• Air Warfare

  Philippines approved for potential $5.5 billion F-16 aircraft purchase

  2nd April 2025

  The potential sale, approved by the US to the Philippines, is for 20 F-16 Block 70/72 jets, days after US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth visited the country.

• Naval Warfare

  The Philippines strengthens maritime defences amid rising tensions in South China Sea

  28th April 2025

  The Philippine Navy is fast-tracking its maritime modernisation with new warships, unmanned platforms, and international shipbuilding partnerships to bolster its regional deterrence posture.

• Air Warfare

  Philippines acquires additional FA-50 aircraft in $700 million contract

  4th June 2025

  Korea Aerospace Industries has netted a follow-on order from the country for 12 aircraft to be delivered by 2030.

• Air Warfare

  M-345 officially enters service as trainer for Italian Air Force

  13th June 2025

  The Leonardo M-345 High-Efficiency Trainer (HET) basic/advanced trainer is similar to the M-346, which is the second part of the Italian Air Force’s training system, but is a substantially smaller and less powerful aircraft.

• Air Warfare

  Philippines grows its S-70i fleet with 10 new deliveries

  17th January 2025

  The 10 helicopters delivered throughout 2024 make up part of a larger contract for 32 Sikorsky Black Hawk helicopters for the country.

• Air Warfare

  The Philippines eyes procurement of additional FA-50 jets and upgrades

  27th January 2025

  The Philippine Air Force is reportedly finalising terms for the upgrade of 12 and additional procurement of several FA-50 aircraft with KAI, with Embraer’s A-29 Super Tucanos procurement also completed.

• Land Warfare

  Latvia signs for ASCOD IFVs

  30th January 2025

  Latvia entered negotiations with General Dynamics European Land Systems (GDELS) Santa Bárbara Sistemas for the purchase of Austrian Spanish Cooperative Development (ASCOD) tracked combat vehicles in November last year.

• Naval Warfare

  South Korean shipbuilders showcase export ambitions amid ongoing KDDX delays

  12th June 2025

  Hyundai and Hanwha recently unveiled advanced frigate and submarine designs while South Korea eyes new export markets and resolves internal rivalries

• Land Warfare

  Latvia enters talks to buy GDELS ASCOD IFV

  15th November 2024

  The ASCOD is in service with, or has been ordered by, five countries. In the UK it forms the basis of the British Army’s Ajax and for the US it is the chassis for the M10 Booker.

• Land Warfare

  GDELS unveils Nemesis 155mm SPG at FEINDEF

  13th May 2025

  GDELS has unveiled the Nemesis self-propelled artillery system, combining the ASCOD chassis with KNDS’s Artillery Gun Module to enhance European artillery capabilities.

• Defence Notes

  Ireland begins work on buying fighter jets and doubling the naval fleet

  3rd March 2025

  Since the release of Ireland’s Commission on the Defence Forces (CoDF) report two years ago there have been whisperings about the potential of Ireland buying fighter jets, one of the most ambitious recommendations. The prospect has now inched closer.

• Naval Warfare

  German-Filippino defence collaboration agreement edges closer in South China Sea

  6th August 2024

  The countries have agreed to have a collaboration plan in place by the end of 2024.

• Naval Warfare

  Indonesia’s PT PAL reveals details about Red White Frigates

  24th June 2025

  The frigates are based on Babcock’s Arrowhead 140 design but are substantially changed and include a range of Turkish weapons such as radars, sonar, guns and electronic warfare systems.

• Air Warfare

  The Philippines prepares for high-end fighter operations

  24th September 2024

  The Southeast Asian country’s air force is broadening the warfighting mission sets of its FA-50PH by shifting focus towards offensive counter air, defensive counter air and ground attack missions.

• Naval Warfare

  USCG commissions cutter Florence Finch

  25th October 2024

  Bollinger Shipyards has been contracted to produce 67 Sentinel-class Fast Response Cutters (FRCs) with the 57th, which was delivered in June, now commissioned.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  Heavy Lift Helicopter [Philippines]

  Programme Background Procurement from Russia In November 2021, Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana confirmed that a contract had been signed to acquire 16 Mi-171 heavy ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  FA-50 [Philippines]

  Programme Background  A procurement monitoring report released by the Philippines Department of National Defence revealed a $683 million dollar contract with Korea Aerospace Industries for ...

• Data links

  Data links | S-211 Replacement [Philippines]

  The Philippines is looking at replacement options for its ageing fleet of S-211 trainer jets. The S-211s have been in operation with the Philippines since ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  Air: Helmet-mounted displays | S-211 Replacement [Philippines]

  The Philippines is looking at replacement options for its ageing fleet of S-211 trainer jets. The S-211s have been in operation with the Philippines since ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | S-211 Replacement [Philippines]

  The Philippines is looking at replacement options for its ageing fleet of S-211 trainer jets. The S-211s have been in operation with the Philippines since ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | S-211 Replacement [Philippines]

  The Philippines is looking at replacement options for its ageing fleet of S-211 trainer jets. The S-211s have been in operation with the Philippines since ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Horizon 2 - Multirole Fighter Programme [Philippines]

  Programme Background Requirement The Philippines wants a fighter able to perform score missions such as air-to-air combat, air-to-ground tasks and reconnaissance, including over water. It ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | FA-50 [Philippines]

  The Philippines Department of National Defence has decided to double the nation's fleet of FA-50s by purchasing twelve new aircraft from Korea Aerospace Industries for ...

