• Air Warfare

  First SLM F/A-18 delivered to US Navy

  7th February 2020

  The first F/A-18 to undergo the Service Life Modification (SLM) programme has been redelivered to the US Navy by Boeing. The SML is extending the …

• Land Warfare

  Dillon Aero displays new gatling gun

  4th February 2020

  Dillon Aero exhibited its new 503D 12.7x99mm (.50 calibre) three-barrel gatling gun at SHOT Show 2020. The electronically-driven gun (pictured) is derived from the Dillon Aero M134D, …

• Digital Battlespace

  BAE Systems receives new US Navy contract

  4th February 2020

  BAE Systems has been awarded a new contract to support US Navy radio communications, the company announced on 3 February. With a prime position on …

• Naval Warfare

  Saab combat management system for RAN

  12th February 2020

  The Australian government has signed an Enterprise Partnering Agreement with Saab Australia to deliver the Next Generation Combat Management System (CMS) for the Royal Australian …

• Digital Battlespace

  DefExpo 2020: India crafts a suite of special mission aircraft

  6th February 2020

  In India the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) is working on several projects to give the Indian Air Force (IAF) dedicated special mission aircraft …

• Land Warfare

  GDLS to provide Abrams​ technical support

  3rd February 2020

  General Dynamics Land Systems has received a $29.8 million contract modification for Abrams systems technical support, the US Department of Defense announced on 30 January. …

• Land Warfare

  Excalibur S strikes moving targets

  6th February 2020

  Raytheon’s new Excalibur S precision-guided munition has been successfully tested in test firings carried out by the US Navy. The testing saw the munition strike …

• Land Warfare

  Indian Air Force fires BrahMos missile

  25th October 2019

  Indian Air Force has carried out successful firings of the BrahMos surface-to-surface missile at Trak Island in the Andaman Nicobar group of islands, the Indian …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  European MALE RPAS builds toward development contract signature

  6th November 2019

  Industry partners involved in the multinational European MALE RPAS effort are set to be awarded with a first full programme contract in 2020, a development that …

• Land Warfare

  Thales Australia to develop new soldier weapon system

  7th November 2019

  Thales has committed to developing a new future soldier weapon system for the Australian Defence Forces at its Lithgow small arms manufacturing facility in New …

• Naval Warfare

  Thales selected as Type 31 mission systems integrator

  6th February 2020

  Thales has been selected as the mission systems integrator for the Royal Navy’s Type 31 frigate programme, the company announced on 6 February.The company will …

• Air Warfare

  Singapore Airshow 2020: Taiwan pioneers with its F-16V programme

  5th February 2020

  Taiwan has accelerated the transition programme of its F-16V Viper fleet, with nearly two dozen pilots qualified to fly this newest version of the Fighting …

• Air Warfare

  Poland acquires F-35 multirole fighter aircraft

  31st January 2020

  The delivery timeline for the Polish MoD's procurement of the F-35A Lightning II multirole fighter aircraft was revealed at the signing ceremony for the 32 …

• Digital Battlespace

  AOC 2019: Report highlights digital resiliency concerns of US personnel

  23rd October 2019

  Resiliency in connectivity remains the most critical priority facing emerging communications technologies being employed by US Armed Forces, a report published by the US Government …

• Digital Battlespace

  Leidos to support NORAD network ops

  6th February 2020

  Leidos will support North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) network operations under a contract awarded by the General Services Administration.The contract will see Leidos provide …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  NH90 TTH [France]

  Background In 2001, the French government made its first purchase of 34 NH90 Tactical Transport Helicopters, followed by a second order in 2013 for an ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  Joint Light Helicopter (HIL) programme [France]

  Background The French Ministry of the Armed Forces has elected to bring the launch of the French Armed Forces’ HIL programme forward to 2021. The ...

• Military UAS - micro, Military UAS - mini

  Micro & Mini Drones (France)

  Programme Background RequirementOn 23 April 2021, an RfP was published by the Direction de la Maintenance Aéronautique (DMAé) to supply around 500 micro and nano drones for the ...

• Short Range Missile Defence Systems: 0 to 20 km range

  Mistral SHORAD [Romania]

  Background Romania signed a contract with the Ministry of the Armed Forces and Veterans of the French Republic within the "European Joint Acquisition of Mistral ...

• Loitering munitions

  Colibri: Short-range loitering munition (Contracted) [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) ...

