• Naval Warfare

  South Korea installs HUSS to protect ports

  3rd April 2020

  South Korea has finished installing a new indigenously developed surveillance system that can monitor ports against threats such as surface vessels, submarines, submersibles, divers or …

• Digital Battlespace

  Light shines on Five Eyes SIGINT collection mechanisms

  5th May 2020

  Although the mechanisms by which the ‘Five Eyes’ partners share their intelligence have been shrouded in secrecy for some years, revelations in recent years have …

• Defence Notes

  DoD invests in N95 mask production

  23rd April 2020

  The US Department of Defense (DoD) will invest more than $132 million in masks as part of the Defense Production Act Title 3 COVID-19 Project. …

• Defence Notes

  Pentagon extends travel restrictions to end of June

  21st April 2020

  US Secretary of State, Mark T Esper, has extended the stop move order for all DoD personnel until 30 June, to minimise the risk of …

• Defence Helicopter

  Boeing delivers 500th AH-64E Apache

  16th April 2020

  Boeing confirmed on 16 April that it has delivered its 500th AH-64E Apache Guardian helicopter, which is used by the US Army and other militaries …

• Naval Warfare

  NATO carries out HOD in English Channel and North Sea

  13th April 2020

  Between 23 March and 5 April, the Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 1 (SNMCMG 1) carried out Historical Ordnance Disposal (HOD) 20 to destroy sea …

• Land Warfare

  South Korea eyes US sales for Bigung

  7th April 2020

  The Bigung ("Flying Arrow") guided rocket system has been successfully evaluated by the US DoD under the Foreign Comparative Testing (FCT) process,  the South Korean …

• Defence Notes

  Coronavirus chews up South Korean defence budget

  17th April 2020

  The COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic is having a global economic impact, and defence spending will not be immune. One of the earliest casualties is the South …

• Defence Notes

  Norway unveils strategic investment plan

  21st April 2020

  The Norwegian government has announced a new long-term strategic development plan for its armed forces, with an emphasis on greater investment in upgrades and new …

• Air Warfare

  Morocco orders 10 AGM-84L Harpoon Block II missiles

  15th April 2020

  Morocco has placed an order for 10 AGM-84L Air Launched Harpoon Block II missiles from Boeing which has been approved through the FMS process. It …

• Land Warfare

  New OMFV plan seeks five-way contest to replace Bradley

  20th April 2020

  The US Army has unveiled details of its new competition for developing an Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle (OMFV), including plans to entice foreign industry participation …

• Land Warfare

  Nigeria takes delivery of first batch of Chinese VT4s

  9th April 2020

  The Nigerian Army on 8 April received the first batch of 17 armoured vehicles from china. These included examples of the VT4 (MBT-3000) main battle tank, …

• Naval Warfare

  Coronavirus lacerates Thai naval spending

  21st April 2020

  The COVID-19 outbreak has now struck down the annual budget of the Royal Thai Navy (RTN), which is being slashed by a third. In total, …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  FTUAS competitors take heart from US Army adjustments

  29th April 2020

  The US Army has approved Future Tactical UAS (FTUAS) competitors to video test flights and associated acceptance procedures of their respective systems, as an alternative …

• Naval Warfare

  South Korea moves ahead with new frigates

  27th March 2020

  The Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN) continues to modernise, with a design and production contract being awarded to Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) for the Ulsan-class …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | AEW&C Aircraft [South Korea]

  The Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) has a long-standing requirement for two additional AEW&C; aircraft to enhance its early warning capabilities against potential threats ...

• Data links

  Data links | AEW&C Aircraft [South Korea]

  The Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) has a long-standing requirement for two additional AEW&C; aircraft to enhance its early warning capabilities against potential threats ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | AEW&C Aircraft [South Korea]

  The Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) has a long-standing requirement for two additional AEW&C; aircraft to enhance its early warning capabilities against potential threats ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | AEW&C Aircraft [South Korea]

  The Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) has a long-standing requirement for two additional AEW&C; aircraft to enhance its early warning capabilities against potential threats ...

• Maritime patrol

  P-8 Poseidon [South Korea]

  Programme Background South Korea is facing an imminent submarine threat from North Korea. The Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN) is operating an aging fleet of P-3C ...

• Loitering munitions

  Small-Sized Suicide Drones [South Korea]

  Programme Background Drone Ambition As reported by Shephard, South Korea has ambitions to possess a large arsenal of drones. In May 2024, the presidential office ...

