• Training

  I/ITSEC 2016: CM Labs announces Vortex Studio

  1st December 2016

  CM Labs Simulations has used this year’s I/ITSEC in Orlando, Florida, to showcase several applications for its new Vortex Studio simulation and visualisation software, as …

• Land Warfare

  Raytheon signs $225 million Patriot contract

  1st December 2016

  Raytheon has announced that it signed a contract with an undisclosed customer in October to provide additional capability for the user’s Patriot Integrated Air and …

• Defence Helicopter

  FAB helis achieve flying milestone

  1st December 2016

  Força Aérea Brasileira (FAB) has reached 150,000 flight hours across its fleet of Airbus Helicopters, the Brazilian air force has announced. FAB operates 33 aircraft …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Certifiable Predator B flies in California

  1st December 2016

  General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) announced on 28 November that its Type-Certifiable Predator B (TCPB) variant has successfully completed its first flight test at Gray …

• Defence Helicopter

  Belarus receives Mi-8MTV-5 helicopters

  1st December 2016

  Russian Helicopters’ subsidiary, Kazan Helicopters, has delivered first batch of Mi-8MTV-5 helicopters to Belarus, the company announced on 28 November. The six helicopters were delivered …

• Training

  I/ITSEC 2016: Open architectures in, proprietary out

  30th November 2016

  Open architecture is a key buzzword permeating any new acquisition strategy outlined by a defence department, particularly when it comes to the ‘plug-and-play’ approach for …

• Training

  I/ITSEC 2016: MetaVR outlines terrain improvements

  30th November 2016

  Thousands of feet in the air a US Navy P-8 Poseidon peers down to the ocean surface, using its on-board thermal sensors it can see …

• Training

  I/ITSEC 2016: Boeing sees 20/20 (video)

  30th November 2016

  Boeing launched its 20/20 Constant Resolution Visual System (CRVS) at I/ITSEC in Orlando, adding to its CRVS family of products.  The new technology demonstrator enables …

• Training

  I/ITSEC 2016: Leaders remain positive on LVC future

  30th November 2016

  Senior service leaders from all branches of the US military have used this year’s I/ITSEC to vocalise their support for a move towards blended, networked …

• Defence Helicopter

  Colombian civil heli market opens up

  30th November 2016

  Sikorsky has secured its position in South America through a recent offshore and utility type certification for a series of the company’s rotorcraft. The certification for the …

• Training

  I/ITSEC 2016: NATO field HQs go virtual

  30th November 2016

  NATO’s Allied Command Transformation (NATO-ACT) is using this year’s I/ITSEC to demonstrate a new virtual operational headquarters (VOHQ) concept, designed to bring personnel from different …

• Training

  I/ITSEC 2016: Leidos leads the way with air defence trainer (video)

  30th November 2016

  Leidos showcased its Live Instrumented ZPU-4 Anti-Aircraft Gun at I/ITSEC in Orlando with its new Future Integrated Excon after action review tool.  Shephard spoke with David Rees, …

• Naval Warfare

  Bergamini fires ASTER 30 missile

  30th November 2016

  The Italian FREMM frigate Bergamini has successfully conducted its first firing of the ASTER 30 missile at the PISQ facility in Eastern Sardinia, OCCAR announced on 25 November. The firing …

• Training

  I/ITSEC 2016: UK selects VBS3 – at last

  30th November 2016

  The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has selected Bohemia Interactive Simulations’ (BISim's) Virtual Battlespace 3 (VBS3) as the winner of its Defence Virtual Simulation (DVS) …

• Naval Warfare

  UK leads US Task Force 50

  30th November 2016

  The British Royal Navy has taken charge of US Task Force 50 in the Gulf for the first time, it was announced on 26 November. …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | M-346 FA [Brazil]

  Brazil is evaluating the procurement of up to 30 Leonardo M-346 light attack aircraft under a potential agreement with Italy, aimed at modernising its aerial ...

• Data links

  Data links | M-346 FA [Brazil]

  Brazil is evaluating the procurement of up to 30 Leonardo M-346 light attack aircraft under a potential agreement with Italy, aimed at modernising its aerial ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  Air: Helmet-mounted displays | M-346 FA [Brazil]

  Brazil is evaluating the procurement of up to 30 Leonardo M-346 light attack aircraft under a potential agreement with Italy, aimed at modernising its aerial ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | M-346 FA [Brazil]

  Brazil is evaluating the procurement of up to 30 Leonardo M-346 light attack aircraft under a potential agreement with Italy, aimed at modernising its aerial ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | M-346 FA [Brazil]

  Brazil is evaluating the procurement of up to 30 Leonardo M-346 light attack aircraft under a potential agreement with Italy, aimed at modernising its aerial ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  KC-390 [Brazil]

