• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Romania receives Phoenix 30 UAS

  12th January 2016

  Four Phoenix 30 Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) have been delivered to the Romanian Army by UAV Solutions under a foreign military sale, the company announced …

• Defence Helicopter

  China goes old-tech with gyrocopters

  12th January 2016

  The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has begun operating and flying camouflage-painted gyrocopters, pictures to recently emerge on Chinese internet websites have revealed. The gyrocopters, christened …

• Naval Warfare

  China tests controversial SCS airstrip

  11th January 2016

  Garnering vociferous regional objections, China landed a first aircraft onto its new 3,000m-long airstrip at Fiery Cross Reef in the disputed South China Sea on …

• Defence Helicopter

  USAF joins race to clear DVE

  11th January 2016

  The US Air Force is looking to enhance the capabilities of its Sikorsky HH-60G Pave Hawk fleet so it can operate more safely and effectively …

• Land Warfare

  Thailand orders Skyguard system

  11th January 2016

  Rheinmetall will supply Skyguard air defence systems to the Royal Thai Army under a multi-million euro order announced on 11 January. The contract covers four …

• Defence Notes

  Iraq seeking Hellfire missiles

  8th January 2016

  The government of Iraq has requested Hellfire missiles and Captive Air Training Missiles from the US under a foreign military sale that could be worth …

• Digital Battlespace

  Rome Research awarded US C4I contract

  8th January 2016

  BAE Systems has contracted Rome Research for the operation and maintenance of multiple communications facilities operating under the Naval Computer and Telecommunications Area Master Station …

• Military Logistics

  Philippines restock trucks and ammo

  8th January 2016

  The Philippine Army is replenishing its jaded vehicle fleet, as well as ammunition stocks for its existing 105mm howitzers. Kia Motors of South Korea is …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Brazil UAS JV winds up

  8th January 2016

  Budget constraints in Brazil have led AEL Sistemas, Embraer Defense and Avibras to wind up the activities of their Harpia joint venture (JV). The decision …

• Digital Battlespace

  Australian ISREW aircraft confirmed

  8th January 2016

  Australia has confirmed it is acquiring two Gulfstream G550 business jets for conversion into intelligence-gathering and electronic warfare platforms. Responding to queries from Shephard, an …

• Defence Helicopter

  France orders more NH90 TTHs

  8th January 2016

  The French Army Aviation has opted to increase its NH90 tactical troop helicopter (TTH) helicopter fleet to 74 units, with a new order for six …

• Defence Helicopter

  US Army begins Apache sensor upgrades

  7th January 2016

  The US Army has begun the process of upgrading the electro-optical sensors on its Apache AH-64E aircraft, allowing crews to see daytime colour imagery for …

• Digital Battlespace

  Northrop to support GPS/INS work

  7th January 2016

  The US Air Force (USAF) has awarded a contract to Northrop Grumman to support its embedded Global Positioning System (GPS)/Inertial Navigation System (INS) Pre-Phase 1 …

• Digital Battlespace

  Rockwell Collins awarded RNP RNAV work

  7th January 2016

  Rockwell Collins has been awarded a contract by the US Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) to assist government development of a standard set of interfaces …

• Digital Battlespace

  Philippines hunts for C4ISTAR and radars

  7th January 2016

  The Philippines military is in the market for new ‘command-and-control and radar systems’, Manila announced on 4 January. A news piece on the website of …

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-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 ...