• Defence Helicopter

  SOFEX 2018: Upgraded Cobra on the prowl

  8th May 2018

  An upgraded variant of the Royal Jordanian Air Force’s (RJAF) AH-1F Cobra attack helicopter is on display for the first time at SOFEX 2018. The …

• Digital Battlespace

  US Army receives new communication system

  15th May 2018

  The US Army has introduced a new communication system to the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team ahead of a company-level combined arms live-fire exercise, the …

• Training

  US Army examines training options

  1st May 2018

  The US Army is examining a number of new training initiatives to ensure the infantry retains overmatch as near-peer adversaries and terrorist organisations continue to …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Tactical Robotics demos Cormorant UAS to IDF

  28th May 2018

  Tactical Robotics has demonstrated its Cormorant multirole UAS to the Israel Defence Forces (IDF), the company announced on 22 May. During the demonstration, which took …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  ScanEagle 3 could push price point down for original platform

  18th May 2018

  Just two weeks after unveiling its ITAR-free ScanEagle 3 design at Xponential in Denver, Insitu made its first public flight of the new UAV at …

• Training

  Leidos receives SE Core contract

  17th May 2018

  Leidos has received a contract from the US Army Contracting Command – Orlando to develop and provide simulated training environments to meet US Army requirements, …

• Land Warfare

  Latvia begins trials for new tactical 4x4

  15th May 2018

  Testing has begun on four platforms selected by the Latvian Ministry of Defence for phase two of the nation's acquisition of new 4x4 tactical vehicles. …

• Defence Notes

  Britain backs French plan for European defence force

  5th May 2018

  Britain is backing a French plan to create a European military intervention force as a way to maintain strong defence ties with the EU after …

• Training

  QinetiQ to buy EIS Aircraft Group

  27th April 2018

  QinetiQ Group has entered into an agreement to acquire EIS Aircraft Operations, which is currently part of the EIS Aircraft Group, QinetiQ announced on 24 …

• Naval Warfare

  South Korea launches second LPH

  16th May 2018

  Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction (HHIC) ceremonially launched a landing platform helicopter (LPH) – the second Dokdo-class amphibious assault ship – in Busan on 14 …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Leonardo completes satellite-controlled European MALE-class UAS flight

  24th May 2018

  Leonardo has completed the first flight campaign to demonstrate satellite control of a European-built Medium Altitude Long Endurance class (MALE) UAS, the company announced on …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  ENAV selects Leonardo for UAS UTM system

  29th May 2018

  Leonardo has been selected by ENAV as its industrial partner for the development of an Italian UAS traffic management (UTM) system, the company announced on …

• Naval Warfare

  Australian Navy’s third AWD launched

  22nd May 2018

  The Australian Navy’s third and final Air Warfare Destroyer (AWD), the future HMAS Sydney, has been launched at the Osborne Naval Shipyard in South Australia, Navantia …

• Special Operations

  Orbit develops MPT 30 SATCOM terminal

  21st May 2018

  Orbit Communications Systems has developed a 12-inch Multi-Purpose Terminal (MPT 30) for airborne satellite communications, the company announced on 17 May. The MPT 30 terminal …

• Digital Battlespace

  CIA faces crippling challenges in China

  17th May 2018

  China’s perfection of facial recognition and gait detection software, integrated into algorithms that have access to millions of profiles of ‘blacklisted’ individuals, would give Cold …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | Penetrating Counter Air (PCA) [USA]

  The United States Air Force (USAF) is working on the F-47 Penetrating Counter Air (PCA) aircraft, which is intended to replace F-22s in service and ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  Air: Helmet-mounted displays | Penetrating Counter Air (PCA) [USA]

  The United States Air Force (USAF) is working on the F-47 Penetrating Counter Air (PCA) aircraft, which is intended to replace F-22s in service and ...

• Data links

  Data links | Penetrating Counter Air (PCA) [USA]

  The United States Air Force (USAF) is working on the F-47 Penetrating Counter Air (PCA) aircraft, which is intended to replace F-22s in service and ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | Penetrating Counter Air (PCA) [USA]

  The United States Air Force (USAF) is working on the F-47 Penetrating Counter Air (PCA) aircraft, which is intended to replace F-22s in service and ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | Penetrating Counter Air (PCA) [USA]

  The United States Air Force (USAF) is working on the F-47 Penetrating Counter Air (PCA) aircraft, which is intended to replace F-22s in service and ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  UH-60M Black Hawk [Latvia]

  Programme Background In August 2018, the Latvian government approved the acquisition of four UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters. The UH-60Ms are intended for both military and ...

