• Air Warfare

  Russian A-50 Mainstay intercepted by NATO BAP patrol

  28th April 2020

  The Belgian Air Force on 27 April reported that it had intercepted a Russian A-50 (NATO: Mainstay) AWACS aircraft (pictured) over the coast of Estonia …

• Air Warfare

  Indonesia rolls out first F-16A eMLU fighter

  17th April 2020

  The Indonesian Air Force (TNI-AU) has unveiled its first F-16A enhanced Midlife Upgrade (eMLU) aircraft, with upgrades carried out locally by PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI) …

• Air Warfare

  Boeing’s first F-15QA test completed

  15th April 2020

  Boeing as successfully completed the first test of its F-15 Qatar Advanced (QA) fighter jet (pictured) which has been developed for the Qatar Emiri Air …

• Air Warfare

  Northrop Grumman continues AARGM production for USN

  23rd April 2020

  Northrop Grumman, on 23 April, secured a $165 million contract for Lot 9 full rate production of the AGM-88E Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile (AARGM) for …

• Defence Notes

  Finland bars defence officials after drawing HX consultant red line

  22nd April 2020

  A select number of former high-ranking military and political officials have been excluded from making direct contact, or acting in a negotiating capacity, with Finland’s …

• Defence Notes

  USMC must transform to compete with China

  14th May 2020

  The US Marine Corps has a long and storied history in the Pacific, but the rise of China’s military is forcing the corps to either react …

• Training

  Red 6 LVC visual solution shows promise

  29th April 2020

  One issue with the numerous airborne LVC trials and evaluations that have taken place over the past decade or so has been the inability to …

• Training

  US sim business continues at pace

  8th April 2020

  Selling a simulator is one thing but the real long-term benefits come from upgrading that device over its lifetime to keep the training device current …

• Air Warfare

  Airbus achieves world’s first automatic A3R operation

  17th April 2020

  Airbus has successfully carried out the first fully automatic air-to-air refuelling (A3R) operation using a boom system, the company announced on 17 April. The test …

• Air Warfare

  Morocco orders 10 AGM-84L Harpoon Block II missiles

  15th April 2020

  Morocco has placed an order for 10 AGM-84L Air Launched Harpoon Block II missiles from Boeing which has been approved through the FMS process. It …

• Air Warfare

  Croatia fighter procurement hits dead end again

  9th April 2020

  The Croatian government has suspended a procurement tender for new multirole fighters, citing as its main reason the national emergency surrounding the COVID-19 outbreak, exacerbated …

• Defence Helicopter

  HH-60W completes extreme weather testing

  9th April 2020

  The USAF has completed extreme environment testing for the HH-60W Jolly Green II helicopter at the McKinley Climatic Lab on Eglin AFB, Florida. Testing was concluded …

• Training

  UK NAO highlights training shortfalls

  16th April 2020

  In March, the UK’s National Audit Office (NAO) published its 'Defence Capabilities – Delivering What Was Promised' report. For the first time, the NAO concentrated on …

• Air Warfare

  Qatar to get F-15 support services through FMS

  7th April 2020

  Qatar will be provided with maintenance and logistical support for F-15 aircraft and related training devices as part of a $68.06 million undefinitised contract with …

• Defence Notes

  Sweden to get new Saab firefighting aircraft

  7th April 2020

  The Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB) has ordered two Air Tractor AT-802 F firefighting aircraft from service provider Saab. The order will enable Sweden to …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Fighter - multirole

  F-16V [Taiwan]

  Programme Background On 28 April 2020, US DoD announced that General Electric has been awarded $707 million contract for four undefinitized contract actions under an ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-5E/F replacement [Chile]

  Background  The Chilean Air Force has operated the the F-5E/F since 1976 and continues to do so through 2026. The aged platform has received various ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-16V Block 70 [Bahrain]

  Background Contract award In 2018, the US government awarded a US$1.12 billion contract to Lockheed Martin to produce 16 F-16 Block 70 aircraft for Bahrain, ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-16V add-on [Peru]

  Background In April 2026, Peru finalised their selection of the F-16V Block 70 aircraft as the nation's new fighter aircraft. The decision came after an ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-16V [Turkey]

  Background Requirement Turkish Air Force ordered 100 F-35A aircraft as a partner nation, however, the country was removed from the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter programme in ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Horizon 3 - Multirole Fighter Programme [Philippines]

  Programme Background Requirement The Philippines retired its F-5 fighters in 2005 and purchased 12 FA-50 light attack aircraft from South Korea in 2013. However, new fighter ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-16V [Slovakia]

  Background FMS approval Earlier in April 2018, the US State Department announced that it has approved a possible FMS deal of 14 F-16V aircraft for ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Fighter Aircraft [Peru]

  Programme Background Requirement Peru operates 11 Mirage 2000 aircraft that were purchased in the 1980s. Initially, the country wished to operate 26 aircraft, but this was ...

