• Defence Notes

  ANSF survives critical fighting season in security lead

  22nd October 2013

  It has been a critical year in the transition of security control to Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) as Afghanistan prepares for the withdrawal of …

• Military Logistics

  AUSA 2013: US-Afghanistan retrograde on track

  22nd October 2013

  At least $17 billion of US equipment in Afghanistan will need to be extracted by the end of 2014, it has emerged. Speaking at the …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Lockheed Martin to continue PTDS support

  22nd October 2013

  The Persistent Threat Detection Systems (PTDS) in use with the US Army in Afghanistan will continue to be operated and supported by Lockheed Martin under …

• Land Warfare

  Excalibur Ib continues to find its target

  22nd October 2013

  Excalibur Ib all up rounds have demonstrated ‘exceptional’ accuracy during 84 firings of the precision-guided weapon during testing at Yuma Proving Ground. Raytheon reported that …

• Defence Notes

  AUSA 2013: Sequestration hits US Army readiness

  21st October 2013

  The impact of sequestration on training means that only two US Army Brigade Combat Teams are ready for deployment. Speaking at the AUSA exhibition, Gen …

• Land Warfare

  AUSA 2013: Paladin upgrade gets LRIP confirmed

  21st October 2013

  The low-rate initial production (LRIP) for the Paladin self-propelled howitzer upgrade programme was approved on 18 October, it was announced at the AUSA exhibition. The …

• Digital Battlespace

  AUSA 2013: Raytheon showcases mast-mounted FLIR

  21st October 2013

  Raytheon has displayed its Long-Range Reconnaissance and Surveillance System (LRSS) with FLIR sensor on Danish company Falck Schmidt’s telescopic mast for the first time in …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  AUSA 2013: Textron unveils BattleHawk launcher

  21st October 2013

  Textron Defense Systems has completed arena level trials of its BattleHawk squad-level loitering munition as part of a demonstration to the US Army and is …

• Land Warfare

  Raytheon to continue Patriot fleet modernisation

  21st October 2013

  The US Army has contracted Raytheon to upgrade the Patriot Air and Missile Defense System with the modernised Radar Digital Processor (RDP) and Modern Man …

• Land Warfare

  Schiebel’s ATMID performs successfully in Peru tests

  21st October 2013

  Schiebel’s All Terrain Mine Detector (ATMID) has performed tests in Santiago, Peru, as part of a Humanitarian Demining Bureau Peru programme to find a new …

• Defence Helicopter

  GE Aviation is newest member of Team Valor

  18th October 2013

  GE Aviation has been selected by Bell Helicopter as the propulsion system expert for the V-280 Valor. The company joins Lockheed Martin, Moog and GKN …

• Defence Helicopter

  Colombia receives HTAWS-equipped S-70i Black Hawks

  18th October 2013

  The first Helicopter Terrain Awareness and Warning System (HTAWS)-equipped S-70i Black Hawk helicopters have been delivered to the Colombian Army by Sikorsky. The two helicopters …

• Land Warfare

  AUSA 2013: Boeing DE selects RADA MHR for tests

  18th October 2013

  Boeing has selected the Multi-Hemispheric Radar (MHR) to provide volume surveillance and threat detection for its Direct Energy tactical system. Israel-based RADA Electronic Industries, which …

• Defence Helicopter

  GKN Aerospace announces Bell V-280 Valor cooperation

  17th October 2013

  GKN Aerospace announced today that it has been selected by Bell Helicopter to design, develop and manufacture the V-tail aerostructure and ruddervators for the Bell …

• Digital Battlespace

  China conducts anti-satellite test

  17th October 2013

  The Chinese government is believed to have conducted anti-satellite tests in September, an act that is being closely monitored by the US, Shephard has been …

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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...