergence to prepare troops and capabilities for integration into all-domain operations.

• Training

  4GD enhances SmartFacility training

  2nd February 2021

  SmartFacility is being enhanced with ECFECTUS, a dismounted close combat data collection and analysis system; and ACIES, an integrated-reality single synthetic training environment.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - mini

  Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Sensor Integration on Robotic Platforms (CSIRP) [US Army]

  Background  Requirements The purpose of the CSIRP is to repackage and integrate modular CBRN sensors onto uncrewed systems to provide increased situational awareness on the ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  M1135 Stryker NBC Reconnaissance Vehicle

  Programme Background According to the DSCA's notification to Congress, the acquisition of 50 M1135 Strykers was intended to allow the Iraqi government to identify harmful ...

• Military UAS - small

  Black Hornet 3 PRS (UK)

  Programme Background The British Army operated approximately 160 first-generation Black Hornet PD-100 nano UAS between 2013 and 2017, when the decision was made to retire ...

• Military UAS - micro

  French Operational Pocket Drone / DrOP (France)

  Programme Background French UAV Procurment / DrOP Under its 2019-2025 Military Programming Law (LPM), France aims to introduce 1,200 new UAVs into service with the ...

• Loitering munitions

  Organic Precision Fire - Light (OPF-L) (Uncontracted) [USMC]

  Background Force Design 2030 The USMC Force Design 2030 is a modernisation effort to create a lighter, more agile maritime force. In May 2022, an annual update ...

• Loitering munitions

  Organic Precision Fire - Light (OPF-L) (Contracted) [USMC]

  Background Force Design 2030 The USMC Force Design 2030 is a modernisation effort to create a lighter, more agile maritime force. In May 2022, an ...

• Military UAS - micro

  Black Hornet 4 [Switzerland]

  Background Announcment Teledyne FLIR Defense announced on 2 February 2026 that it had received a $17.5 million contract from armasuisse, the Swiss Federal Office of ...

• Military UAS - small

  Bug Nano UAS (UK)

  Programme Background The British Army previously took delivery of 160 first-generation Black Hornet PD-100 nano UAS in 2013 to support operations in Afghanistan. After these ...

• Military UAS - micro

  Black Hornet 3 (First Order) [Norway]

  Programme Background First Batch The Norwegian Home Guard has procured the Black Hornet 3 to provide each of its districts with a nano UAS that ...

• Military UAS - micro

  Soldier Borne Sensor (SBS) (Phase II) [USA]

  Programme Background Requirement The Soldier Borne Sensor (SBS) provides short-range day and night ISR to US Army units at the squad, platoon and other small ...

• Military UAS - micro

  Black Hornet 4 [Germany]

  Programme Background BAAINBw In February 2025, Shephard reported that Teledyne FLIR had been awarded a $15 million contract from Germany’s Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology ...

• Military UAS - micro

  Black Hornet 3 (Second Order) [Norway]

  Programme Background First Order The Norwegian Home Guard has procured the Black Hornet 3 to provide each of its districts with a nano UAS that ...

• Military UAS - micro

  DEF129 (Nano UAS) [Australia]

  Programme Background DEF129 The Australian Ground Service has combined various army procurement efforts under the DEF129 programme to increase the abundance and proliferation of UAVs ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Anka-B [Türkiye]

  Programme Background TAI announced in November 2019 that it had delivered a total of 22 Anka-B UAVs to the Turkish Navy. Two large contracts contributing ...

• Military UAS - micro

  Black Hornet 3 (Ukraine Aid) [UK & Norway]

  Programme Background Russo-Ukraine War Since Russia invaded Ukraine on 24 February 2022, UAVs have proved vital to the country's defence. Consequently, as in this programme, the ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - mini

  R80D SkyRaider

  The military-grade R80D SkyRaider VTOL small UAS is an open-architecture, multi-mission aircraft. Manufactured by Teledyne FLIR System exclusively for US DoD and Federal Agencies, the ...

• Light UGVs

  PackBot

  PackBot, previously designated 510 PackBot, is a tracked, tactical, mobile UGV with forward-articulated flippers that can perform multiple missions. PackBot is being delivered to customers ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  SICX-25

  The SICX-25 is a rotary-wing UAV suitable for a range of military, commercial and civil missions, including tactical ISTAR, bomb damage assessment, civil air surveillance, ...

• Core systems: cameras and IR detectors

  Reveal D&I

  Reveal D&I; is a real-time gas detection and identification chemical imaging software for hyperspectral data. This software allows the real-time detection of a large portfolio ...

• EO/IR systems

  FLIR 111

  The FLIR 111 is a field-proven, high-performance, compact, and lightweight Forward Looking InfraRed (FLIR) system designed for utility and attack helicopters.  It is jointly produced ...

• EO/IR systems

  KUH FLIR

  The KUH FLIR is an IR system from Hanwha Systems for the Korean Utility Helicopter (KUH). Hanwha says it provides stable infrared images at night and/or under limited ...

• Land: infantry weapon simulators

  Less Than Lethal Weapon Simulators

  Meggitt produces wireless simulators for the X26 Taser and chemical spray less-lethal weapons. These accessories are supported with specialised courseware.

• Core systems: cameras and IR detectors

  Hyper-Cam

  The Hyper-Cam is a passive IR hyperspectral imaging system that combines high spatial and spectral resolution. It provides real-time radiometrically calibrated data for gas and ...

• Military UAS - micro

  PD-100 Black Hornet

  The PD-100 Black Hornet personal reconnaissance system (PRS) is designed for dismounted close-combat soldiers, providing them with an immediate reconnaissance capability with minimal increase in ...

• Core systems: cameras and IR detectors

  HD-IR

  HD-IR high-resolution cameras have high sensitivity for surveillance and airborne mapping applications. The camera features a four-position filter wheel, 1.3MP spatial resolution and an IP67-certified ...

• Core systems: cameras and IR detectors

  SWIR Components – FPAs and Sensor Assemblies

  FLIR Systems produces COTS staring focal plane arrays (FPAs) and sensor assemblies based on the company’s InGaAs detectors and integrated circuit technology. FLIR FPAs and ...

• EO/IR systems

  StormCaster-DX

  Unveiled at Modern Day Marine 2022, the Teledyne FLIR StormCaster-DX is a multi-role, low-SWaP laser target designator (LTD) payload designed to affect the STANAG-compliant terminal ...

• EO/IR systems

  Star SAFIRE III

  The Star SAFIRE III was a military-qualified COTS multipurpose and gyro-stabilised airborne platform carrying seven payloads. Manufactured by Teledyne FLIR, the now out-of-production system featured internal navigation, ...

• Loitering munitions, Military UAS - mini

  Rogue 1

  Unveiled in May 2024, the Rogue 1 is a rotary-wing quadcopter UAV from Teledyne FLIR. The drone can be equipped with an explosively formed penetrator (EFP), ...

• Military UAS - micro

  Black Hornet 3

  The Black Hornet 3 is the next generation of the PD-100 Black Hornet, the world’s smallest nano-UAS. This new model of the Black Hornet provides ...