• Training

  USAF RPA training falls short

  29th June 2020

  According to the US Government Accountability Office (GAO), ‘the [US] Air Force does not have enough pilots and sensor operators to meet its staffing targets …

• Land Warfare

  Serbia wrings extra life out of M-84

  30th June 2020

  The Serbian military formally unveiled its M-84AS-1 MBT earlier this month, as the latest upgrade of a licensed-built version of the venerable T-72M. The M-84AS-1 …

• Digital Battlespace

  Northrop continues AESA SABR upgrade for F-16s

  22nd June 2020

  Northrop Grumman is to provide more AESA radars for USAF F-16 aircraft under a $18.73 million contract modification, the DoD announced on 19 June. Work …

• Air Warfare

  Sweden hits deadlock over new defence spending plans

  26th June 2020

  Cross party political talks in Sweden addressing future defence funding have collapsed, following disagreement over whether additional money should be approved. The Swedish government will …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Protector to undergo UK weapons testing

  26th June 2020

  New RAF Protector RG Mk1 UAVs are to be tested at UK weapons ranges after deliveries begin in 2023. While no detailed plans for the …

• Naval Warfare

  Philippines eyes Israeli-built interceptors for a more potent navy

  4th July 2020

  The Philippine government recently confirmed that it will proceed with an acquisition of eight boats under its Fast Attack Interdiction Craft - Missile (FAIC-M) programme …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Ukroboronprom delivers modernised Spectator-M1 to AFU

  19th June 2020

  Ukroboronprom subsidiary OJSC Meridian confirmed on 18 June that it has completed its first delivery of a modernised Spectator-M1 UAS to the Armed Forces of …

• Land Warfare

  UK invests in disruptive vehicle technology

  6th July 2020

  The British Army is keen to provide disruptive technology to its troops and will invest in new equipment, systems and sensors during this year. An …

• Naval Warfare

  More than 90% of first RN Type 26 is under construction

  3rd July 2020

  After nearly three years and four UK Secretaries of State for Defence, progress on the first-in-class Type 26 frigate destined for the RN offers a …

• Land Warfare

  VBL replacement could attract non-French bidders

  28th June 2020

  Although the French Army will soon receive upgraded Arquus (ex-Panhard Defense) VBL 4x4 scout vehicles, in the longer term a new vehicle will be required …

• Naval Warfare

  Pentagon recalibrates USN fleet numbers but lacks updated force structure assessment

  26th June 2020

  US shipbuilders and Congress are anxiously awaiting details of the USN’s 30-year shipbuilding plan, which is already running five months late. This blueprint will propel …

• Land Warfare

  Portugal rolls out Glock 17 Gen5 for army

  10th June 2020

  The Soldier Combat Systems (SCS) programme for the Portuguese Army passed another milestone in early June, with delivery of Glock 17 Gen5 9mm pistols to …

• Digital Battlespace

  ​Raytheon to aid ABMS development

  16th June 2020

  Raytheon Intelligence & Space (RI&S;) is to participate in development of the Advanced Battle Management System (ABMS) for the USAF, under multiple awards worth up …

• Defence Notes

  Merged L3Harris adapts to the new normal

  24th June 2020

  The COVID-19 pandemic has presented the greatest challenge for L3Harris Technologies during its first year of operation, the president for the communications systems segment of …

• Land Warfare

  Estonia buys new Volvo FMX trucks

  15th June 2020

  The Estonian Defence Forces (EDF) will receive 40 new Volvo FMX container trucks in order to bolster national defence capabilities. This is the outcome of …

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

  Nauru 1000C [Brazil]

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

• 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 ...

• Ateş Armoured Border Security Vehicle

  The Ateş is equipped with several sensors developed by Aselsan including the Acar ground detection radar,  FalconEye EO system on an extendable mast, and Seda ...

• 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 ...

• Anaconda

  Four variants of the Anaconda were purchased by the RNMC: general support; patrol; command; and training. In addition to 46 vehicles, the contract also included ...

• 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 ...

• Military UAS - small

  Penguin C (Latvia)

  Programme Background In 2018, the Latvian MoD signed an agreement with Latvian companies UAV Factory and Atlas Aerospace to procure UAVs for the LNAF. Under ...

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 ...

• Searcher

  Searcher is a fixed-wing low- and medium-altitude UAV manufactured by Elytron Aeronautica. The tandem-wing UAV is designed long-endurance reconnaissance missions and was unveiled in May ...

• 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 ...