• Loitering munitions

  Loitering Munitions (Special Mission Brigade) [South Korea]

  Programme Background Drone Ambition As reported by Shephard, South Korea has ambitions to possess a large arsenal of drones. In May 2024, the presidential office ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - HALE

  RQ-4 Global Hawk (South Korea)

  Programme Background Requirments Seoul required UAS assets to help monitor its neighbour to the north and, increasingly, Chinese activities in waters and in the air near ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-X III Phase II (F-35) [South Korea]

  Programme Background On 14 September 2014, South Korea signed an FMS contract under the first phase of F-X III programme to supply 40 F-35As for ...

• Frigates

  Daegu Class (FFX Batch II) [South Korea]

  Programme Background The Incheon and Daegu classes are part of a re-capitalisation effort to replace the older Pohang-class corvettes and Ulsan-class frigates with a new FFX class ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-5 Replacement [Mexico]

  Background  Mexico's last fighter aircraft capability rested with their fleet of eight F-5E and two F-5F Tiger IIs platforms from Northrop Grumman; the units were retired ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Stryker (North Macedonia)

  Programme Background In its Long-Term Defence Capabilities Development Plan (LTDCDP) published in 2019, the North Macedonian MoD outlined plans to acquire Light Armoured Vehicles (LAVs) ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  KAAV II

  Programme Background The Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN) operates one Dokdo-class amphibious assault ship and has launched another to support provide operational lift for the ROKMC. ...

• AEW&C

  AEW&C Aircraft [South Korea]

  Programme Background Requirement The requirement was initially reported in 2016 when it was noted as being part of a long-term development plan, however, reports from ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Light Protected Mobility Vehicles [North Macedonia]

  Programme Background The acquisition of an LPMV to equip the North Macedonian Armed Forces' Light Infantry Battalion Group (LIBG) is considered the most urgent priority for ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Counter-UAS systems

  Drone Killer

  The Uconsystem Drone Killer was unveiled in October 2015 and was developed in response to a UAV threat from North Korea, which saw four North ...

• Surface-to-surface missiles

  Hwasong-7 (Nodong-1)

  The Hwasong-7 is a North Korean tactical ballistic missile based on the Hwasong-6. It has the NATO reporting name Scud D. It was designed with ...

• Surface-to-surface missiles

  Hwasong-6

  The Hwasong-6 is a North Korean tactical ballistic missile based on the Hwasong-5, which itself is based on the Soviet R-17 Elbrus. Its NATO reporting ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

  Gumdoksuri Class (PKX-A)

  The Gumdoksuri-class fast attack craft, also known as the PKX-A-class, was designed to replace the Republic of Korea Navy's ageing fleet of Sea Dolphin-class vessels ...

• Artillery rockets

  K33

  K33 is a 130 mm unguided artillery rocket developed by South Korean Hanwha for the K136 Kooryong MLRS and currently in use with the K239 ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  Saetbyol-4

  North Korea unveiled two drones at the Weapons and Equipment Exhibition 2023 in Pyongyang on 2 August  One drone, which appears to be called the Saetbyol-4, ...

• Destroyers

  Sejong the Great Class (KDX-III/HDD-10000) Batch 1

  The Sejong the Great-class destroyers were built for the Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN) as the third iteration of its KDX continuous destroyer construction programme ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - mini

  RemoEye-002B

  RemoEye-002B is a close-range mini-UAV constructed using composite materials that can be prepared and launched in 5min. Its features include changeable flight modes during mission, ...

• Destroyers

  Maya Class (27DD)

  The Maya-class (27DD) destroyers are the latest in a long line of modern destroyer classes for the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF). Well aware of ...

• Light UGVs

  SCOBOT 200

  The SCOBOT 200 is a larger, two-tracked version of the SCOBOT 100 (see separate entry). It can be used for EOD tasks. It was tested ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  Saetlbyol-9

  North Korea unveiled two drones at the 2023 Weapons and Equipment Exhibition in Pyongyang on 2 August 2023. One drone, the Saetlbyol-9, or Morning Star-9,  ...

• Frigates

  Krivak Class

  The Krivak-class (Project 1135) frigates first entered service in 1970 and various types of the class have entered service, particularly the Indian Navy's Talwar-class (see ...

• Corvettes

  Hainan Class (Type 037)

  The Hainan-class (Type 037) class is a range of corvette-sized vessels, mostly in service with the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy, which cover a range ...

• Anti-ship missiles

  SSM-700K Haeseong (C-Star)

  The SSM-700K Haeseong, also known as the C-Star, is a surface-launched, anti-ship cruise missile. It was designed as a replacement for the Hae Ryong anti-ship ...

• Guided munitions

  GBU-28

  The Guided Bomb Unit-28 (GBU-28) is a special weapon designed to penetrate hard, deeply buried targets. The GBU-28 is a 4,700 lb. laser-guided conventional munition ...