• Military Logistics

  US, Turkish KC-135 units fly together

  23rd March 2016

  The Turkish Air Force and the US Air Force (USAF) have flown their KC-135 Stratotankers in formation over the Nevada test and training range, the …

• Military Logistics

  Australia to upgrade defence ATC

  23rd March 2016

  The Australian government has approved an AUD$409 million project to upgrade the nation’s defence air traffic control facilities, the government announced on 18 March. The …

• Land Warfare

  China S-400 deliveries near

  23rd March 2016

  The People’s Liberation Army of China is expected to get a new long-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) system. It will take delivery of the Russian-made S-400 …

• Defence Helicopter

  AW159 wins in the east… again

  23rd March 2016

  News has emerged that the company formerly known as AgustaWestland has gained a second export customer for its AW159 Wildcat helicopter. The Philippines will join …

• Training

  Australia demos air-land integration

  22nd March 2016

  The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and the Australian Army have conducted a firepower and combat team quick attack demonstration as part of Exercise Jericho …

• Digital Battlespace

  Controp, Defsys sign agreement

  22nd March 2016

  A new cooperation agreement signed between Controp and Indian company Defsys Solutions will see Controp’s electro-optical (EO) payloads produced and marketed in India by Defsys …

• Training

  UAV pilot training struggles continue

  21st March 2016

  The US Air Force (USAF) is continuing to fall behind with the management of its unmanned aerial system (UAS) pilots and further action is needed, …

• Training

  Beechcraft receives NFTC contract

  21st March 2016

  Textron Aviation subsidiary Beechcraft Defense has been awarded a five-year contract by CAE to provide service support for the NATO Flying Training in Canada (NFTC) …

• Defence Helicopter

  Dual control Mi-28NE enters production

  21st March 2016

  Russian Helicopters’ Rostvertol has commenced serial production of the Mi-28NE combat helicopter with dual controls, the company announced on 16 March. The dual controls will …

• Digital Battlespace

  Airbus to sell Defence Electronics

  21st March 2016

  Airbus Group has reached an agreement for the sale of its Defence Electronics business to KKR for around $1.23 billion, the company announced on 18 …

• Defence Notes

  US can use five Philippine bases

  21st March 2016

  The US will be permitted to use five military bases in the Philippines under the auspices of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA). The EDCA …

• Naval Warfare

  MBDA completes SIMBAD-RC trial

  18th March 2016

  MBDA has successfully completed two Mistral firings using a SIMBAD-RC firing post, the company announced on 17 March, marking the last technical milestone before customer …

• Land Warfare

  MBDA outlines key countries for FLAADS

  18th March 2016

  MBDA has identified at least four countries that could be potential customers for its land-based future local area air defense system (FLAADS), currently in development …

• Training

  Cubic demonstrates Bandit Board

  18th March 2016

  Cubic Global Defense (CGD), along with partner Draken International, has successfully completed its first live-flight demonstration of the Cubic Bandit Board tactical training capability, it …

• Defence Helicopter

  AmSafe receives cargo net contracts

  18th March 2016

  AmSafe Bridport (ASB) has received two contracts from the Netherlands Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO) to develop and supply internal cargo restraint nets for its NH90 …

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 ...

• 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 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 ...

• 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 ...

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

  Hermes 900 [Undisclosed European Country]

  Background Various Contracts On 18 November 2024, Elbit Systems announced it had awarded various contacts with a combined $335 million to an undisclosed European country. ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• EO/IR systems, Land: unattended sensor/surveillance systems, Sea: ship surveillance and fire control systems

  SHAPO

  SHAPO is a multi-sensor, gyro-stabilised observation payload. It is intended for UAVs, helicopters, light aircraft, patrol boats, aerostats, airships, armoured vehicles and masts. Sensors include a ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  EMB-314 Super Tucano

  The EMB-314 (also designated A-29) Super Tucano turboprop aircraft includes single- and two-seat variants. The former is designed for light attack and COIN missions, while ...

• 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 ...

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

  AM39 Exocet

  The AM39 Exocet is an air-launched, fire-and-forget anti-ship missile. The missile was developed in 1967 as a ship-launched weapon. The air-launched Exocet was developed in 1974 and ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  Guarani 6x6 (VBTP)

  Iveco Defence Vehicles developed the 6x6 VBTP-MR Guarani 17-20t-class amphibious armoured vehicle family to meet the requirements of the Brazilian Army. In 2009, IDV signed ...

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

  BRV-Cardeal-55

  The BRV-Cardeal-55 is a petrol-engine, fixed-wing UAV that has been customised for Brazilian Navy operations. It was declared operational in April 2013. It can be ...

• Air: Integrated cockpit systems, Air: mission management systems

  ASARS-G

  The Airborne Search and Rescue System (ASARS) consists of the ARS-700G installed in CSAR aircraft. This communicates with personal survival radios (PSRs) such as the ...

• Air: surveillance and maritime patrol radar

  Gabbiano

  The Gabbiano is a family of airborne surveillance radars manufactured by Leonardo. They are designed for surveillance over ground, along coasts and at sea in ...

• Subsystems: software

  SimuSphere HD-9

  SimuSphere HD-9 is an HD visual display solution that can be upgraded to trainers currently integrated with SimuSphere systems or as an option for a ...

• Air: Electronic Attack - Jamming

  J/ALQ-8

  Like Israel, Japan elected to outfit its McDonnell Douglas/Boeing F-15J/DJ combat aircraft with an indigenous self-protection system. This takes the form of Mitsubishi Electric’s J/ALQ-8 ...

• Air: transport/tanker simulators

  A330 MRTT Training Devices

  Under subcontract to Airbus Defence and Space, CAE has provided A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) training devices to the UAE Air Force and Royal Saudi ...

• Military helicopters - scout/light attack

  H125M

  The H125M, formerly the AS550 C3e Fennec, is a military version of the civil H125. The helicopter platform is manufactured by Airbus Helicopters, through the manufacturer's ...

• EO/IR systems

  Star SAFIRE III

  The Star SAFIRE III was a military-qualified COTS multipurpose and gyro-stabilised airborne platform carrying seven payloads. Manufactured by Teledyne FLIR, the now out-of-production system featured internal navigation, ...