• Digital Battlespace

  Robotic space servicer envisaged by DARPA

  5th September 2014

  The Pentagon is edging closer to its vision of being able to actively service in-orbit satellites and now hopes to demonstrate a robotic servicing mission …

• Defence Helicopter

  Australian Army’s Tiger FFMS gets reality boost

  5th September 2014

  The Australian Army’s Tiger Full Flight Mission Simulator (FFMS) has been upgraded to enhance its ‘out of the window’ realism, with improvements to the Visual …

• Land Warfare

  Latvia purchases surplus British Army armoured vehicles

  5th September 2014

  The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced on 4 September that it has sold 123 surplus combat reconnaissance armoured vehicles to the Latvian Army in …

• Land Warfare

  India awaits procurement decisions

  5th September 2014

  After deciding to spend $135 million on 40 Catapult artillery systems and $1.1 billion on 118 Arjun MkII MBTs, the Indian Army still has further …

• Defence Notes

  NATO's three-point plan for Afghanistan revealed

  5th September 2014

  NATO’s secretary-general Anders Fogh Rasmussen has revealed the alliance’s three-point plan for Afghanistan following the completion of combat operations at the end of the year. …

• Land Warfare

  Boeing laser demonstrator proved in maritime environment

  5th September 2014

  Boeing’s High Energy Laser Mobile Demonstrator (HEL MD) has proved its capabilities in maritime conditions during demonstrations with the US Army that saw the system …

• Defence Helicopter

  Airbus Helicopters eyes Polish military opportunities

  4th September 2014

  Airbus Helicopters has used the International Defence Industry Exhibition (MSPO) in Poland to tout its Tiger HAD attack helicopter and multi-mission EC725 Caracal helicopter as …

• Naval Warfare

  E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aerial refuelling moves closer

  4th September 2014

  The E-2D Advanced Hawkeye Aerial Refuelling system in development with Northrop Grumman has successfully completed the US Navy’s preliminary design review (PDR), the company announced …

• Naval Warfare

  Royal Navy needs to expand OPV fleet

  4th September 2014

  The growing complexity of coastal security issues around the UK and the country’s expanding constabulary roles elsewhere in the world means it is essential the …

• Defence Helicopter

  Airbus Helicopters plans Romanian expansion

  3rd September 2014

  Airbus Helicopters has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the government of Romania that will see the company extend its presence in Romania and further …

• Defence Helicopter

  Final upgraded Swiss Super Puma delivered

  3rd September 2014

  The final Swiss Air Force TH06 ISR Super Puma was handed over to defence procurement agency Armasuisse at RUAG’s Emmen facility on 29 August.  In …

• Land Warfare

  MBDA looks to strengthen Polish industry ties

  3rd September 2014

  MBDA is making moves to strengthen its relationship with Polish industry, with the signing of two Letters of Intent (LoI) with MESKO and PIT-RADWAR at …

• Digital Battlespace

  Selex ES expands Gabbiano radar family

  3rd September 2014

  Selex ES unveiled a new addition to its Gabbiano radar family at the International Defence Industry Exhibition (MSPO) in Poland on 3 September, called the …

• Land Warfare

  DRS Technologies completes TLDS CDR

  3rd September 2014

  DRS Technologies’ bid for the US Army’s Target Location Designation System (TLDS) programme has reached a new milestone, with the successful completion of the Critical …

• Defence Helicopter

  Patria acquires Malmskogen Aerocenter business operations

  2nd September 2014

  Patria Helicopters has acquired the business operations of Malmskogen Aerocenter based in Linköping in Sweden, strengthening Patria Helicopter’s helicopter support capabilities. The company announced the …

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 ...