• Defence Helicopter

  GE Aviation receives T408 LRIP contract

  22nd November 2017

  GE Aviation has received a $140 million low-rate initial production (LRIP) contract from the US Naval Air Systems Command to build 22 T408-GE-400 engines to …

• Training

  USAF orders six more A-29s for Afghanistan

  30th October 2017

  The US Air Force (USAF) has placed an order for six additional A-29 Super Tucano aircraft for the Afghan Air Force, it was announced on …

• Land Warfare

  D&S 2017: Chaiseri looks to the next generation

  7th November 2017

  Thai firm Chaiseri Metal and Rubber chose the venue of Defense & Security 2017 in Bangkok to launch its First Win 2 4x4 vehicle onto …

• Special Operations

  NATO SOF prepare to counter an invasion

  31st October 2017

  A NATO special operations exercise conducted in September across eastern Europe was aimed at extending interoperability amongst participating force elements in overcoming both conventional and …

• Land Warfare

  China’s military trials new AFVs

  6th November 2017

  The People’s Armed Police (PAP), the force tasked with maintaining internal security in China, has been trialling a new type of 6x6 APC. Photos of …

• Military Logistics

  Depot provides C4ISR logistics support to US Army brigades

  7th November 2017

  Tobyhanna Army Depot, located in northeastern Pennsylvania, is highlighting its support of the US Army’s six new Security Force Assistance Brigades (SFAB) that will soon …

• Training

  I/ITSEC 2017: Barco boasts new laser projector

  27th November 2017

  Barco has announced the latest addition to its projection family for the training and simulation market, the new F80 series, at I/ITSEC 2017.  The F80 …

• Military Logistics

  KC-390 arrives for US flight trials

  24th November 2017

  Embraer’s KC-390 transport aircraft has arrived in the US for flight trials as part of its certification programme, the company announced on 21 November. The …

• Digital Battlespace

  Philippines reflects on troposcatter comms for Mindanao

  21st November 2017

  Earlier this month the Philippines Department of National Defense (DND) invited two American companies to bid to meet a requirement for a tropospheric scatter (troposcatter) …

• Defence Helicopter

  HForce to test Thales laser guided rockets

  27th November 2017

  Following on from successful ballistic development testing of its HForce weapon system on a H145M helicopter at Pápa Airbase in Hungary, Airbus Helicopters is to begin a similar operation …

• Military Logistics

  Dubai Airshow 2017: Qatar enhances F-15 fleet with support services

  6th November 2017

  Qatar is bolstering its wider rearmament programme through a potential FMS deal with the US DoD for service support of its recently-acquired Boeing F-15QA aircraft. …

• Training

  I/ITSEC 2017: Quantum3D expands portfolio

  27th November 2017

  Best known for its real-time image generation capabilities, California-based Quantum3D is using I/ITSEC 2017 to highlight a number of new products and expand its offering. …

• Defence Notes

  Dubai Airshow 2017: Russian Aircraft Corporation prospecting for MiG 35 interest (video)

  21st November 2017

  With dozens of regional and international customers already operating platforms such as the MiG-29, Russian Aircraft Corporation is hopeful that the newly developed MiG-35 will …

• Training

  I/ITSEC 2017: TREX accelerates US DoD simulation and training effort

  28th November 2017

  In an effort to streamline its contracting activity the US Department of Defence (DoD) has contracted the non-profit organisation, National Security Technology Accelerator (NSTXL) to …

• Land Warfare

  Penguin Composites signs contract for Hawkei

  19th October 2017

  Penguin Composites has signed a three-year contract worth over $8 million with Thales Australia to build components for the Hawkei protected vehicle, the Australian Department …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Light attack, Trainer

  PC-21 (Project Air 5428) [Australia]

  The new PTS, including aircraft, flight training simulators and learning environments is being acquired from a single capability contractor, Team 21, which consists of Lockheed ...

• Transport, Transport/tanker aircraft

  Project Air 7404 [Australia]

  Programme Background Requirement Australia is thinking ahead to an enlarged transport fleet to replace the current C-130Js. The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) was the second ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-35A (Project Air 6000 Phase 2A/B) [Australia]

  Programme Background The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) took delivery of 18 F-35A aircraft as of March 2020 and the remaining aircraft are expected to ...

• Military UAS - HALE

  MQ-4C Triton (5-6) [Australia]

  Background Four Contracted Units In the summer of 2020, Northrop Grumman announced that the Australian Government provided $333 million for three MQ-4C Tritons and associated GCS. ...

• Medium Range Missile Defence Systems: 20-90km range

  Medium Range Air Defence [Australia]

  Background Faced with a growing threat from China and a vast land and sea territory to protect, Australia is seeking to establish a medium-range ground-based ...

• Patrol boats

  Evolved Cape Class (13-14) [Australia]

  Programme Background Austal was awarded a contract to build six 'Evolved'Cape-class patrol boats for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) on 1 May 2020 (see separate ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) [Australia]

  Background Older Efforts On 23 April 2021, the US State Department's Foreign Military Sales (FMS) approval announcement revealed that Australia had requested to buy up ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Project Air 7003 [Australia]

  Programme Background Requirement The Royal Australian Air Force has been without a UAS capability since the Heron was withdrawn in mid-2017. According to Defence Minister Linda Reynolds, ...

