• Training

  Qatar boosts Hawk trainer purchase

  17th January 2018

  Qatar intends to increase its purchase of Hawk training aircraft from BAE Systems, the country's defence minister has announced. Speaking at the Royal United Services …

• Land Warfare

  Turkey awards missile system study contract

  9th January 2018

  Turkey has awarded a contract to Eurosam, Aselsan and Roketsan to jointly conduct a definition study of Turkey's future long-range air and missile defence system, …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  European unmanned ambitions continue into 2018

  10th January 2018

  The European MALE RPAS project enters 2018 on schedule and on budget as industrial partners begin the development phase, Shephard understands. The three industry members, Airbus …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Heron 1 completes one year in Mali

  12th December 2017

  The Heron 1 UAS has completed one year of flight operations for the German Bundeswehr in Mali. The UAS, which is stationed at the Gao …

• Defence Helicopter

  Kuwait probes alleged graft in French helicopter deal

  21st December 2017

  Kuwait has ordered an investigation into a $1.1 billion deal to buy 30 military helicopters from France, a minister said on Wednesday, after reports of …

• Land Warfare

  GDA 2017: Qatar reveals Turkish armoured vehicle purchase

  17th December 2017

  The Qatar Armed Forces have shown off two new armoured vehicle acquisitions from its close ally Turkey during rehearsals for its national day military parade …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Teledyne participates in Iceland’s EOD exercise

  11th December 2017

  Teledyne Gavia and Teledyne SeaBotix have participated in exercise Northern Challenge 2017 in Iceland - an annual Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) multinational exercise that supports …

• Defence Helicopter

  Mexican Navy receives final Panthers

  8th December 2017

  Airbus Helicopters has delivered the final two AS565 MBe Panther helicopters to the Mexican Navy during a delivery ceremony in Marignane, France, the company announced …

• Defence Helicopter

  Airbus strengthens industrial footprint in Spain

  4th December 2017

  The Spanish Ministry of Defence has officially signed over two Airbus Helicopters H215Ms to the Spanish Air Force, and two HAD/E Tigers and an NH90 …

• Land Warfare

  France receives first MMP weapon systems

  4th December 2017

  The French armed forces has received the first batch of 50 missiles and 20 firing posts of the medium-range Missile Moyen Portee (MMP) missile, MBDA …

• Land Warfare

  GDA 2017: Qatar becomes first VBCI export customer

  7th December 2017

  The French-made VBCI 8x8 armoured vehicle has finally secured an export customer in Qatar, following a billion-dollar trade deal finalised between France and the Gulf …

• Training

  I/ITSEC 2017: French Navy receives custom designed simulators

  3rd December 2017

  Antycip Simulation and Naval Group have provided upgraded ship defence simulators to the French Navy after eighteen months of 3D content creation and a year …

• Digital Battlespace

  Active digital map contract for Airbus D&S team

  27th November 2017

  A team led by Airbus Defence and Space has received a ten-year contract from the French Armament Procurement Agency for the production of the SI …

• Defence Notes

  Analysis: China’s AI revolution threatens US

  12th December 2017

  A new report from the Washington-based Center for a New American Security raised the alert level of the US defence community over China’s rise as …

• Training

  I/ITSEC 2017: Israel conducts Blue Flag exercise

  28th November 2017

  In what was claimed to be the Israeli Air Force’s (IAF) largest ever live air training event, the nation hosted aircraft from seven air forces …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - MALE

  Bayraktar TB2 [Mali]

  Programme Background Six Drones On 22 December 2022, Joseph Dempsey, a research associate at IISS, tweeted photographs showing a Baytraktar TB2 adorned with the Malian ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  EBRC Jaguar [Luxembourg]

  Background Luxembourg currently operates a small military of just over 1,000 personnel. Despite its small size, Luxembourg has contributed troops to both NATO and EU missions in ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  VBMR-L Serval [Luxembourg]

  Background Luxembourg currently operates a small military of just over 1,000 personnel. Despite its small size, Luxembourg has contributed troops to both NATO and EU missions in ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  VBMR Griffon [Luxembourg]

  Background Luxembourg currently operates a small military of just over 1,000 personnel. Despite its small size, Luxembourg has contributed troops to both NATO and EU missions in ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Akinci [Mali]

  Background Presentation In December 2024, Akinci drones were presented to the Malian Armed Forces by transitional President General Assimi Goita during a ceremony in Bamako, confirming ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  Mi-171Sh [Burkina Faso]

  While the Burkinabe Armed Forces declined to discuss the deal when contacted by Shephard, a Burkinabe military source did acknowledge that the aircraft were being ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Surplus Maxxpro [Bangladesh - Batch 1]

  Programme Background The Bangladesh Army requires MRAPs to provide protected mobility to its troops deployed on UN peacekeeping missions in Mali and the Central African ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Surplus Maxxpro [Bangladesh - Batch 2]

  Programme Background The Bangladesh Army requires MRAPs to provide protected mobility to its troops deployed on UN peacekeeping missions in Mali and the Central African ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  UN Peacekeeping Vehicles [Bangladesh]

  Programme Background The Bangladesh Army requires 4x4 armoured vehicles to provide protected mobility to its troops deployed on UN peacekeeping missions in Mali and the ...

