• Uncrewed Vehicles

  AUVSI 2017: CICADAs swarming in (video)

  10th May 2017

  The US Naval Research Laboratory has spent the best part of a decade developing its Close-In Covert Autonomous Disposable Aircraft (CICADA) and is now presenting …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  ISDEF 2017: Pharad seeks growth beyond special operations

  10th May 2017

  Antenna manufacturer Pharad was a first time exhibitor at the recent AUVSI 2017 exhibition in Dallas and the company's presence there reflected a desire to …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  AUVSI 2017: Liquid Robotics pursues non-AIS avoidance capability

  9th May 2017

  The Wave Glider USV will soon add an autonomous acoustic avoidance capability to enable the platform to better operate in areas where illegal, unreported and …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  AUVSI 2017: Intel autonomy front and centre

  9th May 2017

  Greater platform autonomy and data capability will be the next step change for unmanned systems, while in the next four to five years autonomous ground …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  AUVSI 2017: Snipe on target for US military (video)

  9th May 2017

  AeroVironment has unveiled its latest addition to its UAV Family, Snipe, a nano-UAS based on the Hummingbird UAS the company worked on with DARPA. The …

• Military Logistics

  Safer alternative to li-ion batteries developed

  9th May 2017

  Researchers at the US Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) have developed a safer alternative to fire-prone lithium-ion batteries, which were recently banned for some applications on …

• Digital Battlespace

  Production of AN/SPY-6(V) AMDR begins

  9th May 2017

  Raytheon will begin low rate initial production of the AN/SPY-6(V) Air and Missile Defense Radar (AMDR) under a $327 million contract modification from the US …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  US Army receives two Kontio launchers

  9th May 2017

  Robonic has delivered two third-generation MC2555LLR pneumatic launchers to the US Army, with both launchers now operational following successful testing in April. Robonic worked alongside …

• Defence Notes

  USMC and navy conduct technology experiment

  9th May 2017

  The US Navy has revealed that it successfully demonstrated augmented reality systems and advanced wireless networks during the amphibious Ship-to-Shore Maneuver Exploration and Experimentation Advanced …

• Training

  ITEC 2017: AWES update for British Army

  9th May 2017

  Cubic Global Defense has provided details of its Area Weapons Effects Simulator (AWES) component contract, following on from Saab Training Systems' announcement that they had …

• Special Operations

  SOFIC 2017: SOCOM releases helmet RfP

  9th May 2017

  US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) has published its Request For Proposals (RfP) for the Special Operations Forces Personal Equipment Advanced Requirements (SPEAR) Family of Tactical …

• Defence Notes

  AUVSI 2017: Technologies threaten USMC ops

  9th May 2017

  Building on several years of demonstration and experimentation experience, the US Marine Corps had defined a way ahead for robotics and autonomous systems. However, that …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Iris DO-278A Assurance approved

  9th May 2017

  Kongsberg Geospatial's Iris UAS airspace situational awareness application will be offered as a certifiable display to meet the requirements of the DO-278A Assurance standard for …

• Training

  ITEC 2017: Success for VirTra V-300

  9th May 2017

  US-based VirTra, suppliers of small-arms training (SAT) simulators, has announced that it has received a follow-on contract award from an undisclosed international customer in the …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  AUVSI 2017: MUM-T first up at opening conference

  9th May 2017

  Among the key challenges for future integration of unmanned technology with manned platforms is the risk of saturating pilots and operators with additional tasks, resulting …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military helicopters - multirole

  UH-60M Black Hawk [Latvia]

  Programme Background In August 2018, the Latvian government approved the acquisition of four UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters. The UH-60Ms are intended for both military and ...

• Transport

  C-130J [USA]

  Programme Background The C-130J Super Hercules is a four-engine turboprop transport aircraft developed by Lockheed Martin to replace aging C-130 variants. The US and foreign ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-35A Joint Strike Fighter - USAF

  Background The programme’s early competitive phase included three different airframe designs. Boeing submitted one design, Lockheed Martin submitted another, and McDonnell Douglas submitted a third ...

• Transport

  King Air 360 [Nigeria]

  Programme Background On 7 October 2021, Nigeria’s Budget Office published its proposed budget details. The Nigerian Air Force requested 10.86 billion Nigerian Naira (US$26.4 million) ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  Light Attack/Trainer Aircraft - Ghana

  In 2013, the Chief of Ghana Air Force stated that A-29 is their preferred platform and this position was also submitted to the Government. In ...

• Bomber

  B-21 Raider [USA]

  Programme Background Development The US DoD is developing a new long-range bomber called the B-21 Raider, previously known as LRS-B. At least 100 units are ...

