• Defence Notes

  Zhuhai 2016: Mysterious J-20 sneaks in…and out

  1st November 2016

  China’s fifth-generation J-20 stealth fighter made a cameo appearance during the 11th Zhuhai Air Show in China, this being its first public foray anywhere in …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  AeroVironment receives Dutch UAV order

  1st November 2016

  AeroVironment will provide the Netherlands Ministry of Defence with small UAS, upgrades and support services under a contract announced on 31 October. The contract will …

• Defence Notes

  Indo Defence 2016: What to expect in Indonesia (video)

  1st November 2016

  On the eve of Indonesia's premiere defence show, Indo Defence 2016, land warfare editor Tim Fish runs through some of the country's key military programmes …

• Defence Helicopter

  Analysis: Polish Navy’s ASW and SAR in jeopardy

  1st November 2016

  The Polish Naval Aviation service fell into a difficult situation following the Polish government’s end of H225M contract talks with Airbus Helicopters on 5 October …

• Defence Helicopter

  Zhuhai 2016: Armed Z-11WB makes debut

  1st November 2016

  Even though it achieved its maiden flight back in September 2015, Changhe Aircraft Industries Corporation (CAIC) displayed its Z-11WB light helicopter to the public for …

• Military Logistics

  New IMX facility for US Army ammo plant

  31st October 2016

  BAE Systems has been awarded a $146.5 million contract modification from the US Army to build and commission a new facility to increase the production …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Zhuhai 2016: China reveals Cloud Shadow UAV for export

  31st October 2016

  The Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) unveiled the first high-altitude, high-speed fixed-wing UAV available for export by China at the 11th Zhuhai Air Show, …

• Defence Helicopter

  Peru to get helicopter training centre

  31st October 2016

  Russian Helicopters announced on 27 October that it will build and equip a helicopter training centre for the land forces of Peru. The training facility …

• Defence Helicopter

  Zhuhai 2016: China unveils new unmanned rotorcraft

  31st October 2016

  The Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) unveiled its AV500W unmanned helicopter at the 11th Zhuhai Air Show, being held this week in southern China …

• Military Logistics

  USMC squadron looks to 3D printing

  28th October 2016

  The US Marine Corps (USMC) is exploring the potential benefits of using 3-D printing in the field, to test out how the technology can improve …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Israeli Heron UAS conduct naval patrols

  28th October 2016

  Israeli Air Force Heron 1 UAS have begun conducting naval patrols in response to an operational need to improve border protection in the country. The …

• Land Warfare

  Indo Defence 2016: Indonesian marines build up

  28th October 2016

  New tropicalised variants of the BTR-4M 8x8 armoured vehicles are due to be received this year by the Indonesian Marine Corp (Korps Marinir) from Ukraine.  …

• Defence Helicopter

  Zhuhai 2016: China comes out fighting?

  28th October 2016

  The 11th Zhuhai Air Show, 1-6 November, will showcase the newest aerial weaponry available not just to the Chinese military, but for export to an …

• Land Warfare

  Malaysia inaugurates counterterrorism unit

  27th October 2016

  Malaysia launched a new special operations unit – the National Special Operations Force (NSOF) – on 27 October. It will be the prime response unit …

• Military Logistics

  Cobham to develop MV-22B refuelling system

  27th October 2016

  Cobham has been awarded a contract to develop a palletised aerial refuelling system to enable the US Marine Corps (USMC) MV-22B Osprey to refuel other …

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 ...