• Digital Battlespace

  SpaceDataHighway: no longer science fiction

  1st February 2016

  The SpaceDataHighway programme has reached a significant milestone with the first EDRS-A relay satellite launched into geostationary orbit on 30 January. The satellite will now …

• Training

  Thales opens Norway Training Centre

  1st February 2016

  Thales officially opened its Norway Training Centre on 27 January, and is set to commence the first training programmes at the facility.   The centre …

• Land Warfare

  Denel announces Casspir deal

  1st February 2016

  South Africa’s Denel has signed a long-term agreement with the UN to provide the Casspir mine-resistant armoured vehicles. Ashley Williams, general manager of subsidiary Denel …

• Naval Warfare

  Second OPV for Royal Thai Navy

  29th January 2016

  The Royal Thai Navy will receive a second 90m OPV after BAE Systems confirmed they had signed a new contract with Bangkok Dock for the …

• Military Logistics

  Philippine sealift vessel launched

  28th January 2016

  The first Strategic Sealift Vessel (SSV) for the Philippine Navy (PN) was launched by PT PAL in Surabaya, Indonesia on 17 January. LD 601, the …

• Naval Warfare

  India steps up maritime surveillance

  27th January 2016

  India is tightening its monitoring of strategic entry points into the Indian Ocean after it emerged the Indian Navy (IN) deployed for the first time …

• Defence Helicopter

  Textron Aviation expands MRO offering

  25th January 2016

  Textron Aviation has aquired Able Engineering & Component Services and Able Aerospace, strengthening its offerings in the after sales support sector, the company announced on …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  German Navy to evaluate ARCIMS

  22nd January 2016

  Atlas Elektronik UK has delivered an ARCIMS USV to the German Naval Technical Centre for evaluation, the company announced on 20 January. The equipment is …

• Land Warfare

  Thailand boosts its rocket forces

  22nd January 2016

  The Royal Thai Army (RTA) showed off its latest DTI-1G truck-mounted multiple-launch rocket system (MLRS) to the public for the first time on 18 January. …

• Training

  MilSim Asia: Stacks of simulation software in Singapore

  22nd January 2016

  There was a general consensus at MilSim Asia 2016 in Singapore that simulation still has a long way to go in terms of its utilisation …

• Military Logistics

  Australia spans bridging gaps

  22nd January 2016

  Australia continues to renew its combat bridge inventory under a two-contract deal with WFEL, as announced on 20 January. The Australian Army sought new off-the-shelf …

• Land Warfare

  Jankel wins Belgium vehicle order

  21st January 2016

  The Belgian armed forces have awarded a contract to Jankel for the delivery of 108 FOX Rapid Reaction Vehicles (RRV), the company announced on 19 …

• Naval Warfare

  Oman's new billion dollar fleet

  21st January 2016

  The recent naming of the fourth and final Al Ofouq patrol vessel destined for the Royal Navy of Oman (RNO) represents the end phase of …

• Training

  CACI to continue ACE-IOS support

  21st January 2016

  The US Air Force (USAF) has awarded a contract to CACI International to support its Air, Space and Cyberspace Constructive Environment - Information Operations Suite …

• Digital Battlespace

  Telephonics announces MSC order

  20th January 2016

  The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has awarded a production contract to Telephonics Corporation for its Mobile Surveillance Capability (MSC) vehicles to be used …

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 ...