• Trainer

  Trainer Aircraft (1-12) [Vietnam]

  Programme Background After years of operating Russian-built military equipment, Vietnam is more willing to procure US-supplied equipment following the lifting of the arms embargo in ...

• Military UAS - mini

  RemoEye-006A [Bolivia]

  Background Ceremony In June 2013, the Bolivian air force inducted its first two UAVs into service, with the models, FAB 0001 and FAB 0002, being ...

• Long Range Missile Defence Systems: > 90km range

  Barak MX [Thailand]

  Background Thailand is procuring the Barak MX air defence system, which will be operated by the Anti-Aircraft Regiment of the Security Force Command. The system ...

• CUAS - jammers

  Airbase Air Defence Systems CUAS [US]

  Background The US Air Force's Budget Documentation for FY 2027 included $1.529 billion for Air Base Air Defence, part of which was to be used for ...

• Military helicopters - light/training

  Bell 505 [Jordan]

  Background Requirement The Jordanian Air Force has a requirement for training helicopters that are to be used in the King Hussein Air College. The country currently ...

• Hybrid effector systems

  US Air Force Air Base Defence Missile Defence [US]

  Background The US Air Force's (USAF) Air Base Air Defence Missile Defence (ABAD MD) programme is part of the Air Force Physical Security System and sits ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Tornado Replacement (F-35A) [Germany]

  Background Requirement In March 2020, it emerged that the German government was considering  30 F/A-18E/F Super Hornets to replace 45 nuclear-capable Tornados. The remaining 40 Tornados ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-16V (1-8) [Bulgaria]

  Programme Background Requirement Bulgarian MoD plans to procure 16 new-built fighter aircraft to replace its fleet of 15 Russian-manufactured MiG-29 fighters. Lockheed Martin’s F-16 Block ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-47 Penetrating Counter Air (PCA) [USA]

  Background Requirement Originally conceived as a replacement for the F-22, the PCA was designed to counter various air threats, including integrated air defence systems and ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Air: EO/IR – Jamming Systems

  AN/AAQ-45

  Leonardo’s AN/AAQ-45 Distributed Aperture Infrared Countermeasures is designed to equip rotorcraft. The system is being installed on Sikorsky HH-60G Pave Hawk medium-lift utility helicopters used ...

• 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: Radio and SATCOM

  FAB-T Force Element Terminal

  The Family of Advanced Beyond Line-of-Sight Terminals - Force Element Terminal (FAB-T FET) is a nuclear-hardened SATCOM solution designed for airborne applications. Produced by Raytheon, ...

• Unguided Medium Calibre Ammunition

  25mm PGU-48/B

  The 25mm PGU-48/B is a medium-calibre armour-penetrating round manufactured by American Rheinmetall. The US Air Force uses the PGU-48/B with its F-35 aircraft.

• Unguided Medium Calibre Ammunition

  25mm PGU-23/U

  The 25mm PGU-23/U is a medium-calibre training round manufactured by General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems. The US Air Force utilises it with its AC-130 and ...

• Land: soldier modernisation systems - industry programmes

  Warrior Systems

  General Dynamics Mission Systems is prime contractor and system integrator for the US Army’s Warrior soldier systems, which include Air Warrior, Future Force Warrior, Land Warrior ...

• Air: mission management systems

  TBMCS

  Theater Battle Management Core Systems (TBMCS) is a US joint C2 integrated BMS used to plan and execute air campaigns in theatres of operations worldwide. ...

• 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 ...

• Unguided Medium Calibre Ammunition

  30mm PGU-13B High Explosive Incendiary

  The 30mm 30mm PGU-13B High Explosive Incendiary (HEI) is a medium-calibre munition manufactured by Northrop Grumman. The US Air Force uses the PGU-13B HEI with ...

• Trainer

  King Air trainer

  Textron / Beechcraft King Air trainers are a family twin-engine aircraft based on King Air 90, 100, 200 and 350 utility aircraft. The King Air ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  CLS-200

  The CLS-200 is part of the Yates Electrospace Corporation Silent Arrow family. It is a powered cargo-carrying one-use UAV, based on the company's GD-2000 glider.  In ...

• Trainer

  T-6A/B Texan II

  The T-6 Texan II is a single-engine trainer aircraft, which was developed from the Pilatus PC-9 to meet the training requirements of USAF and USN ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-4 Phantom II family

  The F-4 Phantom II is a two-seat multirole fighter developed originally by McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) to meet USN interceptor requirements. It soon became a unified ...

• 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 ...

• Loitering munitions

  Sureshastra

  The Sureshastra, or Smart Unmanned Munitions System (S-UMS), is a jet-powered, catapult-launched loitering munition manufactured by Veda Aeronautics.  In 2023, the Indian Air Force (IAF) acquired ...