• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Australia eyes unmanned technology

  2nd February 2017

  The Australian government has committed to the acquisition of seven Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton unmanned maritime surveillance platforms early next decade, and it is also …

• Training

  Northrop Grumman and BAE Systems bow out of T-X

  1st February 2017

  The $16 billion T-X programme to replace the US Air Force’s aging T-38 Talon (see picture) supersonic training aircraft has just taken another twist with …

• Training

  T-38C modifications complete

  1st February 2017

  The US Air Force and Navy’s T-38C Talon aircraft have undergone modification work to install a video data transfer system (VDTS) and speed break indicator …

• Training

  T-X contenders begin to evaporate

  28th January 2017

  With the request for proposal documents issued in late December for the US Air Force’s 350 aircraft T-X programme, Raytheon and Leonardo have decided they …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  X-47B trucks it across US

  27th January 2017

  One of the most iconic unmanned systems ever to fly is being moved from its home at Naval Air Station Patuxent River to a Northrop …

• Digital Battlespace

  Japan launches first military comms satellite

  26th January 2017

  An H-IIA rocket carrying the Kirameki-2 X-band satellite was launched from the Tanegashima Space Centre on 24 January. It is the Japan Self-Defence Force’s (JSDF) …

• Land Warfare

  New RS556 assault rifle released

  12th January 2017

  A new modular assault rifle has been jointly developed by Rheinmetall and Steyr Mannlicher called the RS556, Rheinmetall announced on 11 January. Based on Steyr …

• Defence Notes

  UDT Asia: Singapore’s growing underwater confidence

  11th January 2017

  This year the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) commemorates 20 years of submarine operations as it anticipates the arrival of two new ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems …

• Defence Helicopter

  The year ahead: The Asia-Pacific region

  5th January 2017

  Within the Asia-Pacific region the year just passed was pretty much dominated by the machinations of one country – China – and there is little …

• Training

  Boeing, Saab complete first T-X flight

  22nd December 2016

  The first flight of the aircraft under development by Boeing and Saab for the US Air Force's (USAF's) T-X advanced pilot training programme has been completed, …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  DJI thinks big for wider applications

  16th December 2016

  DJI, which at last count enjoyed a 70% market share in the sale of consumer UAVs according to an Oppenheimer report, continues to emphasise the …

• Digital Battlespace

  Wave through better urban comms

  14th December 2016

  Long-term communication solutions for the Iraqi Special Operations Forces (ISOF) could be met through specialist waveform technology. For ISOF and coalition security forces in the …

• Land Warfare

  India's new rifle opts for 7.62mm

  13th December 2016

  The Indian Army is rerunning a competition for a general assault rifle to replace the problematic Indian Small Arms System (INSAS). The specifications for the new …

• Defence Helicopter

  Leonardo in frame for Bangladesh ASW helicopter order

  12th December 2016

  The Bangladesh Navy (BN) has launched a hunt for two anti-submarine warfare (ASW) helicopters in the 2017 financial year. The desired platform must be a …

• Land Warfare

  India funds extra rocket artillery

  12th December 2016

  India invested INR32.3 billion ($475 million) in 36 additional Pinaka Mk I multiple rocket launchers (MRL) and 432 rockets, according to a contract signed on …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military helicopters - multirole

  Future Long Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) (MV-75 Cheyenne II) [USA]

  Programme Background US Army's Future Vertical Lift Programme The FLRAA is one of three strands of a broader army programme. The others are the Future ...

• Submarines: nuclear/attack

  SSN(X) Programme [USN]

  Background Requirements The CRS SSN(X) report states the USN is examining three broad design options for future submarines. One is based on the current Virginia-class ...

• Destroyers

  Next-Generation Large Surface Combatants (LSC) - DDG(X) [USN]

  Programme Background Requirements The US Navy (USN) is acknowledging a need to move away from the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer design, which is slowly outgrowing. Flight III ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  X-Bat [Poland]

  Background Polish involvement Speaking in June 2026, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk stated that Shield AI offered Poland a role in the X-Bat programme, with the ...

• Fighter - multirole

  TF-X Kaan Next Generation Fighter [Turkey]

  Background Requirement Geopolitical factors have spurred aircraft development in Türkiye. With its removal from the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter project following the Russian S-400 air ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  Sky Scout-X [Thailand]

  Programme Background At the Defence & Security (D&S;) 2019 show in Bangkok, RV Connex displayed a variant of this Sky Scout, the Sky Scout-X. This ...

• Sealift/replenishment vessels

  AD(X) Destroyer Tenders [USN]

  Programme Background At Surface Navy 2026, General Dynamics NASSCO unveiled an internally developed concept, pitching a AD(X) Destroyer Tender to the USN. The destroyer tender ...

