• Air Warfare

  Northrop Grumman’s B-21 makes first flight

  13th November 2023

  Northrop Grumman’s strategic stealth bomber aircraft, the B-21 Raider, has been developed to succeed the B-1 and B-2 fleets in the US Air Force service.

• Naval Warfare

  UK to boost submarine maintenance and nuclear defueling at Devonport facility

  10th November 2023

  The construction programme, one of the largest projects of its kind, will cost more than US$900 million and will lead to substantial upgrades to existing infrastructure at the site on the Devon coast.

• Air Warfare

  General Atomics looks to broaden Mojave UAV role amid FARA cancellation

  22nd February 2024

  The US Army has decided to channel portions of the terminated FARA helicopter funds into uncrewed platforms, while GA-ASI continues its work on broadening the applications of UAVs in attack and reconnaissance roles.

• Air Warfare

  Pratt & Whitney to support US Air Force large aircraft engines under US$870 million deal

  16th November 2023

  The engine support contract will run for six years and will include Boeing's B-52 Stratofortress and E-3 Sentry engines.

• Training

  How generative AI can improve military training

  3rd January 2024

  Using generative AI for military training can provide advantages such as analysing adversaries' behaviour and predicting their strategies.

• Air Warfare

  South Korea orders F-35 fighter munitions

  5th December 2023

  The US has greenlit a potential Foreign Military Sale (FMS) to South Korea, entailing a package of F-35 ammunition valued at around $271 million.

• Training

  Boeing T-7A Red Hawk arrives at Edwards to begin testing

  10th November 2023

  The US Air Force awarded Boeing a $9.2 billion contract for the T-7A Red Hawk advanced trainer and supporting equipment in 2018.

• Digital Battlespace

  Push for greater use of open source data, says senior British officer

  19th April 2024

  The huge amount of open source data available may not carry the weight of secret sources but it does carry substantial value, according to speakers at Defence IQ C4ISR Global conference in London.

• Naval Warfare

  Argentina maritime patrol boosted with P-3C Orion purchase from Norway

  20th October 2023

  The Argentine Navy will undertake long-range maritime patrol and surveillance missions with a fleet of four ex-Norwegian P-3 Orion aircraft under a deal announced by Argentina on 17th October.

• Naval Warfare

  Kongsberg to develop improved Naval Strike Missile

  24th November 2023

  Kongsberg’s Naval Strike Missile was developed in the early 2000s and delivered to the Norwegian Armed Forces from 2011 to 2015. The new missile will be a collaborative project between Norway and Germany and has been planned to be deployed on both countries' naval vessels.

• Land Warfare

  Teledyne FLIR introduces next-gen thermal weapon sight

  25th January 2024

  ThermoSight HISS-HD was engineered to enable snipers and machine gun crews to detect, identify and engage targets more than 2,200 meters away with accuracy.

• Training

  I/ITSEC 2023: US Navy considers purchase of Vrgineers carbon fibre MR headset for V-22 pilots

  28th November 2023

  The new Vrgineers carbon fibre XTAL 3 CAVU mixed-reality headset will attempt to address calculation bottlenecks via high-performance graphical chip and AI ahead of launch in 2024.

• Air Warfare

  BAE Systems to deliver Common Missile Warning Systems to foreign allies

  6th February 2024

  BAE Systems has secured an FMS contract from the US Army for AN/AAR-57 Common Missile Warning Systems, expanding its deployment beyond the US services.

• Air Warfare

  NHIndustries to boost NH90 support as parts from Australian MRH90s return to Europe

  29th February 2024

  In October 2024, Australia announced it was standing down its version of the NH90, the MRH90. NHIndustries has been using the opportunity to salvage systems from the aircraft and boost it supply stocks for other users.

• Air Warfare

  Boeing shifts towards low-rate MH-139A Grey Wolf production

  21st November 2023

  Boeing's progress in the MH-139A Grey Wolf helicopter programme have marked a milestone in the transition toward low-rate initial production, following the delivery of the final test aircraft to the US Air Force.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | Additional FLIT-LCA [Malaysia]

  The Royal Malaysian Air Force is planning to acquire Fighter Lead-In Training - Light Combat Aircraft (FLIT-LCA). This will provide an interim solution for the ...

• Data links

  Data links | Additional FLIT-LCA [Malaysia]

  The Royal Malaysian Air Force is planning to acquire Fighter Lead-In Training - Light Combat Aircraft (FLIT-LCA). This will provide an interim solution for the ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  Air: Helmet-mounted displays | Additional FLIT-LCA [Malaysia]

  The Royal Malaysian Air Force is planning to acquire Fighter Lead-In Training - Light Combat Aircraft (FLIT-LCA). This will provide an interim solution for the ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | Additional FLIT-LCA [Malaysia]

  The Royal Malaysian Air Force is planning to acquire Fighter Lead-In Training - Light Combat Aircraft (FLIT-LCA). This will provide an interim solution for the ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | Additional FLIT-LCA [Malaysia]

  The Royal Malaysian Air Force is planning to acquire Fighter Lead-In Training - Light Combat Aircraft (FLIT-LCA). This will provide an interim solution for the ...

