• Special Operations

  International interest spreads in C-130J-SOF variant

  15th August 2017

  Lockheed Martin’s proposed C-130J-SOF export variant will be tailored to different international operators’ requirements as interest in the type grows worldwide. According to Lockheed Martin, …

• Land Warfare

  Russia shows T-90M, T-80BVM in action

  22nd September 2017

  Russian Land Forces put their new T-90M and upgraded T-80BVM MBTs through their paces at this year's Zapad military exercise, which has just concluded. Both …

• Digital Battlespace

  Persistent radios for US Army WMD teams

  18th September 2017

  Persistent Systems will supply more than 950 MPU5 radios to the US Army National Guard's Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support Teams (WMD-CSTs) under a …

• Digital Battlespace

  PacStar wins NOTM contract

  15th September 2017

  PacStar has received a $10 million contract to provide PacStar 400-series networking and communications products to the US Marine Corps, the company announced on 12 …

• Digital Battlespace

  BAE Systems’ LiteHUD takes first flight

  15th September 2017

  BAE Systems' LiteHUD head-up display has achieved a significant milestone with the completion of its first flight, the company announced on 12 September. The flight …

• Defence Helicopter

  29th CAB receives CH-47F helicopters

  14th September 2017

  The US Army’s 29th Combat Aviation Brigade (CAB) unit in Iraq has received new CH-47F Chinook helicopters. The incoming CH-47Fs are the first in a …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  DSEI 2017: Delft Dynamics displays DroneCatcher

  14th September 2017

  Dutch company Delft Dynamics displayed its new DroneCatcher counter UAS system for the first time at DSEI 2017. First unveiled on 8 September by the Netherlands …

• Defence Helicopter

  DSEI 2017: FVL ready for flight (video)

  14th September 2017

  The FVL technology demonstrator aircraft being built for the US Army's Joint Multi-Role (JMR) programme are both progressing, although Bell Helicopter's V-280 Valor is now …

• Digital Battlespace

  DSEI 2017: UK Dragonfire aims to the future (video)

  12th September 2017

  Earlier this year, the UK MoD awarded a contract to an industrial consortium of companies to develop laser technology for directed energy weapons. Shephard talks through …

• Naval Warfare

  HMS Prince of Wales named

  12th September 2017

  The Royal Navy’s second aircraft carrier has been officially named HMS Prince of Wales on 9 September during a ceremony in Rosyth, Scotland. The naming …

• Special Operations

  DSEI 2017: New parachute safety system unveiled

  12th September 2017

  Airborne Systems North America has unveiled a next-generation safety solution for airborne and special operations forces at DSEI 2017 in London. The company, which designs …

• Land Warfare

  Norinco shows off active protection and new AFVs

  23rd August 2017

  The North Industries Corporation (Norinco), China’s largest manufacturer of armoured vehicles, successfully demonstrated its GL5 active protection system (APS) before more than 200 dignitaries from …

• Military Logistics

  Mobile tank equipment goes military

  21st September 2017

  GOFA, a German supplier of mobile tank equipment, is increasingly targeting the military market, seeing strong potential for intermodal tank containers, the company told Shephard. …

• Defence Notes

  North Korean EMP attack ‘unlikely’

  20th September 2017

  It has been the subject of speculation in novels, news stories and analysis papers for decades. An enemy state uses a nuclear electromagnetic pulse (NEMP) …

• Land Warfare

  Ajax nears delivery to British Army

  19th September 2017

  General Dynamics Land Systems UK (GDUK) is preparing for initial deliveries of the first Ajax variants to the British Army, with government acceptance testing (GAT) …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• ISR/special mission, Maritime patrol

  C295 MPAs/MSAs [Spain]

  Programme Background Required to replace Spain's existing P-3M Orion fleet set to reach OSD in the mid-late 2020s, Airbus' C295W has been selected as the replacement ...

• Loitering munitions

  Deluge (First batch) [France]

  Background Unveiling MBDA unveiled a scale model of the One-Way Effector (OWE), later named the Deluge, at the Paris Air Show 2025. As Breaking Defence reported at the ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  C-390 [Portugal]

  Programme Background Leadership from the Portuguese Air Force and Embraer signed a contract for a sixth C-390, with the option for ten additional aircraft for ...

• Loitering munitions

  Deluge (Additional batches) [France]

  Background Unveiling MBDA unveiled a scale model of the One-Way Effector (OWE), later named the Deluge, at the Paris Air Show 2025. As Breaking Defence reported at the ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  C-390 Options [Portugal]

  Programme Background Leadership from Embraer and the Portuguese Air Force formalised a contract that includes 10 aircraft options that can be utilised by any NATO ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  French MALE UAVs [France]

  Background Requirements The French Ministry of the Armed Forces wishes to develop a French MALE offering comparable to the MQ-9 Reaper, which would, it is hoped, promote ...

