• Defence Notes

  Putin’s war in Ukraine has far-reaching implications for Asian militaries

  3rd March 2022

  There is potential for future Asian imports of Russian equipment to be hammered hard, and for increasing difficulties in maintaining current equipment, after Putin's ill-advised invasion of Ukraine.

• Air Warfare

  Acceleration is the name of the game for TF-X

  21st January 2022

  With the backing of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkish Aerospace recently opened a new engineering centre to speed up its work on the TF-X indigenous fighter programme.

• Air Warfare

  US approves MQ-9 Reaper follow-on support sale to France

  10th January 2022

  France has contracted General Atomics, with US governmental support, to supply MQ-9 Reaper follow-on support.

• Land Warfare

  FAMAE sets sights on 122mm MLRS

  11th January 2022

  Chilean manufacturer FAMAE has already developed a 70mm MLRS but it is working towards completing a full prototype of a 122mm system this year.

• Training

  I/ITSEC 2021: Hunters become the hunted for USAF

  25th November 2021

  Boeing is to convert more F-16Cs into supersonic aerial targets.

• Land Warfare

  K9 SPH gains its first African customer

  2nd February 2022

  The K9 155mm self-propelled howitzer has achieved its largest export sale to date, with the Egyptian Army lodging a large order.

• Defence Helicopter

  Singapore brings home additional batches of helicopters

  14th January 2022

  Singapore has received new batches of helicopters from France and the US.

• Air Warfare

  Australia receives first upgraded C-130J

  16th January 2022

  Australia is upgrading its C-130J fleet and has prepared the way for a future P-8A upgrade, but the RAAF is struggling with its much-delayed C-27J programme.

• Training

  Brazil commissions SH-70 TOFT

  10th January 2022

  The Brazilian Navy has commissioned its new CAE SH-70B TOFT and has started training aircrew from Esqd HS-1.

• Air Warfare

  Northrop Grumman integrates Dragon’s Eye with F-16

  19th November 2021

  Northrop Grumman’s platform-agnostic AN/ASQ-236 Dragon’s Eye Pod achieves first flight on an operational F-16.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  General Atomics trusts in Mojave UAV investment to disrupt SOF market

  17th December 2021

  General Atomics has grand ambitions for its newest UAV Mojave and is backing itself to secure orders from SOF operators.

• Air Warfare

  Taiwan’s first wing of F-16Vs begins operations

  21st November 2021

  Taiwan has commissioned its first unit of upgraded F-16 fighters that were modernised under the Peace Phoenix Rising programme.

• Naval Warfare

  Fire aboard Provorny disrupts Project 20385

  24th January 2022

  Was damage to the corvette Provorny in a December 2021 fire more serious than the Russian Navy and MoD care to admit?

• Air Warfare

  BAE Systems to advance F-35 EW systems

  16th December 2021

  Lockheed Martin has contracted BAE Systems to upgrade the F-35’s EW system.

• Training

  I/ITSEC 2021: Treality SVS wins fast-jet training display business

  30th November 2021

  Despite changes in ownership, Treality SVS is focusing on its core business and continues to notch-up significant contract successes.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Fighter - multirole

  F-35A [Netherlands]

  Programme Background The Netherlands was planning to procure a total of 46 aircraft for €5,5 billion ($6.17 billion) to replace its ageing F-16 Fighting Falcon ...

• Trainer

  S-211 Replacement [Philippines]

  Programme Background Requirement The Philippines is looking at replacement options for its ageing fleet of S-211 trainer jets. The S-211s have been in operation with ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-16V (1-8) [Bulgaria]

  Programme Background Requirement Bulgarian MoD plans to procure 16 new-built fighter aircraft to replace its fleet of 15 Russian-manufactured MiG-29 fighters. Lockheed Martin’s F-16 Block ...

• Maritime patrol

  AVSIMAR (France)

  Programme Background In November 2018, the French MoD announced that it awarded a contract for the detailed definition study of the future surveillance and maritime ...

