• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Unmanned Systems Asia 2019: ACSL debuts drones in Singapore

  10th April 2019

  Japan-based Autonomous Control Systems Laboratory (ACSL) is hoping to expand its operations in Singapore, building on successes in its home market in areas such as …

• Training

  Calibre receives spot on MTSS contract

  12th April 2019

  Calibre Systems has been awarded a place on the $245 million Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) Training Systems Support (MTSS) IDIQ contract, the company announced …

• Special Operations

  USSOCOM seeks biometric capability expansion

  18th April 2019

  United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) is seeking industry support to expand its mass biometric enrollment capabilities. Command interest in the expanded capabilities was expressed …

• Digital Battlespace

  NIWC Atlantic opens M-PNT laboratory

  25th March 2019

  The US Naval Information Warfare Center (NIWC) Atlantic officially opened a new Maritime Positioning, Navigation and Timing (M-PNT) facility at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek, …

• Special Operations

  AFSOC seeks advanced SERE training

  24th April 2019

  US Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) is seeking advanced Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape (SERE) training for elements of its 6th Special Operations Squadron …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Unmanned Systems Asia 2019: Embraer X treads carefully

  15th April 2019

  Whilst industry can sometimes be seen to be taking a rather aggressive approach to urban air mobility (UAM), Embraer X, an established business unit of …

• Land Warfare

  New armed reconnaissance vehicle for US military

  9th April 2019

  The US Office of Naval Research has awarded up to $20.5 million for the development of a new ‘at the edge’ armed reconnaissance vehicle. Winning …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Unmanned Systems Asia 2019: Urban mobility urged to avert ‘dire’ straits

  12th April 2019

  The successful integration of optionally manned and unmanned systems into urban areas will require sustained collaboration with regulatory bodies in order to prove the safety …

• Digital Battlespace

  Orbit receives order for TVRO system spares

  19th March 2019

  Orbit Communications Systems has received an order worth $3 million from an unnamed European navy to provide maritime Television Receive-Only (TVRO) satcom systems spares and …

• Digital Battlespace

  MASS consolidates countermeasure capabilities

  12th April 2019

  EW operational support company MASS is continuing to invest in a countermeasures simulation and modelling technology package known as Counterworks, as it bids to reduce …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  AeroVironment receives FMS contract for Puma AE

  5th April 2019

  AeroVironment has received a $17.4 million contract to provide its Puma AE II small UAS, training and support to an allied nation, the company announced …

• Training

  ADF issues final acceptance of CH-47F CAT

  4th April 2019

  The Australian Defence Force (ADF) has completed all evaluation testing of Kratos’ CH-47F Chinook Avionics Trainers (CAT), Kratos Defense & Security Solutions announced on 1 …

• Training

  UK MoD invests in training facility upgrade

  2nd April 2019

  The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has invested over £1.2 million for the upgrade of Whinny Hill, Catterick, training area’s urban operations training facility, the …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  LIMA 2019: Grin, Reaper, for regional opportunities abound

  26th March 2019

  General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc (GA-ASI) is sensing many opportunities around the Asia-Pacific region for its MQ-9 UAV family, starting with a Malaysian requirement for …

• Naval Warfare

  LIMA 2019: Production of Malaysian LMS shifts back to China

  26th March 2019

  Malaysia ordered four Littoral Mission Ships (LMS) from CSIC in China, with that deal stipulating that the third and fourth vessels would be built locally …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Loitering munitions

  Project Brakestop [UK]

  Programme Background Information Notice On 25 September 2024, the UK MoD published a prior information notice on Project Brakestop, which informed the industry about the upcoming ...

• Loitering munitions

  Medium Range Precision Strike (MRPS) [UK]

  Programme Background Prior Information Notice (PIN) On 21 October 2024, the MoD published a PIN in collaboration with the Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S;). The notice ...

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

  Dominator XP [Thailand]

  Programme Background Purchase As reported by Shephard, in September 2023, the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) inducted three Dominator XPs. The RTAF purchased the trio ...

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

  Project Corvus [UK]

  Programme Background Retirement In November 2024, speaking in the House of Commons, Defence Secretary John Healey stated that the WK 450 Watchkeeper was to be retired ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  CH-47F Chinook (Singapore)

  Programme Background In July 2020, photos have emerged on the internet of the first Boeing CH-47F Chinook destined for the Republic of Singapore Air Force ...

• Transport

  VC-25B - USAF

  The modifications to the 747-8 aircraft will include an electrical power upgrade with dual Auxiliary Power Units that are usable in flight, a mission communication ...

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

  Anka-S (Second Batch) [Turkey]

  Programme Background First Batch Based on comments by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) and Turkish media in 2018, Shephard believes that Türkiye acquired 26 Anka-S drones ...

