• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Airbus VSR700 prototype completes first autonomous free flight

  28th July 2020

  The prototype of the VSR700 UAS has carried out its first free flight, manufacturer Airbus Helicopters announced on 28 July. The geofenced VSR700 performed a ten-minute …

• Defence Notes

  Ukraine aims Javelin and Bayraktar at Donbass rebels

  20th July 2020

  Units of the Ukrainian armed forces located along the border with the separatist Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics will be strengthened by modern US-made FGM-148 …

• Land Warfare

  US Army creates software suite to train robots in underground environments

  5th August 2020

  In order to improve the situational awareness in underground missions, the US Army's Combat Capabilities Development Command Army Research Laboratory (CCDC ARL) has released a …

• Land Warfare

  US Army confirms SRC as E-LIDS provider

  24th July 2020

  SRC is to develop, produce, deploy and support the Expeditionary-Low, Slow, Small Unmanned Aircraft System Integrated Defeat System (E-LIDS) for the US Army. Work under …

• Training

  JP9711-1 clears PDR hurdle

  28th July 2020

  The Australian Department of Defence’s JP9711-1 Core Simulation Capability (CSimC) has taken a major step forward by passing its Preliminary Design Review (PDR).  The CSimC …

• Naval Warfare

  New weapon and radars appear on Beykoz

  24th July 2020

  Shephard has observed a new set of radars and a new gun aboard a Burak class Turkish Navy corvette. The legacy 100mm/55 Mod 68 CADAM …

• Air Warfare

  India tests Dhruvastra helicopter missile

  30th July 2020

  India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) conducted three ground-based tests of its Nag/Helina helicopter-launched missile on 15-16 July in direct and top-attack modes. To …

• Defence Notes

  Edge to acquire 100% control of AMMROC

  23rd July 2020

  Abu Dhabi-based defence conglomerate Edge is to take full control of AMMROC, after agreeing a deal to buy Lockheed Martin’s 40% stake in the aerospace …

• Land Warfare

  First Hizir exports arrive in Africa

  22nd July 2020

  Turkish manufacturer Katmerciler has supplied a batch of 15 Hizir armoured vehicles to its first export customer, following a $20.7 million production order in July …

• Air Warfare

  Leonardo facing up to Kuwaiti Typhoon turbulence

  31st July 2020

  An order from Kuwait for a fleet of 28 Eurofighter Typhoon Tranche 3A fighter jets has suffered from COVID-19 economic complications and left Leonardo to …

• Land Warfare

  US long-range precision strike to encompass 155mm shells

  23rd July 2020

  BAE Systems will continue development of a long-range precision strike capability for the US Army, under a new $33 million contract. In particular, the company …

• Defence Notes

  IDF demands extra funding with Iran in its sights

  6th August 2020

  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is proposing a funding boost for the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), citing ongoing tensions with Iran and its proxies in …

• Air Warfare

  US snaps up would-be Turkish F-35As

  21st July 2020

  Eight F-35A fighter aircraft that were originally destined for Turkey have been ‘repositioned’ for the USAF, under a 20 July DoD contract award to Lockheed …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Allies remonstrated with US on new UAV export policy

  31st July 2020

  A decision by the US government to use national discretion to reinterpret the multinational Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) agreement went against explicit requests from …

• Air Warfare

  Colombian Air Force modernises but future of Kfirs remains unclear

  30th July 2020

  Colombia has concluded the modernisation of its EMB-312 Tucano aircraft; this successful project generally puts the Colombian Air Force (FAC) in good shape as it …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• ISR/special mission

  Pegasus SIGINT Aircraft (1-3) [Germany]

  Programme Background Requirement The Pegasus (Persistent German Airborne Surveillance System) project aims to fulfil a SIGINT capability which has been missing in the German Armed ...

• Fighter - electronic warfare

  Jamming and Escort Electronic Attack Aircraft (luWES) [Germany]

  Programme Background According to earlier reports, Berlin had earlier decided to procure 15 EA-18G Growlers over the Eurofighter Typhoon ECR concept, which is expected to be ...

• ISR/special mission

  Stand-off Jammer Aircraft (luWES) [Germany]

  Programme Background These large stand-off aircraft will be equipped with various EW systems capable of operating from a safe distance from the mission target. A400M ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Tornado Replacement (F-35A) [Germany]

  Programme Background In March 2020, it emerged that the German government was considering  30 F/A-18E/F Super Hornets to replace 45 nuclear-capable Tornados, although contracts have yet ...

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

  Bayraktar TB2 (Pre-War) [Ukraine Army]

  Programme Background The Ukraine Army purchased 12 TB2 units in January 2019 for a reported $69 million. The units were reportedly delivered from June 2019 ...

