• Uncrewed Vehicles

  USAF Predator, Reaper hit four million hours

  15th March 2019

  The US Air Force’s (USAF's) fleet of MQ-1B Predator and MQ-9 Reaper remotely piloted aircraft have completed more than four million flight hours, the USAF …

• Land Warfare

  Myanmar gets ready for BTR-4 production

  13th March 2019

  Myanmar and Ukraine have created a JV for the former to assemble BTR-4U 8x8 armoured vehicles and 2S1U Gvozdika tracked SPHs, although both governments remain …

• Defence Notes

  China to raise defence spending by 7.5%, lower than 2018

  7th March 2019

  China announced on 5 March 2019 a 7.5% increase in military spending in 2019, lower than last year as the country faces an economic slowdown, …

• Defence Notes

  France questions if US support for NATO is 'perennial'

  19th March 2019

  France's defence minister questioned on 18 March 2019 whether the US commitment to the NATO alliance is ‘perennial’ and said Europe needs to build defence …

• Military Logistics

  Tarmac lighting installed at RAAF Base Richmond

  14th March 2019

  A programme between Air Mobility Group and Defence Estate and Infrastructure Group and Aurecon has delivered new tarmac lighting at Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) …

• Land Warfare

  Aimpoint’s fire control system for US forces

  15th March 2019

  Aimpoint has received a $24 million contract to supply the FCS13-RE fire control system to the US armed forces, the company announced on 11 March. …

• Digital Battlespace

  Persistent Systems expands Fort Collins facility

  13th March 2019

  Persistent Systems has completed a major expansion of its Fort Collins office in Colorado to increase support for its customers with mobile ad hoc networking …

• Defence Helicopter

  Poland plans to modernise its combat helicopter fleet

  21st March 2019

  Warsaw’s Armament Inspectorate will launch a technical dialogue to determine a preferred scope and timeline for the planned modernisation of a fleet of Polish Mi-24 …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  PSNS & IMF, Sarcos partner on robotic technologies

  14th March 2019

  Sarcos Robotics has partnered with Puget Sound Naval Shipyard (PSNS) and Intermediate Maintenance Facility (IMF) to evaluate and deploy robotic technologies, including full-body, powered exoskeletons …

• Training

  ASDOT is no more

  21st March 2019

  With the finishing line in sight, the UK MoD’s Air Support to Defence Operational Training (ASDOT) programme has failed the acid test of the Main …

• Digital Battlespace

  UK MoD stands by decision to buy E-7 fleet

  22nd March 2019

  The practices and decision-making processes that led to an announcement made on 22 March by the UK MoD to acquire five Boeing E-7 Wedgetail Airborne Early …

• Defence Helicopter

  Heli-Expo 2019: Leonardo target 2021 AW609 military certification

  5th March 2019

  The soon to be civil certified AW609 tiltrotor is also expected to receive a military type certification in approximately 2021 – subject to customer demand. …

• Defence Notes

  Pentagon denies US wants 'cost + 50%' from allies for bases

  15th March 2019

  Acting Pentagon chief Patrick Shanahan denied reports on 14 March 2019 that the US has a 'cost-plus-50%' formula for allies to pay for the US …

• Land Warfare

  Northrop Grumman expands ABL facility

  8th March 2019

  Northrop Grumman has commenced rocket motor production at its new modernised tactical motor manufacturing facility at the Allegany Ballistics Laboratory (ABL) in West Virginia, the …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Yuneec, Mobilicom team for advanced UAS

  12th March 2019

  Yuneec has entered into a strategic partnership with Mobilicom to offer new advanced UAS solutions to the enterprise and government market, the company announced on …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - MALE

  Tactical Drone System (SDT) (15-28) [France]

  Background Tactical Drone System (SDT) programme The French Army launched the SDT programme to replace the Sagem (now Safran) Sperwer Intermediate Tactical Drone System (SDTI) ...

• Military UAS - micro

  French Operational Pocket Drone / DrOP (France)

  Programme Background French UAV Procurment / DrOP Under its 2019-2025 Military Programming Law (LPM), France aims to introduce 1,200 new UAVs into service with the ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  VBMR Griffon [France]

  Background Development of the Griffon commenced in 2014 when the consortium of Arquus, Nexter and Thales was awarded a development contract to design the VBMR ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  Future UAVs: Navy Aerial Drone System (SDAM) [France]

  Background Requirement The requirement for the SDAM programme was a rotary-wing VTOL-capable UAV with a modular configuration that can host a range of payloads. France ...

• CUAS - hybrid effector systems

  C-UAS [Portugal]

  Background Portugal's Military Programming Law 2023–2034 includes $8.8724 million (€8.2 million) to acquire counter-unmanned aerial systems (C-UAS) by 2034. It is assumed that this acquisition requires ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Land Mobility Programme (Light Protected Mobility) [UK]

  This programme briefly introduces the wider Land Mobility Programme and then focuses on the Light Protected Mobility (LPM) programme. Information on the LMV and HPM can ...

