• Defence Notes

  US, Chinese defence chiefs talk cooperation despite tensions

  27th June 2018

  US Defense Secretary James Mattis met his Chinese counterpart in Beijing on 27 June, aiming to find areas of cooperation despite a mounting military rivalry …

• Land Warfare

  Estonia firms up €46m South Korean artillery order

  27th June 2018

  Negotiations between Estonia and South Korea for the sale of self-propelled artillery systems have successfully concluded, paving the way for the small Baltic state to …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Rafael demonstrates Protector USV to NATO

  13th June 2018

  Rafael Advance Defense Systems has demonstrated the capabilities of the Protector USV against naval swarm threats for NATO forces. The demonstration, which included a simulated firing …

• Digital Battlespace

  Thales introduces Nexium Defence Cloud

  14th June 2018

  Thales has developed a comprehensive private cloud infrastructure solution called Nexium Defence Cloud, the company announced on 7 June. The Nexium Defence Cloud offer users …

• Digital Battlespace

  AN/PRC-162(V)1 radio passes MUOS testing

  18th June 2018

  Rockwell Collins’ AN/PRC-162(V)1 software-defined military radio has passed Do No Harm (DNH) testing to meet security requirements for operation with the Department of Defense’s final …

• Digital Battlespace

  Eurosatory 2018: Israeli companies look to speed up joint fires

  13th June 2018

  Israeli manufacturers have used Eurosatory to promote a series of networked attack solutions designed to provide a more efficient fire support capability to forward deployed …

• Naval Warfare

  UDT 2018: Saab to display full size torpedo model

  20th June 2018

  Among Saab’s displays at the forthcoming Undersea Defence Technology conference and exhibition will be a full size model of its new lightweight torpedo (SLWT), with …

• Naval Warfare

  UDT 2018: US Mk 48 torpedo upgrade in sight

  20th June 2018

  A contract award for a technological insertion upgrade into the US Navy’s Mk 48 heavyweight torpedo is imminent. Defence sources have told Shephard that an …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Delair signs distribution agreement with Cansel

  21st June 2018

  Delair has signed a distribution agreement with Cansel to offer its UX11 long-range fixed wing UAS for the Canadian market, the company announced on 19 …

• Land Warfare

  Thales introduces artillery version of TopAxyz

  14th June 2018

  Thales has launched an artillery version of its TopAxyz inertial navigation unit for mobile artillery systems, the company announced on 11 June.The system has been …

• Military Logistics

  BAE Systems to work on USS Cole

  11th June 2018

  BAE Systems has received a $36.6 million contract to modernise the US Navy’s guided-missile destroyer USS Cole, the company announced on 6 June. The contract …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Australia trucks on with UGV trials

  15th June 2018

  The Australian Army is continuing its foray into UGVs, with Minister for Defence Industry Christopher Pyne announcing on 13 June that Praesidium Global had won …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Eurosatory 2018: Integration effort for Skylock counter-UAS system

  11th June 2018

  The growth in counter-UAS systems has followed an increase in the availability of inexpensive consumer or commercial platforms that pose security threats for industrial facilities, …

• Land Warfare

  Patriot maintenance delays hindering US Army training

  21st June 2018

  At a time when potential US threats could quickly increase the demand for Patriot surface-to-air missile systems, maintenance delays are hampering solider training. In a …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Australia confirms Triton order

  26th June 2018

  On 26 June the Australian government announced it was investing A$1.4 billion ($1.04 billion) to acquire the first of six Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton UAVs …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - small

  Black Hornet 3 PRS (UK)

  Programme Background The British Army operated approximately 160 first-generation Black Hornet PD-100 nano UAS between 2013 and 2017, when the decision was made to retire ...

• Military UAS - micro

  French Operational Pocket Drone / DrOP (France)

  Programme Background French UAV Procurment / DrOP Under its 2019-2025 Military Programming Law (LPM), France aims to introduce 1,200 new UAVs into service with the ...

• Loitering munitions

  Organic Precision Fire - Light (OPF-L) (Uncontracted) [USMC]

  Background Force Design 2030 The USMC Force Design 2030 is a modernisation effort to create a lighter, more agile maritime force. In May 2022, an annual update ...

• Loitering munitions

  Organic Precision Fire - Light (OPF-L) (Contracted) [USMC]

  Background Force Design 2030 The USMC Force Design 2030 is a modernisation effort to create a lighter, more agile maritime force. In May 2022, an ...

• Military UAS - small

  Bug Nano UAS (UK)

  Programme Background The British Army previously took delivery of 160 first-generation Black Hornet PD-100 nano UAS in 2013 to support operations in Afghanistan. After these ...

• Military UAS - micro

  Black Hornet 4 [Switzerland]

  Background Announcment Teledyne FLIR Defense announced on 2 February 2026 that it had received a $17.5 million contract from armasuisse, the Swiss Federal Office of ...

• Military UAS - micro

  Black Hornet 3 (First Order) [Norway]

  Programme Background First Batch The Norwegian Home Guard has procured the Black Hornet 3 to provide each of its districts with a nano UAS that ...

