• Defence Helicopter

  France, Germany to upgrade Tiger simulators

  13th February 2015

  Thales and Rheinmetall Defence Electronics will partner to supply or upgrade 20 Tiger helicopter simulators for French and German armed forces, it was announced on …

• Digital Battlespace

  West: USMC demos networking-on-the-move

  13th February 2015

  The USMC has tested infantry squad level text messaging and image transfer during an exercise in December 2014. Exercise Talon Reach used a selection of …

• Digital Battlespace

  West: Navy cyber chief outlines goals

  13th February 2015

  The US Navy is on ‘cyber journey’ to safeguard freedom of action in an ever-changing world, according to Vice Ad Jan Tighe, commander of US …

• Defence Notes

  Asia and Middle East drive global defence spending rise

  12th February 2015

  Emerging economies in the Middle East and Asia are boosting global defence spending for the first time since 2010, a study by a leading UK …

• Military Logistics

  GE tests ceramic F414 engine blades

  12th February 2015

  GE Aviation has successfully tested the first non-static, lightweight Ceramic Matrix Composite (CMC) turbine blades in an F414 turbofan engine, the company announced on 10 …

• Naval Warfare

  Tomahawk's moving target capability tested

  12th February 2015

  Raytheon and the US Navy have successfully tested the moving target capability of the Tomahawk Block IV cruise missile, the company announced on 11 February. …

• Land Warfare

  Japan shows off nascent AAV7 fleet

  12th February 2015

  Japan exhibited its AAVP7A1 amphibious assault vehicles to media at Camp Fuji on 9 February 2015.  To date, the Japan Ground Self Defense Force (JGSDF) …

• Defence Helicopter

  Indra to supply Spanish EC135 training system

  12th February 2015

  Indra has been awarded a contract to supply an integrated training system for the EC135 helicopter by the Defense Ministry of Spain, the company announced …

• Land Warfare

  Darpa introduces SXCT infantry programme

  12th February 2015

  Darpa has introduced a new Squad X Core Technologies (SXCT) programme aimed at developing integrated systems for land infantry, it announced on 9 February. The …

• Digital Battlespace

  West: Lockheed demos new C4ISR Test Bed

  12th February 2015

  The US Navy has recently been shown a demonstration of a new maritime C4ISR test bed to help accelerate the fielding of new capabilities. Speaking …

• Defence Helicopter

  Sogitec to train Swedish NH90 crew

  12th February 2015

  Sogitec Industries has won a contract by the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) to train Swedish Air Force and FMV Test and Evaluation NH90 crews, …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  West: Northrop to demo BAT UAS

  11th February 2015

  Northrop Grumman will test two versions of the BAT fixed-wing UAS (12 ft and 14 foot) and a rotary wing (RBAT) variant later this year. Speaking at …

• Land Warfare

  West: US Army readiness delayed to 2020

  11th February 2015

  The US Army has been degraded by a high operational tempo and sequestration in recent years that means it won’t achieve full readiness until 2020. …

• Military Logistics

  BAE Systems to support F-35 airframe

  11th February 2015

  BAE Systems Australia has been selected to to support the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) airframe for the South Pacific region, the company …

• Land Warfare

  Poland to build artillery force

  11th February 2015

  As part of the Poland Armed Forces (PAF) vision for 2030 to modernise their land forces, the Polish Army is to introduce six new artillery …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Light attack, Trainer

  PC-21 (Project Air 5428) [Australia]

  The new PTS, including aircraft, flight training simulators and learning environments is being acquired from a single capability contractor, Team 21, which consists of Lockheed ...

• Transport, Transport/tanker aircraft

  Project Air 7404 [Australia]

  Programme Background Requirement Australia is thinking ahead to an enlarged transport fleet to replace the current C-130Js. The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) was the second ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-35A (Project Air 6000 Phase 2A/B) [Australia]

  Programme Background The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) took delivery of 18 F-35A aircraft as of March 2020 and the remaining aircraft are expected to ...

• Military UAS - HALE

  MQ-4C Triton (5-6) [Australia]

  Background Four Contracted Units In the summer of 2020, Northrop Grumman announced that the Australian Government provided $333 million for three MQ-4C Tritons and associated GCS. ...

• Medium Range Missile Defence Systems: 20-90km range

  Medium Range Air Defence [Australia]

  Background Faced with a growing threat from China and a vast land and sea territory to protect, Australia is seeking to establish a medium-range ground-based ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) [Australia]

  Background Older Efforts On 23 April 2021, the US State Department's Foreign Military Sales (FMS) approval announcement revealed that Australia had requested to buy up ...

• Patrol boats

  Evolved Cape Class (13-14) [Australia]

  Programme Background Austal was awarded a contract to build six 'Evolved'Cape-class patrol boats for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) on 1 May 2020 (see separate ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Project Air 7003 [Australia]

  Programme Background Requirement The Royal Australian Air Force has been without a UAS capability since the Heron was withdrawn in mid-2017. According to Defence Minister Linda Reynolds, ...

