• Defence Notes

  Moscow to order more Su-57 and MiG-35 fighters

  24th January 2019

  The Russian MoD is set to place the first significant order for production-standard Su-57 fifth-generation fighters in 2020; however, this year the Russian Air and Space …

• Land Warfare

  Insight: Will small arms ever reach Indian Army hands?

  26th January 2019

  It is quite incredible how much difficulty the Indian Army is having in obtaining new small arms to replace the likes of the INSAS assault …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  British Army calls for speedy adoption of manned-unmanned teaming

  13th December 2018

  For the British Army the future is autonomous, and manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) will be the starting point for this in 2019.  This is according to …

• Defence Helicopter

  Japan’s UH-X achieves maiden flight

  7th January 2019

  A prototype of the UH-X medium multipurpose helicopter, slated to equip the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF), successfully completed its maiden flight in Japan in …

• Training

  First production M-345 aircraft performs maiden flight

  4th January 2019

  Leonardo’s first production M-345 High Efficiency Trainer (HET) aircraft successfully performed its maiden flight at Venegono Superiore airport in Varese, Italy, on 21 December. The …

• Land Warfare

  Raytheon to produce Patriot for Sweden

  4th January 2019

  Raytheon received a contract from the US Army in December to produce Patriot Integrated Air and Missile Defense Systems for Sweden.   The $692.9 million …

• Defence Helicopter

  Inzpire completes GECO deliveries for UK MoD for CSAT

  20th December 2018

  Inzpire Limited has completed delivery of its GECO military air mission support system for the UK Ministry of Defence’s (MoD's) Apache, Chinook, Merlin and Bell …

• Land Warfare

  Russia delivers on Vietnam and Laos tanks

  20th December 2018

  Russia is delivering T-90S and T-72B1 tanks to Vietnam and Laos respectively, fulfilling recent contracts placed by the Southeast Asian countries. The first batch from …

• Land Warfare

  Turkey requests Patriot missile system

  24th December 2018

  The US State Department has made a determination approving a potential foreign military sale of Patriot MIM-104E guidance enhanced missiles (GEM-T) and PAC-3 missile segment …

• Land Warfare

  Philippines selects SPYDER for GBAD

  2nd January 2019

  The Philippine Air Force (PAF) is believed to have selected Rafael’s Surface-to-air PYthon and DERby (SPYDER) system for its ground-based air defence requirement under Horizon …

• Defence Helicopter

  UK MoD set to amend Apache AH Mk 1 contract

  12th December 2018

  The Apache delivery team, part of the UK MoD, is preparing to change an Apache AH Mk 1 integrated operational support (IOS) pricing period contract held …

• Land Warfare

  Insight: US continues to court Turkey over air defence

  4th January 2019

  Turkey kicks off 2019 facing a geopolitically defining issue with the choice between two air defence systems, one from Russia and one from the USA. …

• Naval Warfare

  Thai frigate delivered in South Korea

  18th December 2018

  Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) handed over a 3,650t frigate to the Royal Thai Navy (RTN) in a ceremony at its Okpo-Dong Shipyard, Busan …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Skeldar's R-350 demonstrates MUM-T success

  20th November 2018

  UMS Skeldar and partner ESG have recently carried out a number of joint manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) demonstrations involving the 150kg R-350 for the German armed forces …

• Defence Helicopter

  Egypt requests AH-64E helicopter FMS

  30th November 2018

  The US government has made a determination approving a potential foreign military sale of ten AH-64E Apache attack helicopters to Egypt, the Defense Security Cooperation …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - small

  Adaptable Aerial Platforms (AAP) [South Korea]

  Programme Background KF-21 Boramae Crewed Fighter The Republic of Korea's Air Force (ROKAF) plans to acquire the KF-21 Boramae fighter, replacing F-4E Phantom II and ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  T129B [Philippines]

  Programme Background On 31 August 2019, it was announced that the Philippines National Defence Acquisition Decision Memorandum continues with the T-129 procurement. However, on 30 April ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  KF-21 Loyal Wingman [South Korea]

  Background KF-21 Boramae Crewed Fighter The Republic of Korea’s Air Force (ROKAF) plans to acquire the KF-21 Boramae fighter, replacing F-4E Phantom II and F-5E/F fighters in the ROKAF. ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  AH-64E Apache (Follow-On) [Morocco]

  Background Initial FMS request Morocco placed a request in 2019 with the US government for AH-64E Apache attack helicopters. On 20 November 2019, it was ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  Embarked VTOL UAV [South Korea]

  Background VTOL Development In January 2024, South Korea's Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) announced that it would commence development of a VTOL-capable rotary-wing UAV to be ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  Project Land 4503 [Australia]

  Programme Background The Australian Army has begun its search for a successor to the Tiger Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter (ARH), with an RfI issued by the ...

