• Naval Warfare

  USN to operate latest aircraft launcher

  1st June 2015

  Select sailors from the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) Pre-Commissioning Unit (PCU) have completed training and are ready to operate and maintain the newest …

• Digital Battlespace

  Lockheed C4ISR for USCGC Midgett

  1st June 2015

  Lockheed Martin has received a $72 million contract to provide the C4ISR system to the future USCGC Midgett, the eighth National Security Cutter (NSC) of …

• Defence Helicopter

  Bell announces 407GXP, 407GT sales

  29th May 2015

  The first Bell 407GXP helicopter has been sold in Panama and is scheduled to be delivered in July 2015 for corporate and VIP transport to …

• Defence Helicopter

  Chinook simulators ready at Petawawa

  29th May 2015

  A suite of CH-147F Chinook simulators and training devices at Canadian Forces Base Petawawa have completed on-site acceptance testing and are ready for use by …

• Military Logistics

  BAE supports Indian Hawks

  29th May 2015

  BAE Systems signed an MoU with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to support the upgrade of Indian Hawk Mk 132 advanced jet trainers, as announced on …

• Land Warfare

  STK bullpup rifle advances

  29th May 2015

  ST Kinetics has developed a third prototype of its new 5.56mm Bullpup Multirole Combat Rifle (BMCR) that incorporates a moulded deflector. Briefing Shephard at its …

• Land Warfare

  Cambridge Pixel upgrades RTAF radar

  29th May 2015

  The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) has selected Cambridge Pixel to upgrade its air defence capabilities at select strategic sites, including training facilities and air …

• Naval Warfare

  NATO Shipping issues Libya alert

  28th May 2015

  A warning from the NATO Shipping Centre on 25 May has reminded vessels transiting Libyan waters that they do so ‘at risk of interaction with …

• Military Logistics

  India clears C295 buy

  28th May 2015

  India's Defence Acquisition Council has approved the Indian Air Force bid for the supply and production of 56 C295 transport aircraft.The new aircraft will replace …

• Defence Helicopter

  Russian Helis desire Indian Ka-226T deal

  28th May 2015

  Russian Helicopters has reported that the Indian Defence Acquisition Council has approved several non-tender deals for the armed forces, including unofficial selection of Russian Helicopters' …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Textron Systems joins UAS Denmark

  27th May 2015

  Textron Systems announced on 26 May that it will become part of the Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Denmark industry network, where it will participate in …

• Defence Helicopter

  Boeing set for AH-6i production

  27th May 2015

  Boeing will begin production of its AH-6i light attack helicopter by December 2015, according to company officials.  The company will open the production line at …

• Defence Notes

  China releases strategic White Paper

  27th May 2015

  China launched its defence White Paper this week, the ninth since 1998, with the focus on key strategic issues such as its relationship with the …

• Naval Warfare

  IMDEX Asia (video): Exhibition round-up

  26th May 2015

  Shephard Media editor-in-chief Tony Skinner discusses the most notable events at this year’s IMDEX Asia exhibition, which took place in Singapore between 19-21 May. Among …

• Defence Helicopter

  Sikorsky S-97 Raider completes first flight

  26th May 2015

  The Sikorsky S-97 Raider prototype helicopter has completed its first flight, Sikorsky Aircraft announced on 22 May. The flight took place at Sikorsky's Development Flight …

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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 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 ...

• Long Range Missile Defence Systems: > 90km range

  Long Range Air Defence [Brazil]

  Background Brazil is in the process of expanding its medium-range air defence capabilities and is known to be interested in acquiring a long-range air defence ...

• 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 ...

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 ...