• Loitering munitions

  Switchblade 300 [France]

  Programme Background Plans to Purchase At Eurosatory 2022, Col. Arnaud Goujon, the French Army's chief of plans, told the media that the French Army was ...

• Loitering munitions

  Colibri: Short-range loitering munition (Uncontracted) [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) ...

• OPVs

  OPV Procurement (1-2) [Montenegro]

  Programme Background Timeline During Euronaval 2024, the French Ministry of Armed Forces and Veterans announced that Montenegro signed a contract for the acquisition of two ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  NH90 (Special Forces) [France]

  Background In French service, advanced H225M Caracals with aerial refuelling capabilities are used by SOF units of the French Air Force (FAF) and French Army. ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  A330 MRTT (13-15) [France]

  Background In June 2020, The French government has pledged to buy new military heavy-lift helicopters and accelerate plans for naval drone, ISTAR and tanker aircraft programmes ...

• OPVs

  OPV 58 S [Senegal]

  Programme Background Senegal ordered three OPV 58 S patrol vessels on 17 November 2019. A procurement contract was signed between the Ministry of Armed Forces ...

• Loitering munitions, Military UAS - mini

  UX11 (Ukraine Aid) [France]

  Programme Background First Batch On 6 September 2023, Sébastien Lecornu, the French Minister of Defence, announced Delair was providing Ukraine with more than 150 drones. ...

• 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 ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  PLFS [France]

  Background The Sabre, then known as the Sherpa FS, was developed as a response to a 2014 requirement for three types of new vehicles 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) ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• CUAS - hybrid effector systems

  Boreades

  Boreades is a modular anti-UAV system developed by CS. This suite combines multi-sensors and multi-effectors in order to enable the detection, identification and neutralisation of rogue ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  UAS 100

  The UAS 100 is an autonomous, three-engined platform, modular UAS manufactured by Thales in partnership with Issoire Aviation, Hionos and with the support of the ...

• Military UAS - micro

  Vespa-15

  The Vespa-15 is a first-person view (FPV) rotary-wing UAV manufactured by a Ukrainian company.  In May 2025, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) of Ukraine announced it ...

• Loitering munitions

  MX-10 Damocles

  The MX-10 Damocles is a quadcopter loitering munition from KNDS France and Delair. Unveiled at IDEX 2025, it features a 500g fragmentation payload. It is part ...

• Military UAS - small

  LEMUR

  LEMUR is a VTOL, fixed-wing UAV designed for long-endurance observation and reconnaissance missions. The aircraft is available with either an electric motor or an internal ...

• Military UAS - mini

  Tundra 2

  The Tundra 2 is a rotary-wing UAV from Hexadrone. It is described as a new, modular, plug-and-play, and multi-trade drone. Hexadrone's website states that the French Armed ...

• OPVs

  OPV 60

  The OPV 60 is designed to conduct surveillance missions in coastal and EEZ waters. The ship can be armed with a 40mm naval gun and ...

• EO/IR systems

  Euroflir 350

  The Euroflir 350 is an out-of-production gyro-stabilised optronic system. According to Safran, it is effective at long ranges, can track mobile targets, designate important areas for ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  NH90 TTH

  Developed as a multinational programme between France, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands, the European NH90 was designed to meet NATO requirements for multirole capability from ...

• Military UAS - small

  Lanner

  Unveiled at Eurosatory 2024, the Lenner is a modified variant of the Pengion C VTOL drone, specifically modified to meet the SDTL (Light Tactical Drone System) program ...

• Military helicopters - light/training, Military helicopters - multirole, Military helicopters - scout/light attack

  H160M

  Airbus is developing the H160M to meet the requirements of the French military for the Joint Light Helicopter (Hélicoptère Interarmées Léger, or HIL) programme. It ...

• 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 ...

• Pistols

  Glock Pistol

  The Glock family of pistols have been in widespread service since the Glock 17 was selected for Austrian military and police service in 1982. The company's ...

• Air: Defensive Systems - Radar Warning Receivers

  TDS-FA/-TA/-H

  Thales’ TDS family is comprised of Radar Warning Receivers (RWRs) designed to equip a range of fixed-wing aircraft. The product series includes the TDS-FA designed ...

• Surface-to-air missiles

  Mistral 2

  MISTRAL is a man-portable, fully digital, heat-seeking missile designed to meet the requirements of all branches of the armed forces to defend against air threats. ...