• Digital Battlespace

  Ferra Engineering bags export contract

  25th July 2017

  Ferra Engineering has received a contract from Thales Germany to build sub-assemblies for Phoenice, Thales’ tactical navigation radar system for submarines, the Australian Department of …

• Training

  Inzpire to support Protector RPAS training development

  21st July 2017

  Inzpire will provide subject matter expertise to support the development of training for the Royal Air Force’s future Protector UAS. The company announced a contract …

• Digital Battlespace

  Northrop to deliver SATCOMs for ADF

  13th July 2017

  Northrop Grumman has received a contract worth AUD$223 million to build a satellite ground station and a wideband satellite communications (SATCOM) network management system for …

• Military Logistics

  F-35A OBISC opened at RAAF Williamtown

  10th July 2017

  The Royal Australian Air Force’s (RAAF) first F-35A Joint Strike Fighter facilities have opened at RAAF Base Williamtown, the Australian Department of Defence announced on …

• Training

  RAAF upgraded Hawks begin training

  7th July 2017

  The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) has commenced flights on the upgraded Hawk Advanced Jet Traineraircraft, with the Initial Operating Capability for the Lead-In Fighter …

• Digital Battlespace

  Australia to upgrade E-7A Wedgetail

  7th July 2017

  The Royal Australian Air Force’s (RAAF's) E-7A Wedgetail airborne early warning and control capability is set for an upgrade, the Australian Department of Defence (DoD) …

• Land Warfare

  Norinco shows off active protection and new AFVs

  23rd August 2017

  The North Industries Corporation (Norinco), China’s largest manufacturer of armoured vehicles, successfully demonstrated its GL5 active protection system (APS) before more than 200 dignitaries from …

• Digital Battlespace

  Milrem UGV performs MANET role

  18th August 2017

  Communications specialist, Silvus Technologies, has integrated a mobile ad hoc network payload on board an unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) for the first time as it seeks …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Assured Autonomy programme launched

  18th August 2017

  DARPA has launched a new programme called Assured Autonomy that aims to advance and enhance the adoption of autonomous systems in safety-critical defence applications. The …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  NCSIST displays new loitering munition

  17th August 2017

  Taiwan’s state-owned National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST) displayed its new anti-radiation loitering munition at the biennial Taipei Aerospace and Defence Technology Exhibition …

• Training

  SilverLining 5 SDK released

  16th August 2017

  Sundog Software has released a new version of its SilverLining software development kit (SDK), the company announced on 11 August.SilverLining 5 includes new representations of …

• Special Operations

  US SOF considers new water purifier

  16th August 2017

  The Sustainment and Distribution Company of the US Army’s 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) is trialling a new water purification system, the army announced on …

• Military Logistics

  Lockheed wins SOF GLSS contract

  15th August 2017

  Lockheed Martin has been selected as the prime contractor for US Special Operations Command’s (USSOCOM's) next-generation logistics and sustainment support programme, the company announced on …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Enhanced UTAP-22 Mako in testing

  14th August 2017

  Kratos Defense and Security Solutions has completed a flight test series evaluating the next evolution of the UTAP-22 Mako UAS, the company announced on 10 …

• Digital Battlespace

  PDR for L-band reflectors completed

  11th August 2017

  Astro Aerospace has successfully completed the Preliminary Design Review (PDR) of the L-band reflectors for two Inmarsat-6 series satellites, Northrop Grumman announced on 9 August. …

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 ...