• Military Logistics

  Indian Army needs to overcome critical deficiencies

  10th December 2016

  Facing increasing cross-border intrusions by militants, the Indian Army is looking at fast tracking procurement of ammunition from existing suppliers in the next 4-5 months …

• Naval Warfare

  Analysis: Waters rage in South China Sea (Part 1)

  7th December 2016

  On 12 July the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA), at The Hague, handed down a landmark decision in a case the Philippines had brought against …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Balloon goes up in Singapore

  29th November 2016

  The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) performed its first test launch of a TCOM aerostat in Singapore. Although the project started in 2014, its …

• Digital Battlespace

  Spanish F110 frigate team grows

  29th November 2016

  The Polytechnic University of Madrid (UPM) has joined the industrial team for the PROTEC programme to develop and integrate new sensors for the Spanish Navy’s …

• Defence Notes

  Taiwan jet trainer delayed 10 years

  25th November 2016

  The indigenous defence manufacturing policy of Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen will delay the air force's acquisition of 66 advanced jet trainers (AJT) to replace the …

• Defence Helicopter

  Lab tests for V-280 on track

  23rd November 2016

  The Bell V-280 Valor is on track for its first flight in September 2017 aided by recent successful testing in the company's laboratory of the …

• Defence Helicopter

  Merlin Mk4 upgrades progress

  23rd November 2016

  The first AW101 Merlin Mk4 upgraded for the Royal Navy by Leonardo-Finmeccanica has completed its maiden flight, the company announced on 21 November. Leonardo is …

• Digital Battlespace

  South Korean F-16 upgrade: BAE out, Lockheed in

  22nd November 2016

  After South Korea reneged on a contract with BAE Systems to upgrade its KF-16 fighter fleet, Seoul has now inked an alternative contract with Lockheed …

• Digital Battlespace

  Satmove Ka trials approaching

  15th November 2016

  Thales is expected to begin first tests of the new Satmove Ka satellite terminals with the French government at the end of the year or early …

• Digital Battlespace

  STC radio moves past review

  10th November 2016

  The Harris RF-335M radio completed its Critical Design Review in October and will be modified further with new capabilities before its introduction into service. RF-335M …

• Training

  HCMS Montréal sets to sea as X-Ship

  10th November 2016

  The Royal Canadian Navy’s (RCN) HMCS Montréal has commenced operations as an experimental ship, the navy announced on 7 November 2016. The Halifax-class frigate has …

• Digital Battlespace

  RAF Red Arrows tap Airbus Skynet

  10th November 2016

  The British Royal Air Force's (RAF) Red Arrows aerobatics display team is using Airbus Defence and Space satellite communications during its Asia Pacific and Middle …

• Digital Battlespace

  Airbus DS continues SATCOM work with UK

  10th November 2016

  With a mere six years until the end of Skynet, the UK’s sovereign satellite communications capability, attempts are being made to ensure continuing capacity. The UK …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  IAA seek fines for unregulated drone use

  9th November 2016

  The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) is working with its government to introduce regulations which would allow it to fine drone operators as a final measure …

• Land Warfare

  Indo Defence 2016: CMI gunning for Asia-Pacific sales (video)

  7th November 2016

  Belgium weapon specialists CMI Defence plays a large role in several Indonesian projects, not least the Badak 6x6 armoured vehicle, which is fitted with its …

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 ...