• Defence Notes

  US sees huge spike in Middle East arms exports

  10th March 2020

  Booming arms export trade between the US defence industry and the Middle East has risen by 79% over the course of the last five years, …

• Naval Warfare

  Future USNS Cherokee Nation takes shape

  18th February 2020

  Construction of the US Navy’s future USNS Cherokee Nation has commenced with a keel laying ceremony near Gulf Island Shipyard. Cherokee Nation (T-ATS 7) will …

• Defence Helicopter

  UK Apache crews prepare for Exercise Defender Europe 20

  14th February 2020

  UK Apache, Wildcat and Chinook helicopters are preparing to take part in Exercise Defender Europe 20 in Germany and Poland in the spring. Apaches of …

• Land Warfare

  More Koalitsiya SPH specifications emerge from the shadows

  6th March 2020

  New information has emerged from manufacturer Uraltransmash about the capabilities and technical specifications of the 2S35 Koalitsiya-SV self-propelled howitzer (SPH). Uraltransmash previously gave a rate …

• Air Warfare

  India inks MH-60R deal during Trump visit

  25th February 2020

  The Indian Navy (IN) inched closer to filling a crucial void when a letter of acceptance for 24 MH-60R multirole helicopters and worth approximately $2.12 …

• Training

  Singapore Airshow 2020: Boeing believes T-7 trainer will have Asian appeal

  13th February 2020

  Buoyed by its selection by the USAF as its next-generation T-X trainer aircraft, Boeing was promoting its twin-seat T-7 as ‘highly relevant’ for Asia-Pacific air …

• Land Warfare

  Rheinmetall launches Australian R&T programme

  28th February 2020

  Rheinmetall has launched an Australian research and technology programme to develop advanced robotics and automated vehicle technologies. Within the scope of the Autonomous Combat Warrior …

• Land Warfare

  Russia receives first S-350 as it explores export opportunities

  6th March 2020

  The Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS) have accepted their first Almaz-Antey S-350 Vityaz surface-to-air missile (SAM) system. The initial unit was handed over on 26 February to the …

• Defence Helicopter

  Power up: PLA fields upgraded Z-10 attack helicopters

  19th February 2020

  A picture that appeared on the Chinese Internet on 8 February has revealed that the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has introduced an upgraded variant of …

• Defence Helicopter

  US Army orders Apache retrofit kits

  29th January 2020

  Boeing has received funding from the US Army for retrofit kits and software development for the Apache attack helicopter, the US Department of Defense announced …

• Training

  IAI to supply T-38 wings

  3rd February 2020

  Israel Aerospace Industries will supply T-38 wings for the US Air Force under a $240 million IDIQ contract announced by the US Department of Defense …

• Air Warfare

  RTAF lays out future plans in formal white paper

  21st February 2020

  On 20 February, the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) took the novel step of releasing a 100-page white paper. It lists procurement plans over the …

• Naval Warfare

  EMALS and AAG cleared for US Navy aircraft on CVN 78

  14th February 2020

  The Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) and Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG) have been cleared for shipboard launch and recovery of all currently deployed US Navy …

• Naval Warfare

  DefExpo 2020: MBDA launches missile bids in India

  6th February 2020

  MBDA has a half-century-long history of missile cooperation in India, and the next step on the journey was a recent bid by L&T; MBDA Missile …

• Land Warfare

  Leopard proves tough to tame for Poland

  25th February 2020

  The programme to modernise the fleet of Polish Leopard 2A4 MBTs to the 2PL standard has faced numerous difficulties and technical issues. As a result, deliveries …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - fixed-wing

  Apache Adjacent UAVs [Australia]

  Background Requirement As reported by Shephard from the Australian International Airshow 2025, Australia requires a platform to support the manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) alongside the repoed 29 Apache AH-64E ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing

  MUM-T Drone [Thailand]

  Programme Background Roadmap In February 2024, the RTAF unveiled its White Paper 2024. Incorporating lessons from the Russo-Ukrainian War, the Israel-Hamas War, and other events ...

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

  KF-21 Loyal Wingman [South Korea]

  Programme Background KF-21 Boramae Crewed Fighter The Republic of Korea’s Air Force (ROKAF) plans to acquire the KF-21 Boramae fighter, replacing F-4E Phantom II and F-5E/F fighters in the ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - small

  Air Launched Effect (ALE) [South Korea]

  Programme Background KF-21 Boramae Crewed Fighter The Republic of Korea's Air Force (ROKAF) plans to acquire the KF-21 Boramae fighter, replacing F-4E Phantom II and ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing

  Air Launched Loyal Wingman [Japan]

  Programme Background Air-Launched Loyal Wingman As reported by Shephard, a 30 October 2020 contract awarded to Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) meant the company would lead ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  AH-64E Apache [United Kingdom]

