• Naval Warfare

  IMDEX Asia: China develops coast guard into major force

  14th May 2015

  Beijing’s recent merging of four organisations into the China Coast Guard has raised questions whether the new agency is being used as an instrument of …

• Defence Helicopter

  USAF Ospreys to deploy to Japan in 2017

  13th May 2015

  The Pentagon has announced it will begin deploying its first squadron of Bell Boeing CV-22 Ospreys to Japan in 2017. The specially modified tiltrotor aircraft …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  AUVSI 2015: FAA opens the skies, slowly…

  6th May 2015

  As hundreds of companies showcase their unmanned credentials at AUVSI in Atlanta, the US Federal Aviation Administration used the event to announce that three firms …

• Defence Notes

  USA and Japan revise ‘defence guidelines’

  3rd May 2015

  In a long-awaited move, the US and Japan updated their ‘Guidelines for US-Japan Defense Cooperation’ during bilateral 2+2 talks in New York on 27 April. …

• Naval Warfare

  Philippines orders ten MRRVs from JMU

  29th April 2015

  The Philippines have ordered ten 40m Multi-Role Response Vessels (MRRVs) for the Philippine Coast Guard in a project awarded to Japan Marine United (JMU). The …

• Defence Helicopter

  GAO questions US Army aviation restructure

  28th April 2015

  A new report scrutinising the cost estimates and assumptions behind the US Army’s controversial Aviation Restructure Initiative (ARI) has found them to be ‘substantially comprehensive’ …

• Naval Warfare

  Contract for Japan-built boats for Philippine Coast Guard awarded

  22nd April 2015

  A decision has finally been reached on the construction of ten new patrol boats for the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), initially announced in 2012, after …

• Defence Notes

  China set to receive S-400 air defence system from Russia

  16th April 2015

  After prolonged negotiations that have spanned years, it appears China is finally purchasing the Almaz-Antei S-400 Triumf surface-to-air missile (SAM) system from Russia. This was …

• Land Warfare

  China a stalwart of UN peacekeeping missions

  1st April 2015

  China, which currently has 2,370 personnel engaged in United Nations peacekeeping missions, is being lauded as a stalwart of such international endeavours. The majority of …

• Defence Helicopter

  Quad A 2015: Sikorsky-Boeing JMR TD supplier team announced

  31st March 2015

  The complete supplier teaming arrangement for the Sikorsky-Boeing SB>1 Defiant Joint Multi-Role Technology Demonstrator (JMR-TD)has been announced at Quad A, Nashville. During the show Doug …

• Naval Warfare

  Japan inducts largest warship since WWII

  30th March 2015

  Japan formally received JS Izumo, its largest new warship since the end of World War Two, at the IHI Marine United shipyard in Yokohama on …

• Digital Battlespace

  Ninth GPS IIF satellite for USAF launches

  27th March 2015

  A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Delta IV rocket with the ninth Global Positioning System (GPS) IIF satellite for the US Air Force (USAF) launched on …

• Military Logistics

  Babcock delivers generator set in HMS Penzance

  24th March 2015

  Babcock has delivered and fitted a new generator set for HMS Penzance under the Sandown Volvo Generator Programme (SVGP), the company announced on 19 March. …

• Defence Helicopter

  Netherlands beefs up its Apaches

  17th March 2015

  The Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) has developed a new set of modifications and operational techniques to turn its AH-64D Apaches into an ISTAR platform …

• Defence Notes

  LIMA 2015: Indonesia gathers capabilities under one banner

  17th March 2015

  For the first time, Indonesia’s defence industry has gathered its capabilities together under the umbrella of the Indonesia Pavilion at LIMA 2015. The pavilion is …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Medium Range Missile Defence Systems: 20-90km range

  SPYDER-MR [UAE]

  Background Under the auspices of the 2020 Abraham Accords, in 2022 the United Arab Emirates (UAE) selected the Israeli-developed SPYDER-MR air defence systems for its immediate ...

• Medium Range Missile Defence Systems: 20-90km range

  Barak 8 [UAE]

  Background In 2022, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) took delivery of its first Barak 8 long-range air defence system from Israel-based IAI. The programme was ...

• AEW&C

  GlobalEye (4-5) [UAE]

  Background Units one through three The United Arab Emirates Air Force took delivery of three GlobalEye (known also as Global 6000) aircraft from Saab. This procurement is detailed ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  ULTRA [US]

  Background Origins The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Center for Rapid Innovation (CRI) conceived and developed the aircraft with DZYNE Technologies. According to The War ...

• Corvettes

  Gowind 2500 (1-2) [UAE]

  Background Timeline The Gowind 2500 design has proved a popular export, and variants have been ordered by four countries. Naval Group confirmed the sale of ten ...

• Transport

  A-400M [United Arab Emirates]

  Background IDEX 2025 At IDEX 2025, two Airbus representatives shared insights into a possible offer from the United Arab Emirates for the A-400M aircraft. The ...

• Corvettes

  Gowind 2500 Procurement (3-4) [UAE]

  Background Timeline The Gowind 2500 design has proved a popular export and variants have been ordered by four countries. Naval Group confirmed the sale of ...

• OPVs

  OPV procurement [UAE]

  Background Requirements The vessels ordered are intended for patrol, surveillance and interdiction missions in the UAE’s exclusive economic zone to the enforcement of maritime law, coast ...

