• Training

  HAL re-commences flight testing of HJT 36

  29th April 2019

  HAL has re-commenced flight testing of the HJT 36 modified intermediate jet trainer at its facilities in Bengaluru, India. The flight testing of HJT 36 …

• Military Logistics

  E-2D Hawkeye maintenance under way at FRCSW

  29th April 2019

  The Fleet Readiness Center Southwest (FRCSW) is carrying out maintenance activities on the US Navy’s new E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft, FRCSW announced on 24 April. …

• Land Warfare

  Otokar develops AKREP II armoured vehicle family

  1st May 2019

  Otokar has developed a new generation family of AKREP II armoured vehicles, the company announced on 26 April. Otokar partnered with AxleTech to develop the …

• Defence Helicopter

  Airbus sidesteps cause of FARA exclusion

  26th April 2019

  After its Future Attack Reconnaisance Aircraft (FARA) X3 high speed technology based proposal was deemed unacceptable by the US Army and excluded from a list of …

• Digital Battlespace

  Chess Dynamics awarded contract

  2nd April 2019

  Chess Dynamics has received a sub-contract worth more than £3 million to provide electro-optical tracking and control systems to be incorporated into ten ISO containers …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Moog joins Boeing’s MQ-25 industry team

  8th April 2019

  Moog Aircraft Group has received a contract from Boeing to supply the wing flight control actuator and wingfold actuation systems for the MQ-25 unmanned refuelling …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Terra Drone, KDDI launch new UAS services

  29th April 2019

  Terra Drone and KDDI have launched new infrastructure inspection services using UAS, Terra-Drone announced on 25 April. The solution uses UAS with high-resolution cameras to …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  AUVSI 2019: UAS Denmark leads flight test charge

  1st May 2019

  In a sector that that has so often witnessed limited opportunities for unmanned operators to flight test their platforms and push capability boundaries due to …

• Training

  ITEC 2019: US Army introduces new combat fitness test

  2nd May 2019

  A US Army Physical Fitness School Mobile Training Team (MTT) has recently returned from Fort Campbell, Kentucky after training 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) leaders …

• Digital Battlespace

  Australia’s Currawong project on track

  8th April 2019

  Release 3 of the Project Currawong integrated battlefield telecom network for the Australian Army, which will include ‘headquarters on the move’ carried in a Bushmaster, …

• Land Warfare

  IDEF 2019: UN, NATO orders for Guardian Xtreme following certification

  2nd May 2019

  NATO and the United Nations have ordered ‘a large number’ of International Armoured Group (IAG) Guardian Xtreme armoured vehicle following STANAG certification which came through …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Natural disaster market sparks geo-reference technology growth

  8th April 2019

  The need for disaster relief agencies to carry out unmanned aerial surveillance of affected areas has prompted a growth in requests for access to geo-referencing …

• Defence Notes

  Russia beefing up its Su-25SM3 fleet

  4th April 2019

  The Russian MoD has released a tender with a selected supplier to upgrade Su-25 attack aircraft to the significantly enhanced Su-25SM3 standard for day/night operations, …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  AUVSI 2019: First time a charm for Talisman?

  1st May 2019

  While many exhibitors, if not most, attending an event or show will look at number of units sold as a quantitative measure of success, there …

• Digital Battlespace

  French RIFAN 2.1 contract issued

  5th April 2019

  Rohde & Schwarz has received a contract with Airbus and Naval Group for phase 2.1 of the French RIFAN programme, the company announced on 2 …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - HALE

  Long-Endurance UAV [US AFRICOM]

  Programme Background Ageing MQ-9A Reapers In November 2022, Shephard reported that GA-ASI would continue supporting contractor SMX with its MQ-9A after winning a $2.3 billion task ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Bayraktar TB2 [Pakistan]

  Programme Background Requirement Following a 2019 skirmish with India, Pakistan placed newfound importance on EW and ISR, primarily due to the significant advantage gained during that ...

• Military UAS - micro

  Multidomian Micro Drones [USSOCOM]

  Background Special Notice On 14 November 2024, a Special Notice was released that informed the industry that the US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) was looking for ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  MQ-9B SkyGuardian [Denmark]

  Background Arctic Capability Package In February 2021, Denmark published the Arctic Capability package, a commitment to invest in new technologies, particularly uncrewed systems, to improve surveillance ...

• Military UAS - HALE

  Long-Range Drones [Norway]

  Background Andøya Ambition On 3 April 2023, the Norwegian MoD released a statement confirming its plans for Andøya, the northernmost island in its Vesterålen archipelago. In addition to ...

• Loitering munitions

  Long Range One-way Platforms [US]

  Solicitation In October 2024, the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) released a solicitation for long-range, one-way platforms. The DIU noted recent conflicts highlighted the asymmetric impact of low-cost, ...

• Military UAS - small

  V-Bat 128 [Canada]

  Programme Background Requirement Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC) was seeking a platform for the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) that would significantly expand its surveillance range ...

