• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Iraq eyes possible Prion Mk3 purchase

  21st November 2017

  The Iraqi Ministry of Defence is in discussions with UK-based UAV manufacturer UAVE for the purchase of at least a dozen Prion Mk3 platforms. If purchased, the …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  US Navy receives first operational MQ-4C Triton

  15th November 2017

  Northrop Grumman has delivered the first operational MQ-4C Triton UAS to the US Navy facility at Point Mugu, the company announced on 10 November. The …

• Land Warfare

  India spikes its missiles

  22nd November 2017

  In what looms as a massive and costly mistake, the Indian government has decided to cancel its selection of Rafael’s man-portable Spike MR antitank guided …

• Defence Helicopter

  Dubai Airshow 2017: AVIC tight-lipped on presence

  14th November 2017

  Aviation Corporation of China (AVIC) has a strong presence of rotary and UAV models at the Dubai Airshow.     One of the small-scale models on …

• Digital Battlespace

  MILCOM 2017: USAF looks to commercial SATCOM reform

  24th October 2017

  Momentum is building to reform the US military’s acquisition processes and help the US Air Force finally acquire long-term commercial satellite communication (SATCOM) capabilities. Reform …

• Military Logistics

  Dubai Airshow 2017: AAR supporting UAE aircraft fleet

  16th November 2017

  AAR and Global Aerospace Logistics (GAL) have signed an MoU to develop enhanced support services for the UAE Armed Forces it was announced on 13 …

• Defence Notes

  NZDF hones skills with overseas mates in Southern Katipo

  16th November 2017

  Exercise Southern Katipo, the New Zealand Defence Force’s largest ever exercise in the series, was held over a six-week period in October-November. It put the …

• Naval Warfare

  Wärtsilä to upgrade CCG vessels

  14th November 2017

  Wärtsilä will upgrade the propulsion generators of the Canadian Coast Guard’s (CCG) 1100 class High Endurance Multi-task Vessels to improve reliability, the company announced on …

• Training

  I/ITSEC 2017: DiSTI launches GL Studio v.6.1

  23rd November 2017

  Visualisation and 3D virtual maintenance trainer (VMT) specialists, Orlando-based DiSTI Corporation has released v.6.1 of its GL Studio product, the first major iteration of v.6 that …

• Defence Helicopter

  Russia’s WMD receives eight Ka-52s

  14th November 2017

  The helicopter regiment of the Russian armed forces’ Western Military District (WMD) has received eight Ka-52 attack helicopters, the Russian Ministry of Defence announced on …

• Military Logistics

  Austal bags patrol boat sustainment contract

  5th October 2017

  Austal has received a contract worth up to $18 million from the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) for the sustainment of its Cape-class patrol boats, the …

• Training

  I/ITSEC 2017: Barco on MCAT plus new projector

  22nd November 2017

  Following the award of the Marine Common Aircrew Trainers (MCAT) contract to Kratos Defense & Security Solutions in September last year, it has emerged that …

• Defence Helicopter

  Czech Air Force seals delivery of two BIRD AMPS

  24th October 2017

  The Czech Air Force has received delivery of two additional Airborne Missile Protection Systems (AMPS) from BIRD Aerosystems.  The deal, sealed in Q3, is further …

• Training

  I/ITSEC 2017: GBvi displays new blending tech

  21st November 2017

  GBvi will display two new technologies in its Chronos range at I/ITSEC 2017, the Chronos Greyscale and Chronos Rewind, which will be demonstrated live at …

• Defence Notes

  Dubai Airshow 2017: Fighter aircraft programmes (video)

  12th November 2017

  Countries across the Middle East are in the process of modernising their fast jet fleets, with major billion dollar deals signed by Egypt, Kuwait, Qatar …

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 ...