• Defence Helicopter

  Spain gets first NH90 helicopters

  16th September 2016

  The Spanish Army has taken the delivery of the first two NH90 tactical transport helicopters from the Airbus Helicopters, it was announced on 14 September. …

• Digital Battlespace

  AAD 2016: Show is under surveillance

  16th September 2016

  Reutech is testing its latest radar system by tracking aircraft flying at the AAD exhibition in Pretoria. The company is developing the system to meet …

• Military Logistics

  AAD 2016: C-130J offered up

  16th September 2016

  Lockheed Martin has been touting its latest C-130J Super Hercules model to South Africa are ‘in talks’ with the government. Speaking at AAD Richard Johnston, …

• Naval Warfare

  Shipbuilding exhibition illustrates Taiwan’s challenges

  16th September 2016

  Super Typhoon Meranti, which caused a one-day postponement of Taiwan’s first ever shipbuilding exhibition – the Kaohsiung International Maritime & Defence Exhibition – perhaps portended …

• Land Warfare

  AAD 2016: Denel aims to lighten the load

  15th September 2016

  Denel Land Systems has launched a new light weight General Purpose Machine Gun that aims to revolutionise infantry weapons. The DMG-5 weighs just 8.4kg, which …

• Training

  Kratos to deliver MCATs to USMC

  15th September 2016

  Kratos Defense and Security Solutions has been awarded a $54 million contract to provide five Marine Common Aircrew Trainers (MCATs) to the US Marine Corps …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  AAD 2016: Mbombe 8 completes family

  15th September 2016

  Paramount Group has launched its Mbombe 8 vehicle at AAD 2016 in South Africa, it is an 8x8 variant of its Mbombe armoured vehicle range. …

• Naval Warfare

  USS John F Kennedy on schedule

  14th September 2016

  Huntington Ingalls Industries’ (HII) Newport News Shipbuilding division has placed a 900-ton superlift into dry dock as part of construction of the future USS John …

• Naval Warfare

  US ‘Boutique Fleet’ needs a refresh

  14th September 2016

  As a major operator of a diverse range of aircraft types that undertake a multitude of different ISTAR and covert missions, the US DoD has …

• Land Warfare

  Clock ticking for the Minuteman

  14th September 2016

  The US strategic nuclear deterrent relies on three key components: air launched weapons, submarine launched ballistic missiles (SLBM) and the ground based strategic deterrent (GBSD). …

• Land Warfare

  AAD 2016: Algeria receives more T-90s

  14th September 2016

  Algeria has taken delivery of another batch of T-90 tanks under a contract between Russian and Algeria. The latest batch of 67 units handed over …

• Training

  Boeing’s T-X aircraft unveiled

  13th September 2016

  At a ceremony held at Boeing’s Phantom Works in St Louis, Boeing and Saab unveiled their new aircraft for the US Air Force’s T-X programme. …

• Defence Helicopter

  More Mi-35Ms for Kazakhstan

  13th September 2016

  Just three months before the scheduled delivery of four Mi-35Ms to the Kazakhstan Air Force by Rostvertol, Astana has decided to procure four more examples …

• Land Warfare

  MSPO 2016: T-72/PT-91 upgrades proposed (video)

  13th September 2016

  Polish industry has put forward proposals that would see the army’s ageing T-72 and PT-91 ‘Twardy’ main battle tanks modernised with new weapons and equipment.  …

• Land Warfare

  DVD 2016: Special forces vehicle takes centre stage

  12th September 2016

  SC Group unveiled the latest variant in its portfolio of open-top special forces and infantry vehicles at the Defence Vehicle Dynamics (DVD) exhibition at Millbrook, …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Landing platform docks/dock landing ships

  Landing Platform Docks [Saudi Arabia]

  Programme Background Requirements The Royal Saudi Naval Forces (RSNF) is in the process of a fleet transformation plan (SNEP II) which, so far, has seen the procurement ...

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

  Shield AI UAVs [Saudi Arabia]

  Background Reported Talks Reporting from the World Defence Show (WDS) 2026, the Middle East Eye (MEE) noted that, according to two sources, Saudi Arabia was ...

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

  Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) [Qatar]

  Background Saudi Arabia Speaking to Breaking Defense at the Dubai Airshow 2025, GA-ASI President David Alexander stated that Saudi Arabia was working to sign a procurement ...

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

  Gambit [UAE]

  Background Saudi Arabia Speaking to Breaking Defense at the Dubai Airshow 2025, GA-ASI President David Alexander stated that Saudi Arabia was working to sign a procurement ...

• Frigates

  Frigates Procurement Programme [Saudi Arabia]

  Programme Background Requirements The Royal Saudi Navy urges to enhance its combat capabilities and to replace older vessels. Riyadh has recently embarked on major naval ...

• Loitering munitions

  Loitering Munitions [Czech Republic]

  Background KVAČR Concept In February 2024, the Czech Army unveiled the Construction of the Army of the Czech Republic (KVAČR) concept, which outlined an increase ...

