• Digital Battlespace

  Canada advances vehicle communications modernisation

  1st May 2018

  The Canadian Army is moving steadily forward with a C4I modernisation effort that will see it replace increasingly obsolete systems fitted to its armoured fighting …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Leica partners with DJI on new drone solution

  11th April 2018

  Leica Geosystems, headquartered in Switzerland, is showcasing a prototype of its newest UAS solution for the first time at the Commercial UAV Expo in Amsterdam. …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Smart city integration key stage of unmanned journey

  13th April 2018

  While industries such as agriculture, energy and mining have embraced the use of drones the next stage of the unmanned journey will be integrating the …

• Defence Notes

  Saudi intercepts ‘ballistic missile’ fired by Yemeni rebels

  20th April 2018

  Saudi air defences intercepted a ‘ballistic missile’ fired by Yemeni rebels at the kingdom's southern coastal city of Jizan, the Saudi-led coalition fighting the rebels …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Going large, Ewatt showcases new quadcopter

  12th April 2018

  Ewatt Aerospace provided a preview of its EWZ-242 quadcopter UAS at the Commercial UAV Expo in Amsterdam ahead of the system's official launch at Farnborough …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Airbus outlines unmanned strategies

  12th April 2018

  As drones become more commonplace Airbus is continuing to explore the use of unmanned technologies throughout a variety of different applications. During the Commercial UAV …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  European UAS airspace integration on the horizon

  11th April 2018

  As the European transport commissioner pushes for a more open drone market in the continent, the SESAR Joint Undertaking (SJU) will begin implementing its U-Space …

• Digital Battlespace

  Canada faces capability gap in space surveillance

  25th April 2018

  The Canadian armed forces are exploring technology options for a new satellite system to fill a looming capability gap in the nation’s space situational awareness …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  DSA 2018: Chinese company adds sparkle to UAVs

  20th April 2018

  Sparkle Tech exhibited its newest UAV, the Tiger Shark, at DSA 2018 in Kuala Lumpur. This Chinese company, headquartered in Hong Kong, has been manufacturing …

• Naval Warfare

  Indian Coast Guard commissions OPV

  16th April 2018

  The Indian Coast Guard has commissioned its first of class offshore patrol vessel (OPV), ICGS Vikram, at Larsen and Toubro’s (L&T;) Defence shipyard at Kattupalli, …

• Defence Helicopter

  Black Hawk grip spreading in Latin America

  24th April 2018

  With 174 UH-60 Black Hawk variants currently operating in Latin America this figure is set to grow due to pending deliveries and further still as a result …

• Defence Notes

  Iran not pursuing 'aggression' against neighbours

  18th April 2018

  President Hassan Rouhani said on 18 April that Iran ‘does not intend any aggression’ against its neighbours but will continue to produce all the weapons …

• Defence Notes

  Saudi Arabia hosts multi-nation military drills

  16th April 2018

  Saudi Arabia concluded a month-long military exercise involving more than 24 nations on 16 April, a day after hosting an Arab summit that slammed what …

• Defence Notes

  DSA 2018: Taiwan showcases hardware

  17th April 2018

  Taiwan’s state-owned military industry is offering ships, missiles and radars to defence customers at this year’s 2018 DSA in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The display by …

• Land Warfare

  DSA 2018: Malaysian Guardians approach Lebanon

  17th April 2018

  The Malaysian Armed Forces’ new 4x4 protected vehicles for its peacekeepers stationed in Lebanon are currently in transit to the strife-torn country, Shephard learned at …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Loitering munitions

  DELI [Türkiye]

  Programme Background Speaking to Shephard at SAHA Expo 2022, a spokesperson stated that the platform was expected to enter into service with the Turkish Armed ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  Akinci [Libya]

  Programme Background 2022 Reports In October 2022, various Libyan media outlets reported that the country was eyeing a possible procurement from Baykar, possibly the Akinici ...

• Transport

  C-130J [Vietnam]

  Programme Background Requirement Vietnam’s interest in acquiring the C-130J reflects a broader effort to modernise its air transport fleet, which was previously dominated by Russian ...

• Corvettes

  Steregushchy Class (Project 20380) (11-18)

  Programme BackgroundThe Steregushchiy class (Project 20380) corvettes are designed to operate in littoral combat zones and engage with enemy ships and submarines. The multi-role missions ...

• Military UAS - micro, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Short Range Reconnaissance (SRR) (Tranche 2) / Rucksack Portable UAS (RPUAS) [USA]

  Programme Background The Rucksack Portable UAS (RPUAS) Programme The RPUAS programme will provide the battalion and below-ground manoeuvre elements within the US Army with an ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | JF-17 [Azerbaijan]

  Azerbaijan has been known to be a potential buyer of JF-17 Thunder aircraft since 2015. The country is operating Su-24/25 and MiG-29 jets in service; ...