• OPVs

  Arafura Class (Project SEA 1180) (1-6) [Australia]

  Programme Background Australia's new class of Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPV), the Arafura-class, will replace the Royal Australian Navy's (RAN) fleet of Armidale and Cape-class patrol ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  MQ-28 Ghost Bat [Australia]

  Background Goal As stated by the Head of Air Force Capability, Air Vice-Marshal Robert Denney, in March 2022, the Ghost Bat will be an "operational system ...

• Loitering munitions

  Mission Talon Strike [Australia]

  Background Request for Tender (RFT) On 19 May 2025, the Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator (ASCA), an agency aimed at streamlining defence invocation for the Australian Defence ...

• Military UAS - small

  VTOL UAV [New Zealand]

  Background Defence Capability Plan (DCP) In April 2025, the New Zealand government published the DCP, a document that is essentially a blueprint for what procurements ...

• Trainer

  Hawk 127 Replacement (Future Lead-In Fighter Training System- Project Air 6002 PH1) [Australia]

  Programme Background Requirements The RAAF is seeking a future solution that provides a ‘relevant, adaptable, affordable and safe LIFTS out to 2050’ for training pilots ...

• Military UAS - small

  DEF129 (Tactical UAS) [Australia]

  Programme Background Programme Announcement The Australian Army announced the Project Land 129 Phase 3 programme in 2017. This announcement led to the release of an industry ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Harpii Szpon (Loyal Wingman) [Poland]

  Background Market Evaluation On 6 November 2023, speaking at the IQPC International Fighter Conference (IFC) 2023 in Madrid, Major General Cezary Wiśniewski, the Deputy General Commander of the ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Air: Integrated Defensive Systems

  Air-5416 Project Echidna

  Air-5416 Project Echidna was an initiative launched in 2001 by BAE Systems for the Australian DoD. Its goal was to overhaul the self protection systems ...

• 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 ...

• Air: helicopter flight simulators

  Australian Defence Force MRH90 Training

  As prime contractor for the ADF's MRH90 training programme, CAE has provided two MRH90 full-flight mission simulators (FFMS), training facilities and engineering and support services. ...

• Air: air combat simulators

  RAAF Hawk Mk 127 FMS

  Under subcontract to BAE Systems, CAE is designing and manufacturing three Hawk Mk 127 full-mission simulators (FMS) for the Royal Australian Air Force that will ...

• Military UAS - mini

  Wanderer

  The Wanderer is a low-altitude, low-cost, long-endurance UAV produced in-house by the Royal Australian Air Force's (RAAF) Jericho Disruptive Innovation Group and the Australian Government's Defense Science ...

• Light attack

  Hawk 200

  The Hawk 200 is a single-seat light attack iteration of the Hawk 100 (see separate entry) and Advanced Jet Trainer or AJT (see separate entry). ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  MQ-28A Ghost Bat

  The MQ-28A Ghost Bat is a loyal wingman-type, Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA), MALE fixed-wing drone being developed by Boeing Defence Australia. Its development began in ...

• Military - USVs

  Bluebottle

  Bluebottle is a persistent, autonomous, uncrewed surface vessel from Ocius Technology in service with the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF). In ...

• Air: UAV simulators

  Predator Mission Trainer (PMT)

  The CAE Predator Mission Trainer (PMT) is an integrated platform that combines the features of CAE's UAS mission trainer with General Atomics Aeronautical Systems' Predator-specific ...

• Maritime patrol

  Challenger 604

  Bombardier Challenger CL-604 MPAs are in service with the Royal Danish Air Force and the Korea Coast Guard. The first of three Danish aircraft entered ...

• Military UAS - micro

  Phantom 4 (Series)

  Designed for aerial photograph applications by DJI, the Phantom 4 series of UAVs includes the Phantom 4 Pro, Phantom 4 Pro V2.0, Phantom 4 Advanced ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  Hawkei

  Thales Australia developed the 4x4 Hawkei for the Australian Army's Land 121 Phase 4 Protected Mobility Vehicle – Light (PMV-L) project.  The prototype was unveiled in ...

• Air: COMINT and ELINT systems

  AN/ALR-2001

  BAE Systems’ AN/ALR-2001 Electronic Support Measure (ESM) is thought to be based on Israel Aerospace Industries’ (IAI) Elta Systems division’s EL/M-8382 ESM. The AN/ALR-2001 is ...

• Air-to-surface missiles

  AGM-88E AARGM

  The AGM-88E Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile (AARGM) is a supersonic, medium-range, air-launched tactical missile compatible with US and allied strike aircraft. Designed to upgrade the AGM-88 ...

• Military UAS - mini

  M Solar-X

  First revealed in August 2020, in February 2024, at its symposium, the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) showcased the M Solar-X. This solar-powered fixed-wing drone was ...