• Air Warfare

  Japan postpones its F-15J upgrade programme

  15th December 2020

  The JASDF's plans to upgrade its fleet of F-15J fighters has hit a snag - money - as estimated programme costs soar.

• Air Warfare

  USAF makes strides in stealthy connectivity, hypersonics and use of AI

  24th December 2020

  In a busy December, the USAF has tested concepts for fifth-generation fighter connectivity, the loyal wingman UAV, hypersonic weaponry and advanced AI.

• Air Warfare

  E-6B modernisation effort reaches its conclusion

  7th December 2020

  Aircraft forms part of the USN ABNCP/TACAMO Weapon System missions

• Training

  Joint Israeli Navy-NATO exercise to develop maritime medical procedures

  14th December 2020

  The latest casevac capacity-building demonstration is the most complex to date, following previous exercises in 2018 and 2019.

• Naval Warfare

  Delivery of first Sa'ar 6 corvette to Israel moves one step closer

  11th November 2020

  As the Israeli flag begins its first day flying from the foremast of INS Magen, the lead ship of four Sa’ar 6 class corvettes being built for the Israeli Navy, new details have emerged about the programme’s timeline.

• Land Warfare

  EU member states sign a deal to develop the European standard UGS

  17th December 2020

  Seven EU member states, a consortium composed of European companies and the European Commission signed a €32,6 million ($ 39.68 million) agreement under the iMUGS project. This deal will allow the group to start working on the European standard unmanned terrestrial system.

• Air Warfare

  Collins Aerospace to support USN strategic airborne command post

  3rd December 2020

  USN requires sustaining engineering support plus diminishing manufacturing sources and material shortages management

• Naval Warfare

  Second Saudi corvette launched by Navantia

  4th December 2020

  Programme to deliver new naval vessel to Saudi Arabia continues apace

• Training

  vIITSEC 2020: Collins launches Panorama HiLite display

  1st December 2020

  New HiLite display builds on more than 25 years of experience in the Panorama family

• Land Warfare

  Philippine marines await new protective gear and upgraded AFVs

  10th December 2020

  The 8,000-strong Philippine Marine Corps needs more modern equipment to maintain its fight against domestic communist and Islamic insurgents.

• Air Warfare

  Rostec chief hails imminent arrival of first serial production Su-57

  8th December 2020

  Aircraft to be delivered to Russian Aerospace Forces ‘literally before the end of the year’

• Naval Warfare

  FFX Batch III frigates to use MT30 engine

  2nd December 2020

  The Rolls-Royce engine also powers Daegu-class FFX Batch II ASW frigates

• Digital Battlespace

  Spain chooses E-LynX to meet army combat radio requirement

  26th November 2020

  Elbit to execute contract in six months

• Defence Notes

  F-35A drops inert B61-12 nuclear bomb in first of new test series

  26th November 2020

  Sandia National Laboratories has flight-tested a weapons drop of the B61-12 nuclear bomb from an F-35A aircraft.

• Military Logistics

  Boeing looks to make up for lost time on KC-46

  3rd December 2020

  Boeing has made steady delivery and test progress on the KC-46A Pegasus programme, as it suggests past technical issues of the aircraft are no longer in play.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | ISTAR Aircraft [South Korea]

  The Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) has a requirement for up to four intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance (ISTAR) aircraft to supplement its ...

• Data links

  Data links | ISTAR Aircraft [South Korea]

  The Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) has a requirement for up to four intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance (ISTAR) aircraft to supplement its ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | ISTAR Aircraft [South Korea]

  The Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) has a requirement for up to four intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance (ISTAR) aircraft to supplement its ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | ISTAR Aircraft [South Korea]

  The Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) has a requirement for up to four intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance (ISTAR) aircraft to supplement its ...

• UAS: communication systems

  UAS: communication systems | Intra-Theatre Lift [UK]

  On 27 June 2022, the MoD released a request for information (RFI) for a long-reach intra-theatre lift UAV. The RfI stated that the MOD had identified a ...

• UAS: flight control systems

  UAS: flight control systems | Intra-Theatre Lift [UK]

  On 27 June 2022, the MoD released a request for information (RFI) for a long-reach intra-theatre lift UAV. The RfI stated that the MOD had identified a ...

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

  MALE UAV [Argentina]

  Background Requirement Argentina has an outstanding requirement for a MALE class UAV to conduct ISR operations in Argentina airspace and along the country's long coastline. ...

• Loitering munitions

  Harop [Morocco]

  Programme Background In November 2021, Haaretz reported that a $22 million drone sale between Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and Morocco had occurred. That publication and ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  KC-46A (Israel)

  Programme Background Boeing, according to reports, would not grant Israel Aerospace Industries permission to convert used 767s into tanker planes. Consequently, according to Channel 12 ...

