• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Paris Air Show: Watching the Watchkeeper

  8th June 2015

  The UK’s Watchkeeper tactical UAS could operate from austere airstrips by 2017, it has emerged. During a media briefing at the Thales facility at Gennevilliers …

• Land Warfare

  SOFIC 2015: SOF commanders list force requirements

  5th June 2015

  Land, air and maritime SOF commanders have outlined their requirements at the SOFIC exhibition in Tampa Bay. Speaking at the conference, Lt Gen Charles Cleveland, …

• Digital Battlespace

  US Army demos wireless CP

  5th June 2015

  The US Army demonstrated an unclassified battalion-sized wireless command post during the Network Integration Evaluation (NIE) 15.2 in May. It will demonstrate an unclassified brigade-sized …

• Land Warfare

  Third time lucky for US fighting vehicle?

  5th June 2015

  The US Army has once again kick-started an initiative that aims to replace the service’s ageing Bradley Fighting Vehicle. Contracts totalling $56 million have been …

• Defence Helicopter

  AAR to overhaul UH-60 APUs

  5th June 2015

  Pratt & Whitney has certified AAR to enhance the US Army's contract for overhauling and upgrading its UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter Auxiliary Power Units (APUs), …

• Land Warfare

  SOFIC 2015: GD-OTS delivers nine GMVs

  3rd June 2015

  Under the Production Qualification Testing phase of the Ground Mobility Vehicle 1.1 programme, nine GMV 1.1 vehicles are being delivered by GD-OTS. Sean Ridley, programme …

• Land Warfare

  Final Romanian PVP LAORVs delivered

  3rd June 2015

  The Romanian Ministry of Defense took delivery of the last batch of six PVP light armoured vehicles from Panhard General Defense between 18-21 May. The …

• Defence Helicopter

  Airbus Helis wins H145M services

  3rd June 2015

  Airbus Helicopters has won a full-service contract from the German armed forces for the H145M helicopter, due to enter service with the German Air Force …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  China advances UAV tech

  3rd June 2015

  China's UAV industry is emerging in both military and civilian sectors, employing 3D-printed UAVs and a new military UAV. A Chinese Antarctic Expedition Team has …

• Defence Helicopter

  Flight test date set for SB>1 Defiant

  2nd June 2015

  The SB>1 Defiant Joint Multi-Role Technology Demonstrator (JMR-TD) will complete its first flight test in the third quarter of 2017, it was confirmed by Boeing …

• Defence Helicopter

  BAE completes CIRCM bridge

  1st June 2015

  BAE Systems has completed its technology development bridge programme for the US Army's Common Infrared Countermeasure (CIRCM) programme. CIRCM is a modular laser-based aircraft protection …

• Land Warfare

  Rolls-Royce engines for UK Scout

  1st June 2015

  Rolls-Royce has received a contract order for 589 MTU Series 199 diesel engines for the British Army's new Scout Specialist Vehicle (SV), it announced on …

• Land Warfare

  Poland plans $42bn modernisation

  1st June 2015

  Poland plans to invest up to 150 billion zlotys ($42 billion) to modernise its armed forces over the next 10 years. The planned volume of …

• Digital Battlespace

  China PLA cyber plans catch-up

  1st June 2015

  The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) continues to struggle to find a role for cyber warfare in its strategic framework, a leading expert has described. China …

• Military Logistics

  Raytheon launches Anschuetz subsidiary

  1st June 2015

  Raytheon has launched a new subsidiary in San Diego - Raytheon Anschuetz USA - the company announced on 29 May. Raytheon Anschuetz USA delivers support …

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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• Corvettes

  Shadhinota Class (Type C13B)

  The Shadhinota class (Type C13B) corvettes are a platform based on the Type 056 Jiangdao class used by the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), built by the ...

• Submarines: conventional, attack

  S26T [Thailand]

  Programme Background The Royal Thai Navy has been in the process of acquiring a new submarine for a number of years. They formally selected China's ...

• Frigates

  Jiangkai III Class (Type 054B / Type 057)

  Following the rapid production and relative success of the Type 054A Jiangkai II class frigates, the Peoples Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) are developing a successor to ...

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 ...

• Fighter - multirole

  J-10

  The J-10 (NATO reporting name Firebird) is a multirole fighter developed by China to replace second-generation J-7 and Q-5 aircraft. The aircraft is also known ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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.

• 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 ...