• Defence Notes

  Pentagon chief Mattis reduced to carrying out orders he dislikes

  27th June 2018

  From housing undocumented migrants to scrapping joint exercises with South Korea or setting up a new Space Force - US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis, one-time …

• Defence Helicopter

  Eurosatory 2018: Tri-service H160M designs presented

  13th June 2018

  Airbus Helicopters has used Eurosatory to highlight its militarised H160 platform which is currently undergoing de-risking studies. The aircraft is being developed for the French …

• Digital Battlespace

  Australia’s M1 CubeSat nears launch

  12th June 2018

  Australia’s M1 CubeSat satellite is going through its final testing phase at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) Canberra Space Centre before its planned …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  SRI to develop continuously learning AI

  21st June 2018

  SRI International has been selected by DARPA to develop a next-generation artificial intelligence (AI) system that will be able to learn continuously and apply that …

• 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 …

• Military Logistics

  Indian armed forces to acquire hovercraft

  13th June 2018

  India’s Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) has approved the procurement of equipment worth over $81.4 million for the Indian armed forces, the Indian MoD announced on …

• 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 …

• Land Warfare

  Finland fires Crotale NG with new camera

  13th June 2018

  The Finnish Defence Force has carried out a live firing of its Crotale New Generation (NG) short-range air defence system equipped with a new Catherine …

• Defence Helicopter

  Jordan’s AH-1F/S Cobra avionics upgraded

  11th June 2018

  Northrop Grumman and Science and Engineering Services (SES) have upgraded the avionics system on the Royal Jordanian Air Force’s AH-1F/S Cobra attack helicopters, Northrop announced …

• Defence Helicopter

  Pakistan Army fields new trainer helicopters

  13th June 2018

  It has been confirmed that the Pakistan Army Aviation Corps now has a quartet of Enstrom 280FX helicopters that will be used for pilot training …

• Defence Notes

  Decline in Afghan forces less sharp than thought: SIGAR

  16th May 2018

  The strength of Afghanistan's security forces has declined less sharply than previously reported, a US watchdog said, citing incorrect figures given by the US military …

• Defence Helicopter

  Indra, Elettronica developing EuroDIRQM

  12th June 2018

  Indra has partnered with Elettronica Group to develop a next generation Quantum Cascade Laser (QCL)-based Direct Infrared Countermeasure (DIRCM) system for rotary and fixed wing …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  NASA Ikhana flies with detect and avoid avionics

  19th June 2018

  General Atomics Aeronautical Systems’ (GA-ASI) Detect and Avoid (DAA) avionics system enabled the flight of NASA’s Ikhana UAS through the National Airspace System (NAS) earlier …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Thales Fulmar X for Spain ISR

  18th June 2018

  Thales has received two contracts from the Spanish Directorate-General for Armament and Material (DGAM) to provide ISR capabilities to the Spanish Navy and Army. Thales’ …

• Digital Battlespace

  Harris delivers fifth GPS III payload

  11th June 2018

  Harris Corporation has delivered the fifth of ten contracted advanced navigation payloads to Lockheed Martin for the US Air Force’s GPS III satellite programme, 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 ...