• Military Logistics

  South Africa orders Saab field kitchens

  24th November 2017

  Saab has received a contract to deliver a mass field feeding capability to the South African National Defence Force, the company announced on 20 November. …

• Naval Warfare

  D&S 2017: Japan now to donate TC-90s to Philippines

  30th October 2017

  After a recent change made to Japanese laws, Tokyo will now donate five second-hand TC-90 (a Beechcraft King Air variant) aircraft to the Philippines.  Under …

• Defence Helicopter

  Dubai Airshow 2017: FLIR continues to surveil Middle East

  15th November 2017

  FLIR Systems closed on order for its Ranger HDC multisensor surveillance system in the Middle East via a US company worth in the region of …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Milipol Paris 2017: Novadem unveils new NX70 drone variants

  22nd November 2017

  French UAV manufacturer Novadem unveiled three new variants of its NX70 micro drone, the NXWIRE, NXDROP and NXLIGHT, at the Milipol Paris internal security exhibition. The …

• Naval Warfare

  Stretched corvette design sketched by Saab

  24th November 2017

  Saab is working to conceptualise and design a new family of surface vessels for the Royal Swedish Navy (RSN), with capabilities that it thinks will …

• Training

  I/ITSEC 2017: Esterline to showcase new products

  25th November 2017

  I/ITSEC 2017 will see Esterline Simulation Visual Systems (SVS) launch its new five-channel TD-550 deployable dome display system and the NOCTIS edge-blending solution in a …

• Special Operations

  US Army outlines $1 billion in SOF training opportunities

  7th December 2017

  Last week’s I/ITSEC exhibition in Orlando, Florida, featured updates on training programmes across the armed services. As the US Army Project Manager for Instrumentation, Targets and Threat …

• Land Warfare

  Dubai Airshow 2017: Raytheon showcases missile defence (video)

  20th November 2017

  As the Gulf region lurches from one security crisis to another, the need for missile defence is increasing as insurgent groups and states develop long-range …

• Digital Battlespace

  MILCOM 2017: USAF looks to commercial SATCOM reform

  24th October 2017

  Momentum is building to reform the US military’s acquisition processes and help the US Air Force finally acquire long-term commercial satellite communication (SATCOM) capabilities. Reform …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Dubai Airshow 2017: Silver Fox looking at life extension

  15th November 2017

  The Silver Fox battlefield UAV is being positioned for sale into overseas markets by manufacturer Raytheon as it looks to leverage the experience gained during …

• Naval Warfare

  D&S 2017: Terma targets Royal Thai Navy (video)

  9th November 2017

  Danish company Terma is targeting the Royal Thai Navy with its range of surveillance, combat management and decoy products with upcoming contracts currently in the …

• Defence Notes

  Dubai Airshow 2017: UAE MoD announce international deals

  14th November 2017

  The UAE MoD has announced a multitude of contracts totalling more than AED3.3 billion ($911 million) with a range of companies from the US and …

• Defence Helicopter

  Motor Sich rolls out first Mi-8MSB from Sharjah plant

  28th November 2017

  Ukrainian company Motor Sich showcased at Dubai Airshow 2017 its first Mi-8MSB upgrade (pictured), completed at its new plant in Sharjah.  This can be regarded …

• Military Logistics

  RFA Tidespring sails into Portsmouth

  20th November 2017

  The Royal Fleet Auxiliary’s (RFA) new vessel, RFA Tidespring, has sailed into Portsmouth ahead of her dedication ceremony on 27 November when she will officially …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Alpha, Sightec enter partnership

  20th November 2017

  Spain's Alpha Unmanned Systems, manufacturer of the Alpha 800 gasoline-powered UAS, has entered into a technology partnership with Sightec, an Israel-based developer of video image …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

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

  Long-Endurance UAV [US AFRICOM]

  Programme Background Ageing MQ-9A Reapers In November 2022, Shephard reported that GA-ASI would continue supporting contractor SMX with its MQ-9A after winning a $2.3 billion task ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  HH-60W - Combat Rescue Helicopter (CRH)

  According to the FY2021 Base funding, the HH-60W helicopter unit cost is $43.2 million. The HH-60W will be capable of employment day or night, in ...

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

  Bayraktar TB2 [Pakistan]

  Programme Background Requirement Following a 2019 skirmish with India, Pakistan placed newfound importance on EW and ISR, primarily due to the significant advantage gained during that ...

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

  Multidomian Micro Drones [USSOCOM]

  Background Special Notice On 14 November 2024, a Special Notice was released that informed the industry that the US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) was looking for ...

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

  MQ-9B SkyGuardian [Denmark]

  Background Arctic Capability Package In February 2021, Denmark published the Arctic Capability package, a commitment to invest in new technologies, particularly uncrewed systems, to improve surveillance ...

