• Digital Battlespace

  Global Xpress on track for 2013 launch

  12th November 2013

  The first spacecraft in Inmarsat’s Global Xpress satellite constellation remains on course to be launched by the end of the year, according to Andy Start, …

• Land Warfare

  General Dynamics completes GCV Preliminary Design Review

  11th November 2013

  General Dynamics Land Systems’ bid for the US Army Ground Combat Vehicle (GCV) programme has reached an important milestone with the completion of a successful …

• Military Logistics

  US Army integration labs target resource and energy efficiency

  8th November 2013

  The US Army’s Base Camp Integration Laboratory (BCIL) has already contributed to fuel and water savings in forward bases. Speaking at the second BCIL Base …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  FAA unveils inaugural UAS roadmap

  8th November 2013

  The FAA has released its first UAS roadmap aimed at facilitating and guiding the integration of civil platforms into the national airspace system (NAS). The …

• Defence Helicopter

  Poland advances weapons upgrade for combat helicopters

  8th November 2013

  Poland’s Ministry of Defence is considering the purchase of Ukrainian-built anti-tank and missile defence systems for its fleet of Mil Mi-24 combat helicopters, it has …

• Digital Battlespace

  Dutch armed forces receive multi-sensor systems

  8th November 2013

  FLIR Systems has started deliveries of its Recon B2-FO multi-sensor system to the Dutch Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO). Beating Sagem’s JIM LR multifunction cooled infrared …

• Land Warfare

  Thailand accepts first Oplot tanks

  8th November 2013

  Thailand completed the technical acceptance of 49 Oplot main battle tanks on 5 November. Manufactured by the Kharkiv Morozov Machine Building Design Bureau (KMDB) in …

• Digital Battlespace

  Northrop Grumman to continue Joint STARS sustainment

  8th November 2013

  Northrop Grumman has been awarded a $178 million contract to continue to sustain the US Air Force E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (Joint …

• Digital Battlespace

  New RF decoy for Gripen jets

  7th November 2013

  Selex ES’ BriteCloud Expendable Active Decoy (EAD) has been selected by Saab for use on-board the Gripen fighter jet. Launched on 6 November, the latest …

• Naval Warfare

  Northrop Grumman wins US Navy AN/SPQ-9B radar award

  7th November 2013

  Northrop Grumman will supply AN/SPQ-9B radar systems for the US Navy’s amphibious and Arleigh Burke class ships under a contract award worth $20.4 million. The …

• Land Warfare

  MEADS achieves new programme milestone

  7th November 2013

  The Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS) has marked a new milestone with the successful interception of two simultaneous targets attacking from opposite directions during …

• Land Warfare

  Hearing protection fielding to US Army

  6th November 2013

  Danish voice communications company, Invisio, will be equipping units with the US Army with soldier hearing protection systems. A spokesman told Shephard on 5 November …

• Land Warfare

  Polaris ATVs selected for USSOCOM

  6th November 2013

  Polaris Defense has been awarded a $30 million blanket purchase agreement (BPA) by US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) to provide two and four seat MRZR …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Arcturus T-20 UAV flies with COMINT/DF payload

  6th November 2013

  The Arcturus T-20 Tier II unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) has been integrated with a communication intelligence and direction finding (COMINT/DF) payload capable of detecting, intercepting, direction finding …

• Defence Notes

  Rockwell Collins opens simulation & training centre

  6th November 2013

  Rockwell Collins opened a new UK simulation and training facility in Burgess Hill, West Sussex, on 5 November. The centre will provide a focal point …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  OC-135B Replacement [USA]

  Programme Background The modification and Treaty Certification works include Digital Visual Imaging System kits, design and development for mission system integration (structural design, interphone communications systems, ...

• Military helicopters - scout/light attack

  Light Combat Helicopter (India - Air Force)

  Programme Background Requirement India's requirement for light attack helicopters capable of operating at high altitudes became apparent during the 1999 Kargil War. Originally planned to reach ...

• Military helicopters - scout/light attack

  Light Combat Helicopter (India - Army)

  Programme Background Requirement India's requirement for light attack helicopters capable of operating at high altitudes became apparent during the 1999 Kargil War. Originally planned to reach ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  Orlan-10 [Russian Navy]

  Background Frigate Augmentation Before Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the country planned to augment its Admiral Gorshkov class frigates with indigenously developed Orlan-10 ...

• Loitering munitions

  Loitering Munition [Switzerland]

  Background Announcement In a February 2023 interview with Swiss news outlet CH-Media, Swiss army chief Thomas Süssli stated that the country was considering acquiring loitering munitions ...

• Hybrid effector systems

  Lightweight Marine Air Defence Integrated System [US]

  Background The US Marine Corps' (USMC) Lightweight Marine Air Defence Integrated System (L-MADIS) supports deployed Marine Expeditionary Units with non-kinetic C-UAS capabilities and a shoulder-fired surface-to-air weapon for ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Shahed-171 (ANSU-200) [Venezuela]

  Background Independence Day Parade Venezuela operates the ANSU-200, a UAV with many visual similarities to the Shahed-171, which Defence Insight believes is a domestically produced ...

