• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Airshow China: UAV development shows few signs of abating

  13th November 2014

  A regular feature at the biennial Airshow China is the wide range of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) on show.  The latest event, held from 11-16 …

• Military Logistics

  Airshow China: Y-20 transport aircraft debuts

  12th November 2014

  The developmental Chinese Y-20 transport aircraft debuted at the 10th China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition in Zhuhai on 11 November. The aircraft made its …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Airshow China: UCAV revealed in PLAAF colours

  12th November 2014

  The Wing-Loong 1 unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) has been shown in the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) livery for the first time, surrounded …

• Defence Helicopter

  Reservations about Indian helicopter project emerge

  12th November 2014

  India’s long-delayed quest for a new military surveillance helicopter has hit a fresh snag, with domestic venders concerned the acquisition strategy of the relaunched project …

• Land Warfare

  Airshow China: NORINCO brings heavy armour

  11th November 2014

  China North Industries Corporation (NORINCO) is exhibiting at the 10th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition in Zhuhai for the first time this year.  Among …

• Defence Notes

  Airshow China: FC-31 fighter makes debut

  11th November 2014

  The FC-31 fighter, a developmental platform from the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC), is participating in flying displays at Airshow China 2014 in Zhuhai.  Widely known …

• Land Warfare

  US Army orders 3M M61 Respiratory Mask Canisters

  10th November 2014

  3M Defense will supply M61 Respiratory Mask Canisters to the US Army under an order placed through the Canadian Commercial Corporation, announced on 10 November. …

• Military Logistics

  Hesco awarded US DLA force protection IDIQ contract

  10th November 2014

  Hesco Bastion will supply force protection expeditionary barrier systems to the US Defense Logistics Troop Support Agency (DLA) under an indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) …

• Defence Helicopter

  Indo Defence: First light attack helicopter delivered to Indonesian Army

  7th November 2014

  The first Fennec helicopter for the Indonesian Army’s light attack squadron has been delivered by Airbus Helicopters it was announced on 6 November. Twelve Fennec …

• Defence Helicopter

  Mi-8AMTSh-Vs built without Ukrainian content

  7th November 2014

  Russian Helicopters has severed ties with the Ukraine in the manufacture of Mi-8AMTSh-V tactical transport helicopters currently being built for the Russian Air Force’s Army …

• Land Warfare

  Warrior CSP gets additional test vehicle but trials pushed back

  7th November 2014

  The UK’s Warrior IFV capability sustainment programme (CSP) will use an extra twelfth vehicle for demonstrations. A spokesperson from Lockheed Martin told Shephard that a …

• Land Warfare

  Indo Defence: ILSV revealed to armed forces

  7th November 2014

  Indonesian company PT Jala Berikat Nusantara Perkasa is exhibiting its 4x4 Indonesian Light Strike Vehicle (ILSV) for the first time at Indo Defence with the …

• Military Logistics

  Cubic details new training support contracts

  6th November 2014

  Cubic has announced two training contracts that will see it support the training requirements of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and the US Army. …

• Defence Helicopter

  Apache radar updated with maritime mode

  6th November 2014

  Longbow LLC, the joint venture that manufactures the AN/APG-78 Longbow fire control radar, is to upgrade the radars equipping the US Army’s new AH-64E helicopters …

• Land Warfare

  Indo Defence: Indonesia examines air defence concepts

  5th November 2014

  One of the vehicles on display at this year’s Indo Defence is a tracked missile launcher concept vehicle jointly developed by PT Pindad and the …

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 ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Type 19 8x8

  The Type 19 8x8 is a family of vehicles developed for use by the People's Liberation Army (PLA).

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 defeat submarine threats from long distances.

• 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 ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - HALE

  BZK-005

  The BZK-005 is a Chinese-made HALE UAS that debuted at Airshow China in November 2018. The platform is designed for wide-area ISR tasks, and in ...