• Special Operations

  NATO SOF prepare to counter an invasion

  31st October 2017

  A NATO special operations exercise conducted in September across eastern Europe was aimed at extending interoperability amongst participating force elements in overcoming both conventional and …

• Training

  EDA’s helicopter training chalks up successes

  27th October 2017

  The European Defence Agency (EDA) has completed its 50th Helicopter Tactics Course (HTC), the agency announced on 24 October. The course, which ran over three …

• Naval Warfare

  D&S 2017: Malaysian navy adjusts command regions

  30th October 2017

  The Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) formalised the relocation of its Region 2 Command from Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan on 17 October. The relocation actually began …

• Defence Helicopter

  First upgraded Brazilian Super Lynx flies

  4th October 2017

  Leonardo has successfully conducted the maiden flight of the first modernised Brazilian Navy Super Lynx Mk21B helicopter at its Yeovil facility, on 28th September 2017. …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Analysis: The future of the MQ-25 programme

  2nd November 2017

  Northrop Grumman’s withdrawal from the US Navy’s requirement for a Carrier-Based Aerial-Refuelling System (CBARS), also known as MQ-25 Stingray, has highlighted the fragility of the …

• Defence Helicopter

  ADEX 2017: Leonardo lauds AW159 and Seaspray

  24th October 2017

  Leonardo was praising the capabilities of its Seaspray 7000-series radar at Seoul ADEX 2017 as the Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN) prepares to release an …

• Digital Battlespace

  MSSR system receives AIMS certification

  20th October 2017

  Hensoldt’s Monopulse Secondary Surveillance Radar (MSSR) 2000 I system has received certification from the AIMS Program Office of the US Department of Defense (DoD), the …

• Training

  Sikorsky conducts HH-60W training systems CDR

  27th October 2017

  Sikorsky has successfully conducted the critical design review (CDR) of HH-60W Combat Rescue Helicopter (CRH) programme training systems, Lockheed Martin announced on 25 October. This …

• Digital Battlespace

  AUSA 2017: Redkite-I soars to final testing

  11th October 2017

  A new wide-area sensor payload developed for Insitu’s Integrator UAS is expected to complete final testing this year, paving the way for operators to begin …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Franco-British unmanned alliance makes gains

  23rd October 2017

  New details are emerging about the Franco-British collaboration on a Future Combat Air System (FCAS) as the programme readies for the transition from planning and …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Boeing HorizonX invests in Near Earth Autonomy

  23rd October 2017

  Boeing HorizonX, Boeing's technology commercialisation venture, has announced an investment in Near Earth Autonomy, a Pittsburgh-based company that develops technologies for autonomous flight. Together the …

• Digital Battlespace

  Chinese anti-stealth T-radar: Fact or fiction?

  8th October 2017

  In early October, Chinese-language media in Hong Kong and China began reporting a breakthrough in anti-stealth radar technology with the testing of a new terahertz …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  ADEX 2017: KUS-10 awaits next flight opportunity

  20th October 2017

  The Aerospace Division of Korean Air (KAL-ASD) again showed its KUS-VH at Seoul ADEX, with the company recording progress in its quest to create an …

• Naval Warfare

  Russia orders new patrol boats

  26th October 2017

  The Russian National Guard Federal Troops Service (Rosgvardia) has ordered four Project 21980 Grachanok patrol boats at a total price of Roubles 4.1 billion ($72.3 …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Poland hunts for Tarantulas

  17th October 2017

  The Polish Army is pursuing a goal to acquire a series of mobile UGVs for its reconnaissance platoons. The Tarantula programme calls for the acquisition …

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 ...