• Naval Warfare

  Belgium moves forward on MCM replacement

  30th January 2018

  The Belgian government has approved the purchase of six new mine countermeasures (MCM) vessels under a €1.1 billion ($1.36 billion) investment. The nation will work …

• Defence Notes

  Pentagon hushes up data on Taliban in Afghan war

  30th January 2018

  A US government watchdog said on 30 January the US Department of Defense (DoD) has barred it from disclosing how much of Afghanistan is under …

• Naval Warfare

  Russian Navy MPA fleet set for upgrade

  1st February 2018

  The small Beriev Be-12 fleet of maritime patrol aircraft is set for an upgrade of its vintage 1970s mission suite according to the Russian Naval …

• Digital Battlespace

  DARPA launches MIDAS programme

  29th January 2018

  DARPA has launched the Millimeter-Wave Digital Arrays (MIDAS) programme to improve secure military communications between platforms. The programme aims to develop element-level digital phased-array technology …

• Naval Warfare

  RUAG to continue Netherlands' MPA support

  30th January 2018

  RUAG Aviation has renewed its aircraft sustainment contract with the Netherlands Coastguard, the company announced on 26 January. Under the agreement, RUAG Aviation will provide …

• Defence Helicopter

  GE Aviation receives T408 LRIP contract

  22nd November 2017

  GE Aviation has received a $140 million low-rate initial production (LRIP) contract from the US Naval Air Systems Command to build 22 T408-GE-400 engines to …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Saab logs Sabertooth AUV order

  29th January 2018

  Saab has received a contract to deliver its Sabertooth autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) to an unnamed oil and gas customer.The order encompasses a number of …

• Defence Helicopter

  USSOCOM seeks helicopter sensor turret

  22nd November 2017

  The US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), Technology Application Contracting Office (TAKO) has released an RfI identifying government interest in a turreted EO sensor system for …

• Training

  Royal Navy gets new sonar training facility

  30th January 2018

  Thales has inaugurated a new sonar training facility for the Royal Navy at Clyde Naval Base at Faslane, Scotland, the company announced on 26 January.The …

• Special Operations

  Iraqi SOF adjust for future operations

  29th January 2018

  Iraq’s Counter-Terrorism Service (CTS) will consider the future training and materiel requirements of the Iraqi Special Operations Forces (ISOF) following the eradication of the self-proclaimed …

• Land Warfare

  Puma missile system tests near completion

  29th January 2018

  Final testing of the German Armed Force's anti-tank missile system on its fleet of Puma IFVs is expected to be completed by the third quarter …

• Military Logistics

  Hensoldt modernises ATC at German airfields

  17th November 2017

  Hensoldt is supplying its Aerodrome Surveillance Radar – Series (ASR-S) for German military airfields to modernise air traffic control (ATC), the company announced on 15 …

• Training

  FORSCOM 1st SFAB’s first rotation at JRTC

  29th January 2018

  The US Army Forces Command’s (FORSCOM) newest unit, the 1st Security Force Assistance Brigade (SFAB), headquartered at Fort Benning, Georgia, is completing its first rotation …

• Naval Warfare

  Socarenam wins utility craft order from DGA

  29th January 2018

  The French shipyard Socarenam has received an order from the General Directorate of Armament (DGA) for the supply of a maritime and port security craft …

• Land Warfare

  Test of US-Japanese missile interceptor fails again

  31st January 2018

  A test of a missile interceptor failed in Hawaii on 31 January, a US defence official said, marking the second such unsuccessful attempt in less …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  A330 MRTT (1-12) [France]

  Background In November 2014, The French Defence Procurement Agency (DGA) has confirmed purchase of 12 A330 MRTT air-to-air refuelling aircraft from Airbus. The contract will cover the development ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  A400M-Spain

  In December 2018, Spain Air Force took delivery of its first A400M. The aircraft will be operated by the Air Transport Wing (ATW) 31 of the ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  Tejas LCA - India Follow-On

  According to the HAL's chairman R Madhavan, 'apart from all the capabilities of IOC aircraft, the FOC variant additionally comes with an air-to-air refuelling capability, close-combat ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  Tanker Aircraft [Greece]

  Background Requirement Procurement of tanker aircraft is aligned with a broader 2021-approved Hellenic National Defence General Staff (GEETHA) plan to enhance the HAF's reach and operational ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  Strategic Tanker Transport [Canada]

  Background This project will replace the existing fleet capability, including strategic airlift, air-to-air refuelling, Aeromedical Evacuations and Strategic Government of Canada transport. The Strategic Tanker ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  C-390 [Hungary]

