• Defence Notes

  Israel uses new F-35 stealth fighters in combat

  22nd May 2018

  The Israeli military has used its newly acquired F-35 stealth fighters in combat, making it the world's first to do so, an Israeli Air Force (IAF) …

• Training

  ITEC 2018: UK CATT support contract for LMCO

  16th May 2018

  Lockheed Martin has signed a contract with the UK Ministry of Defence for the continued operation, maintenance and technical support for the British Army’s Combined …

• Military Logistics

  UK requests support for MQ-9 Reapers

  9th April 2018

  The US State Department has made a determination approving a potential foreign military sale of follow-on support for the MQ-9 Reaper UAS programme, the Defense …

• Land Warfare

  DSA 2018: Rapid Ranger rides into Malaysia

  20th April 2018

  Thales, in conjunction with local partner Global Komited (a Weststar subsidiary), exhibited a Starstreak very short-range air defence system mounted on a URO Vamtac 4x4 vehicle at …

• Defence Notes

  Saudi air defences intercept two missiles over Riyadh

  9th May 2018

  Saudi Arabia's air defences intercepted two ballistic missiles over the capital Riyadh on Wednesday, state television Al-Ekhbariya said. Two explosions were heard in the city, …

• Naval Warfare

  Thomas Hudner completes acceptance trials

  8th May 2018

  The US Navy has successfully completed acceptance trials of its 36th Arleigh Burke destroyer, the future USS Thomas Hudner, NAVSEA announced on 4 May. The …

• Defence Helicopter

  PLA Navy shows off modified Z-9Ds in missile drills

  18th May 2018

  Recent imagery released by the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) shows three of its Z-9D anti-surface warfare (ASuW) helicopters firing YJ-9 anti-ship missiles against a …

• Defence Notes

  Russia shows off military hardware in Red Square parade

  9th May 2018

  Russia rolled out its latest military hardware on Moscow's Red Square on Wednesday for the annual parade to mark Soviet victory over Nazi Germany as …

• Land Warfare

  DefExpo 2018: MBDA unveils ATGM5 for Indian requirement

  13th April 2018

  A joint venture between European missile house MBDA and the Indian company Larsen & Toubro (L&T;) unveiled the ATGM5 missile system at the DefExpo 2018 …

• Defence Helicopter

  India issues Ka-226T RfP, scorns competitive process

  18th May 2018

  India’s MoD issued an RfP earlier in May for the 200 Kamov Ka-226T helicopters that it plans to buy to replace geriatric light utility platforms …

• Defence Notes

  US jets intercept Russian bombers off Alaskan coast

  12th May 2018

  US fighter jets intercepted two long-range Russian 'Bear' bombers in international airspace off western Alaska, the North American Aerospace Defense Command said 12 May. The …

• Training

  ITEC 2018: LVC on the rise (video)

  9th May 2018

  The military training and simulation market is increasingly opening itself up to live, virtual and constructive (LVC) architecture. The model is associated with providing defence …

• Defence Notes

  US to work with allies after Iran pullout

  9th May 2018

  The US will keep working with allies to prevent a nuclear Iran, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said on 9 May, a day after President Donald …

• Military Logistics

  China’s Y-20 conducts air delivery training

  10th May 2018

  China’s People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) has carried out airborne and air delivery training with the Y-20 heavy transport aircraft, China’s Ministry of National …

• Training

  RNZAF receives first KA350 for training

  11th May 2018

  The first of four leased King Air KA350 aircraft has been certified for use by the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF), the New Zealand …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  A330 MRTT (1-9) [NATO]

  Programme Background Following operations in Libya and extensive analyses by the European Defence Agency (EDA), it was agreed at the NATO Summit in 2012 that ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  A330 MRTT Follow-On (NATO)

  Following operations in Libya and extensive analyses by the European Defence Agency (EDA), it was agreed at the NATO Summit in 2012 that the EDA ...

• Military helicopters - maritime

  MH-60R Seahawks [Norway]

  Programme Background NH90 NFH cancellation  The Norwegian government announced the termination of the NH90 NFH helicopter contract for 14 NH90s with NHIndustries in June 2022. Seahawk Acquisition ...

• Tanks

  New MBT [Romania]

  Programme Background Requirement The Romanian Army's MBT fleet is composed of T-55 variants that are due to be retired in the mid-2020s. Although Romania's TR-85 ...

• Tanks

  M1A2 Abrams SEPv3 [Romania]

  Programme Background Requirement The Romanian Army's MBT fleet is composed of T-55 variants that are due to be retired in the mid-2020s. Although Romania's TR-85 ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  EU Next Generation Rotorcraft Technologies Project (ENGRT) - (Greece)

  Programme Background EU Next Generation Rotorcraft Technologies Project (ENGRT) EU Next Generation Rotorcraft Technologies Project (ENGRT) was announced in early 2022 and the project contract was awarded ...

• Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  UAV Tactical Level [Norway]

  Programme Background Request for Information (RfI) In September 2022, the Norwegian Defence Material Agency (NDMA) launched a request for information in preparation for a possible ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  EU Next Generation Rotorcraft Technologies Project (ENGRT) - (Italy)

  Programme Background EU Next Generation Rotorcraft Technologies Project (ENGRT) EU Next Generation Rotorcraft Technologies Project (ENGRT) was announced in early 2022 and the project contract was awarded ...

• Maritime patrol

  MAWS/PATMAR [France]

  Programme Background In 2017, Germany and France announced that they would be working towards developing an MPA to replace their current fleets in service. The ...

• Tanks

  Leopard 2A8 [Netherlands]

  Programme Background Bidders and Suppliers The Leopard 2A8, the latest in the Leopard family, was selected by the Royal Dutch Army as per announcements in ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  Bayraktar TB2 [Kuwait]

  Background Contract Award On 18 January 2023, Baykar announced signing a $370 million export contract with Kuwait for the Bayraktar TB2. According to the announcement, ...

• Military UAS - HALE

  MQ-4C Triton - Germany (Cancelled)

  Programme Background Germany requested to buy four MQ-4C Triton HALE UAVs from Northrop Grumman. On 5 April 2018, the US State Department announced that it ...

• Corvettes

  European Patrol Corvette (EPC) [France]

  Programme Background Requirements The European Patrol Corvette (EPC) is one of the new PESCO (Permanent Structured Cooperation on Defence and Security) projects. PESCO was established ...

• AEW&C

  Alliance Future Surveillance and Control (1-6) [NATO]

  Programme Background NATO’s E-3A AWACS fleet is set to retire in 2035, after 50 years of service. To plan for the required follow-on capability, NATO's ...

• Corvettes

  European Patrol Corvette (EPC) [Italy]

  Programme Background Requirements The 2021-2023 Documento Programmatico Pluriennale (DPP) - a multi-year defence planning document from the Italian MoD - includes a plan to acquire eight "Patrol Ships", ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Land: air defence radar

  APIS

  APIS is a passive high-resolution primary radar system developed by Indra. It is the first passive system in the world capable of offering images using ...

• Uncrewed aerial systems engines

  AE50R

  The AE50R is an aviation gasoline single rotary engine with an output of 40.4kW. The engine is certified according to European Aviation Safety Agency Part ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  LOTUS

  The LOTUS, Low Observable Tactical Unnamed System, is a tactical UAV especially designed for border patrol ISR operations.  The development of the project is funded by ...

• Surface-to-air missiles

  Mistral 3

  The Mistral 3 is the latest member of the Mistral family of very short-range surface-to-air missiles. It entered service in 2018 and has been chosen ...

• Helicopter engines

  Arriel 2H

  Safran Helicopter Engines received European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) engine type certification for its Arriel 2H engine, installed in the Avicopter AC312E, in April 2018. ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  AR5

  First announced in October 2012, the AR5 is a MALE UAS designed for SAR, surveillance and maritime patrol missions. The AR5 can be flown manually or commanded ...

• Trainer

  Gabriel-TP

  Gabriel-TP is a low-wing, two-seat tandem trainer aircraft aimed at both military and civilian customers. It is certified by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) in ...

• Air: NVGs

  PNL-3M Orlik

  PNL-3M are high-performance, lightweight, passive stereoscopic NVGs for helicopter crew members. Certification by European Aviation Safety Agency also enables civilian use. The device can be ...

• Loitering munitions

  Akeron RCH 170

  Unveiled in April 2025, the Akeron RCH 170 is a fixed-wing loitering munition from MBDA. Similar in design to the Switchblade 300, the catapult launched system ...

• Air: Integrated cockpit systems

  Standard 3

  Jointly developed by ATR and Thales, The Standard 3 avionics suite has been specifically designed for ATR-600 aircraft. It offers the pilot user-friendly interface, along ...

• Loitering munitions

  Akeron RCX 50

  Unveiled in April 2025, the Akeron RCX 50 is a rotary-wing loitering munition from MBDA.  According to reports, the RCX 50 is designed to support ...

• Counter-UAS systems

  DroneGun

  DroneGun enables controlled management of an adversarial UAS, causing no damage to the UAV or surrounding area. It either forces the drone to perform a ...

• Military - USVs

  NOMARS

  The No Manning Required Ship (NOMARS) is a US Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) effort to develop a first-of-its-kind large uncrewed surface vessel.

• Uncrewed aerial systems engines

  Trident 100TD2

  The Trident 100TD2 is a compression-ignition engine that is capable of operating on various types of heavy fuel. It is claimed to offer up to ...

• Space: radar systems

  ESA Sentinel-1

  Sentinel-1 is a planned constellation of four satellites with two already in orbit and two on order. They carry a payload of a C-band SAR ...