• Medium Range Missile Defence Systems: 20-90km range

  ASTER / VL MICA Multi-layer [France]

  Background The Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation, acting on behalf of France, awarded EUROSAM a contract on April 30th, 2026, for the development of the ...

• Medium Range Missile Defence Systems: 20-90km range

  Medium Range Air Defence [Portugal]

  Background Portugal's Military Programming Law 2023-2034 includes a requirement for medium-range air defence. In order to facilitate this, Portugal has joined the European Sky Shield Initiative ...

• Sealift/replenishment vessels

  Navio Polivalente Logistico (NAVPOL) (Portugal)

  Programme Background Requirements The NAVPOL is expected to feature a flexible and modular LPD design capable of amphibious operations and HADR tasks. Timeline The plans for ...

• Medium Range Missile Defence Systems: 20-90km range

  ASTER / VL MICA Multi-layer (additional) [France]

  Background In October 2026, France ordered four additional firing units of the SAMP/T NG air and missile defence system. With this order, the total number of SAMP/T ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Eurodrone [France]

  Background Inception (Stage One) The European MALE RPAS programme was launched in September 2016. Germany, Spain, France and Italy had negotiated and agreed, in collaboration ...

• ISR/special mission

  Strategic Intelligence Aircraft [France]

  Background In February 2018, the Minister of the Armed Forces, Florence Parly, announced that the strategic intelligence aircraft program CUGE Universal EW Capability began to ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  A400M [France]

  Background Airbus formally delivered the first production A400M to the French Air Force in August 2013. The French Air Force took delivery of its 15th ...

• Self-propelled guns

  Serval LAD [France]

  Background France's Military Planning Law 2025-2030 committed it to purchasing 12 variants of the Serval MPVS specialised for counter-drone operations. Following Senate criticism, this figure was ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Land Mobility Programme (Medium Protected Mobility) [UK]

  This programme briefly introduces the wider Land Mobility Programme and then focuses on the Medium Protected Mobility (MPM) programme. Information on the LMV and MPM can ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Medium UGVs

  Centurio

  At Eurosatory 2024, KNDS unveiled the Centurio family of 4x4 UGVs. Based on the Phobos UGV by SOGECLAIR, Centurio has been developed in the 2024-30 ...

• Land: handheld NV devices

  O-NYX

  The Thales O-NYX is a Ultra-Compact Night Vision Goggle used by the French armed forces. They have an enlarged field of vision to 51° compared ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Patroller

  The Patroller is a long-endurance, multi-mission UAS manufactured by Safran Electronics & Defence. Designed for ISR operations, the platform hosts a Euroflir 410 EO/IR pod and can accommodate ...

• Land: range systems and targets

  Urban Ranges

  Cubic Range Design Solutions has provided facilities around the world for military and law enforcement training in urban terrain. It uses its previous experience, as ...

• Sniper rifles

  Model 95

  The Model 95 is a bolt-action 50cal sniper rifle in a bullpup configuration, which entered production in 1995. Its buttplate, magazine well and trigger housing ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  SandCat

  The 4x4 SandCat family of vehicles was designed by Israeli armour specialist Plasan Sasa in 2005 for a range of military, special operations, homeland security, ...

• Pistols

  P30

  The P30 is available in 9x19mm and .40 S&W; calibres with six variants of each. The grip of the P30 has exchangeable backstrap and grip ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  EK 001 Blue Whale

  The EK 001 Blue Whale is a large, rotary-wing UAV capable of carrying a payload of 23kg. It is in the early stages of development. ...

• Suppressors

  FA556-212

  The Fast Attach 5.56mm (FA556)-212 sound suppressor is designed for use on the AR-15, C8 SFW, HK416, M4, M16 and SA-80. Firearms with 266.7mm barrels ...

• Pistols

  Jericho Steel

  Designed for military and law enforcement users, the Jericho pistol in steel frame configuration is available in 9x19mm and .45 ACP calibres and in standard ...

• Pistols

  P Series

  The S120 pistol series has been used globally in law enforcement and military organisations, with the weapons initially designed as tactical and task force pistols ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  IA-12A Stark

  The IA-12A Stark is a small, rotary-wing UAV that features a dual propulsion system, swappable payload bay, retractable landing gear, single operator control, ground mission planning, ...

• Pistols

  Jericho Polymer

  Jericho pistols have been used for over three decades by military and police units, including law-enforcement entities in Israel and around the world. Designed for ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Tiger LPV

  The MDT Armor 4x4 Tiger Light Protected Vehicle (LPV) is designed to meet the requirements of military and law enforcement customers for a survivable, light ...

• Sniper rifles

  ALIAS CS5

  The ALIAS Concealable Subsonic/Supersonic Suppressed Sniper System (CS5) is designed for concealment in urban settings. With the buttstock and suppressor detached, the CS5 is 597mm ...