• Defence Helicopter

  UAE secures spares and repairs for helicopter fleet via FMS

  24th April 2020

  The UAE is to receive common spares/repair parts from the US for its fleet of AH-64 Apache, UH-60 Black Hawk and CH-47 Chinook (pictured) helicopters, …

• Training

  AI drives new approach to pilot training

  28th April 2020

  The FlightSmart integrated pilot performance evaluation and training tool from FlightSafety International (FSI) has completed acceptance testing with the 14th Flying Training Wing at Columbus AFB in Ohio. FlightSmart …

• Training

  Red 6 LVC visual solution shows promise

  29th April 2020

  One issue with the numerous airborne LVC trials and evaluations that have taken place over the past decade or so has been the inability to …

• Naval Warfare

  Details emerge on INS Mumbai upgrade

  29th April 2020

  INS Mumbai, one of three Project 15 Delhi-class destroyers of the Indian Navy (IN), is undergoing a midlife upgrade (MLU) at Mumbai’s Naval Dockyard. It …

• Land Warfare

  Bumerang returns to drawing board

  20th April 2020

  The Bumerang wheeled 8x8 IFV, developed by Moscow-based VPK (Military Industrial Company) for the Russian Land Forces, is to feature a revised hull design. Russian …

• Defence Notes

  Pentagon extends travel restrictions to end of June

  21st April 2020

  US Secretary of State, Mark T Esper, has extended the stop move order for all DoD personnel until 30 June, to minimise the risk of …

• Air Warfare

  Germany shows tentative interest in Apache

  27th March 2020

  Shephard understands that the German federal government has asked its US counterpart for information about the Boeing AH-64 Apache attack helicopter. Over the years, Boeing …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  ROKAF receives second Global Hawk

  23rd April 2020

  The Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) is now in receipt of half its Northrop Grumman RQ-4B Block 30 fleet after a second Global Hawk …

• Digital Battlespace

  Saab hails X-band AESA trial

  24th April 2020

  Saab completed the first flight trial of its new X-band active electronically scanned array (AESA) fighter radar on 8 April. The company stated on 24 …

• Defence Helicopter

  GE Aviation supporting H-53E Engine Reliability Improvement

  9th April 2020

  General Electric Aviation has secured a $9.7 million modification to a previously awarded cost-plus-fixed-fee contract. The modification procures non-recurring engineering services and support for the …

• Naval Warfare

  Coronavirus lacerates Thai naval spending

  21st April 2020

  The COVID-19 outbreak has now struck down the annual budget of the Royal Thai Navy (RTN), which is being slashed by a third. In total, …

• Land Warfare

  US Army starts to receive new Sub Compact Weapon

  30th March 2020

  Deliveries of the US Army’s Sub Compact Weapon (SCW) are under way, following the selection of the APC9K weapon (pictured). Casca Long, a spokesperson for …

• Training

  COVID-19 hits training and simulation

  30th March 2020

  With ITEC 2020 now postponed until 1-3 September and companies in the defence and aerospace sector having called a halt to employee travel, COVID-19 is …

• Land Warfare

  Moscow parade to feature TOS-2 Tosochka debut

  1st April 2020

  The TOS-2 Tosochka thermobaric MLRS is scheduled to make its first public appearance at the annual Victory Day parade in Moscow on 9 May. The …

• Defence Notes

  Defence industry voices concerns as India endures lockdown

  1st April 2020

  The COVID-19 pandemic that resulted in India’s 21-day lockdown is disrupting the supply chain of global OEMs dependent on Indian subsidiaries and suppliers. Sukaran Singh, …

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 - 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 UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  KF-21 Loyal Wingman [South Korea]

  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 ROKAF. ...

• 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 [Israel]

  Programme Background IDF Ground Forces Command is urging the Israeli MoD to request the acquisition of up to 40 AH-64E Apache Guardian attack helicopters from ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  AH-64E Apache [Egypt]

  Programme Background The Egyptian Air Force intends to expand its existing fleet of attack helicopters to counter the ongoing insurgency in the Sinai Peninsula. The AH-64E variant ...

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 ...

• Loitering munitions

  Hornet IV

  Unveiled in September 2025, the Hornet IV is a development of the MQM-178 target drone designed for attack missions. Kratos and the National Chung-Shan Institute ...

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

  Koios

  Callen-Lenz manufactures the Koios, a small UAS that is available in VTOL and non-VTOL variants.  Designed for the civil and military market, as standard, the ...

• 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 ...

• 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 UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  MUCCA

  Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) is developing the MUCCA, a medium cooperative uncrewed fighter to potentially operate alongside the Republic of Korea Air Force's (ROKAF) KF-21 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 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 ...

• 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 ...