• Land Warfare

  Rwanda fields Chinese SH3 self-propelled howitzer

  15th November 2017

  New photos have revealed that the Rwandan Army operates the Chinese-made Norinco SH3 122mm self-propelled howitzer (SPH), in the first confirmed export of the platform. …

• Defence Helicopter

  Dubai Airshow 2017: Bell 505 military trainer ready for Middle East

  12th November 2017

  Bell Helicopter is optimistic that the recently EASA-certified Bell 505 Jet Ranger X will make its mark as a military training helicopter in the Middle …

• 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 Notes

  Boeing dismisses accusations of fallout with UK

  23rd October 2017

  US aerospace giant Boeing has reaffirmed its commitment to the UK, despite souring relations with the UK government following the US Department of Commerce’s decision …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Commercial UAV Expo 2017: Wine industry mulls drone use

  26th October 2017

  The potential target market for the use of drones by vineyards and in viticulture management was an area that could see significant growth in future, …

• Military Logistics

  AUSA 2017: Ukraine highlights logistics shortfall

  11th October 2017

  Representatives from Ukraine’s defence industry have credited logistics problems for many of their 2014 losses against the Russian Federation. Speaking at AUSA, the representatives identified …

• Land Warfare

  Malaysian Guardians to watch over peacekeepers

  10th October 2017

  The Malaysian battalion of peacekeepers in Lebanon will replace its fleet of 46 4x4 Condor APCs with International Armored Group (IAG) Guardian APCs, which will …

• Land Warfare

  Taiwan initiates M60A3 upgrade plan

  6th October 2017

  The Republic of China Army (ROCA) has announced it will kick off a research process to upgrade its M60A3 TTS MBT fleet. After a long …

• Digital Battlespace

  Analysis: US Cyber Command matures steadily

  14th September 2017

  On 18 August President Trump announced the elevation of the status of the United States Cyber Command (USCYBERCOM) to that of a unified combatant command. 

• Defence Notes

  UN reports on North Korea challenges

  18th September 2017

  The United Nations released a new panel of experts (POE) report on 5 September under Security Council Resolution 2345, which explored North Korean missile developments …

• Defence Helicopter

  Sino-Russian AHL grows in stature

  15th September 2017

  China and Russia are edging closer to a contract for the cooperative Advanced Heavy Lift (AHL) helicopter, with the proposed design more prominently presented at …

• Defence Notes

  UTC to buy Rockwell Collins

  7th September 2017

  United Technologies (UTC) is to acquire Rockwell Collins for $30 billion, the company announced on 4 September. Rockwell Collins specialises in avionics, flight controls, aircraft …

• Land Warfare

  Analysis: Inside the Middle East’s top vehicle maker

  11th August 2017

  Despite being one of the biggest arms importers in the world, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has in recent years looked to build its own …

• Special Operations

  SOCOM identifies future SOF C4 needs

  7th September 2017

  The Science and Technology Directorate at United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) has identified technology areas of interest associated with C4. USSOCOM Science and Technology …

• Land Warfare

  DSEI 2017: Patria’s containerised mortar system demo'd

  6th September 2017

  Patria’s New Mortar (Nemo) Container has successfully completed its first test firings on a truck platform.  Announced on 1 September, the technology had been through …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

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

  SPYDER-MR [UAE]

  Background Under the auspices of the 2020 Abraham Accords, in 2022 the United Arab Emirates (UAE) selected the Israeli-developed SPYDER-MR air defence systems for its immediate ...

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

  Barak 8 [UAE]

  Background In 2022, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) took delivery of its first Barak 8 long-range air defence system from Israel-based IAI. The programme was ...

• AEW&C

  GlobalEye (4-5) [UAE]

  Background Units one through three The United Arab Emirates Air Force took delivery of three GlobalEye (known also as Global 6000) aircraft from Saab. This procurement is detailed ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  ULTRA [US]

  Background Origins The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Center for Rapid Innovation (CRI) conceived and developed the aircraft with DZYNE Technologies. According to The War ...

• Corvettes

  Gowind 2500 (1-2) [UAE]

  Background Timeline The Gowind 2500 design has proved a popular export, and variants have been ordered by four countries. Naval Group confirmed the sale of ten ...

• Transport

  A-400M [United Arab Emirates]

  Background IDEX 2025 At IDEX 2025, two Airbus representatives shared insights into a possible offer from the United Arab Emirates for the A-400M aircraft. The ...

• Corvettes

  Gowind 2500 Procurement (3-4) [UAE]

  Background Timeline The Gowind 2500 design has proved a popular export and variants have been ordered by four countries. Naval Group confirmed the sale of ...

• OPVs

  OPV procurement [UAE]

  Background Requirements The vessels ordered are intended for patrol, surveillance and interdiction missions in the UAE’s exclusive economic zone to the enforcement of maritime law, coast ...

