• Defence Notes

  Finland requests ‘improved package’ from HX fighter competitors

  1st November 2019

  The Finnish Defence Forces’ Logistics Command has issued a revised RfQ to HX Fighter Programme (HX-FP) competitors, specifically asking each for an ‘improved package’ from …

• Defence Helicopter

  Cobras slither into the Philippines

  27th November 2019

  On 26 November a pair of AH-1S Cobra helicopters arrived aboard a transport aircraft at Clark Air Base in the Philippines, these having been donated …

• Digital Battlespace

  AOC 2019: DARPA makes its case for Mosaic Warfare

  29th October 2019

  In an effort to move away from overarching CONOPS or C2 structures, DARPA has used the platform of AOC 2019 to make its case for …

• Digital Battlespace

  Honeywell sees ‘room for growth’ in Asia-Pacific

  27th November 2019

  Honeywell predicts growing demand to modernise military aircraft fleets in Asia-Pacific. Air forces around the region have ageing aircraft fleets, and this is boosting demand …

• Digital Battlespace

  Lockheed Martin's SSR gets US designation

  15th November 2019

  Lockheed Martin's Solid State Radar (LM SSR) has been designated AN/SPY-7(V)1 by the US government, the company announced on 14 November.The AN/SPY-7(V)1 has been selected …

• Digital Battlespace

  Boeing contracted for targeting processor kits for US, Australian F/A-18s

  7th November 2019

  The US Navy has awarded Boeing $35.2 million to produce Distributed Targeting Processor-Network retrofit kits for the F/A-18 fighter.  It covers the delivery of kits …

• Naval Warfare

  HMS Prince of Wales arrives at home port

  18th November 2019

  The Royal Navy’s second aircraft carrier, HMS Prince of Wales, has arrived at its home port of Portsmouth Naval Base for the first time. The …

• Military Logistics

  KAMS certified as F-16 Falcon MRO depot

  1st November 2019

  Kongsberg Aviation Maintenance Services (KAMS) has been certified by Lockheed Martin as the first global F-16 Falcon maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) depot. The certification …

• Defence Notes

  ROK requests AMRAAM from US

  18th October 2019

  The US State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale of AIM-120C-7/C-8 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) to the Republic …

• Defence Notes

  RAF Typhoons arrive in Iceland

  14th November 2019

  Royal Air Force (RAF) Typhoons from 1(Fighter) Squadron have arrived in Iceland to carry out the Icelandic NATO Air Policing Mission.The fighters will spend the …

• Training

  US, Norwegian aircraft train together

  12th November 2019

  US and Norwegian aircraft have carried out training together over the Barents Sea north of Norway. Three US Air Force B-52 Stratofortress aircraft flew together …

• Digital Battlespace

  AOC 2019: Saab pushes latest countermeasures for international market

  5th November 2019

  Sweden’s Saab opted to use the AOC exhibition and conference in Washington, DC, in late-October to push its range of airborne countermeasure and surveillance systems, …

• Naval Warfare

  UK F-35s land onboard HMS Queen Elizabeth

  14th October 2019

  UK F-35 Lightning jets have landed onboard HMS Queen Elizabeth for the first time as part of operational trials being carried out off the East …

• Digital Battlespace

  Raytheon to develop new airborne towed decoy

  30th October 2019

  Raytheon has received a US Navy Demonstration of Existing Technology contract to develop a modern towed decoy for the F/A-18 E/F, the company announced on …

• Defence Helicopter

  D&S 2019: No resolution in sight for Malaysian MD 530G saga

  15th November 2019

  Malaysia’s MoD issued a press statement on 1 November stating that delivery of six MD 530G helicopters had been delayed as a result of various …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Fighter - multirole

  F-35I Adir (51-75) [Israel]

  Programme Background On 15 February 2015, Israel signed an FMS deal to procure 33 F-35A (F-35I Adir) fighter aircraft with an option of 17. Israel ...

• 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-35A Japan

  In 2019, Japan requested to be an official partner in the F-35 programme, but this request was rejected by the Pentagon. The F-35 Joint Strike ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Multirole Fighter [Turkiye]

  Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said that Turkey had already paid $1.4 billion into the programme, while its defence industry has ploughed significant sums into ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-35A (61-75) [Italy]

  Programme Background Requirement In 2009, the Italian MoD planned to purchase 131 F-35 aircraft, which was later reduced to 90. According to the MoD documentation, ...

• Fighter - naval

  F-35B (31-40) [Italy]

  Programme Background Requirement In 2009, the Italian MoD planned to purchase 131 F-35 aircraft, which was later reduced to 90. According to the MoD documentation, ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | F-X III Phase II (F-35)

  South Korea is purchasing an additional 20 F-35 aircraft for about $3.3 billion under the second phase of F-X III programme, according to the Defense ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  Air: Helmet-mounted displays | F-X III Phase II (F-35)

  South Korea is purchasing an additional 20 F-35 aircraft for about $3.3 billion under the second phase of F-X III programme, according to the Defense ...

