• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Airbus outlines unmanned strategies

  12th April 2018

  As drones become more commonplace Airbus is continuing to explore the use of unmanned technologies throughout a variety of different applications. During the Commercial UAV …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  European UAS airspace integration on the horizon

  11th April 2018

  As the European transport commissioner pushes for a more open drone market in the continent, the SESAR Joint Undertaking (SJU) will begin implementing its U-Space …

• Defence Helicopter

  Heavy-lift of hope for German helicopter market

  23rd March 2018

  As political stability returns to Germany with Angela Merkel returning as chancellor for her fourth term, upcoming defence procurement decisions for the nation’s heavy-lift programme …

• Defence Helicopter

  MD Helicopters sets ambitious timeline for international orders

  19th March 2018

  With the 6XX delayed due to certification hold ups, despite ambitions of that happening last year, MD Helicopters has set itself a tight schedule to deliver …

• Defence Helicopter

  Heli-Expo 2018: Malaysian MD 530G deliveries imminent (video)

  1st March 2018

  Deliveries of the first MD 530G attack helicopters to the Malaysian Army are set to begin in June, with all six units on order to …

• Defence Helicopter

  Heli-Expo 2018: MD softly, softly on 6XX

  28th February 2018

  Despite an aggressive timeline for MD Helicopters' 6XX attack helicopter to be market-ready this year, certification delays have hindered this process with the aircraft now …

• Digital Battlespace

  SCTX 2018: MoD to flight test Elbit’s Spectro XR

  8th March 2018

  Flight trials of Elbit System’s advanced electro-optic system, the Spectro XR, are scheduled to be conducted in May 2018 with the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD). …

• Digital Battlespace

  SCTX 2018: Chemring launches radio initiator system, LORIS

  7th March 2018

  Chemring Technology Solutions has launched a new Long-range Radio Initiator System (LORIS) at the Security and Counter Terror Expo (SCTX) in London. LORIS, a high …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  SCTX 2018: Avenger UGV logs first customers

  6th March 2018

  NATO countries Bulgaria and Romania have ordered a number of Avenger UGVs, just a year after Med-Eng unveiled the new system. Six of the platforms …

• Training

  Singapore Airshow 2018: S-92 pilot training begins in Brunei

  30th January 2018

  Offshore oil and gas helicopter support specialists, Thai Aviation Services (TAS), has started Sikorsky S-92 pilot training at the CAE Multi-Purpose Training Centre (MPTC) in …

• Special Operations

  USSOCOM looks to 5G communications

  5th January 2018

  Representatives from USSOCOM are exploring new tactical capabilities that could be provided by the application of so-called fifth generation (5G) mobile networks. One glimpse at these …

• Special Operations

  SOCOM moves from ThunderDrone to Game of Drones

  19th December 2017

  In the aftermath of its recently-completed ThunderDrone Prototype Rodeo, held in early November at the SOFWERX facility in the Ybor City area of Tampa, Florida, …

• Defence Helicopter

  Ukrainian MoD completes heli rocket-firing testing

  12th December 2017

  The Ukrainian MoD has completed a test campaign firing new rockets from its two new transport/combat helicopters types, the Mi-8MSB and Mi-2MSB, which, in turn, …

• Defence Notes

  D&S 2017: UK foresees growth in Asia-Pacific

  6th November 2017

  The Defence and Security Organisation (DSO), under the UK’s Department for International Trade, promoted broader opportunities in defence sales and technology transfers at the Defence …

• Defence Notes

  D&S 2017: Honeywell sees growth in upgrades in ASEAN market

  7th November 2017

  Honeywell sees increased investment in the ASEAN defence market across the board, said Ronald Lopez, Honeywell’s Asia-Pacific Defence senior director of sales and business development, …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Land: air defence radar

  Ground Master 403 Radar [Egypt]

  Background In 2020, Egypt ordered four of France-based Thales Ground Master 403 radars, the mobile member of their GM400 radar family.  At least one of the ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Akinci [Libya]

  Programme Background 2022 Reports In October 2022, various Libyan media outlets reported that the country was eyeing a possible procurement from Baykar, possibly the Akinici ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Bayraktar TB2 [UK]

  Background Rumours In mid-October 2022, Mustafa Varank, Turkey’s minister of industry, revealed to CNN Turk that the UK was interested in Turkish armed drones. The ...