• Long Range Missile Defence Systems: > 90km range

  S-400 [India]

  Background India is modernising its air defence by procuring  S-400 LRSAM systems (Triumf Missile System), which are planned to be used by the Air Force.  The fifth system ...

• Destroyers

  Canadian Surface Combatant/River Class (1-3) [Canada]

  Background Requirements Fifteen frigates are being procured to replace the Royal Canadian Navy's 12 ageing Halifax-class frigates and the now-retired Iroquois-class destroyers with next-generation surface ...

• Land: air defence radar

  Ground Master 403 Radar [Egypt]

  Background In 2020, Egypt ordered four of France-based Thales Ground Master 403 radars, the mobile member of their GM400 radar family.  At least one of the ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | Pegasus SIGINT Aircraft (Follow-On) [Germany]

  In 2021, Germany awarded a contract to Hensoldt for the Kalaetron integrated SIGINT system to be installed on three Bombardier Global 6000 aircraft, forming the Persistent ...

• Data links

  Data links | Pegasus SIGINT Aircraft (Follow-On) [Germany]

  In 2021, Germany awarded a contract to Hensoldt for the Kalaetron integrated SIGINT system to be installed on three Bombardier Global 6000 aircraft, forming the Persistent ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | Pegasus SIGINT Aircraft (Follow-On) [Germany]

  In 2021, Germany awarded a contract to Hensoldt for the Kalaetron integrated SIGINT system to be installed on three Bombardier Global 6000 aircraft, forming the Persistent ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | Pegasus SIGINT Aircraft (Follow-On) [Germany]

  In 2021, Germany awarded a contract to Hensoldt for the Kalaetron integrated SIGINT system to be installed on three Bombardier Global 6000 aircraft, forming the Persistent ...

• Self-propelled guns

  Mangart 25 [Slovenia]

  Background Mangart 25 originated from a Slovenian national development project for a lightweight remotely controlled air-defence system. The development contract was signed with Valhalla Turrets ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Air: aerial targets

  Lakshya

  The Lakshya is an aerial target developed by India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for training fighter pilots in air-to-air combat or ground-based air ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  StreamCaster Mini 4210

  The StreamCaster Mini 4210 (SM4210) is a single-channel data radio (SCDR) that can create MANET mesh networks. It is currently in use with the US ...

• Air: mission management systems

  FireStorm

  FireStorm is an integrated targeting and mission management system for air-to-ground operations such as close air support, ground targeting and call for fire. It is ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  AW129

  The AW129 Mangusta (Mongoose, service designation) is a tandem two-seat, twin-engine attack helicopter originally developed for the Italian Army and subsequently developed into a multirole combat ...

• Air: mission management systems

  CMA-9000

  The CMA-9000  Flight and Radio Management System (FMS/RMS) is manufactured by the Canadian firm CMC Electronics. It is designed for a wide range of commercial, ...

• Air: aerial targets

  Chukar III

  The Chukar III, based on Northrop Grumman’s BQM-74E developed for the USN, is a high subsonic aerial jet target for export customers.

• Sea: weapon training, Military - USVs

  Sprite

  The Sprite is a USV developed by QinetiQ and designed for live-fire training exercises. 

• Air: aerial targets

  Banshee Whirlwind

  Originally made by Meggitt Target Systems, a company QinetiQ acquired in 2016, the Banshee is an aerial target and the first drone in the Banshee series.  ...

• Land: range systems and targets

  Badger UGV-T

  Badger is a remotely controlled, lightly armoured, all-terrain vehicle designed to exercise anti-armour combat systems. No permanent installations are required; Badger is transportable to and ...

• Sea: weapon training, Military - USVs

  Albatros-T

  The Aselsan Albatros-T is a high-speed, unmanned, surface-target boat manufactured by Aselsan. It is designed to be used as a moving target in shooting drills.

• Air: Integrated cockpit systems

  Integrated Avionics Suite

  Northrup Grumman's Integrated Avionics Suite is an open architecture mission equipment package, which can be deployed on a number of rotorcraft platforms. It consists of ...

• Air: aerial targets

  DO-SK6

  The DO-SK6 is a modular design tow body adaptable for various functions.

• Naval: RF/IR/acoustic decoys

  Integrated Decoy System

  Rafael's integrated ship-defence decoy system features real-time decoy deployment, fixed and/or rotating launchers and a computerised decoy controller that can be integrated with a ship’s ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Integrated Combat System

  The Integrated Combat System (ICS) is a combat management system being developed for the US Navy. The project, currently led by Lockheed Martin, aims to ...

• Air: air combat simulators

  Kuwait Air Force F/A-18 TOFT

  L3Harris Technologies has delivered two F/A-18C Tactical Operational Flight Trainers (TOFTs) built for the Kuwait Air Force (KAF). The high-fidelity TOFTs replace the KAF’s F/A-18 ...