• OPVs

  Arafura Class (Project SEA 1180) (1-6) [Australia]

  Programme Background Australia's new class of Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPV), the Arafura-class, will replace the Royal Australian Navy's (RAN) fleet of Armidale and Cape-class patrol ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  MQ-28 Ghost Bat [Australia]

  Background Goal As stated by the Head of Air Force Capability, Air Vice-Marshal Robert Denney, in March 2022, the Ghost Bat will be an "operational system ...

• Loitering munitions

  Mission Talon Strike [Australia]

  Background Request for Tender (RFT) On 19 May 2025, the Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator (ASCA), an agency aimed at streamlining defence invocation for the Australian Defence ...

• Military UAS - small

  VTOL UAV [New Zealand]

  Background Defence Capability Plan (DCP) In April 2025, the New Zealand government published the DCP, a document that is essentially a blueprint for what procurements ...

• Trainer

  Hawk 127 Replacement (Future Lead-In Fighter Training System- Project Air 6002 PH1) [Australia]

  Programme Background Requirements The RAAF is seeking a future solution that provides a ‘relevant, adaptable, affordable and safe LIFTS out to 2050’ for training pilots ...

• Military UAS - small

  DEF129 (Tactical UAS) [Australia]

  Programme Background Programme Announcement The Australian Army announced the Project Land 129 Phase 3 programme in 2017. This announcement led to the release of an industry ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Harpii Szpon (Loyal Wingman) [Poland]

  Background Market Evaluation On 6 November 2023, speaking at the IQPC International Fighter Conference (IFC) 2023 in Madrid, Major General Cezary Wiśniewski, the Deputy General Commander of the ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Air: Integrated Defensive Systems

  Air-5416 Project Echidna

  Air-5416 Project Echidna was an initiative launched in 2001 by BAE Systems for the Australian DoD. Its goal was to overhaul the self protection systems ...

• Trainer

  King Air trainer

  Textron / Beechcraft King Air trainers are a family twin-engine aircraft based on King Air 90, 100, 200 and 350 utility aircraft. The King Air ...

• Air: helicopter flight simulators

  Australian Defence Force MRH90 Training

  As prime contractor for the ADF's MRH90 training programme, CAE has provided two MRH90 full-flight mission simulators (FFMS), training facilities and engineering and support services. ...

• Air: air combat simulators

  RAAF Hawk Mk 127 FMS

  Under subcontract to BAE Systems, CAE is designing and manufacturing three Hawk Mk 127 full-mission simulators (FMS) for the Royal Australian Air Force that will ...

• Military UAS - mini

  Wanderer

  The Wanderer is a low-altitude, low-cost, long-endurance UAV produced in-house by the Royal Australian Air Force's (RAAF) Jericho Disruptive Innovation Group and the Australian Government's Defense Science ...

• Light attack

  Hawk 200

  The Hawk 200 is a single-seat light attack iteration of the Hawk 100 (see separate entry) and Advanced Jet Trainer or AJT (see separate entry). ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  MQ-28A Ghost Bat

  The MQ-28A Ghost Bat is a loyal wingman-type, Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA), MALE fixed-wing drone being developed by Boeing Defence Australia. Its development began in ...

• Military - USVs

  Bluebottle

  Bluebottle is a persistent, autonomous, uncrewed surface vessel from Ocius Technology in service with the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF). In ...

• Air: UAV simulators

  Predator Mission Trainer (PMT)

  The CAE Predator Mission Trainer (PMT) is an integrated platform that combines the features of CAE's UAS mission trainer with General Atomics Aeronautical Systems' Predator-specific ...

• Maritime patrol

  Challenger 604

  Bombardier Challenger CL-604 MPAs are in service with the Royal Danish Air Force and the Korea Coast Guard. The first of three Danish aircraft entered ...

• Military UAS - micro

  Phantom 4 (Series)

  Designed for aerial photograph applications by DJI, the Phantom 4 series of UAVs includes the Phantom 4 Pro, Phantom 4 Pro V2.0, Phantom 4 Advanced ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  Hawkei

  Thales Australia developed the 4x4 Hawkei for the Australian Army's Land 121 Phase 4 Protected Mobility Vehicle – Light (PMV-L) project.  The prototype was unveiled in ...

• Air: COMINT and ELINT systems

  AN/ALR-2001

  BAE Systems’ AN/ALR-2001 Electronic Support Measure (ESM) is thought to be based on Israel Aerospace Industries’ (IAI) Elta Systems division’s EL/M-8382 ESM. The AN/ALR-2001 is ...

• Air-to-surface missiles

  AGM-88E AARGM

  The AGM-88E Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile (AARGM) is a supersonic, medium-range, air-launched tactical missile compatible with US and allied strike aircraft. Designed to upgrade the AGM-88 ...

• Military UAS - mini

  M Solar-X

  First revealed in August 2020, in February 2024, at its symposium, the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) showcased the M Solar-X. This solar-powered fixed-wing drone was ...