• Defence Notes

  RAF faces challenges at home and abroad (video)

  13th March 2017

  The Royal Air Force is going through a significant modernisation period with several new platforms, such as the F-35, being introduced to service. However, the …

• Training

  Modifications to C-17 MTS complete

  8th March 2017

  TRU Simulation and Training has completed modification work to C-17 maintenance training platforms for US Air Force (USAF) and Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) end …

• Digital Battlespace

  Thales, PT Len extend MoU

  7th April 2017

  Thales' Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Indonesia's PT Len has been extended to include cooperation in combat management systems (CMS) in the country.The MoU was …

• Naval Warfare

  RAN conducts advance force training

  17th March 2017

  The Royal Australian Navy's (RAN's) HMAS Huon has put its mine countermeasures equipment and helicopter operations to the test as part of Exercise Ocean Explorer, …

• Defence Helicopter

  Boeing unveils MH-139 helicopter

  6th March 2017

  Boeing's bid for the US Air Force's UH-1N Replacement Program will be based on the Leonardo Helicopters AW139, with the company unveiling its MH-139 helicopter …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  MQ-4C flies with upgraded software suite

  5th April 2017

  The US Navy's MQ-4C Triton UAS has flown with an upgraded software suite following the completion of formal lab testing, Northrop Grumman announced on 4 …

• Special Operations

  ​SOCOM searches for 7.62mm conversion kit

  20th March 2017

  A US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) solicitation calling for the design of a Personal Defense Weapon (PDW) could have serious implications for the future of …

• Military Logistics

  IDEX 2017: First KC-390 production aircraft en route

  20th February 2017

  The first air-to-air refueling dry contact between Embraer's new KC-390 multi-mission medium transport aircraft and a jet fighter took place on 19 February.The trial took …

• Training

  CAE to train NATO E-3A AWACS aircrew

  4th April 2017

  CAE has won a contract from the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) to provide training services, including instructors, for the NATO E-3A Airborne Warning …

• Military Logistics

  New MoD logistics hub opens

  5th April 2017

  A new military logistics hubs has been opened by the UK Ministry of Defence at MoD Donnington in Shropshire.The Defence Fulfilment Centre (DFC) is an …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  BACN completes 10,000th combat mission

  28th March 2017

  The US Air Force's Battlefield Airborne Communications Node (BACN) completed its 10,000th combat mission across its manned and unmanned aircraft fleet in March, Northrop Grumman …

• Defence Notes

  SAS 2017: BAE Systems Highlights ACV Demonstrations

  11th April 2017

  In parallel with continued deliveries of engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) models of its Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV) 1.1 to the United States Marine Corps, …

• Special Operations

  ​SOFINS: Anti-UAV rifle targets the drones

  3rd April 2017

  Monaco-based company MC-CLIC presented its anti-UAV rifle at the SOFINS exhibition, near Bordeaux, which was developed to meet a requirement from the government of the …

• Digital Battlespace

  Elbit wins Asia-Pacific ISTAR contract

  31st March 2017

  Elbit Systems will supply its Condor 2 electro-optic (EO) airborne system to an unnamed customer in the Asia-Pacific region. The company announced the four-year $82 …

• Defence Helicopter

  Helisota, Cobham enter partnership

  31st March 2017

  Helisota has signed a partnership deal with UK-based Cobham Helicopter Academy to develop and provide joint training programmes for helicopter maintenance personnel and other specialists, …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Fighter - multirole

  JAS 39E/F Gripen (Brazil)

  In 2016, Gripen’s Project and Development Center was opened in Sao Paulo to allow Sweedish and Brazillian engineers to work together in the Gripen development ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | M-346 FA [Brazil]

  Brazil is evaluating the procurement of up to 30 Leonardo M-346 light attack aircraft under a potential agreement with Italy, aimed at modernising its aerial ...

• Data links

  Data links | M-346 FA [Brazil]

  Brazil is evaluating the procurement of up to 30 Leonardo M-346 light attack aircraft under a potential agreement with Italy, aimed at modernising its aerial ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  Air: Helmet-mounted displays | M-346 FA [Brazil]

  Brazil is evaluating the procurement of up to 30 Leonardo M-346 light attack aircraft under a potential agreement with Italy, aimed at modernising its aerial ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | M-346 FA [Brazil]

  Brazil is evaluating the procurement of up to 30 Leonardo M-346 light attack aircraft under a potential agreement with Italy, aimed at modernising its aerial ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | M-346 FA [Brazil]

  Brazil is evaluating the procurement of up to 30 Leonardo M-346 light attack aircraft under a potential agreement with Italy, aimed at modernising its aerial ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  C-130H Replacement [Sweden]

  Programme Background Requirements Sweden has five C-130H aircraft (designated Tp-84) and one KC-130H. Two C-130Es bought in the 1960s have retired, but the six H ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  KC-390 (Brazil)

  Programme Background Requirement The aircraft deliveries were scheduled to start by the end of 2016 and continue over a period of ten years. However,  the first ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Army Aviation Project [Brazil]

  Programme Background Brazilian Investment As reported by Shephard, in August 2023, the Brazilian government disclosed its plans to invest BRL 52.8 billion ($10.6 billion) in new military ...

