• Defence Helicopter

  Bell receives Lot 15 Viper order

  28th August 2018

  Bell has received a $509 million contract modification to a previously awarded contract for the manufacture and delivery of 29 Lot 15 production AH-1Z aircraft. …

• Military Logistics

  AFRL extends serviceability of hydraulic lines

  31st August 2018

  The US Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) recently completed an effort to help develop, test and validate a cold spray coating process for the life …

• Land Warfare

  MSPO 2018: Saab sticks to script on small diameter bomb

  6th September 2018

  Saab is playing down a lack of customer progress on its Ground-Launched Small Diameter Bomb (GLSDB) programme as it continues to search for its first sale of …

• Digital Battlespace

  BATS-D authorised for use by partner forces

  27th August 2018

  Viasat’s Battlefield Awareness and Targeting System-Dismounted (BATS-D) handheld Link 16 radio has been authorised by the National Security Agency (NSA) for use by international military …

• Special Operations

  SOF seeking strategic transporter system

  28th August 2018

  The United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) is seeking a transporter system for strategic movement of its three “Sealion” Combatant Craft Heavy (CCH) platforms. Interest in …

• Digital Battlespace

  Israeli interest in RAF AWACS replacement grows

  31st August 2018

  Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) is promoting its business jet-based Conformal Airborne Early Warning (CAEW) aircraft as a new contender for an expected replacement of the …

• Defence Helicopter

  Whole lotta love for the Lakotas from US Army

  6th September 2018

  The US Army’s acquisition of the Airbus UH-72A Lakota continues to go from strength to strength as yet another order for more of the aircraft …

• Defence Notes

  China and Thailand military ties grow

  3rd September 2018

  When the Thai military took power in Bangkok in May 2014, China took full advantage of downgraded Western ties by cosying up with Thailand’s former …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  MSPO 2018: Leonardo reveals future roadmap for SW-4 Solo

  7th September 2018

  Leonardo’s optionally piloted SW-4 Solo programme could eventually see the manufacturer implement several major component changes to improve performance. Based on a long-term planning strategy, items …

• Naval Warfare

  Russian navy in show of strength with 26 new ships this year

  29th July 2018

  Russia's navy will deploy a total of 26 new ships this year including four carrying Kalibr cruise missiles, President Vladimir Putin said on 29 July …

• Naval Warfare

  USCG transfers HC-130J to Kodiak

  28th August 2018

  The US Coast Guard (USCG) transferred an HC-130J Super Hercules long range surveillance aircraft, CGNR-2009, to Air Station Kodiak, Alaska, on 21 August 2018. Originally …

• Special Operations

  USSOCOM advances the Hyper Enabled Operator

  31st August 2018

  The US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) has initiated the first steps in its development of the Hyper Enabled Operator (HEO) concept with plans for a …

• Defence Helicopter

  Russia to get SOF/medevac-equipped Mi-8s

  30th August 2018

  The Russian MoD is interested in the procurement of an upgraded Mi-8 derivative dubbed the Mi-8AMTSh-VN for supporting operations of the country’s growing SOF community, …

• Defence Helicopter

  Dynamatic delivers components for H-47 Chinook

  30th August 2018

  Dynamatic Technologies has delivered the 75th aft pylon and cargo ramp components for Boeing’s H-47 Chinook heavy-lift helicopter programme, Boeing announced on 27 August. Dynamatic …

• Training

  USAF boom operators train on new kit

  27th August 2018

  An upgraded three-dimensional simulator at US Air Force base Travis is providing advanced training for KC-10 Extender boom operators. The boom operator trainer at the …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• ISR/special mission, Maritime patrol

  C295 MPAs/MSAs [Spain]

  Programme Background Required to replace Spain's existing P-3M Orion fleet set to reach OSD in the mid-late 2020s, Airbus' C295W has been selected as the replacement ...

• Loitering munitions

  Deluge (First batch) [France]

  Background Unveiling MBDA unveiled a scale model of the One-Way Effector (OWE), later named the Deluge, at the Paris Air Show 2025. As Breaking Defence reported at the ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  C-390 [Portugal]

  Programme Background Leadership from the Portuguese Air Force and Embraer signed a contract for a sixth C-390, with the option for ten additional aircraft for ...

• Loitering munitions

  Deluge (Additional batches) [France]

  Background Unveiling MBDA unveiled a scale model of the One-Way Effector (OWE), later named the Deluge, at the Paris Air Show 2025. As Breaking Defence reported at the ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  C-390 Options [Portugal]

  Programme Background Leadership from Embraer and the Portuguese Air Force formalised a contract that includes 10 aircraft options that can be utilised by any NATO ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  French MALE UAVs [France]

  Background Requirements The French Ministry of the Armed Forces wishes to develop a French MALE offering comparable to the MQ-9 Reaper, which would, it is hoped, promote ...