• Patrol boats

  UNPAV - Angelo Cabrini Class

  The Angelo Cabrini class consists of two high-speed multipurpose patrol boats (UNPAV) intended for the Italian Navy special forces. The vessels were built by Intermarine, ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - small

  Penguin C MIL [Latvia]

  Background Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Development Concept In 2018, the Latvian MoD signed an agreement with Latvian companies UAV Factory and Atlas Aerospace to procure UAVs ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - small

  WanderB or ThunderB [Colombia]

  Programme Background Expodefensa 2019 During Colombia's Expodefensa 2019 exhibition, BlueBird Aero Systems displayed its ThunderB VTOL small UAV. Reportedly, the Colombian Army requested information on ...

• Amphibious assault ships

  TCG Anadolu LHD [Turkey]

  Programme Background TCG Anadolu is a Multipurpose Assault Ship (LHD) built by Sedef in Tuzla for the Turkish Navy. The vessel, which is the single ...

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

  Anka-S (Saudi Arabia)

  Programme Background Desired Procurement Saudi Arabia has reportedly been in negotiations to procure six Anka UAVs since 2013. It has not been disclosed which Anka ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  MiSu 6X6 PMPVs [Finland]

  In June 2019, Protolab announced that the first of the four PMPVs had been delivered to the FDF. According to a company spokesman, deliveries of ...

• Destroyers

  Hobart Class (Sea 4000)

  Programme Background The Hobart-class consists of three air warfare destroyers (AWDs) for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). The ships replaced the Adelaide-class frigates. Built by a ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Stryker (Batch 1) [Thailand]

  Programme Background According to reports from Thai and US media, the RTA planned to take delivery of 120 Strykers by the end of 2020. These ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - small

  Nauru 1000C [Brazil]

  Background Contract award The Logistics Command (COLOG) of the Brazilian Army purchased three Nauru 1000C UAVs, training, 36-month integrated logistics support, two EO/MWIR XSIS 222A gimbals, ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  A400M-France

  Airbus formally delivered the first production A400M to the French Air Force in August 2013. The French Air Force took delivery of its 15th A400M ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Naval: COMINT and ELINT systems

  SEWS-DV

  The Shipborne EW Suite (SEWS-DV) combines the C-Pearl-DV ESM and Digital Shark ECM subsystems. SEWS-DV is based on digital receivers and digital technique generators, designed ...

• Naval: COMINT and ELINT systems

  Naval RESM-CESM

  Rohde and Schwarz Radar Electronic Support Measures (RESM) and Communications Electronic Support Measures (CESM) are passive electromagnetic sensor systems. It monitors and performs direction finding ...

• Frigates

  HCX-19

  The HCX-19 concept vessel was first revealed by Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) at MADEX 2019, standing for Hyundai Combatant eXperimental 2019. It was created to ...

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

  Odysseus

  The Aurora Flight Sciences Odysseus fixed-wing UAV is a solar-powered, pseudo-satellite platform, which is designed to remain on station in the stratosphere for months at ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

  Super Swift

  The Super Swift series by ST Engineering is designed for homeland security as a range of ultra-high speed, fast patrol boats first revealed in May ...

• Naval guns

  Gökdeniz

  Gökdeniz, also known as Korkut-D, is a 35mm Close-In Weapon System (CIWS) developed by Turkish Aselsan. It was unveiled for the first time at IDEF ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Aselsan 9681 V/UHF

  Aselsan 9681 V/UHF is a software-defined radio with frequency hopping and encryption capabilities. Designed for air platforms, it has been in service with the Turkish ...

• UAS: flight control systems

  Piccolo Elite

  Produced by Collins Aerospace, the Piccolo Elite is an autopilot architecture solution for advanced UAS applications. Unveiled in 2019, it is provided in five configurations ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  ADVENT

  Havelsan ADVENT is a naval combat management system (CMS) that focuses on fleet-wide communications, building on Havelsan's previous experience providing CMS capability to surface vessels. ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Su-57

  The Su-57, previously known also as the T-50, is a fifth-generation single-seat stealth multirole fighter developed under the Russian PAK FA (Future Air Complex for ...

• Laser-directed energy weapons

  Megawatt-Scale LDEW (nLIGHT)

  nLIGHT's megawatt-scale laser weapon is currently under development as a part of the United States High Energy Laser Scaling Initiative (HELSI). The high-energy laser (HEL) has ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  Bell 412EPX

  The Bell 412EPX is a utility helicopter manufactured by Subaru. This platform improves upon the UH-1J/412-series helicopters. It has enhanced safety, performance, visibility, maintainability and ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Ajban 447A

  The Ajban 447A is a seven-crew military tactical vehicle featuring a configurable armoured cabin designed for different missions, including tactical response, border patrol, reconnaissance, COIN ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - HALE

  GJ-11 Sharp Sword

  The Hongdu Aviation Industry Group (HAIG) developed the GJ-11 Sharp Sword, a stealth reconnaissance and strike UAS.  First displayed during an October 2019 parade, evidence ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  CMS (Vikrant-Class)

  The Combat Management System abroad INS Vikrant is developed by TATA Power's Strategic Engineering Division, the Indian MoD's Weapon and Electonic System Engineering Establishment and ...