Jane's International Defence Review
Product brand
UnclaimedJane's International Defence Review was a monthly defence magazine known for reporting and analysis on military technology, platforms, operations, and security affairs.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Jane's International Defence Review, commonly known as IDR, was a specialist military and defence publication with an international readership. Established in 1968 as International Defense Review, the magazine was initially published by Interavia SA of Geneva, Switzerland. It later entered the Jane's publishing portfolio when Jane's Publishing Group acquired the title in 1987. The publication subsequently became part of Jane's Information Group, a well-known supplier of open-source defence and security information, and was identified as IHS Jane's International Defence Review after the acquisition of Jane's Information Group by IHS Inc. in 2007 and the later development of IHS Jane's branding. The title focused on military news, defence technology, equipment programmes, and strategic developments. Its coverage extended across air, land, and maritime systems, combining reporting with technical and analytical material. Recurring subject areas included military platforms, weapons and sensors, upgrade and modernisation programmes, electronics, computing, military doctrine, operations, training, foreign affairs, and broader strategic and security issues. The magazine was positioned between a general-interest news publication and a specialist professional reference source: it reported current developments while also providing technical context about procurement, capability development, and the use of military systems. IDR was one of several publications associated with the Jane's name, a publishing tradition originating with Fred T. Jane, whose Jane's All the World's Fighting Ships first appeared in 1898. The IDR title benefited from the wider Jane's reputation for detailed open-source information about defence equipment and military organisations. Its reporting was frequently used by defence professionals, analysts, government and military audiences, contractors, researchers, and other readers seeking structured information on defence systems and industry developments. The title's naming history varied across cataloguing records. It was established as International Defense Review, while some records used International Defence Review for much of its earlier run. The Jane's name became central after the 1987 acquisition, and the title was later catalogued under the IHS Jane's International Defence Review name. These variations reflect changes in ownership, branding, and bibliographic treatment rather than a separate publication with a different editorial mission. The final edition was published in December 2021. The publication was then replaced, together with Jane's Intelligence Review, by Janes Defence and Intelligence Review. Accordingly, Jane's International Defence Review is now a defunct magazine title, although its editorial subject matter and specialist information role continued in successor Jane's products and publications.
History
Jane's International Defence Review began in 1968 under the title International Defense Review. The magazine was published by Interavia SA, a Geneva-based Swiss publisher, during its initial period. From the outset, its editorial remit centred on military affairs and defence technology, with regular attention to equipment, platforms, systems, and the development of military capabilities. Jane's Publishing Group acquired the publication in 1987. This placed the magazine within the broader Jane's family of defence and security publications associated with the information-publishing tradition established by Fred T. Jane. The Jane's identity was particularly relevant to readers seeking detailed open-source information about military equipment, organisations, and industry activity. Although the magazine remained a periodical rather than a reference catalogue, its specialist reporting complemented the wider Jane's portfolio. Over its publication history, the title was recorded under several related names. Bibliographic records identify International Defense Review as an early form, while other records use International Defence Review for the period from 1968 through 1995. After the title became part of the Jane's publishing group, it was commonly known as Jane's International Defence Review. Following the acquisition of Jane's Information Group by IHS Inc. in 2007, later cataloguing records used the name IHS Jane's International Defence Review, reflecting the ownership and branding structure of that period. Editorially, IDR covered military developments across air, land, and maritime domains. Its reporting included defence platforms and systems, equipment upgrade programmes, strategic and security questions, doctrine, electronics, computing, operations, training, and foreign affairs. The combination of news reporting and specialist analysis made it useful to a professional audience interested in defence procurement, capability development, military technology, and industry trends. The publication was also regarded as a reputable source of publicly available information on defence systems and military and industrial developments. The magazine continued as a monthly title until its final edition in December 2021. Rather than continuing as a standalone publication, it was replaced along with Jane's Intelligence Review by Janes Defence and Intelligence Review. The end of IDR therefore marked a change in the organisation of Jane's periodical publishing, while its central areas of interest continued within a successor review format and the wider Janes information business.
- 2021
Publication concluded
[1]The December 2021 issue was the final edition of Jane's International Defence Review.
- 2012
IHS Jane's title usage recorded
[1]Bibliographic records identify the magazine under the IHS Jane's International Defence Review name after 2012.
- 2007
Jane's Information Group acquired by IHS
[1]IHS Inc. acquired Jane's Information Group, placing the title within the IHS information portfolio.
- 1987
Acquisition by Jane's Publishing Group
[1]Jane's Publishing Group acquired the magazine from Interavia, bringing it into the Jane's family of defence publications.
- 1968
International Defense Review established
[1]The publication was launched as International Defense Review and was initially published by Interavia SA of Geneva.
- 1898
Origin of the Jane's publishing tradition
[1]Fred T. Jane published Jane's All the World's Fighting Ships, establishing the naming and reference tradition later associated with multiple Jane's defence publications.
Products and positioning
A specialist international defence publication combining current military news with technical and analytical coverage of defence platforms, systems, procurement, operations, and security affairs.
Specialist defence magazine · 1968
Jane's International Defence Review
The core product was a monthly magazine covering international military news and defence technology. It provided reporting and analysis on air, land, and maritime platforms and systems, as well as equipment upgrades, strategic and security issues, military doctrine, electronics, computing, operations, training, and foreign affairs. The title ended with its December 2021 edition.
Brand decisions
2021
Replacement by a consolidated defence and intelligence reviewStrategyBackground
The publisher ended the standalone IDR title after its December 2021 edition.
Action taken
Jane's International Defence Review and Jane's Intelligence Review were replaced by Janes Defence and Intelligence Review.
Aftermath
Jane's International Defence Review became a defunct publication, while related defence and intelligence coverage continued under the successor title.
1987
Acquisition by Jane's Publishing GroupM&ABackground
The magazine had been published by Interavia SA since its establishment in 1968.
Action taken
Jane's Publishing Group acquired the publication and incorporated it into its specialist defence publishing portfolio.
Aftermath
The title became associated with the Jane's family of military and defence information products.
Sources1 sources
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