• Uncrewed Vehicles

  RQ-21A Blackjack flies in Hawaii

  24th October 2018

  The US Marine Corps’ Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 3 has conducted its first flight of the RQ-21A Blackjack UAS at Marine Corps Air Station, Kaneohe …

• Land Warfare

  Antifreeze and balaclavas: NATO troops in cold war games

  2nd November 2018

  ‘This is my second time seeing snow, so it's a rather new experience,’ said a tank operative, a Florida native more accustomed to ice boxes …

• Land Warfare

  AUSA 2018: US arm of Polish WB Group makes debut

  4th October 2018

  The 2018 AUSA annual meeting and exposition will include first-time exhibitor WB America. The new company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of WB Group, a 22-year-old …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  RCN puts tracking systems to the test

  19th October 2018

  The Royal Canadian Navy is using the Snyper micro UAS as part of work to test the effectiveness of its naval tracking systems, the navy …

• Digital Battlespace

  Viasat introduces MDD cybersecurity software

  4th October 2018

  Viasat has introduced new integrated Mobile Dynamic Defense (MDD) cybersecurity software to provide added security for smartphones and tablets deployed for tactical use at sea, …

• Military Logistics

  Additively manufactured metal component to be trialled

  18th October 2018

  The US Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) has approved the first metal component created by additive manufacturing for shipboard installation, the US Navy announced on …

• Defence Helicopter

  Power of the purse equals power to platforms

  25th October 2018

  In September, the US Congress passed an $854 billion spending bill that has ramped up military funding and this is likely to increase the finances …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  L3 Technologies acquires ASV Global

  28th September 2018

  L3 Technologies has acquired ASV Global, the company announced on 24 September. Based in Louisiana and the UK, the new company will be known as …

• Land Warfare

  INKAS unveils Superior APC/AMEV

  17th October 2018

  INKAS has introduced its new INKAS Superior 4X4 armoured personnel carrier (APC)/armoured medical evacuation vehicle (AMEV), the company announced on 12 October. INKAS Superior APC/AMEV …

• Land Warfare

  India to upgrade M-46 howitzers

  1st November 2018

  As India looks to standardise its artillery pieces the MoD has signed a contract for the transformation of 300 M-46 towed howitzers. The state-owned Ordnance Factory …

• Land Warfare

  Georgia takes on western air defence assets to deter eastern aggression

  17th October 2018

  In early October Georgia showcased its new air defence assets procured from France for the first time. The new weapons includes the new MBDA Mistral …

• Naval Warfare

  AAD 2018: Twiga’s sight set across the water

  19th September 2018

  South African company Twiga Services is looking to expand its 850 Military Patrol Boat’s (850 MPB) utilisation into South American waters, building on its operational …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  IAI develops autonomous IED detection system

  12th October 2018

  Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has completed the development of an autonomous improvised explosive device (IED) detection and neutralisation system, the company announced on 8 October. …

• Digital Battlespace

  PacStar solutions for US Army SFAB comms

  15th October 2018

  PacStar will provide its tactical network baseband solution for six US Army Security Forces Assistance Brigades (SFAB) under a $20 million contract announced on 9 …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Australian navy creates new UAV squadron

  25th October 2018

  The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) stood up a new UAV squadron – christened 822X Squadron – at HMAS Albatross on 25 October. It marks a …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  OC-135B Replacement [USA]

  Programme Background The modification and Treaty Certification works include Digital Visual Imaging System kits, design and development for mission system integration (structural design, interphone communications systems, ...

• Military helicopters - scout/light attack

  Light Combat Helicopter (India - Air Force)

  Programme Background Requirement India's requirement for light attack helicopters capable of operating at high altitudes became apparent during the 1999 Kargil War. Originally planned to reach ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  Orlan-10 [Russian Navy]

  Background Frigate Augmentation Before Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the country planned to augment its Admiral Gorshkov class frigates with indigenously developed Orlan-10 ...

• Military helicopters - scout/light attack

  Light Combat Helicopter (India - Army)

  Programme Background Requirement India's requirement for light attack helicopters capable of operating at high altitudes became apparent during the 1999 Kargil War. Originally planned to reach ...

• Loitering munitions

  Loitering Munition [Switzerland]

  Background Announcement In a February 2023 interview with Swiss news outlet CH-Media, Swiss army chief Thomas Süssli stated that the country was considering acquiring loitering munitions ...

• Hybrid effector systems

  Lightweight Marine Air Defence Integrated System [US]

  Background The US Marine Corps' (USMC) Lightweight Marine Air Defence Integrated System (L-MADIS) supports deployed Marine Expeditionary Units with non-kinetic C-UAS capabilities and a shoulder-fired surface-to-air weapon for ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Shahed-171 (ANSU-200) [Venezuela]

  Background Independence Day Parade Venezuela operates the ANSU-200, a UAV with many visual similarities to the Shahed-171, which Defence Insight believes is a domestically produced ...