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

  Hermes 900 [Brazil]

  Programme Background First Batch (2014) In 2014, Elbit reported supplying the Hermes 900 to the Brazilian Air Force (FAB). The drone is called the RQ-900 in ...

• Sealift/replenishment vessels

  Polar Support Vessel [Brazil]

  Programme Background Requirements In June 2020, the Brazilian Navy released a Request for Proposal (RfP) to procure a new Antarctic vessel to be manufactured in Brazil. The ...

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

  Hermes 900 [Undisclosed European Country]

  Background Various Contracts On 18 November 2024, Elbit Systems announced it had awarded various contacts with a combined $335 million to an undisclosed European country. ...

• Military helicopters - attack, Military helicopters - multirole

  Mi-35M Replacement [Brazil]

  Programme Background The Brazilian Air Force (FAB) High Command sprung a surprise on 10 February 2022 when it issued a document stating that its fleet ...

• Light attack

  M-346 FA [Brazil]

  Programme Background Requirement Brazil operates several A-1 (AMX) light attack aircraft, which were produced by Embraer in partnership with Leonardo in the 1980s. Similarly, the ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  VBC Cav-MSR [Brazil]

  Programme Background Purpose The Brazilian Army's mechanised cavalry regiments are believed to operate approximately 400 EE-9 Cascavel 6x6 fire support vehicles manufactured by the now-defunct ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Air-to-surface missiles

  MAR-1

  The MAR-1 is a Brazilian air-to-surface anti-radiation missile (ARM) developed by Mectron in collaboration with the Aerospace Technology and Science Department (DCTA) of the Brazilian ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  EMB-312 Tucano

  The EMB-312 Tucano (Brazilian designation T-27) is a trainer and light attack aircraft developed by Embraer to meet the training requirements of the Brazilian Air ...

• Air: air combat simulators

  TPTS

  Tactical Procedures Training Simulators (TPTS), operating with SWARM software, can be used to provide most core training elements to pilots or offload training tasks from ...

• Air-to-air missiles

  Python-4

  The Python-4 is fitted with an 11kg high-explosive warhead and IR homing system as well as a double-base solid propellant rocket. The missile can fly at ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  H225M

  The medium-weight, 11t-class H225M (formerly known as the EC725) is the latest military Super Puma/Cougar family member.  Technical features include a modular design of mechanical ...

• Trainer, Transport

  EMB-121 Xingu

  The EMB-121 Xingu is a twin-turboprop light transport and advanced multi-engine trainer aircraft developed by Embraer based on the EMB-110 Bandeirante. Its maiden flight was ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  KC-390/C-390 Millennium

  The KC-390 is a high-wing, twin-turbofan, T-tail design intended to meet the needs of the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) for a tanker/transport aircraft. Developed and ...

• Military helicopters - scout/light attack

  H125M

  The H125M (formerly the AS550 B3e Fennec) is a military version of the civil H125. The helicopter has a reduced radar signature due to the use ...

• Land: battle management systems

  Arkhe Mission & Combat

  Launched in 2017, Atech's Arkhe Mission & Combat solutions offer a variety of solutions enabling operator to conduct missions from planning to execution and debriefing. It ...

• Fighter - air superiority

  F-5E/F Tiger II

  The F-5E (single-seat)/F (twin-seat) Tiger II is an air superiority fighter developed by Northrop Grumman based on the original F-5 Freedom Fighter. Production of the ...

• Air: Electronic Attack - Jamming, Air: Electronic Attack - Pod

  Sky Shield

  The Sky Shield RF pod  jammer can perform simultaneous jamming against multiple, diverse threats and can equip both small and large platforms. Simultaneous jamming is ...

• EO/IR systems, Land: unattended sensor/surveillance systems, Sea: ship surveillance and fire control systems

  SHAPO

  SHAPO is a multi-sensor, gyro-stabilised observation payload. It is intended for UAVs, helicopters, light aircraft, patrol boats, aerostats, airships, armoured vehicles and masts. Sensors include a ...

• Guided munitions

  SMKB (Smart-MK-Bomb)

  The Smart-MK-Bomb, or the SMKB, is a precision guidance kit developed by Mectron and designed to turn Mk 82 and Mk 83 bombs into guided munitions.

• Land: air defence radar

  Saber M60

  The Saber M60 is a low-altitude air-defence radar developed by the Brazilian Army's CTEx (Army Technology Centre) in collaboration with Bradar, part of Embraer Defence ...

• EO/IR systems

  Skyward

  The SkyWard system is an advanced Infrared Search and Track (IRST) solution developed for next-generation airborne platforms, including 5th-generation fighter aircraft.  Designed with modularity in ...