• Transport

  C-130 Replacement [Saudi Arabia]

  Background Requirement The Royal Saudi Air Force operates 33 C-130H, 7 KC-130H aircraft and two KC-130Js. The country has been seeking to replace its older ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Sherpa Light [Egypt]

  Background Egypt is believed to have taken delivery of at least 173 Sherpa Lights and 18 Sherpa Light Scout 4x4 armoured vehicles from Arquus between ...

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

  Cheongung-II (M-SAM Block II) [UAE]

  Background The UAE was the first export customer for South Korea’s Cheongung-II medium-range air-defence system and was the first to use it operationally. In January 2022, ...

• Loitering munitions

  Hunter Family [UAE]

  Programme Background IDEX Contract Announcement On 21 February 2023, EDGE announced that its subsidiary, HALCON, had been awarded an AED 1.1 billion ($272.29 million) contract to supply ...

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

  PAC-3 [USA]

  Background Japan transferred an unspecified variant of PAC-3 interceptors to the United States at Washington’s request to replenish US military stocks after transfers to Ukraine. The ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  Trainer/light attack aircraft [Egypt]

  Bids and suppliers Korea Aerospace Industries In March 2025, the Egyptian Ambassador to South Korea confirmed ongoing talks regarding the possible export of the FA-50 Fighting Eagle; ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  JLTV [Romania]

  Programme Background  The Oshkosh Defence Joint Light Tactical Vehicle is a 4x4 armoured vehicle manufactured in the United States. Originally intended to supplement to Humvee ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• MPVs - 4x4

  Kasser II

  Produced by M4 Industries based in Abu Dhabi, Kasser is a 4x4 MRAP that is currently being developed for the United Arab Emirates. The vehicle ...

• Air: Defensive Systems - MLDS, Land: Defensive Systems - Gunshot Detection / Hostile Fire Indicator

  ShotFinder Acoustic Hostile Fire Detection

  Northrop Grumman’s ShotFinder is a hostile fire detection system designed to protect aircraft against small arms and light weapons fire. The apparatus employs acoustic technology ...

• Air: Integrated Defensive Systems

  Falcon Edge/IEWS

  Northrop Grumman’s Falcon Edge Integrated Self-Protection System (ISPS) equips the United Arab Emirates Air Force’s (UAEAF) Lockheed Martin F-16E/F Block-60 fighters.  The first incarnation of ...

• Self-propelled rocket launchers

  MCRL

  The Multiple Cradle Rocket Launcher (MCRL) was developed by Al Jaber Land Systems (AJLS) in cooperation with Roketsan to meet the requirements of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and ...

• Air: Displays

  Digital Light Engine Head-Up Display

  BAE Systems Digital Light Engine (DLE) HUD is designed to upgrade existing display equipment with a modular, electro-optic digital system. According to the manufacturer, DLE HUDs ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM, Land: Radio and SATCOM

  AN/ARS-6(V12) PLS

  The new AN/ARS-6 (V12) Personnel Locator System (PLS) Receiver/Transmitter (R/T) is a functional replacement for the old AN/ARS-6. These systems are used to locate missing ...

• Sealift/replenishment vessels

  Al Saadiyat (Logistics Support Vessel)

  Al Saadiyat is the most recent logistics support vessel to be built for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Navy. The vessel is effectively a large ...

• Air: Electronic Attack - Jamming

  ELT/558

  The ELT/558 is a low-band jammer designed for the self-protection of fighter aircraft and combat helicopters. Systems support platform protection using jamming and deception of search/scanning, ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  IPN

  Produced by Selex ES (now part of Leonardo), the IPN is a family of combat management systems. Also known as SADOC 2, it is in ...

• Air: Defensive Systems - Radar Warning Receivers

  AN/APR-48B

  Lockheed Martin’s AN/APR-48B is a modernised radar frequency interferometer. The digital receiver-based system features enhanced receiver sensitivity to allow the system to detect a threat, ...

• Air: AEW/fire control radar

  AN/APG-80

  The AN/APG-80 is an X-band active electronically scanned array radar system with approximately 1,000 transmit/receive modules, designed for continuous search and multi-target tracking capabilities in ...

• Air: Electronic Attack - Jamming, Air: Integrated Defensive Systems

  AN/AAQ-24(V)

  Northrop Grumman’s AN/AAQ-24(V) is a Directional Infrared Countermeasure (DIRCM) designed to protect large fixed-wing and small rotary wing aircrafts. The system has been installed in ...

• EO/IR systems

  Damocles

  The Damocles is a third-generation targeting pod developed by Thales Group, designed for advanced reconnaissance and laser designation. It is modular, features an eye-safe laser, ...

• Corvettes

  Comandanti/Sirio Class (FCX15)

  The Comandanti-class corvettes designed and built by Italian company Financatieri are in service with the Italian Navy, which operates four, with the first commissioned in 2001, ...

• Naval: Defensive Systems - Laser Warning Receivers

  NLWS Naval Laser-Warning System

  Saab's Naval Laser-Warning System (NLWS) is capable of detecting and analysing lasers in blue-water and littoral combat environments. The NLWS consists of a number of sensors ...