• Training

  I/ITSEC 2016: VT MÄK selection

  7th December 2016

  CM Labs Simulations has announced that VT MÄK has selected its Vortex Studio Essentials to power high-fidelity vehicle simulation in their new VR-Engage multi-role virtual …

• Military Logistics

  RAAF extends GE engine support contract

  7th December 2016

  General Electric’s (GE’s) engine sustainment contract with the Australian Department of Defence has been expanded to include the engines on board the Royal Australian Air …

• Training

  I/ITSEC 2016: US Navy training for new platforms (video)

  6th December 2016

  The US Navy is continuing to field new training systems to get solors and other personnel up to speed with new platforms, such as the …

• Military Logistics

  C-17 drag reduction testing in progress

  6th December 2016

  Testing on improvements to reduce drag on the US Air Force’s C-17 Globemaster III aircraft is now in its final stages with the 418th Flight …

• Military Logistics

  Aging infrastructure challenges fleet readiness

  6th December 2016

  The commander of the US Navy's Fleet Readiness Centers (COMFRC) has outlined a range of challenges casting a shadow over fleet readiness, including an aging …

• Digital Battlespace

  SEA to upgrade CSH on Chilean frigates

  6th December 2016

  Cohort company SEA is set to commence work upgrading the Combat Systems Highway (CSH) infrastructure on-board the three ex-Royal Navy Type 23 frigates transferred to …

• Military Logistics

  Upgraded engine flies on C-130H

  6th December 2016

  A US Air Force C-130H aircraft has flown with a new upgraded Rolls-Royce engine with preliminary flight data showing positive results for fuel efficiency and …

• Land Warfare

  Lithuania to receive M577 from Germany

  6th December 2016

  The Lithuanian armed forces has signed a contract with the German Ministry of Defence for the acquisition of 168 M577 armoured personnel carriers. The contract …

• Defence Helicopter

  Safran turbine blade production automated

  6th December 2016

  Safran Helicopter Engines has commenced full manufacture of its turbine blades on a new automated production line, the company announced on 1 December. Every turbine blade …

• Land Warfare

  More weapon system upgrades for Bushmaster

  6th December 2016

  The Australian government has announced that additional army Bushmaster vehicles are to be upgraded with new weapon systems under an $11.2 million contract with Thales Australia. …

• Digital Battlespace

  GPS constellation has upgraded control system

  5th December 2016

  The US Air Force’s Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite constellation has a new fully operational upgraded ground control system, Lockheed Martin announced on 1 December. …

• Military Logistics

  Halifax class modernisation complete

  5th December 2016

  The final frigate of Canada’s Halifax Class Modernization project has been transferred back to the Department of National Defence, marking the end of the programme. …

• Training

  I/ITSEC 2016: Projection meets audio advancements in simulation (video)

  5th December 2016

  Projection experts Barco showcased its  exhibit the newest member to its 4K UHD laser phosphor projector family at I/ITSEC in Orlando.  The company also demonstrated its …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  FLIR Systems Acquires Prox Dynamics

  5th December 2016

  FLIR Systems has acquired Norway’s Prox Dynamics, manufacturer of the Black Hornet nano UAS, FLIR announced on 30 November. The purchase, for approximately $134 million, …

• Training

  I/ITSEC 2016: Barco unveils the F70

  5th December 2016

  Although seen by Shephard in 2015 in a whisper suite, I/ITSEC 2016 saw Barco unveil its F70 4K projector to the public. The laser phosphor …

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 ...