• Data links

  Data links | JF-17 [Azerbaijan]

  Azerbaijan has been known to be a potential buyer of JF-17 Thunder aircraft since 2015. The country is operating Su-24/25 and MiG-29 jets in service; ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  Air: Helmet-mounted displays | JF-17 [Azerbaijan]

  Azerbaijan has been known to be a potential buyer of JF-17 Thunder aircraft since 2015. The country is operating Su-24/25 and MiG-29 jets in service; ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | JF-17 [Azerbaijan]

  Azerbaijan has been known to be a potential buyer of JF-17 Thunder aircraft since 2015. The country is operating Su-24/25 and MiG-29 jets in service; ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | JF-17 [Azerbaijan]

  Azerbaijan has been known to be a potential buyer of JF-17 Thunder aircraft since 2015. The country is operating Su-24/25 and MiG-29 jets in service; ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  T-15 Armata (Contracted)

  Programme Background The first contract for 132 Armatas was signed by the Russian MoD in 2015. This will comprise sufficient T-14, T-15 heavy IFV and ...

• Submarines: conventional/attack

  Hangor Class Submarines [Pakistan]

  Programme Background Timeline Chinese media first reported that the Pakistan Navy had agreed to buy eight modified Type 039B submarines in April 2015. The contract ...

• Main battle tanks

  T-14 Armata (Contracted)

  Programme Background The first contract for 132 Armatas was signed by the Russian MoD in 2015. This will comprise sufficient T-14, T-15 heavy IFV and ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  Bayraktar TB2 (Turkey)

  Programme Background  Selection The Turkish Armed Forces are purchasing large numbers of UAVs from Turkey's domestic defence industry to perform ISTAR missions and provide troops ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  AH-64E Apache [Indian Army]

  Programme Background It is a hybrid procurement, as was the 2015 Air Force one (see separate entry), employing both a direct commercial sale with Boeing ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• H160

  Airbus Helicopters unveiled a full-scale model of the H160 medium twin rotorcraft on 3 March 2015 at Heli-Expo. The utility helicopter, the first to be ...

• EO/IR systems

  Skybox

  The Skybox allows gimballed camera systems developed for small UAVs to be integrated on the nose of manned helicopters. It accommodates cameras such as DJI’s ...

• Helicopter engines

  RR300

  The RR300 combines new design methodologies with the legacy of the M250 engine to produce a new engine family for the small rotorcraft market. Intended ...

• EO/IR systems

  OWLS

  Observation Wide-area Low-altitude Sensor (OWLS), demonstrated at Heli-Expo 2015, is a two-axis micro gimbal imager that combines a night vision sensor and an image-stabilised enclosure. ...

• Air: mission management systems

  TM-100 Map and Video Management system

  Trakka Systems introduced a new TM-100 Map and Video Management system at HAI Heli-Expo 2017 in Dallas. The augmented reality mapping system with metadata video and audio ...

• EO/IR systems

  Geodetic photomapping and monitoring payload and blind zone cameras

  Heliatica unveiled a geodetic mapping and monitoring payload with Geoscan at Heli-Expo 2017. The system is designed to fit two Sony DSC-RX1 (24MP resolution) cameras ...

• Military helicopters - scout/light attack

  6XX

  Publicly unveiled at Heli-Expo in March 2017, the MD Helicopters 6XX is the next evolution in the MD 500 series and is a redesigned, single-engine ...

• Multipurpose missiles

  LAHAT

  The Laser Homing Attack (LAHAT) is an Israeli, semi-active, laser homing guided, low-weight, ATGM. It was designed to be fired from 105mm and 120mm tank guns.

• Tiltrotors

  AW609

  The Bell/Agusta BA609 became the first tiltrotor designed for the civilian market to fly in March 2003. In June 2011, Leonardo announced that it had ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Bars-8

  Following on from the 7t Bars-6 4x4 multipurpose armoured vehicle, Bogdan developed the 10t Bars-8 4x4 multipurpose armoured vehicle which was unveiled at the September ...

• Land: RWS

  AU-220M

  The AU-220M unmanned turret, developed by TsNII Burevestnik, a subsidiary of Uralvagonzavod (UVZ), mounts a dual-feed 57mm automatic cannon and a PKTM 7.62mm coaxial machine ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  525 Relentless

  Bell Helicopter announced in February 2012 that it was developing the Model 525 Relentless. The aircraft is designed primarily for the oil and gas industry ...

• Military vehicle engines

  TCD 2015

  The TCD 2015 is a modern water-cooled four stroke diesel V-engine that is currently integrated on the RG41 armoured vehicle.

• P1AR Virtual Hoist SAR simulator

  Priority 1 Air Rescue demonstrated an operational model of its Virtual Hoist SAR simulator for the first time at Heli-Expo 2017 with a small, transportable ...

• Heli Vest

  The Heli Vest is a twin-cell vest that comes in a standard heavy-duty pouch which buckles around the waist for constant wear. According to the ...