• Medium UGVs

  THeMIS [Netherlands and Estonia]

  Background The Estonian Armed Forces had already been operating the THeMIS UGV in Mali for a year at the time the programme was announced in ...

• Medium UGVs

  THeMIS [Sweden]

  Programme Background Many countries have been acquiring small numbers of Milrem's THeMIS UGV since its success in the hands of Estonian Forces in Mali. The ...

• Self-propelled guns

  Caesar [France]

  Background France first procured the Caesar in 2004, when it ordered 72 vehicles. These were subsequently delivered by 2008. In July 2022, France ordered a ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  Anaconda replacement [Netherlands]

  Background The Netherlands procured the Anaconda to serve as a patrol vehicle for the Netherlands Marine Corps in the Dutch Caribbean. This role was previously filled ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  VBCI Replacement [France]

  Background The VBCI is currently France's primary IFV. As an 8x8 wheel vehicle, it fits within a French force structure that favours agile, manoeuvrable vehicles ...

• Minehunters

  Mine Warfare Vessels [France]

  Programme Background Requirements France’s Mine Warfare Vessels programme is aimed at replacing the ageing Eridan-class minehunters. The programme will follow the Future Naval Mine Action System ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Air: mission management systems

  FINDSAT - BFT System

  Using geo-satellite positioning, Nexter’s BFT system (FINDSAT) is capable of identifying and locating friendly personnel who are not equipped with networked information or radio systems. ...

• Medium UGVs

  THeMIS

  Milrem's Tracked Hybrid Modular Infantry System (THeMIS) is a modular, hybrid UGV.  The vehicle's modular design and open architecture allow it to be reconfigured to ...

• Land: indirect fire location radar

  GA10

  The Ground Alerter 10 (GA10), developed by Thales, is a portable Counter-Rocket, Artillery, and Mortar (C-RAM) early warning system. It provides 360° azimuth coverage with ...

• Air-to-surface missiles

  HOT 3

  Designed to destroy reactive armour, the HOT (Haut subsonique Optiquement Téléguidé Tiré d'un Tube, or High Subsonic, Optical, Remote-Guided, Tube-Launched) family has demonstrated its multipurpose capability. Tens ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  Mi-8/Mi-17

  The Mil Mi-8 (NATO reporting name Hip) is a twin-engine, multirole, medium helicopter developed from 1960 to meet Soviet military requirements. More than 18,000 examples of the ...

• Light UGVs

  Probot

  The 4x4 Professional Robot (Probot) is suitable for various applications, both indoor and outdoor, and is designed to carry a payload of up to 700kg. ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Heron Mk 1

  The Heron, now called the Heron Mk I, is a MALE UAS manufactured by Isreal Aerospace Industries' (IAI) Malat Division. Designed for various missions, including ISTAR and artillery fire ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  AS532

  The AS532 is a development of the SA 330 Puma, with a long fuselage and marketed for tactical transport and logistical support missions. It has ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Puma M36 Mk 5

  OTT developed the Puma M36 Mk 5 to meet the needs of African customers for a lower-cost vehicle that offers a greater payload than its ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  TopOwl

  The TopOwl binocular helmet-mounted sight and display has been chosen by 16 countries for their army, navy and/or air force attack and transport helicopters. It ...

• Land: air defence radar

  Protivnik-GE

  The Protivnik-GE is a mobile 3D surveillance radar distributed by Russian supplier Rosoboronexport and is currently used by the Russian Armed Forces and the Egyptian ...

• Air: Electronic Attack - Jamming

  SPREOS

  Bird Aerosystems’ SPREO is a Directional Infrared Countermeasure (DIRCM) designed to protect rotary and fixed-wing aircraft against incoming infrared (IR) guided surface-to-air and air-to-air missiles. ...

• Frigates

  La Fayette/Kang Ding Class

  The La Fayette-class frigates have a stealthy design and are in service with France and Taiwan, with some variance between the ships on length and ...

• Air-to-air missiles

  9M39 Igla-V

  The 9M39 Igla-V (‘needle’) is a Russian IR homing SAM adapted for helicopter use. It is an air-launched version of the Igla MANPADS, which the ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Storm

  The Storm is a light APC based on the Toyota Land Cruiser 79 commercial SUV developed by Qatari armoured vehicle manufacturer Stark Motors.  The Storm ...