• Light attack

  Light attack aircraft [Peru]

  Background In the last decade Peru has taken strides to modernise their air capabilities including the most recent acquisition of 12 F-16V fighter aircraft finalised ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Kfir Replacement [Colombia]

  Background Timeline In May 2021, budget constraints prompted new Colombian finance minister José Manuel Restrepo (in post since 3 May) to place on indefinite hold ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  Trainer / Light Attack Aircraft [Bulgaria]

  Programme Background In October 2019, Business Korea reported that Bulgaria is also looking for opportunities to build a manufacturing plant for T-50 Golden Eagle aircraft. ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-16V (9-16) [Bulgaria]

  Programme Background In April 2022, the US State Department approved a potential FMS worth $1.673 million to procure eight F-16Vs to Bulgaria. The aircraft are ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Rafale (Greece)

  Programme Background Greece is mounting a procurement surge amid renewed tension with Turkey in the Eastern Mediterranean. In announcing the Rafale deal, Greek Prime Minister ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Next Generation Fighter Aircraft (Vietnam)

  Programme Background Requirement The Vietnam People's Air Force (VPAF) operates an ageing fleet of Su-22 aircraft as well as Su-27s and Su-30s. According to expert commentary, ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-5 Replacement [Mexico]

  Background  Mexico's last fighter aircraft capability rested with their fleet of eight F-5E and two F-5F Tiger IIs platforms from Northrop Grumman; the units were retired ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Fighter - multirole

  F-16V Block 70/72

  The F-16 Block 70/72, also referred to as the F-16V, is a fourth-generation multirole fighter aircraft. It is the latest version of Lockheed Martin's F-16 ...

• Air: Displays

  F-16 Center Pedestal Display

  Produced by Elbit Systems of America, the F-16 Center Pedestal Display (CPD) provides a high-resolution colour display that replaces several legacy instruments on F-16 aircraft. 

• Data links

  AN/APX-126

  The AN/APX-126 is a combined IFF interrogator and transponder developed by BAE Systems. Designed specifically for F-16 aircraft, it is in service with the US ...

• Marine engines

  MTU 595 series

  The MTU 595 series, manufactured by Rolls-Royce UK, consists of 12V and 16V versions of engines. The engines have a rated speed between 1500 to ...

• Air: Integrated Defensive Systems

  AN/ALQ-213(V) DAC

  Terma’s AN/ALQ-213(V) electronic warfare management unit is used extensively on General Dynamics/Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon series combat aircraft around the world. The AN/ALQ-213(V) is ...

• Fighter - multirole

  KF-16

  The KF-16 is a third-generation multirole fighter aircraft domestically produced by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) based on the F-16C/D Block 52 to meet the local ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  JHMCS II

  The Joint Helmet-Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS) is a joint USAF/USN programme that has fielded over 5,000 systems. The JHMCS is qualified on F-15, F-16 and ...

• Marine engines

  16V 1163 TB 93

  The 16V 1163 TB 93 is manufactured by Rolls-Royce UK and is a part of the 16V 1163 family of engines. The engine measures 4668mm ...

• Marine engines

  MTU 16V 2000 M94

  Manufactured by Rolls-Royce subsidiary MTU, the MTU 16V 2000 M94 delivers power up to 1939 kw at a maximum speed of 2450 rpm. The engine ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-16C/D Block 25, 30/32, 40/42

  The F-16C/D ('C' one-seat, 'D' two-seat designation) is the second generation of the F-16 Fighting Falcon family. The production of the F-16C/D began in 1983 with ...

• EO/IR systems

  DB/MS-110

  The DB-110 is a long-range oblique photography (LOROP) EO/IR dual-band sensor that combines visible and IR imaging. MS-110 represents the next generation of the widely deployed ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-16C/D Block 50/52/52+

  A member of the F-16 Fighting Falcon family, the F-16C/D Block 50/52 ('C' single-seat, 'D' dual-seat) is a third-generation multirole fighter that was rolled out ...

• 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 ...

• Marine engines

  MTU 4000

  The MTU Series 4000 is manufactured by Rolls-Royce UK. The engine consists of a 90° V cylinder configuration and has a displacement/cylinder capacity of 4.77 ...

• Fixed wing aircraft engines, Uncrewed aerial systems engines

  F110-GE-129

  The F110-GE-129, manufactured by GE Aviation, is a derivative of the F110-GE-100 engine, sharing 81% of parts with the GE-100. The GE-129 engine is in ...