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

  Long-Range Drones [Norway]

  Background Andøya Ambition On 3 April 2023, the Norwegian MoD released a statement confirming its plans for Andøya, the northernmost island in its Vesterålen archipelago. In addition to ...

• Loitering munitions

  Long Range One-way Platforms [US]

  Solicitation In October 2024, the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) released a solicitation for long-range, one-way platforms. The DIU noted recent conflicts highlighted the asymmetric impact of low-cost, ...

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

  V-Bat 128 [Canada]

  Programme Background Requirement Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC) was seeking a platform for the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) that would significantly expand its surveillance range ...

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

  Mini Intelligence Drone System (SMDR) [France]

  Background Requirement The French Army identified a need for a new tactical UAS to replace the Drac, which entered service in 2008. The Mini Reconnaissance ...

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

  M Solar-X [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 - tactical

  Seeker 400 - First Batch (UAE)

  Programme Background The UAE has a long history of transactions with Denel Dynamics. The country has been purchasing various Seeker systems from as far back ...

• Military helicopters - maritime

  NH90 NFH-Italy

  Programme Background  The Italian Navy has taken delivery of its first NH90 NFH helicopter in Full Operational Capability (or Step B) configuration in November 2013. ...

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

  CH-4 (First Batch) [Pakistan]

  Programme Background First Batch According to the Pakistan Exim Trade Info website, five aircraft were delivered to the country on 15 January 2021. According to a ...

• Loitering munitions

  Medium-Range Loitering Munition with LEO Satellite Data Link [South Korea]

  Background New Project In April 2025, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) and the Agency for Defense Development (ADD) announced a new project titled “Development of Medium-Range ...

• Military UAS - small

  Small UAV (Bulgaria)

  Programme Background The Bulgarian Army wants to procure UAVs to enhance the organic tactical ISR capabilities of its ground forces. According to Bulgarian media, a ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

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

  Caihong

  The Caihong (Rainbow), also known as the Cai Hong or CH, is a solar-powered HALE platform designed for near-space flight. It is suitable for military ...

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

  Morning Star

  Aviation Industry Corporation of China’s Morning Star is a quasi-satellite, near-space, solar-powered platform. It is designed for both military and civilian applications, including reconnaissance, navigation ...

• FL-3

  The FL-3 is a planned solar-powered, long-endurance, near-space platform with an 85,300ft ceiling. Speculated future uses include communication, ground observation, meteorological monitoring and operation as ...

• ISR/special mission, Maritime patrol

  A320neo M3A

  Currently under development by Airbus, the A320 M3A is the Maritime Patrol version of the civilian A320neo aircraft. The aircraft can be fitted with a wide ...

• Space: radar systems

  SARah

  SARah is the planned follow-on system for the SAR-Lupe radar satellite constellation operated by the German Armed Forces. In 2013, it was announced that OHB ...

• Major networking projects

  EAC

  The NATO Communications and Information Agency awarded ACTIA Sodielec a contract in June 2013 to provide NATO with an Extended Advanced SATCOM Network Monitoring and ...

• Space: radar systems

  ESA Sentinel-1

  Sentinel-1 is a planned constellation of four satellites with two already in orbit and two on order. They carry a payload of a C-band SAR ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  Vocality Pro Series

  The Pro Series includes the V25, V50, V150 and V20. These are designed to be used in a central communications hub or as part of ...

• Air: COMINT and ELINT systems

  FlyingFish Maritime

  The FlyingFish Maritime SIGINT system is one of several derivatives of the FlyingFish Airborne Satellite Monitoring System developed by Horizon Technologies. Designed to be mounted ...

• Military UAS - rotary-wing

  S-70UAS U-Hawk

  Unveiled at AUSA 2025, the S-70UAS U-Hawk is an uncrewed version of Sikorsky’s crewed UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter.  It will act as a delivery aircraft for medium-sized uncrewed ground vehicles ...

• Air: COMINT and ELINT systems

  FlyingFish

  FlyingFish is an Airborne Satellite Monitoring System designed to detect and intercept SATCOM from airborne ISR platforms. As a passive system, it cannot be detected ...

• Guided munitions

  GP155B

  The GP155B is a 155mm artillery round developed by Norinco. The GP155B integrates satellite-based guidance systems that are compatible with both the Chinese Beidou Navigation ...

• Data links

  Space CDL

  The Space Common Data Link (CDL) system provides a wideband data link capability adaptable to a variety of space-based applications. It consists of separate transmitter ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  ULTRA

  The Unmanned Long-endurance Tactical Reconnaissance Aircraft (ULTRA) is a fixed-wing drone from DZYNE Technologies.  It is described as a long-endurance, GPS-harded intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance platform with full ...

• Naval: COMINT and ELINT systems

  FlyingFish Naval

  The FlyingFish Naval SIGINT system is one of several derivatives of the FlyingFish Airborne Satellite Monitoring System (ASMS) developed by Horizon Technologies. Whereas the original ...