• Defence Notes

  Analysis: Mattis confirms new stability policy initiative

  3rd June 2017

  US Defense Secretary James Mattis has confirmed plans the US will implement the Asia Pacific Stability Initiative (APSI), now in the development stages in the …

• Digital Battlespace

  Saudi AWACS radar upgrade complete

  25th May 2017

  A series of upgrades to improve the capabilities of Saudi Arabia’s E-3A Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft has been completed by Boeing, the …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  S-100 completes flight trials in Norway

  25th May 2017

  Schiebel’s Camcopter S-100 UAS has completed a series of flight trials at Andøya Test Center (ATC) in Norway, the company announced on 23 May. The …

• Digital Battlespace

  RFP released for COBRA DANE radar support

  18th May 2017

  The US Air Force is seeking a contractor for sustainment of the COBRA DANE radar system at Shemya, Alaska, with a request for proposal released for …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  UDT Europe 2017: 2G Robotics’ solutions for Norway AUVs

  31st May 2017

  2G Robotics has announced that it will supply autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV)-based laser scanning, stills imaging and illumination solutions for four Hugin AUVs to be …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  ISDEF 2017: Controp expands portfolio

  10th June 2017

  Israel-based Controp has in recent months been showcasing the latest additions to its STAMP family of aircraft payloads at overseas shows, such as AUVSI’s Xponential …

• Digital Battlespace

  Thales Nederland details radar advancements

  19th May 2017

  Thales Nederland is currently undertaking testing activity of an initial three SMART-L MM 3D long-range multi-mission radars for air and space surveillance and ballistic missile …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  NOAA examines optionally manned survey

  25th May 2017

  The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is exploring the possibility of converting some of its manned survey vessels into optionally manned craft. Having …

• Land Warfare

  Brazil receives initial modernised AAVs

  5th June 2017

  The first two modernised AAV7A1 tracked amphibious armoured assault vehicles for the Brazilian Navy Marine Corps arrived at the port of Santos in State of São …

• Land Warfare

  ISDEF 2017: BPA to showcase Impact Gel

  1st June 2017

  Ballistic Products Alliance (BPA) will be showcasing its Gel Defender’s Impact Gel at ISDEF in Tel Aviv, Israel from 6-8 June. The Impact Gel fits …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  EW Europe: New counter-UAS tech emerges

  1st June 2017

  ESG Elektroniksystem und Logistik, Diehl Defence and Rohde & Schwarz have signed a cooperative agreement in the area of counter-UAS capabilities.As rogue UAS continue to …

• Naval Warfare

  UDT Europe 2017: Germany’s procurement boost

  30th May 2017

  The 2016 White Paper on the future of the Bundeswehr marked a turning point for the German military, seeing a need for growth in the …

• Digital Battlespace

  EW Europe: Testing times for EW sensors

  7th June 2017

  Electronic warfare systems – whether for land, sea or air platforms – can often mean the difference between life and death, particularly when it comes …

• Land Warfare

  CANSEC 2017: New LAV 6.0 variants unveiled

  7th June 2017

  General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada (GDLS-C) showcased two new variants of the LAV 6.0 APC at CANSEC 2017 in Ottawa.  Unveiling the combat support vehicle - ambulance …

• Naval Warfare

  IMDEX Asia: Controp displays latest sensors

  16th May 2017

  Controp is using this year’s IMDEX Asia exhibition to promote its line of sensors for the small- to medium-sized boat market.  The Israel-based company specialises …

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 ...