• Special Operations

  ​SOFIC 2017: Who's the BOSS?

  8th May 2017

  Alongside USSOCOM efforts, the US Army is working on enhancing the scopes available to its snipers. It announced in January that it was working on …

• Special Operations

  SOFIC 2017: Rifle optics continue to advance

  8th May 2017

  Technology advances and decreasing costs means that most infantry units today have adopted rifle optics for their individual weapons, following in the footsteps of the …

• Military Logistics

  First KC-10 CLS returned to USAF service

  8th May 2017

  L3 Technologies has returned to service the first KC-10 aircraft under the US Air Force's (USAF) contractor logistics support (CLS) programme, the company announced on …

• Defence Helicopter

  DST ensures safe MRH90 operations

  8th May 2017

  A team of forensic engineers from Australia's Defence Science and Technology (DST) organisation is using forensic engineering techniques and computational fluid analyses of airflow to …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  AUVSI 2017: The Wave Glider (video)

  8th May 2017

  Ahead of the AUVSI Xponential 2017 event in Dallas, Texas, officials from Liquid Robotics detail the capabilities that its Wave Glider provides and the markets …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  AUVSI 2017: The Logos Redkite (video)

  7th May 2017

  Detailing recent trials conducted on its Redkite lightweight wide-area electro-optical system earlier this year, officials from Logos Technologies detail the work being done with Insitu …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  AUVSI 2017: The week ahead (video)

  7th May 2017

  As the start of the AUVSI Xponential exhibition and conference in Dallas nears Beth Maundrill and Richard Thomas discuss key themes in the industry and …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  AUVSI 2017: Behind the scenes (video)

  7th May 2017

  Richard Thomas, Shephard's editor of Unmanned Vehicles magazine, gives an overview of some of the platforms and hot topics to expect at this year's AUVSI …

• Military Logistics

  Flight testing for KC-46 continues

  5th May 2017

  Boeing now has six aircraft in its KC-46 tanker testing programme as it works on completing ground and flight tests for the US Air Force, …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  AUVSI 2017: Textron dedicated to navy solutions

  5th May 2017

  Textron Systems Unmanned Systems will be showcasing its latest development of the Aerosonde UAV, the Aerosonde hybrid quad (HQ) SUAS variant, at AUVSI Xponential in …

• Digital Battlespace

  Airbus to study Syracuse IV ground segment

  5th May 2017

  Airbus has received a contract from the French defence procurement agency to carry out preparatory studies and definition work for the future ground segment of …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Mind the drone

  5th May 2017

  Drone detection and countermeasures were abundant in their design and capability at the Counter-Terror and Security Expo at the Olympia in London this week, as …

• Defence Helicopter

  ​Ka-52K first phase of sea testing completed

  5th May 2017

  The shipborne Ka-52K has successfully completed the first phase of its naval testing programme. It involved the participation of two aircraft.The aircraft were then transferred …

• Digital Battlespace

  NATO looks to protect C-17 fleet

  5th May 2017

  The NATO Support and Procurement Agency is looking to equip its C-17 aircraft with Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures (LAIRCM) systems under a foreign military sale …

• Defence Helicopter

  Curtiss-Wright Fortress for Canadian CH-146

  4th May 2017

  Curtiss-Wright will supply its cockpit voice and flight recorder technology for the upgrade of the Canadian armed forces' fleet of Bell CH-146 Griffon multi-role utility …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - MALE

  Tactical Drone System (SDT) (15-28) [France]

  Background Tactical Drone System (SDT) programme The French Army launched the SDT programme to replace the Sagem (now Safran) Sperwer Intermediate Tactical Drone System (SDTI) ...

• 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 ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  VBMR Griffon [France]

  Background Development of the Griffon commenced in 2014 when the consortium of Arquus, Nexter and Thales was awarded a development contract to design the VBMR ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  Future UAVs: Navy Aerial Drone System (SDAM) [France]

  Background Requirement The requirement for the SDAM programme was a rotary-wing VTOL-capable UAV with a modular configuration that can host a range of payloads. France ...

• CUAS - hybrid effector systems

  C-UAS [Portugal]

  Background Portugal's Military Programming Law 2023–2034 includes $8.8724 million (€8.2 million) to acquire counter-unmanned aerial systems (C-UAS) by 2034. It is assumed that this acquisition requires ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Land Mobility Programme (Light Protected Mobility) [UK]

  This programme briefly introduces the wider Land Mobility Programme and then focuses on the Light Protected Mobility (LPM) programme. Information on the LMV and HPM can ...

