• Digital Battlespace

  Three firms selected for manpack contract

  1st March 2016

  The US Army has selected three companies - Harris, General Dynamics and Rockwell Collins - to compete for a potential ten-year, $12.7 billion contract to …

• Training

  USMC simulator to get more weapons

  1st March 2016

  Cubic Global Defense (CGD) has been awarded contracts worth $3.7 million to integrate new weapons into the US Marine Corps’ (USMC's) Squad Immersive Training Environment …

• Digital Battlespace

  CVA/H weapon system reaches FOC

  1st March 2016

  The US Air Force Space Command's (AFSC) Cyberspace Vulnerability Assessment/Hunter (CVA/H) weapon system has reached Full Operational Capability (FOC) status. The system is now ready …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  UAV takes on Aussie sharks

  1st March 2016

  As part of an innovative programme in Australia, a UAV began trials in New South Wales this week to help lifesavers spot predatory sharks in …

• Training

  Polish M-346 delivery nears

  29th February 2016

  Finmeccanica has commenced the final assembly phase for the first two Aermacchi M-346 military twin-engine trainer aircraft that are to be delivered to the Polish …

• Digital Battlespace

  SRI gets DARPA data privacy contract

  29th February 2016

  SRI International has received an $8.5 million DARPA contract to investigate how privacy-preserving technologies can be applied to allow information sharing while protecting sensitive data …

• Defence Notes

  Australia goes on spending spree

  26th February 2016

  Australia plans to spend some US$140.5 billion over the next decade ‘to fund investment in support of the future force,’ and bring the defence budget …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Global Hawk flies with SYERS-2 sensor

  26th February 2016

  Northrop Grumman has demonstrated the ability of the RQ-4 Global Hawk UAS to carry the SYERS-2 intelligence gathering sensor during flight testing as it looks …

• Military Logistics

  Iraq requests KA-350 support package

  26th February 2016

  The US State Department has made a determination approving a possible sale of KA-350 sustainment, logistics, and spares support to Iraq, it was announced on …

• Naval Warfare

  Philippines improving EEZ protection

  26th February 2016

  The Philippines is attempting to beef up protection and monitoring of its EEZ, with the latest order covering two 50m vessels for the Department of …

• Digital Battlespace

  Finland upgrades wireless comms

  25th February 2016

  Bittium has been awarded a $3.1 million contract by the Finnish defence forces for the development of a new software package (waveform) for the Bittium …

• Defence Helicopter

  Heli-Expo 2016: Sikorsky partners with Taqnia Aeronautics

  25th February 2016

  Lockheed Martin subsidiary Sikorsky has entered into an agreement with Taqnia Aeronautics to explore opportunities to manufacture helicopters in Saudi Arabia, Lockheed Martin announced on …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  GD Mission Systems acquires Bluefin Robotics

  25th February 2016

  General Dynamics (GD) Mission Systems has acquired Bluefin Robotics for an undisclosed amount, the company announced on 22 February. US-based Bluefin Robotics manufactures unmanned undersea …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Elbit’s Seagull to get sonar system

  24th February 2016

  Kraken Sonar Systems will provide its Katfish towed sonar system for Elbit Systems’ USV Seagull, Kraken Sonar announced on 23 February. The sonar system will …

• Land Warfare

  Rheinmetall to upgrade Polish Leopard 2 tanks

  24th February 2016

  Rheinmetall has been awarded a contract by Poland to upgrade its 128 Leopard 2 main battle tanks (MBTs), it announced on 22 February. The order …

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 - 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 ...

• 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]

  Programme 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 ...

• 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, ...

• ISR/special mission

  ISTAR Aircraft (South Korea)

  Programme Background South Korean Defense Acquisition Program Administration stated that Seoul is planning to procure additional aircraft to minimize potential surveillance gaps amid growing security ...

• 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 - 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 ...

• OPVs

  Next-Generation Offshore Patrol Vessels (1-12) [Japan]

  Programme Background Requirements The primary role of the OPVs will be ISR and patrol. The armament will be limited. One of the key features is a reduced ...

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 ...