• Transport

  King Air 360 [Nigeria]

  Programme Background On 7 October 2021, Nigeria’s Budget Office published its proposed budget details. The Nigerian Air Force requested 10.86 billion Nigerian Naira (US$26.4 million) ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  Light Attack/Trainer Aircraft - Ghana

  In 2013, the Chief of Ghana Air Force stated that A-29 is their preferred platform and this position was also submitted to the Government. In ...

• Trainer

  PC-21 [France]

  Programme  Background The French Air and Space Force has chosen Dassault Aviation and Babcock to provide between nine and 13 Pilatus PC-21 aircraft for Phase ...

• Transport

  C-130J - USAF

  Programme Background The C-130J Super Hercules is a four-engine turboprop transport aircraft developed by Lockheed Martin to replace aging C-130 variants. The US and FMS ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  T-2E Replacement - Greece

  The average unit cost is estimated to be around $12 million based on the Czech Republic's $48.5 million deal for the purchase of four L-39NG ...

• Bomber

  B-21 Raider [USA]

  Programme Background Development The US DoD is developing a new long-range bomber called the B-21 Raider, previously known as LRS-B. At least 100 units are ...

• Trainer

  Trainer Aircraft (1-12) [Vietnam]

  Programme Background After years of operating Russian-built military equipment, Vietnam is more willing to procure US-supplied equipment following the lifting of the arms embargo in ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | KC-130J [Saudi Arabia]

  Royal Saudi Air Force is seeking to purchase three KC-130J tanker aircraft in addition to two units acquired under foreign military sale (FMS) programme. On 9 ...

• Data links

  Data links | KC-130J [Saudi Arabia]

  Royal Saudi Air Force is seeking to purchase three KC-130J tanker aircraft in addition to two units acquired under foreign military sale (FMS) programme. On 9 ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Air: EO/IR – Jamming Systems

  AN/AAQ-45

  Leonardo’s AN/AAQ-45 Distributed Aperture Infrared Countermeasures is designed to equip rotorcraft. The system is being installed on Sikorsky HH-60G Pave Hawk medium-lift utility helicopters used ...

• Air: Electronic Attack - Jamming

  J/ALQ-8

  Like Israel, Japan elected to outfit its McDonnell Douglas/Boeing F-15J/DJ combat aircraft with an indigenous self-protection system. This takes the form of Mitsubishi Electric’s J/ALQ-8 ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  FAB-T Force Element Terminal

  The Family of Advanced Beyond Line-of-Sight Terminals - Force Element Terminal (FAB-T FET) is a nuclear-hardened SATCOM solution designed for airborne applications. Produced by Raytheon, ...

• Unguided Medium Calibre Ammunition

  25mm PGU-48/B

  The 25mm PGU-48/B is a medium-calibre armour-penetrating round manufactured by American Rheinmetall. The US Air Force uses the PGU-48/B with its F-35 aircraft.

• Unguided Medium Calibre Ammunition

  25mm PGU-23/U

  The 25mm PGU-23/U is a medium-calibre training round manufactured by General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems. The US Air Force utilises it with its AC-130 and ...

• Land: soldier modernisation systems - industry programmes

  Warrior Systems

  General Dynamics Mission Systems is prime contractor and system integrator for the US Army’s Warrior soldier systems, which include Air Warrior, Future Force Warrior, Land Warrior ...

• Air: mission management systems

  TBMCS

  Theater Battle Management Core Systems (TBMCS) is a US joint C2 integrated BMS used to plan and execute air campaigns in theatres of operations worldwide. ...

• 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 ...

• Unguided Medium Calibre Ammunition

  30mm PGU-13B High Explosive Incendiary

  The 30mm 30mm PGU-13B High Explosive Incendiary (HEI) is a medium-calibre munition manufactured by Northrop Grumman. The US Air Force uses the PGU-13B HEI with ...

• 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 ...

• Trainer

  T-6A/B Texan II

  The T-6 Texan II is a single-engine trainer aircraft, which was developed from the Pilatus PC-9 to meet the training requirements of USAF and USN ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing

  CLS-200

  The CLS-200 is part of the Yates Electrospace Corporation Silent Arrow family. It is a powered cargo-carrying one-use UAV, based on the company's GD-2000 glider.  In ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-4 Phantom II family

  The F-4 Phantom II is a two-seat multirole fighter developed originally by McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) to meet USN interceptor requirements. It soon became a unified ...

• 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: surveillance and maritime patrol radar, Air: UAS radar

  Lynx

  The Lynx (AN/APY-8) is a synthetic aperture radar manufactured by General Atomics. It is designed for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance for manned and unmanned aircraft. According to ...