• Air Warfare

  Northrop Grumman shows off new M230 Chain Gun at AUSA

  16th October 2024

  The development of a dual-feed version of the 30mm M230 LF Chain Gun could allow for rapid selection between different ammunition types for more versatile battlefield engagement.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  US Army accelerates acquisition and field of company-level sUAS

  9th October 2024

  The service has been using a Directed Requirement (DR) approach to speed up the deployment of a Medium Range Reconnaissance capability.

• Air Warfare

  Why the F-16 fighter jet remains a force to be reckoned with (updated 2025)

  10th February 2025

  The Lockheed Martin F-16 fighter jet remains in the limelight more than 40 years after its first flight. Shephard sums up the latest developments and details everything you need to know about the aircraft in 2025.

• Defence Notes

  US companies invest in production capabilities to satisfy DoD’s hunger for cutting-edge capabilities

  18th October 2024

  BAE Systems, Booz Allen Hamilton and Lockheed Martin have been betting on new facilities and innovative manufacturing technologies to speed up the development of new solutions.

• Land Warfare

  AUSA 2024: MilDef dismounts with new concept

  14th October 2024

  MilDef has supplied tactical and IT systems to a range of platforms, including Norway’s CV90 infantry fighting vehicle and Danish artillery systems, but dismounted is a new area for the company.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Exail Robotics secures €60 million NATO contract for underwater mine disposal vehicles

  28th August 2024

  The contract covers disposal and training vehicles for the Belgian and Dutch navies.

• Air Warfare

  Raytheon to develop Next-Gen Jammer upgrade for US navy under $192million deal

  2nd October 2024

  The development of the Next-Generation Jammer Mid-Band system and its expansion upgrade will be a joint effort between the Royal Australian Air Force and US Navy to meet emerging electronic warfare threats.

• Air Warfare

  Dutch and Austrian governments collaborate on Embraer C-390 acquisition at Farnborough

  23rd July 2024

  The two nations will split the acquisition of the C-390s to boost their airlift capacities.

• Land Warfare

  Australia announces programme developments on eve of land warfare conference

  10th September 2024

  Australia’s Land Forces 2024 International Land Defence Exposition takes place in Melbourne this week with the government making announcements on land programmes and Supacat unveiling a new vehicle.

• Air Warfare

  Marshall contracted to support French C-130Hs

  19th July 2024

  The second extension of Marshall’s contract to support French Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules large transport aircraft includes aircraft which first entered service four decades ago.

• Land Warfare

  Persistent Systems awarded $5.3 million contract for MPU5 devices for US Marine Corps

  18th September 2024

  The MU5 has been designed as a mesh networking system. It has seen service with dismounted troops and on uncrewed systems.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Exail to supply Caméléon unmanned demining robots to Belgium Armed Forces

  18th September 2024

  The Caméléon LG UGV includes remote operational capabilities and real-time hazard detection.

• Air Warfare

  Congress plans to provide the US Air Force with an additional $1 billion for procuring aircraft

  15th June 2024

  Extra funds will go to several programmes including the F-35. The House Appropriations Committee also prohibited the US Air Force from divesting U-2 and F-15 C/D fleet.

• Land Warfare

  What does the future hold for North Korean troops in Ukraine?

  3rd February 2025

  Various questions remain unanswered regarding the presence of North Korean troops in Ukraine.

• Land Warfare

  US Army increases efforts to plug capability gaps in self-propelled artillery inventory

  26th September 2024

  The service has been working on the modernisation of its in-service systems and planning the acquisition of advanced howitzers.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | KC-130J [Saudi Arabia]

  Royal Saudi Air Force is seeking to purchase three KC-130J tanker aircraft in addition to two units acquired under FMS programme. On 9 November 2012, ...

• Data links

  Data links | KC-130J [Saudi Arabia]

  Royal Saudi Air Force is seeking to purchase three KC-130J tanker aircraft in addition to two units acquired under FMS programme. On 9 November 2012, ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | KC-130J [Saudi Arabia]

  Royal Saudi Air Force is seeking to purchase three KC-130J tanker aircraft in addition to two units acquired under FMS programme. On 9 November 2012, ...

• Transport

  C-130 Replacement [Saudi Arabia]

  Programme Background Requirement The Royal Saudi Air Force operates 33 C-130H, 7 KC-130H aircraft and two KC-130Js. The country has been seeking to replace its ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | C-130H Replacement [Sweden]

  Sweden intends to replace its ageing fleet of five C-130H aircraft and one KC-130H. Although Stockholm was initially interested in buying second-hand C-130J from Italy, the ...

