• Training

  Farnborough 2016: Boeing wins KC-46 MTS but protest looms?

  15th July 2016

  The long awaited Boeing KC-46 Pegasus maintenance training system (MTS) has been awarded to Boeing, which beat five competitors to win the prize. The seven …

• Defence Helicopter

  Gearboxes ground South Korean Surions

  15th July 2016

  The fatal crash of an Airbus Helicopters H225 in Norway in April is having widespread effects on the far side of the world, with South …

• Military Logistics

  AAR to continue Afghanistan airlift

  15th July 2016

  AAR’s Airlift division has received a task order worth $21.7 million from the US Transportation Command (TRANSCOM) for additional rotary wing airlift services in Afghanistan, …

• Digital Battlespace

  Farnborough 2016: GECO (Air) flying with Puma

  15th July 2016

  Operated by the Royal Air Force's (RAF's) Puma Force Inzpire’s GECO (Air) mission support system (MSS) has been showcased at the Farnborough International Airshow (FIA 2016). …

• Defence Helicopter

  Farnborough 2016: V-280 comes to the UK (video)

  14th July 2016

  Shephard spoke to Bell Helicopter about the arrival of its V-280 Valor mock-up to UK shores, the first time it has made an appearance at …

• Defence Helicopter

  Farnborough 2016: Spanish Navy AB212 upgrade advances

  14th July 2016

  The third of seven upgraded AB212 helicopters will be delivered by October this year to the Spanish Ministry of Defense’s Directorate General of Armament and Material, Sener confirmed …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Farnborough 2016: Unmanned Hoverbike set for production

  14th July 2016

  Malloy Aeronautics is pushing ahead with the development of its unmanned Hoverbike and expects to be ready to begin production in 2017, Shephard learned at Farnborough …

• Defence Helicopter

  Farnborough 2016: New player enters race for UH-60As

  14th July 2016

  Another player is looking to offer refurbished ex-US Army UH-60As on the civil utility and military market through a comprehensive cockpit modernisation programme. Flight displays …

• Digital Battlespace

  Japan to receive Leonardo SIT-422/5J

  14th July 2016

  Leonardo-Finmeccanica is to supply its SIT-422/5J interrogator to the Japan Ground Self Defense Force (JGSDF) under a deal announced on 12 July. The SIT-422/5J will …

• Digital Battlespace

  Farnborough 2016: Elbit launches Spectro XR

  13th July 2016

  Elbit Systems has launched the Spectro XR (Extra Range), electro-optic payload, designed for intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance (ISTAR) missions. The ultra-long range ISTAR …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Farnborough 2016: Tip of the Spear

  13th July 2016

  With electronic warfare threats and counter-UAS systems increasing in proliferation, companies are looking at ways to protect and harden existing UAS systems for today's battlespace. …

• Training

  Farnborough 2016: UK’s ASDOT takes shape

  13th July 2016

  Competition for the UK Ministry of Defence’s Air Support to Defence Operational Training (ASDOT) programme is beginning to take shape following a teaming arrangement between …

• Defence Notes

  Farnborough 2016: Aircraft on static display (video)

  13th July 2016

  Shephard took a tour around the static displays at Farnborough International Airshow 2016 to give you a sneak peek at what you can discover at …

• Naval Warfare

  Farnborough 2016: USCG flexes its Spartan muscles (video)

  13th July 2016

  Only three months after the first HC-27J unit was activated on the West Coast, the US Coast Guard (USCG) has brought one of the aircraft …

• Training

  Farnborough 2016: T-X – more than just the aircraft

  13th July 2016

  The US Air Force T-X programme, the replacement of the venerable T-38 advanced training aircraft, is a major target for four international consortia. Raytheon has …

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 ...

• 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 ...

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

  WJ-700 [Algeria]

  Forecast Methodology Programme Value Unconfirmed reports show that the completed procurement cost Algeria $145 million in 2022. Quanity Required Reports indicated that Algreia had acquired four ...

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

  Hermes 900 (1-4) [Brazil]

  Background First batch (2014) In 2014, Elbit reported supplying one Hermes 900 UAV to the Brazilian Air Force (FAB). The drone is called the RQ-900 in Brazilian ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  Heavy Lift Helicopter [Philippines]

  Programme Background Procurement from Russia In November 2021, Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana confirmed that a contract had been signed to acquire 16 Mi-171 heavy ...

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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  D-Tiger

  Thai Defense Industry (TDI) unveiled its D-Tiger 4x4 armoured tactical vehicle at Defense & Security 2022 in Bangkok. The D-Tiger is aimed at export sales, with ...