  Programme Background Requirement The aircraft deliveries were scheduled to start by the end of 2016 and continue over a period of ten years. However,  the first ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  C-130H Replacement [Sweden]

  Programme Background Requirements Sweden has five C-130H aircraft (designated Tp-84) and one KC-130H. Two C-130Es bought in the 1960s have retired, but the six H ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  Hermes 900 [Chile]

  Methodology Unit cost In 2024, the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) acquired one Hermes 900 for 50 million reais ($9.14 million), giving each drone an estimated ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  H145M [Brazil]

  Background  Brazilian leadership announced in February 2022 that the Sabre Mil Mi-35M Hind-E attack helicopters were being retired from active service. This decision came as a ...

• Fighter - multirole

  JAS 39E/F Gripen [Brazil]

  Background In 2016, Gripen’s Project and Development Center was opened in Sao Paulo to allow Sweedish and Brazillian engineers to work together in the Gripen ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  Hermes 900 [Colombia]

  Methodology Unit cost In 2024, the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) acquired one Hermes 900 for 50 million reais ($9.14 million), giving each drone an estimated gross ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  Hermes 900 (5) [Brazil]

  Background First three batches (2014-2024) Across three purchases, Defence Insight estimates that Brazil has acquired five Hermes 900 UAVs. In 2014, Elbit reported supplying one ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  Hermes 900 (1-4) [Brazil]

  Background First batch (2014) In 2014, Elbit reported supplying one Hermes 900 UAV to the Brazilian Air Force (FAB). The drone is called the RQ-900 in Brazilian ...

• Maritime patrol

  C295 add-on [Brazil]

  Programme Background  In 2014 Brazil signed a contracted for two additional C-295 SAR platforms with the option to acquire one additional platform. In 2018, reports ...

• Sealift/replenishment vessels

  Polar Support Vessel [Brazil]

  Programme Background Requirements In June 2020, the Brazilian Navy released a Request for Proposal (RfP) to procure a new Antarctic vessel to be manufactured in Brazil. The ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Air-to-surface missiles

  MAR-1

  The MAR-1 is a Brazilian air-to-surface anti-radiation missile (ARM) developed by Mectron in collaboration with the Aerospace Technology and Science Department (DCTA) of the Brazilian ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - small

  Harpia

  Described as the UAV with the most onboard technology in Latin America, Harpia is a multifunctional fixed-wing Brazilian drone developed by Advanced Technologies Security & Defence.  The Uruguayan ...

• 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: air combat simulators

  TPTS

  Tactical Procedures Training Simulators (TPTS), operating with SWARM software, can be used to provide most core training elements to pilots or offload training tasks from ...

• Guided munitions

  SMKB (Smart-MK-Bomb)

  The Smart-MK-Bomb, or the SMKB, is a precision guidance kit developed by Mectron and designed to turn Mk 82 and Mk 83 bombs into guided munitions.

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  Albatroz Vortex

  The Albatroz Vortex from Stella Tecnologia is a development of the company's Albatroz UAV.  The key differentiator is that the Vortex is fitted with an ATJR ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  Condor

  The Condor, or Atobá XR, is an in-development MALE-class UAV from Stella Technologia.  The development of the multi-role is tied to the Brazilian Air Force (FAB), which has ...

• Trainer, Transport

  EMB-121 Xingu

  The EMB-121 Xingu is a twin-turboprop light transport and advanced multi-engine trainer aircraft developed by Embraer based on the EMB-110 Bandeirante. Its maiden flight was ...

• Land: battle management systems

  Arkhe Mission & Combat

  Launched in 2017, Atech's Arkhe Mission & Combat solutions offer a variety of solutions enabling operator to conduct missions from planning to execution and debriefing. It ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  KC-390/C-390 Millennium

  The KC-390 is a high-wing, twin-turbofan, T-tail design intended to meet the needs of the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) for a tanker/transport aircraft. Developed and ...

• 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 ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  H225M

  The medium-weight, 11t-class H225M (formerly known as the EC725) is the latest military Super Puma/Cougar family member.  Technical features include a modular design of mechanical ...

• EO/IR systems

  Skyward

  The SkyWard system is an advanced Infrared Search and Track (IRST) solution developed for next-generation airborne platforms, including 5th-generation fighter aircraft.  Designed with modularity in ...

• Land: air defence radar

  Saber M60

  The Saber M60 is a low-altitude air-defence radar developed by the Brazilian Army's CTEx (Army Technology Centre) in collaboration with Bradar, part of Embraer Defence ...

• Man-portable missile systems

  RBS 70 system

  The RBS 70 was developed in the 1970s to meet the Swedish Army’s requirement for a low-cost, easy-to-use MANPADS which could function in extreme climatic ...