  According to the MoD, to further ‘guarantee value for money’ systems from the current Apache fleet such as the Modernised Target Acquisition & Designation System, ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  AH-64E Apache-Follow-On [Morocco]

  Programme Background Morocco has placed a request with the US government for AH-64E Apache attack helicopters. On 20 November 2019, it was announced that the ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  T129B [Philippines]

  Programme Background On 31 August 2019, it was announced that the Philippines National Defence Acquisition Decision Memorandum continues with the T-129 procurement. However, on 30 April ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  AH-64E Apache [Morocco]

  Morocco has placed a request with the US government for AH-64E Apache attack helicopters. On 20 November 2019, it was announced that the US State ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  Project Land 4503 [Australia]

  Programme Background The Australian Army has begun its search for a successor to the Tiger Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter (ARH), with an RfI issued by the ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  Kruk / AH-64E Apache [Poland]

  Programme Background In May 2019, Wojciech Skurkiewicz, the Polish deputy defence, released some details on the helicopter programme. Part of Poland's broader defence modernisation plan, the tender ...

• Trainer

  Hawk 127 Replacement (Future Lead-In Fighter Training System- Project Air 6002 PH1) [Australia]

  Programme Background Requirements The RAAF is seeking a future solution that provides a ‘relevant, adaptable, affordable and safe LIFTS out to 2050’ for training pilots ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  AH-64E Apache (Indian Air Force)

  Programme Background The Indian Army was originally granted co-ownership of the 22 Apaches by the Indian MoD. However, the IAF refused to cede them to ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  AH-64E Apache (Indian Army)

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

• Military helicopters - attack

  AH-64E Apache (South Korea)

  Programme Background Requirement The procurement decision is the result of the shift in South Korea's warfare concept focusing on the offensive manoeuvre rather than the ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Loitering munitions, Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - mini

  MUM-T

  The Military Unmanned Teaming (MUM-T) is a UAS in development by Korean Aerospace Industries. Showcased at Seoul ADEX 2021, the MUM-T can be launched from the ...

• Loitering munitions, Military UAS - fixed-wing

  Air Launched Effect (ALE)

  The Air-Launched Effect (ALE) is an in-development uncrewed platform from Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI). Shown at IDEX 2023, it is set to come in two variants, one ...

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

  Demogorgon

  In late October 2021, the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) awarded Kratos Unnamed Systems Division an initial $17.68 million 12-month cost-plus-fixed-fee contract to develop an Off-Board Sensing ...

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

  Arrow

  The Arrow is a supersonic prototype UAV developed by Singapore-based Kelley Aerospace. According to the manufacturer, the 16.8t prototype will be operated as a conventional UAV, ...

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

  Uncrewed Checkmate

  At the Dubai Airshow 2021, United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), the parent company of Checkmate manufacturer Sukhoi Design Bureau, announced its intention to manufacture an uncrewed version of ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - small

  Koios

  Manufactured by Callen-Lenz, the Koios is a small-UAS available in both a VTOL and non-VTOL variant.  Designed for the civil and military market, as standard, ...

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

  Defender

  The Defender is a jet-powered uncrewed escort aircraft built by GA-ASI. The primary goal of the UAV is to protect high-value airborne assets, such as refuelling ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - small

  Rotor Blown Wing

  In March 2025, Sikorsky unveiled an as-yet-unnamed tail sitter small UAV, referred to as the Rotor Blown Wing. The UAV can transition between helicopter and ...

• Land: handheld NV devices, Land: handheld day observation, surveillance and targeting systems, Weapon sights for night use (image intensifiers)

  MUM-14

  The Multi-Use Mini-Monocular (MUM-14) is a modular, passive NVD designed to maintain situation awareness in a range of low-light conditions, utilising a single Gen III ...

• Data links

  Micro TMA

  Thales Micro TMA is a high-rate datalink designed for uncrewed platforms and video streaming applications from aircraft. It provides command and control functions as well ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  AH-64D Apache Longbow

  The AH-64D Apache Longbow is an out-of-production attack helicopter that Boeing manufactured. Boeing delivered the first Apache Longbow in April 1997. From 2012, the Block III ...

• Air: helicopter flight simulators

  Apache Longbow Training System

  The Longbow Crew Trainer is the centrepiece of Boeing’s AH-64 Apache training. Pilots and other personnel use the high-fidelity flight simulator to practice aircraft procedures ...

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

  Gambit (Series)

  The Gambit Series are five UAV variants based around the Gambit Core, a common system containing the platform's hardware: landing gear, baseline avionics, chassis, and other essential functions.  ...

• Air: aerial targets

  BQM-34 Firebee

  The BQM-34 Firebee is an uncrewed aerial target system that the USAF and USN have used for more than 50 years. The primary mission of ...

• Military helicopters - scout/light attack

  Light Armed Helicopter

  The South Korean government selected Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) in July 2014 to develop the Light Armed Helicopter (LAH) and the related Light Civil Helicopter ...