• Military UAS - micro

  Soldier Borne Sensor (SBS) (Phase II) [USA]

  Programme Background Requirement The Soldier Borne Sensor (SBS) provides short-range day and night ISR to US Army units at the squad, platoon and other small ...

• Military UAS - mini

  Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Sensor Integration on Robotic Platforms (CSIRP) [US Army]

  Background  Requirements The purpose of the CSIRP is to repackage and integrate modular CBRN sensors onto uncrewed systems to provide increased situational awareness on the ...

• Military UAS - micro

  Black Hornet 4 [Germany]

  Programme Background BAAINBw In February 2025, Shephard reported that Teledyne FLIR had been awarded a $15 million contract from Germany’s Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology ...

• Military UAS - micro

  Black Hornet 3 (Second Order) [Norway]

  Programme Background First Order The Norwegian Home Guard has procured the Black Hornet 3 to provide each of its districts with a nano UAS that ...

• Military UAS - micro

  DEF129 (Nano UAS) [Australia]

  Programme Background DEF129 The Australian Ground Service has combined various army procurement efforts under the DEF129 programme to increase the abundance and proliferation of UAVs ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Anka-B [Türkiye]

  Programme Background TAI announced in November 2019 that it had delivered a total of 22 Anka-B UAVs to the Turkish Navy. Two large contracts contributing ...

• Military UAS - micro

  Black Hornet 3 (Ukraine Aid) [UK & Norway]

  Programme Background Russo-Ukraine War Since Russia invaded Ukraine on 24 February 2022, UAVs have proved vital to the country's defence. Consequently, as in this programme, the ...

• Military UAS - micro

  Black Hornet 3 (Ukrainian Aid) [Norway]

  Background Previous Purchases Norway has purchased two batches for its use, the first in October 2020 and the second in June 2022. International Fund For ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• EO/IR systems

  FLIR 111

  The FLIR 111 is a field-proven, high-performance, compact, and lightweight Forward Looking InfraRed (FLIR) system designed for utility and attack helicopters.  It is jointly produced ...

• EO/IR systems

  KUH FLIR

  The KUH FLIR is an IR system from Hanwha Systems for the Korean Utility Helicopter (KUH). Hanwha says it provides stable infrared images at night and/or under limited ...

• Military UAS - micro

  PD-100 Black Hornet

  The PD-100 Black Hornet personal reconnaissance system (PRS) is designed for dismounted close-combat soldiers, providing them with an immediate reconnaissance capability with minimal increase in ...

• Core systems: cameras and IR detectors

  SWIR Components – FPAs and Sensor Assemblies

  FLIR Systems produces COTS staring focal plane arrays (FPAs) and sensor assemblies based on the company’s InGaAs detectors and integrated circuit technology. FLIR FPAs and ...

• EO/IR systems

  StormCaster-DX

  Unveiled at Modern Day Marine 2022, the Teledyne FLIR StormCaster-DX is a multi-role, low-SWaP laser target designator (LTD) payload designed to affect the STANAG-compliant terminal ...

• EO/IR systems

  Star SAFIRE III

  The Star SAFIRE III was a military-qualified COTS multipurpose and gyro-stabilised airborne platform carrying seven payloads. Manufactured by Teledyne FLIR, the now out-of-production system featured internal navigation, ...

• Loitering munitions, Military UAS - mini

  Rogue 1

  Unveiled in May 2024, the Rogue 1 is a rotary-wing quadcopter UAV from Teledyne FLIR. The drone can be equipped with an explosively formed penetrator (EFP), ...

• Military UAS - mini

  R80D SkyRaider

  The military-grade R80D SkyRaider VTOL small UAS is an open-architecture, multi-mission aircraft. Manufactured by Teledyne FLIR System exclusively for US DoD and Federal Agencies, the ...

• Military UAS - micro

  Black Hornet 3

  The Black Hornet 3 is the next generation of the PD-100 Black Hornet, the world’s smallest nano-UAS. This new model of the Black Hornet provides ...

• Light UGVs

  Centaur

  The Centaur is a military UGV developed specifically for the US Army's Man Transportable Robotic System Increment II (MTRS Inc II), a requirement for a ...

• EW test systems

  RISS

  The Real-Time IR/EO Scene Simulator (RISS) provides a set of integrated products for development, test and evaluation of IR and EO sensor systems. Software and ...

• EO/IR systems

  Hadron 640 (series)

  The Hadron 640 is a series of dual thermal and visible camera modules from Teleydyne FLIR. The dual-sensor payload is designed to be integrated into UAVs ...

• EO/IR systems

  GS410 Stabilised Multi-Sensor Targeting System

  The GS410 Stabilised Multi-Sensor Targeting System was a single-unit surveillance gimbal with four-axis stabilisation that could be adaptable to various airborne platforms.  It featured a forward-looking infrared ...

• EO/IR systems

  Star SAFIRE 380-HD

  The Star SAFIRE 380-HD is a EO/IR system from Teledyne FLIR. It combines HD IR, colour, and SWIR spectral information in a single video channel downlink. Various customers ...

• EO/IR systems

  Sea Star Safire III

  The Sea Star SAFIRE III is an out-of-production EO/IR system manufactured by Teledyne FLIR. A maritime variant of the Star SAFIRE III, the system had an MWIR ...