  Programme Background The aircraft for Hungary will be specially configured for tactical transport operations, air-to-air refuelling of the service's Saab Gripen C/D fighters, and medical ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  A330 MRTT (1-9) [NATO]

  Programme Background Following operations in Libya and extensive analyses by the European Defence Agency (EDA), it was agreed at the NATO Summit in 2012 that ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  KC-390 [Colombia]

  Background Role and requirements The Colombian KC-390s are going to be used for humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, cargo/troop transport, and air-to-air refuelling. The aircraft will ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  KC-Y tanker aircraft [USA]

  Programme Background The USAF is replacing its fleet of 396 KC-135 Stratotanker refuelling aircraft, built in the 1950s and 60s, and 59 KC-10 Extenders, which entered service ...

• Maritime patrol

  P-8I Follow-On [India]

  Programme Background The IN currently has eight P-8I aircraft in service, these ordered on 4 January 2009 for $2.1 billion. India inducted its first P-8I ...

• Maritime patrol

  P-8I (13-18) [India]

  Programme Background India previously bought eight P-8Is from Boeing in 2009 in a direct commercial sale, adding four more in 2016. India inducted its first ...

• 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 ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  KC-46A Follow-On (Israel Aid) [U.S.]

  Programme Background In August 2025, Israel approved the acquisition of 2 additional KC-46A aircraft as a follow-on to a 2022 contract for four aircraft. The ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  KC-135 [Argentina]

  Background The Chief of the Argentine Air Force, Brigadier Gustavo Valverde, announced that a formal request was submitted through the U.S. FMS process for two KC-135R variant ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  MQ-25 Stingray (16-76) [USN]

  Background Initial requirements The programme looked different when it began. In 2013, the USN awarded four Preliminary Design Review (PDR) contracts to Boeing, General Atomics, ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Air: transport/tanker simulators

  KC-767 JBOT Trainer

  ACME has delivered a Remote Air Refueling Operator trainer to the Japan Air Self-Defense Force. The trainer supports the KC-767J tanker aircraft that has a remote ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  A330 MRTT

  The 111t basic fuel capacity of the A330-200 airliner – from which the A330 is derived – enables the A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) to ...

• 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 ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  X-47B UCAS

  The X-47B is a tailless, strike fighter-sized unmanned aircraft, which was developed as part of the USN's Unmanned Combat Air System Demonstration project. The aircraft ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  MC-X Orca

  At DX Korea 2022, KAI presented an MC-X Orca medium transport aircraft concept model. The twin-engine aircraft is aimed at the Republic of Korea Air Force ...

• Surface-to-air missiles, Loitering munitions

  359

  Unveiled in January 2025, the 359 is a surface-to-air (SAM) loitering munition. It is designed to engage targets such as AWACS, refuelling tankers, and other high-altitude surveillance and ...

• Air: air combat simulators

  Hellenic Air Force F-16 ATD

  L3Harris Technologies has delivered two F-16C Block 52+ Aircrew Training Devices (ATDs) to the Hellenic Air Force. The trainers enable pilots to hone air-to-air and ...

• 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 ...

• Trailers

  M900 Series

  Heil’s M900-series tactical refuellers are designed and built to meet US military performance standards. The M967A2 ground equipment refueller and the M969A3 aircraft refueller are ...

• Air: fixed-wing flight simulators

  M-346 FMS

  Developed in conjunction with CAE, the M-346 Full Mission Simulator (FMS) can emulate basic fighter manoeuvres, formation flight, in-flight refuelling and advanced air-to-air and air-to-ground ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  MB-339C

  The MB-339C is an advanced/lead-in fighter trainer developed based on the MB-339A that made its first flight in August 1976. The latest MB-339C version is ...

• Fixed wing aircraft engines

  CF6-80E1A3

  The CF6-80E engines, developed by GE Aviation, power the newest generation of airliners such as Airbus A330. The engine incorporates a new 96-inch (2.44 meters) ...

• Air: transport/tanker simulators

  Transport, Refuelling and Sensor Aircraft Training

  Thales supports air force training needs for multi-mission aircraft in service around the world including A400M, MRTT/Voyager, Boeing Wedgetail, C-130 and KC-135, covering tactical airlift, ...

• Air: fixed-wing flight simulators

  Fast Jet Training

  Thales provides a suite of training products for the life-cycle of military fast jet training. These encompass the design, development and establishment of training services ...

• 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 ...