• Trainer

  Hawk 127 Replacement (Future Lead-In Fighter Training System- Project Air 6002 PH1) [Australia]

  Programme Background Requirements The RAAF is seeking a future solution that provides a ‘relevant, adaptable, affordable and safe LIFTS out to 2050’ for training pilots ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  AH-64E Apache [Morocco]

  Background Initial FMS request Morocco placed a request in 2019 with the US government for AH-64E Apache attack helicopters. On 20 November 2019, it was ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  AH-64E Apache [UK]

  Background According to the MoD, to further ‘guarantee value for money’ systems from the current Apache fleet such as the Modernised Target Acquisition & Designation ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  AH-64E Apache add on [Israel]

  Background Capability gap Before 7 October 2023, the Israeli MoD was planning to decommission a portion of its AH-64 fleet due to age, but changed ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  AH-64E Apache (Indian Air Force)

  Programme Background The Indian Army was originally granted co-ownership of the 22 Apaches by the Indian MoD. However, the IAF refused to cede them to ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  AH-64E Apache [Israel]

  Background Capability gap Before 7 October 2023, the Israeli MoD was planning to decommission a portion of its AH-64 fleet due to age, but changed ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  Camcopter S-300 [South Korea]

  Programme Background Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) On 18 January 2023, Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with Northop Grumman at a ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  Kruk / AH-64E Apache [Poland]

  Background Requirement history In May 2019, Wojciech Skurkiewicz, the Polish deputy defence, released some details on the helicopter programme. Part of Poland's broader defence modernisation plan, ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  AH-64E Apache [South Korea]

  Programme Background Requirement South Korea saught to replace its ageing Bell AH-1F/S Cobra fleet with modern alternatives, almost certainly the AH-64E, although the ROKA originally proposed to ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Loitering munitions, Military UAS - mini

  MUM-T

  The Military Unmanned Teaming (MUM-T) is a UAS in development by Korean Aerospace Industries. Showcased at Seoul ADEX 2021, the MUM-T can be launched from the ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  T-022 Vortex

  Announced in June 2026, the T-022 Vortex, developed by UK-based MGI Engineering, is a high-speed Autonomous Collaborative Combat Aircraft (ACCA). It is a fixed-wing UAV ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Demogorgon

  In late October 2021, the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) awarded Kratos Unnamed Systems Division an initial $17.68 million 12-month cost-plus-fixed-fee contract to develop an Off-Board Sensing ...

• Loitering munitions

  Air Launched Effect (ALE)

  The Air-Launched Effect (ALE) is an in-development uncrewed platform from Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI). Shown at IDEX 2023, it is set to come in two variants, one ...

• Military UAS - HALE

  Arrow

  The Arrow is a supersonic prototype UAV developed by Singapore-based Kelley Aerospace. According to the manufacturer, the 16.8t prototype will be operated as a conventional UAV, ...

• Military UAS - HALE

  Uncrewed Checkmate

  At the Dubai Airshow 2021, United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), the parent company of Checkmate manufacturer Sukhoi Design Bureau, announced its intention to manufacture an uncrewed version of ...

• Military UAS - small

  Koios

  Callen-Lenz manufactures the Koios, a small UAS that is available in VTOL and non-VTOL variants.  Designed for the civil and military market, as standard, the ...

• Military UAS - HALE

  Defender

  The Defender is a jet-powered uncrewed escort aircraft built by GA-ASI. The primary goal of the UAV is to protect high-value airborne assets, such as refuelling ...

• Land: handheld NV devices, Land: handheld day observation/surveillance and targeting systems, Weapon sights for night use (image intensifiers)

  MUM-14

  The Multi-Use Mini-Monocular (MUM-14) is a modular, passive NVD designed to maintain situation awareness in a range of low-light conditions, utilising a single Gen III ...

• Data links

  Micro TMA

  Thales Micro TMA is a high-rate datalink designed for uncrewed platforms and video streaming applications from aircraft. It provides command and control functions as well ...

• Light UGVs

  X Series

  The X Series is a family of UGVs developed by the UK's DCE. Utilising a modular design, the X Series can be configured for a ...

• Loitering munitions

  Mighty Hornet IV

  Unveiled in September 2025, the Mighty Hornet IV is a development of the MQM-178 target drone designed for attack missions. Kratos and the National Chung-Shan Institute ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  MUCCA

  Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) is developing the MUCCA, a medium cooperative uncrewed fighter to potentially operate alongside the Republic of Korea Air Force's (ROKAF) KF-21 ...

• Heavy UGVs

  Havoc 8x8 RCV

  The Havoc 8x8 Robotic Combat Vehicle (RCV) is a heavy UGV currently being developed by Milrem. It is expected to enter production in 2028 or ...

• Military helicopters - scout/light attack

  Light Armed Helicopter

  The South Korean government selected Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) in July 2014 to develop the Light Armed Helicopter (LAH) and the related Light Civil Helicopter ...