• Data links

  Data links | FA-50 [Philippines]

  The Philippines Department of National Defence has decided to double the nation's fleet of FA-50s by purchasing twelve new aircraft from Korea Aerospace Industries for ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  Air: Helmet-mounted displays | FA-50 [Philippines]

  The Philippines Department of National Defence has decided to double the nation's fleet of FA-50s by purchasing twelve new aircraft from Korea Aerospace Industries for ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | FA-50 [Philippines]

  The Philippines Department of National Defence has decided to double the nation's fleet of FA-50s by purchasing twelve new aircraft from Korea Aerospace Industries for ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | FA-50 [Philippines]

  The Philippines Department of National Defence has decided to double the nation's fleet of FA-50s by purchasing twelve new aircraft from Korea Aerospace Industries for ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Horizon 3 - Multirole Fighter Programme [Philippines]

  Programme Background Requirement The Philippines retired its F-5 fighters in 2005 and purchased 12 FA-50 light attack aircraft from South Korea in 2013. However, new fighter ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  Light Tactical Vehicle [Philippines - Initial Order]

  Programme Background The Philippine Army has a requirement for 200 Light Tactical Vehicles (LTVs) which is expected to be initiated within Horizon 2 of the ...

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

  ScanEagle 2 (Philippines)

  Programme Background MSI ProgrammeThe Philippines are receiving the ScanEagle 2's thought to be provided by the US under the Maritime Security Initiative (MSI) programme. This ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Patrol boats

  PCE 827

  The PCE 827-class patrol boats are ex-US built World War Two-era rescue ships first commissioned in the 1940s. The Philippines still operates a small number ...

• Land: air defence radar

  Series 320

  The Series 320 is a family of S-band air defence radars designed by ITT Gilfillan (now L3Harris) in the late 1970s.  It was used by ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  D-Tiger

  Thai Defense Industry (TDI) unveiled its D-Tiger 4x4 armoured tactical vehicle at Defense & Security 2022 in Bangkok. The D-Tiger is aimed at export sales, with ...

• Towed guns

  Soltam M-71

  Elbit Systems M-71 towed howitzer is a long-range field gun incorporating advanced artillery systems. It was originally built by Soltam but the company was purchased ...

• Anti-ship missiles

  SSM-700K Haeseong (C-Star)

  The SSM-700K Haeseong, also known as the C-Star, is a surface-launched, anti-ship cruise missile. It was made to be a replacement for the Hae Ryong ...

• Marine engines

  10V 2000 M72

  The 10V 2000 M72 is a diesel engine manufactured by MTU. It measures 2365mm in length, 1130mm in width and 1305mm in height. It has a ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Amir 4x4

  Gaia's Amir family includes 4x4 and 6x6 models which can be configured for various missions, including personnel carrier, reconnaissance, ambulance and logistics. 

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval Shield

  The Naval Shield is Hanwha's naval combat management system solution which combines communication and sensor integration functions with fire control capability. According to the manufacturer, ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - mini

  Belin

  The Belin, or Bramor C4EYE, is a fixed-wing mini-drone manufactured and assembled in Sloveia by C-Astral. The drone can be catapulted or hand-launched and host the stabilised C-Astral ...

• Air-launched ASW torpedoes, Ship-launched torpedoes

  K745/Blue Shark

  The K745, also known as the Blue Shark, is a lightweight, anti-submarine torpedo developed by Korean company LIG Nex1. It was originally introduced in 2004. ...

• Sea: naval surveillance radar

  ELM-2258 ALPHA

  The EL/M-2258 Advanced Lightweight Phased Array (ALPHA) is a three-dimensional, multi-function solid state naval radar manufactured by Elta Systems in Israel. It is designed for medium-sized ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6, APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Pandur II

  The Pandur II is an APC originall designed by Steyr-Daimler-Puch Spezialfahrzeuge, now a part of General Dynamics European Land Systems.  It currently has 6x6 and 8x8 ...

• Air-to-air missiles, Surface-to-air missiles

  I-Derby ER

  Rafael Advanced Defense Systems developed the I-Derby ER missile as an extended-range evolution of the earlier Derby and I-Derby missiles. Building on the proven foundation ...

• Military helicopters - maritime

  AW159 Wildcat

  The AW159 is a twin-engine, multirole maritime and utility aircraft that was developed as a replacement for the Lynx family of helicopters. Designated 'Wildcat' by ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

  Shaldag MK V

  The Shaldag Mk V is a multi-mission fast patrol boat designed to serve as both a naval and border police vessel. It is a variant of ...