• Military UAS - mini

  Mini Intelligence Drone System (SMDR) [France]

  Background Requirement The French Army identified a need for a new tactical UAS to replace the Drac, which entered service in 2008. The Mini Reconnaissance ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  CH-4 (First Batch) [Pakistan]

  Programme Background First Batch According to the Pakistan Exim Trade Info website, five aircraft were delivered to the country on 15 January 2021. According to a ...

• Military UAS - small

  M Solar-X [Thailand]

  Programme Background Roadmap In February 2024, the RTAF unveiled its White Paper 2024. Incorporating lessons from the Russo-Ukrainian War, the Israel-Hamas War, and other events ...

• Loitering munitions

  Medium-Range Loitering Munition with LEO Satellite Data Link [South Korea]

  Background New Project In April 2025, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) and the Agency for Defense Development (ADD) announced a new project titled “Development of Medium-Range ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Arctic Frigates Procurement/Thetis Class Replacement (4-5) [Denmark]

  In January 2025, Denmark announced the acquisition of "three new Arctic ships, additional long-range drones with advanced image acquisition capacity" and "satellite capacity" worth over ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Arctic Frigates Procurement/Thetis Class Replacement (4-5) [Denmark]

  In January 2025, Denmark announced the acquisition of "three new Arctic ships, additional long-range drones with advanced image acquisition capacity" and "satellite capacity" worth over ...

• ISR/special mission

  MC-27J [Algeria]

  Programme Background Algeria has a long standing ISR aircraft requirement to support its Beech 1900 fleet comprised of six aircraft. The new ISR fleet is ...

• OPVs

  Next-Generation Offshore Patrol Vessels (1-12) [Japan]

  Programme Background Requirements The primary role of the OPVs will be ISR and patrol. The armament will be limited. One of the key features is a reduced ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - HALE

  Caihong

  The Caihong (Rainbow), also known as the Cai Hong or CH, is a solar-powered HALE platform designed for near-space flight. It is suitable for military ...

• Military UAS - HALE

  Morning Star

  Aviation Industry Corporation of China’s Morning Star is a quasi-satellite, near-space, solar-powered platform. It is designed for both military and civilian applications, including reconnaissance, navigation ...

• ISR/special mission, Maritime patrol

  A320neo M3A

  Currently under development by Airbus, the A320 M3A is the Maritime Patrol version of the civilian A320neo aircraft. The aircraft can be fitted with a wide ...

• Space: radar systems

  ESA Sentinel-1

  Sentinel-1 is a planned constellation of four satellites with two already in orbit and two on order. They carry a payload of a C-band SAR ...

• Space: radar systems

  SARah

  SARah is the planned follow-on system for the SAR-Lupe radar satellite constellation operated by the German Armed Forces. In 2013, it was announced that OHB ...

• Major networking projects

  EAC

  The NATO Communications and Information Agency awarded ACTIA Sodielec a contract in June 2013 to provide NATO with an Extended Advanced SATCOM Network Monitoring and ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  Vocality Pro Series

  The Pro Series includes the V25, V50, V150 and V20. These are designed to be used in a central communications hub or as part of ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  S-70UAS U-Hawk

  Unveiled at AUSA 2025, the S-70UAS U-Hawk is an uncrewed version of Sikorsky’s crewed UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter.  It will act as a delivery aircraft for medium-sized uncrewed ground vehicles ...

• Air: COMINT and ELINT systems

  FlyingFish Maritime

  The FlyingFish Maritime SIGINT system is one of several derivatives of the FlyingFish Airborne Satellite Monitoring System developed by Horizon Technologies. Designed to be mounted ...

• Guided munitions

  GP155B

  The GP155B is a 155mm artillery round developed by Norinco. The GP155B integrates satellite-based guidance systems that are compatible with both the Chinese Beidou Navigation ...

• Air: COMINT and ELINT systems

  FlyingFish

  FlyingFish is an Airborne Satellite Monitoring System designed to detect and intercept SATCOM from airborne ISR platforms. As a passive system, it cannot be detected ...

• Data links

  Space CDL

  The Space Common Data Link (CDL) system provides a wideband data link capability adaptable to a variety of space-based applications. It consists of separate transmitter ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  ULTRA

  The Unmanned Long-endurance Tactical Reconnaissance Aircraft (ULTRA) is a fixed-wing drone from DZYNE Technologies. It is described as a long-endurance, GPS-hardened intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance platform with full global ...

• Data links

  MiMMC

  Microsat Man-Packable Mission Command (MiMMC) is a satellite-based BLoS communications system providing the ability to extend mission command applications including voice, video and data transfer ...

• Naval: COMINT and ELINT systems

  FlyingFish Naval

  The FlyingFish Naval SIGINT system is one of several derivatives of the FlyingFish Airborne Satellite Monitoring System (ASMS) developed by Horizon Technologies. Whereas the original ...