• Transport

  C-130 Replacement [Saudi Arabia]

  Background Requirement The Royal Saudi Air Force operates 33 C-130H, 7 KC-130H aircraft and two KC-130Js. The country has been seeking to replace its older ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Sherpa Light [Egypt]

  Background Egypt is believed to have taken delivery of at least 173 Sherpa Lights and 18 Sherpa Light Scout 4x4 armoured vehicles from Arquus between ...

• Medium Range Missile Defence Systems: 20-90km range

  Cheongung-II (M-SAM Block II) [UAE]

  Background The UAE was the first export customer for South Korea’s Cheongung-II medium-range air-defence system and was the first to use it operationally. In January 2022, ...

• Loitering munitions

  Hunter Family [UAE]

  Programme Background IDEX Contract Announcement On 21 February 2023, EDGE announced that its subsidiary, HALCON, had been awarded an AED 1.1 billion ($272.29 million) contract to supply ...

• Medium Range Missile Defence Systems: 20-90km range

  PAC-3 [USA]

  Background Japan transferred an unspecified variant of PAC-3 interceptors to the United States at Washington’s request to replenish US military stocks after transfers to Ukraine. The ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  Trainer/light attack aircraft [Egypt]

  Bids and suppliers Korea Aerospace Industries In March 2025, the Egyptian Ambassador to South Korea confirmed ongoing talks regarding the possible export of the FA-50 Fighting Eagle; ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  JLTV [Romania]

  Programme Background  The Oshkosh Defence Joint Light Tactical Vehicle is a 4x4 armoured vehicle manufactured in the United States. Originally intended to supplement to Humvee ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• MPVs - 4x4

  Kasser II

  Produced by M4 Industries based in Abu Dhabi, Kasser is a 4x4 MRAP that is currently being developed for the United Arab Emirates. The vehicle ...

• Air: Defensive Systems - MLDS, Land: Defensive Systems - Gunshot Detection / Hostile Fire Indicator

  ShotFinder Acoustic Hostile Fire Detection

  Northrop Grumman’s ShotFinder is a hostile fire detection system designed to protect aircraft against small arms and light weapons fire. The apparatus employs acoustic technology ...

• Air: Integrated Defensive Systems

  Falcon Edge/IEWS

  Northrop Grumman’s Falcon Edge Integrated Self-Protection System (ISPS) equips the United Arab Emirates Air Force’s (UAEAF) Lockheed Martin F-16E/F Block-60 fighters.  The first incarnation of ...

• Self-propelled rocket launchers

  MCRL

  The Multiple Cradle Rocket Launcher (MCRL) was developed by Al Jaber Land Systems (AJLS) in cooperation with Roketsan to meet the requirements of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and ...

• Air: Displays

  Digital Light Engine Head-Up Display

  BAE Systems Digital Light Engine (DLE) HUD is designed to upgrade existing display equipment with a modular, electro-optic digital system. According to the manufacturer, DLE HUDs ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM, Land: Radio and SATCOM

  AN/ARS-6(V12) PLS

  The new AN/ARS-6 (V12) Personnel Locator System (PLS) Receiver/Transmitter (R/T) is a functional replacement for the old AN/ARS-6. These systems are used to locate missing ...

• Sealift/replenishment vessels

  Al Saadiyat (Logistics Support Vessel)

  Al Saadiyat is the most recent logistics support vessel to be built for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Navy. The vessel is effectively a large ...

• Air: Electronic Attack - Jamming

  ELT/558

  The ELT/558 is a low-band jammer designed for the self-protection of fighter aircraft and combat helicopters. Systems support platform protection using jamming and deception of search/scanning, ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  IPN

  Produced by Selex ES (now part of Leonardo), the IPN is a family of combat management systems. Also known as SADOC 2, it is in ...

• Air: Defensive Systems - Radar Warning Receivers

  AN/APR-48B

  Lockheed Martin’s AN/APR-48B is a modernised radar frequency interferometer. The digital receiver-based system features enhanced receiver sensitivity to allow the system to detect a threat, ...

• Air: AEW/fire control radar

  AN/APG-80

  The AN/APG-80 is an X-band active electronically scanned array radar system with approximately 1,000 transmit/receive modules, designed for continuous search and multi-target tracking capabilities in ...

• Air: Electronic Attack - Jamming, Air: Integrated Defensive Systems

  AN/AAQ-24(V)

  Northrop Grumman’s AN/AAQ-24(V) is a Directional Infrared Countermeasure (DIRCM) designed to protect large fixed-wing and small rotary wing aircrafts. The system has been installed in ...

• EO/IR systems

  Damocles

  The Damocles is a third-generation targeting pod developed by Thales Group, designed for advanced reconnaissance and laser designation. It is modular, features an eye-safe laser, ...

• Corvettes

  Comandanti/Sirio Class (FCX15)

  The Comandanti-class corvettes designed and built by Italian company Financatieri are in service with the Italian Navy, which operates four, with the first commissioned in 2001, ...

• Naval: Defensive Systems - Laser Warning Receivers

  NLWS Naval Laser-Warning System

  Saab's Naval Laser-Warning System (NLWS) is capable of detecting and analysing lasers in blue-water and littoral combat environments. The NLWS consists of a number of sensors ...