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

  ASTER / VL MICA Multi-layer [France]

  Background The Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation, acting on behalf of France, awarded EUROSAM a contract on April 30th, 2026, for the development of the ...

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

  Medium Range Air Defence [Portugal]

  Background Portugal's Military Programming Law 2023-2034 includes a requirement for medium-range air defence. In order to facilitate this, Portugal has joined the European Sky Shield Initiative ...

• Sealift/replenishment vessels

  Navio Polivalente Logistico (NAVPOL) (Portugal)

  Programme Background Requirements The NAVPOL is expected to feature a flexible and modular LPD design capable of amphibious operations and HADR tasks. Timeline The plans for ...

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

  ASTER / VL MICA Multi-layer (additional) [France]

  Background In October 2026, France ordered four additional firing units of the SAMP/T NG air and missile defence system. With this order, the total number of SAMP/T ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Eurodrone [France]

  Background Inception (Stage One) The European MALE RPAS programme was launched in September 2016. Germany, Spain, France and Italy had negotiated and agreed, in collaboration ...

• ISR/special mission

  Strategic Intelligence Aircraft [France]

  Background In February 2018, the Minister of the Armed Forces, Florence Parly, announced that the strategic intelligence aircraft program CUGE Universal EW Capability began to ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  A400M [France]

  Background Airbus formally delivered the first production A400M to the French Air Force in August 2013. The French Air Force took delivery of its 15th ...

• Self-propelled guns

  Serval LAD [France]

  Background France's Military Planning Law 2025-2030 committed it to purchasing 12 variants of the Serval MPVS specialised for counter-drone operations. Following Senate criticism, this figure was ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Land Mobility Programme (Medium Protected Mobility) [UK]

  This programme briefly introduces the wider Land Mobility Programme and then focuses on the Medium Protected Mobility (MPM) programme. Information on the LMV and MPM can ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Medium UGVs

  Centurio

  At Eurosatory 2024, KNDS unveiled the Centurio family of 4x4 UGVs. Based on the Phobos UGV by SOGECLAIR, Centurio has been developed in the 2024-30 ...

• Land: handheld NV devices

  O-NYX

  The Thales O-NYX is a Ultra-Compact Night Vision Goggle used by the French armed forces. They have an enlarged field of vision to 51° compared ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Patroller

  The Patroller is a long-endurance, multi-mission UAS manufactured by Safran Electronics & Defence. Designed for ISR operations, the platform hosts a Euroflir 410 EO/IR pod and can accommodate ...

• Land: range systems and targets

  Urban Ranges

  Cubic Range Design Solutions has provided facilities around the world for military and law enforcement training in urban terrain. It uses its previous experience, as ...

• Sniper rifles

  Model 95

  The Model 95 is a bolt-action 50cal sniper rifle in a bullpup configuration, which entered production in 1995. Its buttplate, magazine well and trigger housing ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  SandCat

  The 4x4 SandCat family of vehicles was designed by Israeli armour specialist Plasan Sasa in 2005 for a range of military, special operations, homeland security, ...

• Pistols

  P30

  The P30 is available in 9x19mm and .40 S&W; calibres with six variants of each. The grip of the P30 has exchangeable backstrap and grip ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  EK 001 Blue Whale

  The EK 001 Blue Whale is a large, rotary-wing UAV capable of carrying a payload of 23kg. It is in the early stages of development. ...

• Suppressors

  FA556-212

  The Fast Attach 5.56mm (FA556)-212 sound suppressor is designed for use on the AR-15, C8 SFW, HK416, M4, M16 and SA-80. Firearms with 266.7mm barrels ...

• Pistols

  Jericho Steel

  Designed for military and law enforcement users, the Jericho pistol in steel frame configuration is available in 9x19mm and .45 ACP calibres and in standard ...

• Pistols

  P Series

  The S120 pistol series has been used globally in law enforcement and military organisations, with the weapons initially designed as tactical and task force pistols ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  IA-12A Stark

  The IA-12A Stark is a small, rotary-wing UAV that features a dual propulsion system, swappable payload bay, retractable landing gear, single operator control, ground mission planning, ...

• Pistols

  Jericho Polymer

  Jericho pistols have been used for over three decades by military and police units, including law-enforcement entities in Israel and around the world. Designed for ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Tiger LPV

  The MDT Armor 4x4 Tiger Light Protected Vehicle (LPV) is designed to meet the requirements of military and law enforcement customers for a survivable, light ...

• Sniper rifles

  ALIAS CS5

  The ALIAS Concealable Subsonic/Supersonic Suppressed Sniper System (CS5) is designed for concealment in urban settings. With the buttstock and suppressor detached, the CS5 is 597mm ...