• Defence Helicopter

  VXX presidential helicopter advances

  2nd April 2014

  The US VXX Presidential helicopter acquisition programme was slated to commence system development in March, according to a new report by the Government Accountability Office …

• Land Warfare

  Quantico Tactical receives US $10 billion IDIQ contract

  1st April 2014

  Quantico Tactical will provide a range of special operational equipment to the US military under a five-year $10 billion IDIQ contract awarded by the Defense …

• Land Warfare

  UK MoD issues Saab DFWES support contract

  31st March 2014

  Saab has signed on to support the British Army’s Direct Fire Weapon Effects Simulator System (DFWES) under a new contract with the UK Ministry of …

• Defence Helicopter

  FIDAE: Airbus Helicopters reveals $54 million of deals

  31st March 2014

  Airbus Helicopters secured transactions worth $54 million for the AS350, EC145 and EC155 helicopters during the FIDAE exhibition in Santiago in Chile at the end …

• Land Warfare

  FIDAE: Ruag proposes Leopard upgrade

  28th March 2014

  The Chilean Army is in the study phase of potential mid-life upgrade (MLU) for its Leopard 2A4 MBTs and Ruag is proposing its MLU package, …

• Land Warfare

  FIDAE: IWI contracted for Chilean rifle

  28th March 2014

  The Chilean Army has selected the ACE N-C 5.56mm x 45mm rifle from Israeli Weapons Industries (IW), Shephard has learned. Natan Hendler, VP of marketing …

• Defence Helicopter

  FIDAE: Surplus Chinooks may head for South America

  27th March 2014

  A significant portion of the 80 CH-47D helicopters that are being designated as surplus by the US Army are being targeting at South America, according …

• Land Warfare

  UK advances Army 2020 plan

  27th March 2014

  The UK Ministry of Defence has implemented the first phase of its Army 2020 re-structuring programme with the launch of Force Troops Command (FTC), which …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  FIDAE: Argentine UAVs revealed

  26th March 2014

  Argentine company Mundo Compuesto (MCOM) Special Developments has provided information about its developmental MCOM UAV at FIDAE. The UAV has a wingspan of 4.2m and …

• Military Logistics

  FIDAE: Mercedes offers latest military trucks in Chile

  26th March 2014

  Mercedes-Benz is showcasing its presence in Chile by displaying four trucks at the FIDAE 2014 exhibition. The company has on display its Zetros 2733 6x6 …

• Land Warfare

  FIDAE: Argentine rocket launcher showcased

  26th March 2014

  The new Lanzacohetes CP-30 multiple rocket launcher (MRL) being developed in Argentina has been placed on display at FIDAE 2014. A spokesman from the Argentine …

• Digital Battlespace

  DIMDEX: Middle Eastern C4ISR requirements evolve

  26th March 2014

  The Middle East is experiencing a change of mindset in the area of C4ISR procurement, according to Thales. Speaking to Shephard at DIMDEX on 26 …

• Land Warfare

  FIDAE: FAMAE offers new rocket artillery

  26th March 2014

  The Chilean defence manufacturing and logistics organisation FAMAE is displaying a new multiple launch rocket system at FIDAE 2014. Developed in conjunction with Israeli defence …

• Land Warfare

  Selex ES wins Italian Army Future Soldier contracts

  25th March 2014

  Selex ES has signed two new contracts with the Italian Army to supply SWave Software Defined Radio (SDR) portable terminals and Tactical Mobility Night Vision …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Watchkeeper deployment to Afghanistan ‘unlikely’

  25th March 2014

  The British Army’s WK450 Watchkeeper is unlikely to be deployed to Afghanistan due to ‘significant delays’ to the programme, the UK House of Commons Defence …

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 ...