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

  MQ-9B SkyGuardian (US)

  Programme Background On 6 March 2023, GA-ASI announced that the Air Force Special Operations Command (ASFOC) had contracted three MQ-9B SkyGaurdians, making it the first US customer of the ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | SSN(X) Programme [USN]

  The US Navy may be far from reaching the end of procuring the current Virginia-class nuclear attack submarines (SSNs), but that does not mean planning for ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | SSN(X) Programme [USN]

  The US Navy may be far from reaching the end of procuring the current Virginia-class nuclear attack submarines (SSNs), but that does not mean planning for ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  Mi-28NE Night Hunter

  Algerian military's follow-up order suggests that the country is satisfied with the Mi-28NE Night Hunters' performance in operational conditions in the desert environment featuring sandstorms ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  F-5E/F Adversary Trainer US Navy

  The F-5N is a single seat, dual engine supersonic land based fighter. It is designed to a service life of 9000 flight hours. The aircraft ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

  New Water Jet Fast Attack Craft (NWJFAC) (1-31) [India]

  Programme Background Requirements The Indian Navy is seeking replacements for a large proportion of its 19 46-49m-long waterjet-powered fast attack craft, several of which are approaching ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  HH-60W - Combat Rescue Helicopter (CRH)

  According to the FY2021 Base funding, the HH-60W helicopter unit cost is $43.2 million. The HH-60W will be capable of employment day or night, in ...

• Loitering munitions

  ZT-180 [Russia]

  Programme Background Claims On 23 February 2023, DER SPIEGEL reported that, according to information it had gathered, China and Russia were negotiating the purchase of 100 ZT-180 ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Air: surveillance and maritime patrol radar

  AN/APQ-181

  The AN/APQ-181 is a low-probability-of-intercept radar fitted to USAF Northrop Grumman B-2 stealth bombers. During the B-2 Radar Modernization Program – completed in 2012 – the ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  CreoLand HP

  CreoLand HP is a 10W MANET radio designed for command centres, long-range applications, artillery and special forces units. Notably, it offers a data throughput of 100Mbps ...

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

  H10 Poseidon

  The H10 Poseidon is a fixed-wing VTOL-capable UAV manufactured by Swamrly. Due to the UAV's electric propulsion system, small-radar cross-section, lack of detachable thermal signature and ability to operate ...

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

  DT-101

  The DT-101 is a small fixed-wing UAV from Deftech. The VTOL-capable platform features SATCOM with up to 10Mbs bandwidth capability. DefTech lists various payloads for ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  ARX

  Unveiled at Xponential 2024, the ARX is a fixed-wing drone developed by Tekever.  It features common electronics and software with other Tekever drones. Unlike those ...

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

  DT-001

  The DT-001 is a tandem wing UCAV from Deftech. It can host a range of non-offensive payloads, such as IO/EO cameras and an airborne LIDAR. ...

• Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - small

  Khronos

  The Khronos is a tethered, fully automated UAV for ISR missions in GPS/GNSS-denied and RF-denied environments. The drone's manufacturer, Elistair, stated that it could be deployed from a ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - mini

  Spider VTOL

  The Spider VTOL is a mini electrical fixed-wing UAV. Unlike traditional VTOL UAVs with dedicated motors, propellors and structural parts for performing take-off and landing, the Spider ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  AN/VRC-118(V)1

  The AN/VRC-118(V)1 is a Mid-tier Networking Vehicular Radio (MNVR) which provides warfighters with the ability to share situational awareness. The MNVR utilises two joint tactical ...

• Data links

  MAQA Terminal 3.8m Flyaway Variant

  The Modular Aperture Quad-Band Antenna (MAQA) Terminal is designed to provide a ruggedised, mobile, quad-band SATCOM terminal that supports operations with the WGS constellation, legacy ...

• Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - small

  BLADE-55

  The Ballistic Loitering Attack Drone (BLADE, or BLADE-55) is a multi-role, weaponised rotary-wing UAV from Alare Technologies.  The drone can notably host two NAMMO M72 LAW weapons. Additionally, the ...

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

  Disruptor

  Publically unveiled at AUSA 2024, the Disruptor is a loitering munition and UAV manufactured by AEVEX Aerospace. The Group III aircraft utilises a pneumatic launcher or Rocket Assisted ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  AN/ARC-231 Skyfire

  The AN/ARC-231 Skyfire is an airborne VHF/UHF/LOS and DAMA SATCOM system. This system supports US DoD requirements for airborne, multi-band, multi-mission, secure anti-jam voice, data ...

• OPVs

  Afrika Class (Vard 7 055)

  The Afrika-class (Vard 7 055) is a 53m OPV developed by Vard Marine. Designed to undertake surveillance, patrol and response operations with the EEZ, the ...

• Major networking projects

  ISOM

  Integrated SATCOM Global Information Grid Operations and Management (ISOM) develops a scalable and policy-based management system that enables automatic allocation and provisioning of SATCOM resources. ...