• Data links

  Data links | F-X III Phase II (F-35)

  South Korea is purchasing an additional 20 F-35 aircraft for about $3.3 billion under the second phase of F-X III programme, according to the Defense ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | F-X III Phase II (F-35)

  South Korea is purchasing an additional 20 F-35 aircraft for about $3.3 billion under the second phase of F-X III programme, according to the Defense ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | F-X III Phase II (F-35)

  South Korea is purchasing an additional 20 F-35 aircraft for about $3.3 billion under the second phase of F-X III programme, according to the Defense ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  Next-Generation Trainer Aircraft - UAE

  The UAE has a requirement for a next-generation fighter aircraft and possible platforms include F-35, F-16V, F/A-18, Rafale and Su-35. The UAE has historically sought ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-35A (1-32) [Poland]

  Programme Background During MSPO 2021, Lockheed Martin announced details related to F-35A manufacturing for the Polish Air Force. According to J.R McDonald, Lockheed Martin’s VP, business ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-35A Japan Follow On

  The F-35 full-rate production is expected to be further delayed following an October 2020 US DoD announcement that postponed the simulation tests, originally planned for 2017 ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | F-35B Follow-On [UK]

  The Royal Air Force is planning to acquire 90 F-35B Joint Strike Fighters from 2026, in addition to the 48 aircraft which London had ordered for delivery ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Fighter - multirole

  F-35I Adir

  The F-35I Adir is an F-35A Lightning II variant customised to meet the requirements of the Israel Defense Forces to replace the F-16 fleet in ...

• Air-to-surface missiles, Anti-ship missiles

  JSM

  The Joint Strike Missile (JSM) is a multi-role version of the Naval Strike Missile. Norway funded the programme to develop and produce the JSM for the ...

• EO/IR systems

  F-35 Lightning II Advanced EOTS

  The F-35 Lightning II Electro-Optical Targeting System (EOTS) is a sensor that combines targeting forward-looking IR (FLIR) and IR search and track (IRST) capabilities for ...

• Fixed wing aircraft engines

  F135

  The F135, designed and developed by Pratt & Whitney, is one of the most advanced fighter engines in the world that delivers more than 40,000lb ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  F-35 Gen III HMDS

  The F-35 Gen III helmet-mounted display system (HMDS) is provided by a joint venture between Elbit Systems of America and Rockwell Collins, developed for the F-35 ...

• Fighter - multirole, Fighter - naval

  F-35B

  The F-35B Lightning II is a fifth-generation multirole combat aircraft with short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) capability. The USMC is the main customer for the F-35B, ...

• Unguided Medium Calibre Ammunition

  25mm PGU-48/B

  The 25mm PGU-48/B is a medium-calibre armour-penetrating round manufactured by American Rheinmetall. The US Air Force uses the PGU-48/B with its F-35 aircraft.

• Fighter - multirole, Fighter - naval

  F-35C

  The F-35C Lightning II, also known as the F-35 carrier variant (CV), is a fifth-generation multirole combat aircraft in carrier configuration. It has larger wings and ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-35A

  The F-35A Lightning II is a fifth-generation multirole combat aircraft with CTOL capabilities. It is a multinational programme led by the US DoD, bringing together ...

• Air: AEW/fire control radar

  AN/APG-81

  AN/APG-81 is operating in the X-band active electronically scanned array (AESA) fire control radar designed by Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems for the F-35 “Lightning” all-weather ...

• Air: fixed-wing flight simulators

  F-35 Training System

  BAE Systems is involved in F-35 Lightning II Training System design and sustainment, working with prime contractor Lockheed Martin. BAE Systems leads the instructional systems ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  KC-130J Super Hercules

  The KC-130J Super Hercules is a tanker variant of the C-130J Super Hercules. It is designed to deliver fuel to several platforms, including helicopters and ...

• Air: Displays

  Panoramic Cockpit Display

  Developed by L3Harris and Elbit Systems America, the Panoramic Cockpit Display (PCD) is a touchscreen MFD integrated into F-35 aircraft. It provides two electronically divided ...

• Fixed wing aircraft engines

  F414-GE-400

  The F414-GE-400 is a turbofan engine manufactured by GE Aviation and has various advanced technology features such as a Full Authority Digital Electronic Control (FADEC), ...

• Guided munitions

  GBU-53/B StormBreaker

  GBU-53/B StormBreaker is a precision-guided glide bomb developed by Raytheon to equip F-15, F/A-18 and F-35. It is also known as the Small Diameter Bomb II. The StormBreaker includes a ...