• Loitering munitions

  Deep-strike, low-cost, loitering munition [India]

  Background Effectiveness of the capability Following the launch of Operation Epic Fury on 28 February 2026, which marked the beginning of the 2026 Iran war, ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  Surion Marine Attack Helicopter [South Korea]

  Programme Background The ROKMC has planned to obtain 24 attack helicopters for the first time. When bidding opened in January 2019, there were five contenders: Bell ...

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

  Watchkeeper X (Contracted) [Romania]

  Background 2021 In mid-2021, the Romanian manufacturer Aerostar signed a collaboration with U-TacS to potentially produce the Watchkeeper X in Romania. U-TacS is a joint ...

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

  Watchkeeper X (Uncontracted) [Romania]

  Background 2021 In mid-2021, the Romanian manufacturer Aerostar signed a collaboration with U-TacS to potentially produce the Watchkeeper X in Romania. U-TacS is a joint ...

• UAS: communication systems

  UAS: communication systems | Carrier-based Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) [French Navy]

  In May 2025, the French Navy presented a broad plan for its carrier air wing, outlining its composition at three points in time: 2038, 2040 ...

• UAS: flight control systems

  UAS: flight control systems | Carrier-based Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) [French Navy]

  In May 2025, the French Navy presented a broad plan for its carrier air wing, outlining its composition at three points in time: 2038, 2040 ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) [UK]

  Background Project Mosquito and its cancellation Beginning in 2019, the UK’s Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL), in collaboration with the Royal Air Force (RAF), ...

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

  Akinci [Saudi Arabia]

  Programme Background Erdogan Visit On 17 July 2023,  President Tayyip Erdogan arrived in Jeddah for the first stop of his Gulf tour. The following day, ...

• Loitering munitions

  Harop [Morocco]

  Programme Background In November 2021, Haaretz reported that a $22 million drone sale between Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and Morocco had occurred. That publication and ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

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

  Samoom

  Unveiled at the World Defence Show 2022, the Samoon is a Saudi Arabian UCAV manufactured by Intra Defence Technologies.  It is powered by Belgian ULPower Aero ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

  2800 ASW Patrol Boat

  The 2800 ASW Patrol Boat, developed by Couach, is a vessel designed for ASW operations. Unveiled at the 2022 World Defence Show, the vessel can be ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Cockerill i-X

  The Cockerill i-X is a wheeled armoured vehicle designed as a light armoured platform with a modular turret for intercepting enemy forces. John Cockerill Defense unveiled the new ...

• Land: battle management systems

  Mulhim

  Developed by Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI), Mulhim is a developmental Battle Management System designed for brigade-level and below formations. First unveiled in 2022, it ...

• UAS: communication systems

  SkyARX Ku-18

  CTech SkyARX Ku-18 is a lightweight, SATCOM-on-the-move terminal designed for air applications. The Ku-band terminal supports the secure transmission of full-motion video, data, and mission-critical ...

• EO/IR systems

  PT-8N

  The PT-8D is an IR system from Overwatch Imaging. It is fitted with multiple HD thermal cameras and has been designed to conduct missions at dusk ...

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

  SKAT 350

  Based on the Supercam 350, the SKAT 350 is a mini fixed-wing UAV manufactured by Kalashnikov Concern JSC. The drone was revealed in early 2024, ...

• EO/IR systems

  PT-8D

  Marketed as a cost-effective solution, the PT-8D is a wide-area search and ISR payload from Overwatch Imaging. It features an RGB colour camera and a ...

• Loitering munitions

  Jaser

  The Jaser is an electronically powered loitering munition manufactured by Serb Advanced Industries. It is pneumatically launched, and is qquipped with both day and thermal imaging cameras. At ...

• Air: Displays

  LAD2008DA

  Produced by Psion DSP, LAD2008DA is a 20"x8" Large Area Display for full-glass cockpit applications. It was showcased during the 2022 Farnborough Air Show and the 2023 ...

• Land: RWS

  TEBER-II 30/40

  The Teber II-30/40 is a remote-controlled turret developed by Turkish manufacturer FNSS. This RCT is designed to fit tracked or wheeled armour vehicle programs. FNSS ...

• EO/IR systems

  PT-8DN

  The PT-8DN is a versatile day-night payload from Overwatch Imaging.  It has dual RGB sensors of different focal lengths and an HD LWIR sensor. It also ...

• Man-portable missile systems

  Dzhigit

  Dzhigit is a two-barrel, pedestal air defence missile launcher intended for single or salvo launches of Igla family surface-to-air missiles. Developed in the 1990s, the Dzhigit ...

• Air: Displays

  RDU-4208 LAD

  ScioTeq RDU-4208 is a 20"x8" Large-Area Display. It features a fully redundant, high-resolution screen with multitouch support. Unveiled in 2022, it was also demonstrated in ...

• Loitering munitions

  Hamza-3

  Egypt’s state-owned Arab Organisation for Industrialisation (AOI) unveiled its Hamza-3 at the World Defence Show 2026. It is fitted with cameras and anti-jamming systems, and can ...