• Data links

  Data links | C-130H Replacement [Sweden]

  Sweden intends to replace its ageing fleet of five C-130H aircraft and one KC-130H. Although Stockholm was initially interested in buying second-hand C-130J from Italy, the ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | C-130H Replacement [Sweden]

  Sweden intends to replace its ageing fleet of five C-130H aircraft and one KC-130H. Although Stockholm was initially interested in buying second-hand C-130J from Italy, the ...

• Transport

  C-130J - USAF

  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 FMS ...

• Transport

  C-130J (1-2) [Egypt]

  Programme Background Requirement The Egyptian Air Force operates a large number of legacy C-130 aircraft, with approximately 22 C-130Hs and three C-130H-30s remaining in service. These ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  KC-130J - US Marine Corps

  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 FMS ...

• ISR/special mission

  E-6 TACAMO Recapitalisation Programme (E-130J) [USN]

  Programme Background The E-6 Take Charge and Move Out (TACAMO) Recapitalisation Programme (E-XX) provides for air vehicle replacement and mission systems modernization to augment and eventually ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  HC/MC-130J - USAF

  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 FMS ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | C-130J (Egypt)

  In January 2022 the US State Department approved the potential sale of up to 12 C-130J tactical transport aircraft to Egypt. The deal is potentially worth ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | C-130J (Egypt)

  In January 2022 the US State Department approved the potential sale of up to 12 C-130J tactical transport aircraft to Egypt. The deal is potentially worth ...

• Data links

  Data links | C-130J (Egypt)

  In January 2022 the US State Department approved the potential sale of up to 12 C-130J tactical transport aircraft to Egypt. The deal is potentially worth ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Air: transport/tanker simulators

  USAF C-130J MATS

  Training for USAF C-130J crews is managed under a programme called C-130J Maintenance and Aircrew Training System (MATS). Lockheed Martin is the prime contractor for ...

• Air: transport/tanker simulators

  Italian Air Force C-130J Total Training System

  CAE’s C-130J Total Training System for the Italian Air Force (AMI) includes an OFT, cockpit avionics part-task trainer (CAPTT), computer-based training, training management information system ...

• Transport

  C-130J Super Hercules

  The C-130J Super Hercules is the latest model of the C-130 Hercules four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft. The C-130J primarily performs the tactical portion of ...

• Air: transport/tanker simulators

  C-130J MATS

  Lockheed Martin’s C-130J Maintenance and Aircrew Training System (MATS) programme provides a range of training devices and support services including aircrew instruction, operations, contractor logistics ...

• Air: transport/tanker simulators

  Indian Air Force C-130J FMS

  CAE has designed and manufactured a C-130J FMS for the Indian Air Force. The device entered service at Hindan Air Base in 2012 and is ...

• ISR/special mission

  E-130J

  The E130J is being developed for the United States Navy as part of the Take Charge and Move Out (TACAMO) project to replace the E-6B ...

• Maritime patrol, Transport

  HC-130H/J

  Based on the C-130H and C-130J transport aircraft, the HC-130H/J are long-range MPAs that also provide SAR and air transport capability. 

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  KC-130J Super Hercules

  The KC-130J Super Hercules is a tanker variant of the C-130J Super Hercules. It is designed to deliver fuel to several platforms, including helicopters and ...

• Air: Defensive Systems - MLDS, Air: Defensive Systems - Laser Warning Receivers

  AN/AAR-47A(V)2

  The AN/AAR-47A(V)2 Missile and Laser Warning System (MWS) is an EW aircraft survivability system developed by Northrop Grumman. It is designed to protect low- and ...

• Air: transport/tanker simulators

  RAAF Airlift Programme

  The RAAF Airlift Programme required CAE to design, develop and manufacture three full-flight simulators, one each for the C-130J, C-130H and Boeing 707. The 707 ...

• ISR/special mission, Transport

  EC-130J Commando Solo

  The EC-130J Commando Solo is a special mission aircraft based on the C-130J transport airframe. It is used to conduct military information support operations and ...

• Transport

  C-27J Spartan

  The C-27J is a twin-turboprop tactical transport with new-generation technology in avionics, propulsion and systems. Alenia Aermacchi (now Leonardo) and Lockheed Martin began developing an ...

• ISR/special mission

  AC-130J

  The AC-130J 'Ghostrider' is a fifth-generation gunship manufactured by Lockheed Martin to replace the AC-130U/W gunships for the USAF deployed in 2019. The Ghostrider is a highly modified C-130J ...

• Air: surveillance radar

  AN/APN-241

  The AN/APN-241 is a high-resolution tactical transport radar manufactured by Northrop Grumman. It was designed and developed as a baseline radar for the C-130 mission ...

• Fixed wing aircraft engines

  AE 2100

  The Rolls-Royce AE 2100 turboprop engine is a widely used military powerplant that can be found on Lockheed Martin C-130 variants (AE 2100D3), Leonardo C-27J ...