• Loitering munitions

  DELI [Turkey]

  Background 2022 Speaking to Shephard at SAHA Expo 2022, a company spokesperson stated that the platform was expected to enter into service with the Turkish Armed ...

• Transport

  C-130J [Vietnam]

  Programme Background Requirement Vietnam’s interest in acquiring the C-130J reflects a broader effort to modernise its air transport fleet, which was previously dominated by Russian ...

• Military UAS - micro

  Short Range Reconnaissance (SRR) (Tranche 2) / Rucksack Portable UAS (RPUAS) [USA]

  Background The Rucksack Portable UAS (RPUAS) programme The RPUAS programme will provide the battalion and below-ground manoeuvre elements within the US Army with an organic, ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Bayraktar TB2 (Aid & Discounted Units) [Ukraine]

  Programme Background Pre Invasion Units The Ukrainian Army purchased 12 TB2 units in January 2019 for a reported $69 million. Deliveries began in June 2019, ...

• Submarines: conventional/attack

  Horizon 3 - Submarines Procurement Programme [Philippines]

  Background Requirements The Philippines began its Future Submarine Acquisition back in 2015. The Philippines has no experience in operating submarines, but there is a growing ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• EO/IR systems

  Skybox

  The Skybox allows gimballed camera systems developed for small UAVs to be integrated on the nose of manned helicopters. It accommodates cameras such as DJI’s ...

• EO/IR systems

  Geodetic photomapping and monitoring payload and blind zone cameras

  Heliatica unveiled a geodetic mapping and monitoring payload with Geoscan at Heli-Expo 2017. The system is designed to fit two Sony DSC-RX1 (24MP resolution) cameras ...

• Air: mission management systems

  TM-100 Map and Video Management system

  Trakka Systems introduced a new TM-100 Map and Video Management system at HAI Heli-Expo 2017 in Dallas. The augmented reality mapping system with metadata video and audio ...

• Helicopter engines

  RR300

  The RR300 combines new design methodologies with the legacy of the M250 engine to produce a new engine family for the small rotorcraft market. Intended ...

• EO/IR systems

  OWLS

  Observation Wide-area Low-altitude Sensor (OWLS), demonstrated at Heli-Expo 2015, is a two-axis micro gimbal imager that combines a night vision sensor and an image-stabilised enclosure. ...

• Military helicopters - scout/light attack

  6XX

  Publicly unveiled at Heli-Expo in March 2017, the MD Helicopters 6XX is the next evolution in the MD 500 series and is a redesigned, single-engine ...

• Multipurpose missiles

  LAHAT

  The Laser Homing Attack (LAHAT) is an Israeli, semi-active, laser homing guided, low-weight, ATGM. It was designed to be fired from 105mm and 120mm tank guns.

• OPVs

  Uribe/Holzinger Class

  Uribe- and Holzinger-class offshore patrol vessels are similar ships in service with the Mexican Navy. Six Uribe-class ships entered service in 1982-83, but one of ...

• Tiltrotors

  AW609

  The Bell/Agusta BA609 became the first tiltrotor designed for the civilian market to fly in March 2003. In June 2011, Leonardo announced that it had ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  525 Relentless

  Bell Helicopter announced in February 2012 that it was developing the Model 525 Relentless. The aircraft is designed primarily for the oil and gas industry ...

• Land: battle management systems

  FACNAV

  Developed by Teleplan, FACNAV is a battle management system designed for use at the battlegroup level and below. The software suite is designed to interact ...

• Military helicopters - light/training

  Bell 505

  The Bell 505 is a light, single-engine helicopter initially designed for the utility, executive/passenger and law enforcement markets produced by Bell Textron. The Montenegrin Air ...

• Loitering munitions

  Alpagut

  Unveiled at SAHA Expo 2022, the Alpagut is a loitering munition being developed by STM and Roketsan.  It is hoped the platform will be able to ...

• Maritime patrol

  An-148-300MP

  The An-148-300MP is an MPA being developed by Antonov based on its An-148 passenger/cargo jet to meet the requirements of the Ukrainian Naval Forces.  The ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  30 June

  Developed by the Egyptian Ministry of Military Production, the 30 June is a MALE fixed-wing UAV designed for reconnaissance missions.  Additionally, it features an electromagnetic system and ...