• Defence Notes

  Taiwan navy adds two new warships as China tensions grow

  8th November 2018

  Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen vowed 8 November that the island would not ‘concede one step’ in defending itself as she inaugurated two frigates bought from …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Philippine police order 700 UAVs

  23rd October 2018

  The Philippine National Police (PNP) moved towards becoming a major UAS user in the country when it logged an order for approximately 700 units, as …

• Naval Warfare

  AUSA 2018: 30mm ‘Swimmer’ round set for more UK trials

  16th October 2018

  The Royal Navy is expected to carry out more trials of a 30 x 173mm round that can ‘swim’ underwater and is capable of neutralising sub-surface …

• Training

  I/ITSEC 2018: FSI launches new display systems

  21st November 2018

  In what is fast becoming a major trend at I/ITSEC 2018, one more company has launched a hi-res, small-footprint rear-projection display system and Shephard understands …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  China parades stunning array of UAVs at Zhuhai

  14th November 2018

  Military UAVs and UCAVs featured prominently at Airshow China 2018, held in Zhuhai from 6-11 November, and. What follows is a round-up of military UAV …

• Training

  NFTC training device upgrades

  18th October 2018

  Originally signed in May 1998, the Royal Canadian Air Force’s (RCAF) NATO Flying Training in Canada (NFTC) programme has been highly successful and is likely …

• Digital Battlespace

  CHA to support Defense Intelligence Agency

  16th November 2018

  Cape Henry Associates (CHA) has received an 18 month contract worth over $2 million to support the US Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), the company announced …

• Naval Warfare

  Fincantieri lays keel for third PPA

  16th November 2018

  Fincantieri has begun construction of the Italian Navy’s third Multipurpose Patrol Ship (PPA) at its shipyard in Riva Trigoso, Genova, the Organisation for Joint Armament …

• Digital Battlespace

  LIG Nex1 selects Leonardo as technology partner

  12th November 2018

  Leonardo has been selected by South Korea’s LIG Nex1 as a strategic technology partner for prospective identification friend or foe (IFF) work, the company announced …

• Naval Warfare

  BMT to support Thailand’s submarine programme

  19th October 2018

  BMT has received a contract to support the Royal Thai Navy’s (RTN) new Midget submarine programme, the company announced on 17 October. Under the contract, …

• Naval Warfare

  Euronaval 2018: 'Light' boom as Type 31e passes PQQ

  25th October 2018

  Numerous shipbuilders and designers showcased a range of light multirole frigates and corvettes at this year’s Euronaval in Paris as demand for such platforms increases. …

• Naval Warfare

  Zhuhai Air Show 2018: New ballistic anti-ship missile showcased

  12th November 2018

  A new anti-ship missile, yet another from China, impressed with its characteristics at Airshow China 2018. What is more, this CM-401 ballistic missile is available …

• Defence Helicopter

  Black Hawk business unlikely to be undone by Saudi tension

  21st November 2018

  The existing FMS Black Hawk helicopter contracts agreed between Washington and Saudi Arabia will continue to run to schedule, despite the US State Department consulting …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Zhuhai Air Show 2018: Giant UAVs take shape in China

  9th November 2018

  China’s ambitions know no end in the realm of UAVs, it seems, with plans for the world’s largest unmanned aircraft and a large troop/cargo-carrying type …

• Special Operations

  New Malaysian government disbands NSOF

  5th October 2018

  Sources have confirmed that the Malaysian government has disbanded the National Special Operations Force (NSOF) that had only been established on 27 October 2016 as …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Light attack, Trainer

  PC-21 (Project Air 5428) [Australia]

  The new PTS, including aircraft, flight training simulators and learning environments is being acquired from a single capability contractor, Team 21, which consists of Lockheed ...

• Transport, Transport/tanker aircraft

  Project Air 7404 [Australia]

  Programme Background Requirement Australia is thinking ahead to an enlarged transport fleet to replace the current C-130Js. The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) was the second ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-35A (Project Air 6000 Phase 2A/B) [Australia]

  Programme Background The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) took delivery of 18 F-35A aircraft as of March 2020 and the remaining aircraft are expected to ...

• Military UAS - HALE

  MQ-4C Triton (5-6) [Australia]

  Background Four Contracted Units In the summer of 2020, Northrop Grumman announced that the Australian Government provided $333 million for three MQ-4C Tritons and associated GCS. ...

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

  Medium Range Air Defence [Australia]

  Background Faced with a growing threat from China and a vast land and sea territory to protect, Australia is seeking to establish a medium-range ground-based ...

• Patrol boats

  Evolved Cape Class (13-14) [Australia]

  Programme Background Austal was awarded a contract to build six 'Evolved'Cape-class patrol boats for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) on 1 May 2020 (see separate ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) [Australia]

  Background Older Efforts On 23 April 2021, the US State Department's Foreign Military Sales (FMS) approval announcement revealed that Australia had requested to buy up ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Project Air 7003 [Australia]

  Programme Background Requirement The Royal Australian Air Force has been without a UAS capability since the Heron was withdrawn in mid-2017. According to Defence Minister Linda Reynolds, ...