• Fighter - multirole

  KF-X Development - South Korea

  In May 2018, Indonesia renegotiated the terms of the contract, with no details disclosed. At ADEX 2019, KF-X full-scale mockup and cockpit design were unveiled. ...

• 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 - 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 ...

• Fighter - multirole

  IF-X/KF-X procurement [Indonesia]

  Programme Background At ADEX 2019, KF-X full-scale mockup and cockpit design were unveiled. The first prototype of the KF-21 fighter aircraft was rolled out in April ...

• Military UAS - mini

  Magni-X (UK)

  Programme Background On 12 January 2022, Elbit Systems UK announced it had been awarded a contract from the UK MoD's Defence Equipment & Support's Future Capability ...

• Fighter - multirole

  KF-21 procurement [South Korea]

  Programme Background At ADEX 2019, KF-X full-scale mockup and cockpit design were unveiled. The first prototype of the KF-21 fighter aircraft was rolled out in April ...

• Military UAS - HALE

  Kaori-X [South Korea]

  Background Origins Development of the Kaori-X began in 2010 under a project led by South Korea's Agency for Defence Development (ADD), with Korean Air Aerospace (KAL-ASD) ...

• Frigates

  FF(X) Frigate [USN]

  Programme Background The FFG(X) programme was first announced with a Request for Information (RFI) released by the US Navy in July 2017 with a plan for ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Patrol boats

  115 Defiant

  The Metal Shark 115 Defiant is a monohull patrol vessel designed and manufactured by Metal Shark. It is marketed as a platform for border patrol, police and ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

  85 Defiant

  The 85 Defiant is a patrol boat by Metal Shark based on the proven Damen 2606 standardised patrol platform. Thirteen Near Coastal Patrol Vessel vessels ...

• Military - USVs

  NOMARS

  The No Manning Required Ship (NOMARS) is a US Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) effort to develop a first-of-its-kind large uncrewed surface vessel.

• Patrol boats

  PB40

  The PB(X) is a new generation of patrol boats from Metal Shark being built for the USN Expeditionary Combat Command's Coastal Riverine Forces (CRF). The ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  SB-1 Defiant

  The SB-1 Defiant is a Joint Multi-Role Technology Demonstrator (JMR-TD) aircraft. Sikorsky and Boeing announced in February 2013 that they would submit a joint proposal ...

• Military - USVs

  Sharktech

  Sharktech is a UMV kit developed to be fitted to Metal Shark boats ranging in size from 4.9m to 91m. Metal Shark used ASV Global’s ...

• Unguided Medium Calibre Ammunition

  PELE Ammunition

  Rheinmetall's Penetrator with Enhanced Lateral Effect (PELE) Ammunition is available in 20 mm x 102, 25 mm x 137, 27 mm x 145 and 30 mm ...

• Space: radar systems

  TerraSAR-X and ​TanDEM-X

  TerraSAR-X and the more advanced TanDEM-X (TerraSAR-X add-on for digital elevation measurement) are designed to operate closely together to generate an accurate 3D image of ...

• Unguided Medium Calibre Ammunition

  FAPDS

  Rheinmetall's Frangible, Armour-Piercing, Discarding Sabot Ammunition (FAPDS) is designed to defeat hard and semi-hard targets and is available in 25 mm x 137, 27 mm x 145 ...

• Military UAS - small

  Rapier X-SkySAR

  The Rapier X-SkySAR is an Italian UAV designed by Sky Eye Systems for civil and military missions. As its name suggests, the UAV features an ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems, Land: unattended sensor/surveillance systems

  Spynel-X

  Spynel-X is a passive wide-area surveillance system with automatic intrusion detection and tracking capabilities. The sensor can perform 24/7 early human intrusion alerts over a ...

• Unguided Medium Calibre Ammunition

  APFSDS-T Ammunition

  Rheinmetall’s APFSDS-T is available in 25 mm x 137, 30 mm x 173 and as ballistically matched practice ammunition.

• Loitering munitions

  OWL-X

  Unveiled at the Australia Air Show 2025, the One-Way Loitering (OWL) X, or OWL-X, is an Australian loitering munition. Unlike the other OWLs in InnovAero's portfolio, the OWL-X ...

• Land: air defence radar

  X-TAR

  The X-Band Tactical Acquisition Radar (X-TAR) is a fully coherent X-band radar designed for such applications as early warning for MANPADS and guns or tactical ...

• Light UGVs

  X Series

  The X Series is a family of UGVs developed by the UK's DCE. Utilising a modular design, the X Series can be configured for a ...