• Maritime patrol

  Maritime Patrol Aircraft [Malaysia]

  Programme Background In June 2019, The Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) has confirmed to Shephard that the government has given approval for the service to prepare ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | Multi-Role Combat Aircraft [Malaysia]

  Malaysia’s Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MRCA) programme is part of a broader effort to modernise the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) under the Capability Development Plan ...

• Data links

  Data links | Multi-Role Combat Aircraft [Malaysia]

  Malaysia’s Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MRCA) programme is part of a broader effort to modernise the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) under the Capability Development Plan ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  Air: Helmet-mounted displays | Multi-Role Combat Aircraft [Malaysia]

  Malaysia’s Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MRCA) programme is part of a broader effort to modernise the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) under the Capability Development Plan ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | Multi-Role Combat Aircraft [Malaysia]

  Malaysia’s Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MRCA) programme is part of a broader effort to modernise the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) under the Capability Development Plan ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | Multi-Role Combat Aircraft [Malaysia]

  Malaysia’s Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MRCA) programme is part of a broader effort to modernise the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) under the Capability Development Plan ...

• Landing platform docks/dock landing ships

  Multi-Role Support Ship (MRSS) (3) [Malaysia]

  Programme Background Requirements The Royal Malaysian Navy are in the process of a fleet transformation plan known as the 15 to 5 Transformation Plan, which ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  Additional FLIT-LCA [Malaysia]

  Programme Background Malaysia released a RfI in early January 2019 seeking light combat aircraft capable of some air-to-air and full air-to-ground missions. The requirement is ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Multi-Role Combat Aircraft [Malaysia]

  Programme Background Requirement Malaysia has long had a requirement known as the Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MRCA) designed to replace the MiG-29 fleet. The MRCA programme ...

• Corvettes

  New Generation Patrol Vessels Batch III (13-18) [Malaysia]

  Programme Background Requirements Malaysia unveiled a plan in 2015 to restructure and recapitalise its navy. The plan is called the 15 to 5 Plan and ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• 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). ...

• Subsystems: software

  SimuSphere HD-9

  SimuSphere HD-9 is an HD visual display solution that can be upgraded to trainers currently integrated with SimuSphere systems or as an option for a ...

• Air: COMINT and ELINT systems

  ESP

  The Electronic Surveillance Payload (ESP) is a lightweight system providing capabilities for Electronic Support Measures(ESM)/ELINT operations. It is designed to operate as a standalone ESM ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  SISTELA

  Developed by the Naval Group's Malaysian division, the SISTELA Combat Management System supports diverse naval missions such as surface warfare and air defence. Developed for the ...

• Air-launched ASW torpedoes, Ship-launched torpedoes

  Sting Ray

  The Sting Ray Mod 1 is an air- and surface-launched, lightweight ASW torpedo. It can be deployed from frigates, helicopters and maritime patrol aircraft against ...

• Air: air combat simulators

  Royal Malaysian Air Force F/A-18D TOFT

  In 2014, L3 Link (now L3Harris Technologies) delivered an F/A-18D Tactical Operations Flight Trainer (TOFT) to the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF). The TOFT consists ...

• OPVs

  New Generation Patrol Vessel

  LUNAS unveiled the New Generation Patrol Vessel (NGPV) at DSA 2018. The NGPV is intended for the Royal Malaysian Navy's (RMN) New Generation Patrol Vessels ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  Tactical UAV

  Unveiled at DSA 2022, the Deftech Tactical UAV is an indigenously developed platform based on the Aldura Mk1. The platform is aimed at the Royal Malaysian ...

• EO/IR systems

  Damocles

  The Damocles is a third-generation targeting pod developed by Thales Group, designed for advanced reconnaissance and laser designation. It is modular, features an eye-safe laser, ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, 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 ...

• Corvettes

  Laksamana Class

  The Royal Malaysian Navy's Laksamana-class corvettes originated under an order placed with Fincantieri by the Iraqi government, but this was cancelled in the 1980s after ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - HALE

  Anka-3

  The Anka-3 MIUS, or Anka-III, is a developmental low-observable flying wing UCAV from Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI).  The UCAV has been designed to work alongside Turkey's ...

• Air: transport/tanker simulators

  A330 MRTT Training Devices

  Under subcontract to Airbus Defence and Space, CAE has provided A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) training devices to the UAE Air Force and Royal Saudi ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  SETIS

  SETIS is Naval Group's integrated combat system designed initially for French Navy's FREMM-frigates. It is currently being used on Naval Group's Gowind-class corvettes. SETIS is ...

• 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 ...