• OPVs

  Arafura Class (Project SEA 1180) (1-6) [Australia]

  Programme Background Australia's new class of Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPV), the Arafura-class, will replace the Royal Australian Navy's (RAN) fleet of Armidale and Cape-class patrol ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  MQ-28 Ghost Bat [Australia]

  Background Goal As stated by the Head of Air Force Capability, Air Vice-Marshal Robert Denney, in March 2022, the Ghost Bat will be an "operational system ...

• Loitering munitions

  Mission Talon Strike [Australia]

  Background Request for Tender (RFT) On 19 May 2025, the Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator (ASCA), an agency aimed at streamlining defence invocation for the Australian Defence ...

• Military UAS - small

  VTOL UAV [New Zealand]

  Background Defence Capability Plan (DCP) In April 2025, the New Zealand government published the DCP, a document that is essentially a blueprint for what procurements ...

• 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 UAS - small

  DEF129 (Tactical UAS) [Australia]

  Programme Background Programme Announcement The Australian Army announced the Project Land 129 Phase 3 programme in 2017. This announcement led to the release of an industry ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Harpii Szpon (Loyal Wingman) [Poland]

  Background Market Evaluation On 6 November 2023, speaking at the IQPC International Fighter Conference (IFC) 2023 in Madrid, Major General Cezary Wiśniewski, the Deputy General Commander of the ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Air: Integrated Defensive Systems

  Air-5416 Project Echidna

  Air-5416 Project Echidna was an initiative launched in 2001 by BAE Systems for the Australian DoD. Its goal was to overhaul the self protection systems ...

• Trainer

  King Air trainer

  Textron / Beechcraft King Air trainers are a family twin-engine aircraft based on King Air 90, 100, 200 and 350 utility aircraft. The King Air ...

• Air: helicopter flight simulators

  Australian Defence Force MRH90 Training

  As prime contractor for the ADF's MRH90 training programme, CAE has provided two MRH90 full-flight mission simulators (FFMS), training facilities and engineering and support services. ...

• Air: air combat simulators

  RAAF Hawk Mk 127 FMS

  Under subcontract to BAE Systems, CAE is designing and manufacturing three Hawk Mk 127 full-mission simulators (FMS) for the Royal Australian Air Force that will ...

• Military UAS - mini

  Wanderer

  The Wanderer is a low-altitude, low-cost, long-endurance UAV produced in-house by the Royal Australian Air Force's (RAAF) Jericho Disruptive Innovation Group and the Australian Government's Defense Science ...

• Light attack

  Hawk 200

  The Hawk 200 is a single-seat light attack iteration of the Hawk 100 (see separate entry) and Advanced Jet Trainer or AJT (see separate entry). ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  MQ-28A Ghost Bat

  The MQ-28A Ghost Bat is a loyal wingman-type, Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA), MALE fixed-wing drone being developed by Boeing Defence Australia. Its development began in ...

• Military - USVs

  Bluebottle

  Bluebottle is a persistent, autonomous, uncrewed surface vessel from Ocius Technology in service with the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF). In ...

• Air: UAV simulators

  Predator Mission Trainer (PMT)

  The CAE Predator Mission Trainer (PMT) is an integrated platform that combines the features of CAE's UAS mission trainer with General Atomics Aeronautical Systems' Predator-specific ...

• Maritime patrol

  Challenger 604

  Bombardier Challenger CL-604 MPAs are in service with the Royal Danish Air Force and the Korea Coast Guard. The first of three Danish aircraft entered ...

• Military UAS - micro

  Phantom 4 (Series)

  Designed for aerial photograph applications by DJI, the Phantom 4 series of UAVs includes the Phantom 4 Pro, Phantom 4 Pro V2.0, Phantom 4 Advanced ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  Hawkei

  Thales Australia developed the 4x4 Hawkei for the Australian Army's Land 121 Phase 4 Protected Mobility Vehicle – Light (PMV-L) project.  The prototype was unveiled in ...

• Air: COMINT and ELINT systems

  AN/ALR-2001

  BAE Systems’ AN/ALR-2001 Electronic Support Measure (ESM) is thought to be based on Israel Aerospace Industries’ (IAI) Elta Systems division’s EL/M-8382 ESM. The AN/ALR-2001 is ...

• Air-to-surface missiles

  AGM-88E AARGM

  The AGM-88E Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile (AARGM) is a supersonic, medium-range, air-launched tactical missile compatible with US and allied strike aircraft. Designed to upgrade the AGM-88 ...

• Military UAS - mini

  M Solar-X

  First revealed in August 2020, in February 2024, at its symposium, the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) showcased the M Solar-X. This solar-powered fixed-wing drone was ...