• Long Range Missile Defence Systems: > 90km range

  S-400 [India]

  Background India is modernising its air defence by procuring  S-400 LRSAM systems (Triumf Missile System), which are planned to be used by the Air Force.  The fifth system ...

• Destroyers

  Canadian Surface Combatant/River Class (1-3) [Canada]

  Background Requirements Fifteen frigates are being procured to replace the Royal Canadian Navy's 12 ageing Halifax-class frigates and the now-retired Iroquois-class destroyers with next-generation surface ...

• Land: air defence radar

  Ground Master 403 Radar [Egypt]

  Background In 2020, Egypt ordered four of France-based Thales Ground Master 403 radars, the mobile member of their GM400 radar family.  At least one of the ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | Pegasus SIGINT Aircraft (Follow-On) [Germany]

  In 2021, Germany awarded a contract to Hensoldt for the Kalaetron integrated SIGINT system to be installed on three Bombardier Global 6000 aircraft, forming the Persistent ...

• Data links

  Data links | Pegasus SIGINT Aircraft (Follow-On) [Germany]

  In 2021, Germany awarded a contract to Hensoldt for the Kalaetron integrated SIGINT system to be installed on three Bombardier Global 6000 aircraft, forming the Persistent ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | Pegasus SIGINT Aircraft (Follow-On) [Germany]

  In 2021, Germany awarded a contract to Hensoldt for the Kalaetron integrated SIGINT system to be installed on three Bombardier Global 6000 aircraft, forming the Persistent ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | Pegasus SIGINT Aircraft (Follow-On) [Germany]

  In 2021, Germany awarded a contract to Hensoldt for the Kalaetron integrated SIGINT system to be installed on three Bombardier Global 6000 aircraft, forming the Persistent ...

• Self-propelled guns

  Mangart 25 [Slovenia]

  Background Mangart 25 originated from a Slovenian national development project for a lightweight remotely controlled air-defence system. The development contract was signed with Valhalla Turrets ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Air: aerial targets

  Lakshya

  The Lakshya is an aerial target developed by India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for training fighter pilots in air-to-air combat or ground-based air ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  StreamCaster Mini 4210

  The StreamCaster Mini 4210 (SM4210) is a single-channel data radio (SCDR) that can create MANET mesh networks. It is currently in use with the US ...

• Air: mission management systems

  FireStorm

  FireStorm is an integrated targeting and mission management system for air-to-ground operations such as close air support, ground targeting and call for fire. It is ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  AW129

  The AW129 Mangusta (Mongoose, service designation) is a tandem two-seat, twin-engine attack helicopter originally developed for the Italian Army and subsequently developed into a multirole combat ...

• Air: mission management systems

  CMA-9000

  The CMA-9000  Flight and Radio Management System (FMS/RMS) is manufactured by the Canadian firm CMC Electronics. It is designed for a wide range of commercial, ...

• Air: aerial targets

  Chukar III

  The Chukar III, based on Northrop Grumman’s BQM-74E developed for the USN, is a high subsonic aerial jet target for export customers.

• Sea: weapon training, Military - USVs

  Sprite

  The Sprite is a USV developed by QinetiQ and designed for live-fire training exercises. 

• Air: aerial targets

  Banshee Whirlwind

  Originally made by Meggitt Target Systems, a company QinetiQ acquired in 2016, the Banshee is an aerial target and the first drone in the Banshee series.  ...

• Land: range systems and targets

  Badger UGV-T

  Badger is a remotely controlled, lightly armoured, all-terrain vehicle designed to exercise anti-armour combat systems. No permanent installations are required; Badger is transportable to and ...

• Sea: weapon training, Military - USVs

  Albatros-T

  The Aselsan Albatros-T is a high-speed, unmanned, surface-target boat manufactured by Aselsan. It is designed to be used as a moving target in shooting drills.

• Air: Integrated cockpit systems

  Integrated Avionics Suite

  Northrup Grumman's Integrated Avionics Suite is an open architecture mission equipment package, which can be deployed on a number of rotorcraft platforms. It consists of ...

• Air: aerial targets

  DO-SK6

  The DO-SK6 is a modular design tow body adaptable for various functions.

• Naval: RF/IR/acoustic decoys

  Integrated Decoy System

  Rafael's integrated ship-defence decoy system features real-time decoy deployment, fixed and/or rotating launchers and a computerised decoy controller that can be integrated with a ship’s ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Integrated Combat System

  The Integrated Combat System (ICS) is a combat management system being developed for the US Navy. The project, currently led by Lockheed Martin, aims to ...

• Air: air combat simulators

  Kuwait Air Force F/A-18 TOFT

  L3Harris Technologies has delivered two F/A-18C Tactical Operational Flight Trainers (TOFTs) built for the Kuwait Air Force (KAF). The high-fidelity TOFTs replace the KAF’s F/A-18 ...