• AEW&C

  GlobalEye [France]

  Programme Background Saab and the French Defence Procurement Agency signed an MoU at Paris Air Show 2025 for the firm purchase two GlobalEye aircraft and the ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) [French Air Force]

  Background Rafale F5 companion During a ceremony marking the 60th anniversary of the French Strategic Air Forces (FAS) at Saint-Dizier Air Base in October 2024, France’s Minister of ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  C-390 [Lithuania]

  Programme Background The Lithuanian Armed Forces confirmed the selection of the C-390 as the Air Force's new military transport aircraft during Paris Air Show 2025. ...

• Military UAS - small

  Flexrotor [Phillipines]

  Background Horizon 3 In September 2024, Airbus offered the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) various military equipment, including the Flexrotor, A400M and H225M, to ...

• Loitering munitions

  Larinae: Medium-range loitering munition [France]

  Background Origins French Ministry of Armed Forces spokesperson Hervé Grandjean stated at a press conference in May 2022 that the General Directorate for Armament (DGA) ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  Super Galeb Replacement [Serbia]

  Programme Background Serbia is looking to replace their aged fleet of Super Galeb aircraft from Yugoslavia with a new trainer and light attack aircraft.  According ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  Watchkeeper X (Contracted) [Romania]

  Background 2021 In mid-2021, the Romanian manufacturer Aerostar signed a collaboration with U-TacS to potentially produce the Watchkeeper X in Romania. U-TacS is a joint ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  Watchkeeper X (Uncontracted) [Romania]

  Background 2021 In mid-2021, the Romanian manufacturer Aerostar signed a collaboration with U-TacS to potentially produce the Watchkeeper X in Romania. U-TacS is a joint ...

• Military UAS - small

  Aerosonde Mk 4.7 [Qatar]

  Background Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) At DIMDEX 2016, a QAR 54.7 million ($14.97 million) MoU between the Qatar Armed Forces and the US company Textron Systems for ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Air: Displays

  LAD2008DA

  Produced by Psion DSP, LAD2008DA is a 20"x8" Large Area Display for full-glass cockpit applications. It was showcased during the 2022 Farnborough Air Show and the 2023 ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Wing Loong X

  The Wing Loong X, or WL-X, is a fixed-wing UAV developed by the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC). Debuted at the Paris Air Show ...

• Air: Displays

  RDU-4208 LAD

  ScioTeq RDU-4208 is a 20"x8" Large-Area Display. It features a fully redundant, high-resolution screen with multitouch support. Unveiled in 2022, it was also demonstrated in ...

• Air: aerial targets, Loitering munitions

  Super Simsek

  The Super Simsek (Süper Şimşek) is an improved version of the Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) training drone turned loitering munition.  The drone has reconfigurable payload options ...

• EO/IR systems

  M-19 HD

  The M-19 HD multi-sensor, multispectral, HD observation and targeting payload was unveiled at the Paris Air Show in June 2015. It can incorporate up to ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  Rotary Wing Cargo UAV

  Displayed at Paris Air Show 2023, the Rotary Wing Cargo UAV is a cargo-carrying and ISR drone manufactured by Turkish Aerospace (TAI). Powered by a ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  Orbiter 5

  Unveiled at Paris Air Show 2023, the Orbiter 5 is a fixed-wing UAV from Aeronautics.  The multi-mission drone can host two payloads simultaneously, features autonomous flight and ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Stealth UCAV (nEUROn Successor)

  At the Paris Air Show 2025, Dassault Aviation showcased a stealthy UCAV, the successor of the nEUROn aircraft. A Safran M88 engine will power the ...

• Loitering munitions

  FWD-LM01

  The FWD-LM01 is a loitering munition unveiled by Flying Wedge Defence & Aerospace at the Paris Air Show 2025. The manufacturer states the drone is built for ...

• Loitering munitions

  SpyX

  The SpyX is a loitering munition from BlueBird Aero Systems. Unveiled at the Paris Air Show 2023, the munition offers autonomous electro-optical guided attack capabilities and ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  AeroForce 380

  The AeroForce 380 is a MALE fixed-wing drone. Based on the Milkor 380, it is tailored for maritime surveillance and Coast Guard missions. It can ...

• Military UAS - mini

  Strix 425

  The Strix 425 is a mini fixed-wing drone from EOS Technologie. The hand-launched platform can host a removable VTOL system and multiple payloads.  According to a company ...

• Military UAS - small

  LR2M

  The Long Range and Multi-Missions (LR2M) is a fixed-wing VTOL-capable small UAV from Aeronefs Services. Unveiled at the Paris Air Show 2025, the drone is suited to ...

• Air: COMINT and ELINT systems

  Air Keeper

  Elbit Systems unveiled the Air Keeper, an airborne SIGINT and EW system for aircraft at the Paris Air Show 2015. Already operational, Air Keeper is ...

• Air: Integrated cockpit systems

  HeliSure

  Rockwell Collins HeliSure is a product line of situational awareness solutions for rotary-wing aircraft. It provides glass cockpit capabilities using commercial off-the-shelf equipment that can be ...