• AEW&C

  GlobalEye [France]

  Programme Background Saab and the French Defence Procurement Agency signed an MoU at Paris Air Show 2025 for the firm purchase two GlobalEye aircraft and the ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) [French Air Force]

  Background Rafale F5 companion During a ceremony marking the 60th anniversary of the French Strategic Air Forces (FAS) at Saint-Dizier Air Base in October 2024, France’s Minister of ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  C-390 [Lithuania]

  Programme Background The Lithuanian Armed Forces confirmed the selection of the C-390 as the Air Force's new military transport aircraft during Paris Air Show 2025. ...

• Military UAS - small

  Flexrotor [Phillipines]

  Background Horizon 3 In September 2024, Airbus offered the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) various military equipment, including the Flexrotor, A400M and H225M, to ...

• Loitering munitions

  Larinae: Medium-range loitering munition [France]

  Background Origins French Ministry of Armed Forces spokesperson Hervé Grandjean stated at a press conference in May 2022 that the General Directorate for Armament (DGA) ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  Super Galeb Replacement [Serbia]

  Programme Background Serbia is looking to replace their aged fleet of Super Galeb aircraft from Yugoslavia with a new trainer and light attack aircraft.  According ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  Watchkeeper X (Contracted) [Romania]

  Background 2021 In mid-2021, the Romanian manufacturer Aerostar signed a collaboration with U-TacS to potentially produce the Watchkeeper X in Romania. U-TacS is a joint ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  Watchkeeper X (Uncontracted) [Romania]

  Background 2021 In mid-2021, the Romanian manufacturer Aerostar signed a collaboration with U-TacS to potentially produce the Watchkeeper X in Romania. U-TacS is a joint ...

• Military UAS - small

  Aerosonde Mk 4.7 [Qatar]

  Background Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) At DIMDEX 2016, a QAR 54.7 million ($14.97 million) MoU between the Qatar Armed Forces and the US company Textron Systems for ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Air: Displays

  LAD2008DA

  Produced by Psion DSP, LAD2008DA is a 20"x8" Large Area Display for full-glass cockpit applications. It was showcased during the 2022 Farnborough Air Show and the 2023 ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Wing Loong X

  The Wing Loong X, or WL-X, is a fixed-wing UAV developed by the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC). Debuted at the Paris Air Show ...

• Air: Displays

  RDU-4208 LAD

  ScioTeq RDU-4208 is a 20"x8" Large-Area Display. It features a fully redundant, high-resolution screen with multitouch support. Unveiled in 2022, it was also demonstrated in ...

• Air: aerial targets, Loitering munitions

  Super Simsek

  The Super Simsek (Süper Şimşek) is an improved version of the Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) training drone turned loitering munition.  The drone has reconfigurable payload options ...

• EO/IR systems

  M-19 HD

  The M-19 HD multi-sensor, multispectral, HD observation and targeting payload was unveiled at the Paris Air Show in June 2015. It can incorporate up to ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  Rotary Wing Cargo UAV

  Displayed at Paris Air Show 2023, the Rotary Wing Cargo UAV is a cargo-carrying and ISR drone manufactured by Turkish Aerospace (TAI). Powered by a ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  Orbiter 5

  Unveiled at Paris Air Show 2023, the Orbiter 5 is a fixed-wing UAV from Aeronautics.  The multi-mission drone can host two payloads simultaneously, features autonomous flight and ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Stealth UCAV (nEUROn Successor)

  At the Paris Air Show 2025, Dassault Aviation showcased a stealthy UCAV, the successor of the nEUROn aircraft. A Safran M88 engine will power the ...

• Loitering munitions

  SpyX

  The SpyX is a loitering munition from BlueBird Aero Systems. Unveiled at the Paris Air Show 2023, the munition offers autonomous electro-optical guided attack capabilities and ...

• Loitering munitions

  FWD-LM01

  The FWD-LM01 is a loitering munition unveiled by Flying Wedge Defence & Aerospace at the Paris Air Show 2025. The manufacturer states the drone is built for ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  AeroForce 380

  The AeroForce 380 is a MALE fixed-wing drone. Based on the Milkor 380, it is tailored for maritime surveillance and Coast Guard missions. It can ...

• Military UAS - mini

  Strix 425

  The Strix 425 is a mini fixed-wing drone from EOS Technologie. The hand-launched platform can host a removable VTOL system and multiple payloads.  According to a company ...

• Military UAS - small

  LR2M

  The Long Range and Multi-Missions (LR2M) is a fixed-wing VTOL-capable small UAV from Aeronefs Services. Unveiled at the Paris Air Show 2025, the drone is suited to ...

• Air: COMINT and ELINT systems

  Air Keeper

  Elbit Systems unveiled the Air Keeper, an airborne SIGINT and EW system for aircraft at the Paris Air Show 2015. Already operational, Air Keeper is ...

• Air: Integrated cockpit systems

  HeliSure

  Rockwell Collins HeliSure is a product line of situational awareness solutions for rotary-wing aircraft. It provides glass cockpit capabilities using commercial off-the-shelf equipment that can be ...