• ISR/special mission

  Baekdu-II (South Korea)

  Programme Background This ISR aircraft programme, which first appeared on the 2020-24 Mid-Term Defense Acquisition Plan, comprises four Baekdu-II aircraft. These will add to two ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-16V (Jordan)

  Programme Background On 3 February 2022, the US State Department announced that it has approved a potential sale of 12 F-16 C Block 70 aircraft,  four ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-16V [Türkiye]

  Programme 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 ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-35A Denmark

  Denmark joined the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program in 2002 during the System Development and Demonstration phase and has influenced technical elements of the ...

• 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

  F-16V Block 70 (Bahrain)

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

• Fighter - multirole

  F-16 Replacement [Portugal]

  Programme Background At the Portuguese National Defense Conference on April 22, 2025, General João Cartaxo Alves reaffirmed that the F-35A remains the sole viable successor ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  Bradley M2A2 (Croatia)

  Programme Background First hinted at in 2017, the signing of a contract between Croatia and the US follows five years of negotiations. Seeking to fill ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | Next Generation Fighter (Romania)

  In February 2022 Romanian President Klaus Iohannis gave a speech stating that Romania was considering the acquisition of F-35 fighters to replace its F-16 inventory in ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  Air: Helmet-mounted displays | Next Generation Fighter (Romania)

  In February 2022 Romanian President Klaus Iohannis gave a speech stating that Romania was considering the acquisition of F-35 fighters to replace its F-16 inventory in ...

• Data links

  Data links | Next Generation Fighter (Romania)

  In February 2022 Romanian President Klaus Iohannis gave a speech stating that Romania was considering the acquisition of F-35 fighters to replace its F-16 inventory in ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Air: Electronic Attack - Jamming

  AN/ALQ-178(V)

  BAE System’s AN/ALQ-178(V) is an integrated self-protection system designed to protect combat aircraft. During its service life it has outfitted several airframes including the Dassault ...

• Fixed wing aircraft engines

  F101-GE-102

  Manufactured by GE Aviation, the F101-GE-102 was a turbofan engine that weighed 1,996kg and powered the B-1B Lancer. It delivered 30,000lbs of thrust. The engine’s ...

• 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

  AN/AAQ-14

  The AN/AAQ-14 LANTIRN (Low Altitude Navigation and Targeting Infrared for Night) targeting pod is a crucial component of the LANTIRN system, developed by Martin Marietta ...

• Air: AEW/fire control radar

  AN/APG-83 SABR

  The AN/APG-83 Scalable Agile Beam Radar (SABR) is an active electronically scanned array (AESA) fire control radar being developed by Northrop Grumman using its own ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-16E/F Block 60

  The F-16E/F Block 60/61 ('E' single-seat, 'F' dual-seat) is a fourth-generation multirole combat aircraft introduced as part of the Fighting Falcon family. It is also ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-16A/B Block 1, 5, 10, 15, 20

  The F-16 Fighting Falcon programme started as a low-cost, highly manoeuvrable day fighter to complement the higher-cost, heavier McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle air superiority fighter. ...

• Uncrewed aerial systems engines

  TJ 20A

  The TJ 20A is a small engine designed for UAV applications. The engine is controlled by a fuel pump, electronic valves and sensors integrated in ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-2A/B

  Based on the design of the F-16 Fighting Falcon family, the F-2 Support Fighter is a single-engine multirole fighter aircraft produced for the Japan Air ...

• Air: Integrated Defensive Systems

  ASPIS

  Raytheon’s Advanced Self-Protection Integrated Suite, better known as ASPIS, was developed to equip the Hellenic Air Force’s (HAF) fleet of General Dynamics/Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting ...

• 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 ...

• Air: AEW/fire control radar

  AN/APG-66

  The AN/APG-66 is an X-band, solid-state, medium-range pulse-Doppler radar designed for the F-16 Fighting Falcon, now adapted to platforms including Hawk 200, PBN Defender, Skyhawk, T-39N ...

• Fixed wing aircraft engines

  F100-PW-100

  The origin of the F100-PW-100 engine can be traced back to 1970 when Pratt & Whitney won a competition to design and manufacture the propulsion ...

• 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 ...

• Air-to-surface missiles

  PGM-500/PGM-2000

  The PGM-500 and PGM-2000 are short-range ASMs manufactured in the UK and the US. They were developed and originally manufactured by Alenia Marconi Systems and ...