• AEW&C

  A-50E [India]

  Earlier in 2010, Indian MoD sent RfI to Israel Aerospace Industries to procure three EL/W-2090 radar systems to be installed on the A-50E aircraft, which ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  KC-46A Forecast (Israel)

  Programme Background Boeing, according to reports, would not grant Israel Aerospace Industries permission to convert used 767s into tanker planes. Consequently, according to Channel 12 ...

• Loitering munitions

  Loitering Munitions (Longer-Range) [Estonia]

  Background Previous Loitering Munition purchase In February 2023, the Estonian MoD announced its intention to acquire loitering munitions to significantly increase its indirect fire capability ...

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

  Heron TP [India]

  Programme Background Emergency Procurement The Narendra Modi-led Indian government granted the Armed Forces Rs 500 crores to upgrade their warfighting capabilities due to the ongoing ...

• Loitering munitions

  Loitering Munitions (First Batch) [Japan]

  Background Appreciation of Loitering Munitions After years of not operating loitering munitions and armed UAVs, Japan’s position towards them has changed. Belatedly, the MoD realised the ...

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

  MALE UAV [South Korea]

  Background Origins & Existing Requirement The Republic of Korea Army (ROKA) recognised the need to procure an MALE ISR UAV in the aftermath of the North ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Heavy UGVs

  RobDozer

  The RobDozer, or Panda, is an uncrewed ground combat engineering system manufactured by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and ELTA Systems.  The UGV is designed for breaching tasks, ...

• Loitering munitions

  ASN-301

  The ASN-301 is a Chinese anti-radiation loitering munition. Likely based on Israel's Harpy drone, the ASN-301 features a delta-wing configuration and a pusher propeller, and ...

• Military UAS - mini, Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  Ghost

  Developed to be versatile, Ghost is a manoeuvrable, rotary-wing mini-UAV designed for performing ISR missions in urban warfare, observation stakeout missions and covert special operations ...

• Anti-ship missiles

  Gabriel IV

  The Gabriel IV is a significant advancement in the Gabriel family of anti-ship missiles. It incorporates a jet engine, enabling over-the-horizon (OTH) attack capabilities and ...

• Air: COMINT and ELINT systems

  ELI-3120

  Israel Aerospace Industries’ (IAI) ELI-3120 is a Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) system designed for use at the operational and tactical levels. The ELI-3120 architecture also includes ...

• Air: COMINT and ELINT systems

  ELL-8385

  Israel Aerospace Industries’ (IAI) ELL-8385 is an integrated electronic support measure designed to equip Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV). Open source imagery intelligence indicates that the ...

• Air: COMINT and ELINT systems

  ELK-7071

  Israel Aerospace Industries’ (IAI) EL/K-7071 is an integrated electronic support measure designed to equip UAVs. While not explicitly stated by the system’s manufacturer, it is ...

• Loitering munitions

  Kargi (Improved)

  At ADEX 2022, Lentatek unveiled a new, as-yet-unnamed version of the Kargi loitering munition.  Instead of Kargi's radio frequency (RF) seeker, this new version features an under-nose EO/IR ...

• Military UAS - mini, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Rotem

  The Rotem, or Rotem L, is a loitering munition based on a multi-rotor UAV. Manufactured by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), the quadcopter features an EO/IR camera payload ...

• Anti-ship missiles

  Gabriel I

  The Gabriel Mk1 was an antiship missile developed in the 1960s in Israel and was first deployed in 1972. It was first used in combat ...

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

  I-View MK150

  The I-View Eyeview or Firebird series includes three TUAS, offering solutions at different echelons, and is developed by Israel Aerospace Industries. The MK150 is a ...

• Heavy UGVs

  RobARC

  The RobARC, or Sahar, is a military UGV manufactured by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). The UGV's payload comprises a variety of sensors, allowing the Sahar to detect above-ground, ...

• Heavy UGVs

  RoBattle

  The RoBattle, or LR3, is a six-wheeled military UGV developed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI).  Intended to assist troops engaged in mobile operations, it is a ...

• Medium Range Missile Defence Systems: 20-90km range, Self-propelled missile systems

  ABISR

  The ABISR is a medium-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) system developed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), introduced around 2017.  ABISR is a more compact and mobile counterpart ...

• Military - UUVs

  BlueWhale

  BlueWhale (ELI-3325) is an autonomous uncrewed underwater vessel (UUV) developed by Israel's Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). It is designed for Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW), Mine Countermeasures (MCM) and ...