• Special Operations

  SOFIC 2017: Aurora touts armed XV-24A (video)

  17th May 2017

  Aurora Flight Sciences is showcasing the potential roles of its XV-24A 'LightningStrike' VTOL unmanned aerial system at this year's SOFIC exhibition in Tampa, Florida. Currently …

• Naval Warfare

  IMDEX Asia: Austal up-guns LCS to frigate standard

  17th May 2017

  A new model of a trimaran vessel from Austal USA is on display that could be one of the designs on offer for the US …

• Training

  ITEC 2017: Dutch door gunner trainer upgrade

  17th May 2017

  Along with MOUT, cultural awareness and JTAC training, one of the major training shortfall issues to emerge over recent years has been the need to …

• Digital Battlespace

  Saab announces AEW&C order

  16th May 2017

  Saab will deliver Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C;) equipment to an unnamed customer under a contract announced on 15 May. The contract, worth $152 …

• Land Warfare

  ADF selects gas-detection system

  3rd May 2017

  The Australian Defence Force has selected Bertin Technologies' Second Sight MS chemical threat standoff detector for the Australian Army, the company announced on 27 April.The …

• Land Warfare

  LAAD 2017: ASTROS artillery stays on target

  7th April 2017

  Brazil's rocket artillery modernisation and acquisition programme remains on track to meet its full entry into service in 2020.Jose Julio Dias Barreto, the ASTROS 2020 …

• Special Operations

  SOFIC 2017: Textron tests Fury against moving targets (video)

  18th May 2017

  Textron Systems has successfully tested the Fury lightweight precision-guided glide munition against moving targets at Yuma Proving Grounds in Arizona, marking the completion of the …

• Training

  ITEC 2017: German Navy Sea King FMS RFT

  16th May 2017

  Following on from a major upgrade to the German Navy's Sea King Mk41 helicopter simulator at Nordholz naval air station, the device has now been …

• Land Warfare

  LAAD 2017: Turret developments for Guarani

  5th April 2017

  As Brazilian Army vehicle programmes begin to stall, there is still scope for the installation of new turrets.On the back of a contract to build …

• Defence Helicopter

  Indonesia's AH-64E getting service ready

  24th May 2017

  The Indonesian Army Aviation unit’s first Boeing AH-64E Guardian is now conducting test flights in the US, according to images distributed widely on social media. …

• Defence Notes

  PLA rocked to the corps

  28th April 2017

  The structure of group armies in the People's Liberation Army (PLA) is undergoing the most dramatic shakeup in their history as part of ongoing reforms …

• Defence Helicopter

  Japan modernises lasers on Apache tribe

  27th April 2017

  Japan is upgrading the 'eyes' of its fleet of Boeing AH-64D Apache Longbow helicopters, according to a Lockheed Martin announcement dated 26 April. The US …

• Land Warfare

  LAAD 2017: Avibras pushes new 4x4

  4th April 2017

  A prototype 4x4 armoured vehicle from Brazilian manufacturer Avibras has been displayed at LAAD for the first time.The Guara has a unique four wheeled steering …

• Land Warfare

  ​LAAD 2017: Urutu upgrades edge forward

  4th April 2017

  The Brazilian Army programme to upgrade its EE-11 Urutu 6x6 APC is continuing to move forward albeit slowly. However, at LAAD 2017, the vehicle on …

• Digital Battlespace

  IDEF 2017: Turkey frigate radar prepares for live-fire

  11th May 2017

  Turkey's indigenously-designed ÇAFRAD multi-function phased array radar, which will be integrated on the navy's upcoming TF-2000 anti-air warfare frigate, will go through live fire trials …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• 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

  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 ...

• 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 ...

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

  Hermes 900 [Chile]

  Methodology Unit cost In 2024, the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) acquired one Hermes 900 for 50 million reais ($9.14 million), giving each drone an estimated ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  H145M [Brazil]

  Background  Brazilian leadership announced in February 2022 that the Sabre Mil Mi-35M Hind-E attack helicopters were being retired from active service. This decision came as a ...

• Fighter - multirole

  JAS 39E/F Gripen [Brazil]

  Background 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 ...

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

  Hermes 900 [Colombia]

  Methodology Unit cost In 2024, the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) acquired one Hermes 900 for 50 million reais ($9.14 million), giving each drone an estimated gross ...

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

  Hermes 900 (5) [Brazil]

  Background First three batches (2014-2024) Across three purchases, Defence Insight estimates that Brazil has acquired five Hermes 900 UAVs. In 2014, Elbit reported supplying one ...

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

  Hermes 900 (1-4) [Brazil]

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

• Maritime patrol

  C295 add-on [Brazil]

  Programme Background  In 2014 Brazil signed a contracted for two additional C-295 SAR platforms with the option to acquire one additional platform. In 2018, reports ...

• 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 ...

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 ...

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

  Harpia

  Described as the UAV with the most onboard technology in Latin America, Harpia is a multifunctional fixed-wing Brazilian drone developed by Advanced Technologies Security & Defence.  The Uruguayan ...

• 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 ...

• 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.

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  Albatroz Vortex

  The Albatroz Vortex from Stella Tecnologia is a development of the company's Albatroz UAV.  The key differentiator is that the Vortex is fitted with an ATJR ...

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

  Condor

  The Condor, or Atobá XR, is an in-development MALE-class UAV from Stella Technologia.  The development of the multi-role is tied to the Brazilian Air Force (FAB), which has ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• Man-portable missile systems

  RBS 70 system

  The RBS 70 was developed in the 1970s to meet the Swedish Army’s requirement for a low-cost, easy-to-use MANPADS which could function in extreme climatic ...