• Naval Warfare

  IMDEX 2019: USS Blue Ridge gains new lease on life

  23rd April 2019

  The US Navy’s oldest operational vessel, USS Blue Ridge, arrived in Hong Kong for a port call on 20 April, fresh from a major upgrade that …

• Defence Helicopter

  Finishing touches for Spanish Navy’s AB-212 upgrades

  18th April 2019

  Whilst delivery of the seven modernised AB-212 helicopters for the Spanish Navy is complete, Sener, one of the parties on the upgrade programme, continues in …

• Defence Helicopter

  Quad A 2019:​ Bell makes V-280 FLRAA tri-service pitch

  18th April 2019

  Based on its recent Future Long Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) RfI submission, Bell is confident the company’s Joint Multi-Role-Technology Demonstrator (JMR-TD) the V-280 Valor tiltrotor can …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Schiebel receives EN 9100 certification

  27th March 2019

  Schiebel received the EN 9100 certification for quality management systems in the aviation, space and defence industry on 1 March. Throughout the civil and military …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  The future of DARPA's CODE

  19th April 2019

  The USDefense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has seen strong interest frommilitary and industrial operators in its Collaborative Operations in Denied Environment (CODE) autonomy system, …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Unmanned Systems Asia 2019: Gladius takes a stab at underwater work

  13th April 2019

  Singapore’s Public Utilities Board has been using unmanned systems to conduct subsurface inspections of its network of reservoirs, demonstrating a growing acceptance of such technology …

• Defence Helicopter

  Quad A​ 2019: Defiant on track for full envelope expansion

  16th April 2019

  After a series of past development issues, the Sikorsky-Boeing SB>1 Defiant JMR-TD aircraft is now expected to complete its full flight test envelope before year end. …

• Digital Battlespace

  General Dynamics, Curtiss-Wright partner for EW

  5th April 2019

  General Dynamics Mission Systems has collaborated with Curtiss-Wright Defense Solutions to deliver open architecture AI-based commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) solutions for signals intelligence (SIGINT) and EW …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Triumph components for MQ-25

  9th April 2019

  Triumph Group has received a contract from Boeing to supply hydraulic system components for the MQ-25 unmanned aerial refuelling programme, the company announced on 4 …

• Military Logistics

  Austal to build additional EPFs

  29th March 2019

  Austal has received a $261.78 million contract to deliver two additional Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF) ships to the US Navy, the company announced on 26 …

• Defence Helicopter

  Quad A 2019: MD Helicopters Swift disqualified from FARA

  17th April 2019

  The US Army has officially disqualified MD Helicopters' Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) Swift demonstrator from competition consideration.  In response, the OEM is claiming the decision …

• Digital Battlespace

  Eyes on the horizon for RAF's future (video)

  20th March 2019

  AVM Gerry Mayhew, Assistant Chief of the Air Staff, discusses the future direction of the Royal Air Force in the lead-up to the Air and …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Turkish Aerospace prepare for Anka Aksungur production

  3rd April 2019

  Turkish Aerospace is ready to commence production of its newest MALE UAV – Anka Aksungur – at the beginning of 2020, as it awaits firm …

• Military Logistics

  QinetiQ signs LTPA amendment with UK MoD

  9th April 2019

  QinetiQ has signed an amended Long Term Partnering Agreement (LTPA) with the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) to modernise 16 of the country’s critical defence …

• Land Warfare

  US Army ploughs on with Bradley replacement

  1st April 2019

  The release of the RfP for the Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle (OMFV) prototype phase by the US Army clearly shows how the service is getting …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, 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 - fixed-wing, 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, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  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 - fixed-wing, 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 - fixed-wing, 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 ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  Seeker 400 - First Batch (UAE)

  Programme Background The UAE has a long history of transactions with Denel Dynamics. The country has been purchasing various Seeker systems from as far back ...

• 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 - fixed-wing, 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 helicopters - maritime

  NH90 NFH-Italy

  Programme Background  The Italian Navy has taken delivery of its first NH90 NFH helicopter in Full Operational Capability (or Step B) configuration in November 2013. ...

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

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, 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 - fixed-wing, 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 - rotary-wing

  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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  Pelican / Rumrunner

  The Pelican Cargo is an electric cargo-carrying drone from Pyka. Powered by four electric motors, the Pelican can carry 400lb of cargo in its 70 ...

• 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 ...