• Digital Battlespace

  French Army gets MASA SWORD license

  2nd September 2015

  The French Army has acquired a global license for MASA's flagship SWORD warfare simulation software, the company announced on 1 September.  SWORD provides an immediate …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Thales to offer Watchkeeper to Poland

  2nd September 2015

  Thales has teamed with Polish company WB Electronics to offer a solution for Poland’s Gryf programme based on the Watchkeeper UAS, Thales announced on 1 September. …

• Land Warfare

  US Army Reserve orders EST 3000

  2nd September 2015

  The US Army Reserve has awarded a $1.3 million contract to Cubic Global Defense for the supply of additional Engagement Skills Training (EST) 3000 virtual …

• Digital Battlespace

  INS deal for South Korean howitzers

  2nd September 2015

  Honeywell is partnering with South Korean firm Navcours to build and maintain an inertial navigation system (INS) that will aid Republic of Korea Army (ROKA) self-propelled howitzers (SPH), …

• Defence Helicopter

  US approves Boeing upgrade of UK Apaches

  1st September 2015

  The UK has inched closer to a decision on its attack helicopter replacement, with the US formally approving an FMS sale of up to 50 …

• Digital Battlespace

  US awards CIRCM contract to Northrop

  1st September 2015

  Northrop Grumman has been awarded a $35.37 million contract by the US Army for a next-generation helicopter survivability system, beating out a bid from rival …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  China unveils ‘game-changing’ CH-5

  1st September 2015

  State television in China has revealed the existence of a new CH-5 UCAS, a new type of platform equipped with a sense-through-the-wall radar. China Central …

• Land Warfare

  New Zealand downselects new rifle

  1st September 2015

  The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) has selected a replacement rifle for the incumbent 5.56mm Steyr AUG A1 under the Individual Weapon Replacement programme. The …

• Defence Helicopter

  Russian Helicopters eyes Indian after-sales

  1st September 2015

  Russian Helicopters has put forward a proposal to improve its after-sales service provision for Russian-made helicopters operated in India at the Russia-India conference. One of …

• Digital Battlespace

  Northrop-led team outlines WGS proposal

  31st August 2015

  A Northrop Grumman-led team has submitted a proposal to the Australian government for utilisation of the Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS) system. The team also includes …

• Defence Helicopter

  Viper gains first export customer

  28th August 2015

  Pakistan continues to build up its attack helicopter capability and is now to receive new-build aircraft from the US, according to a contract awarded to …

• Defence Notes

  AIM-9X fired from MML

  27th August 2015

  Raytheon and the US Army have successfully test fired an AIM-9X Block II missile from the Indirect Fire Protection Capability Increment 2-I (IFPC 2-I) Block …

• Land Warfare

  Philippine M4 rifle woes

  27th August 2015

  Initial deliveries of a new rifle to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) have been found to be defective. This has delayed their distribution …

• Military Logistics

  Australia tests parachute delivery

  27th August 2015

  The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and Australian Army boosted their parachute capabilities in the last month. The official Air Force newspaper announced that the two …

• Land Warfare

  India’s medium tank won’t clash with Arjun

  27th August 2015

  The Indian defence minister, Manhoar Parrikar, has stated that Indian Army requirements for a medium tank are not in conflict with the Arjun Main Battle …

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 ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | S26T (2-3) [Thailand]

  The Royal Thai Navy were in the process of acquiring up to three new submarines derived from the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) Yuan-class (Type ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | S26T (2-3) [Thailand]

  The Royal Thai Navy were in the process of acquiring up to three new submarines derived from the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) Yuan-class (Type ...

• 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 ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  UH-60M Black Hawk [Taiwan]

  Programme Background The Black Hawks are intended to defend against potential threats from China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA), as they possess rapid response capability in ...

• 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 ...

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 ...

• Main battle 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.

• Light 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 ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  CTL-181

  Produced by Dongfeng Motor Corporation, the CTL-181 is a 6x6 armoured tactical vehicle designed for the People's Liberation Army (PLA). The PLA uses the CTL-181 ...