• Defence Helicopter

  Lockheed’s AN/APR-52 RWR achieves TRL 6

  18th August 2017

  Lockheed Martin’s AN/APR-52 Radar Warning Receiver (RWR) for the US Air Force (USAF) Combat Rescue Helicopter programme has achieved Technical Readiness Level (TRL) 6 assessment. …

• Defence Notes

  Taiwan stitches together F-35 request

  18th August 2017

  Taiwan is preparing to draft a request for price and availability for F-35 fighters to replace its ageing Dassault Mirage 2000 fighters, now numbering 56 …

• Training

  NZDF acquires VBS3 FiresFST enterprise license

  18th August 2017

  The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) has completed its acquisition of a perpetual enterprise licence of VBS3 FiresFST, SimCentric Technologies announced on 16 August. The …

• Training

  First flight of RAAF’s in-service PC-21

  17th August 2017

  The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) has completed the first PC-21 in-service flight in East Sale, Australia, marking a new milestone for the AIR 5428 …

• Military Logistics

  KC-10 Extenders successfully refuel C-17s

  24th July 2017

  Three US Air Force (USAF) KC-10 Extenders have refuelled five C-17 Globemaster III aircraft carrying over 300 coalition paratroopers across the Pacific Ocean, the USAF …

• Naval Warfare

  Russia’s Baltic Fleet receives new patrol boat

  1st November 2017

  The Russian State Acceptance Board has signed an acceptance act for a new Raptor (Project 03160) high-speed patrol boat for the Russian Navy’s Baltic Fleet, the …

• Special Operations

  New vehicles on display in Bahrain

  27th October 2017

  The Bahrain Royal Guard Special Forces has unveiled a new 4x4 long-range patrol vehicle, based on the Toyota Land Cruiser chassis and assembled in-country.  Shown …

• Land Warfare

  IDF orders Spike LR II missiles

  26th October 2017

  Rafael Advanced Defense Systems has received a contract from the Israel Defense Force (IDF) to supply more than 1000 Spike LR II precision-guided missiles, the …

• Naval Warfare

  Shadow looms over UK amphibious capabilities

  26th October 2017

  The future of the UK’s amphibious capabilities looks increasingly uncertain as the defence minister suggested it may no longer be a strategic priority. At a …

• Naval Warfare

  Russia orders new patrol boats

  26th October 2017

  The Russian National Guard Federal Troops Service (Rosgvardia) has ordered four Project 21980 Grachanok patrol boats at a total price of Roubles 4.1 billion ($72.3 …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Commercial UAV Expo 2017: Analysts project ‘lumpy and bumpy’ drone growth

  26th October 2017

  Speaking at this week’s Commercial UAV Expo in Las Vegas industry analysts addressed some conflicting projections regarding the potential size of the drone market. Two …

• Digital Battlespace

  MILCOM 2017: USMC seeks industry help for comms gap

  25th October 2017

  The US Marine Corps (USMC) needs industry’s help bridging communication gaps and preparing its deployed marines for austere environments. The USMC's director C4 and chief information …

• Naval Warfare

  USCG’s sUAS for NSC programme achieves milestone

  25th October 2017

  The US Coast Guard’s (USCG) small UAS National Security Cutter (NSC) programme has received approval to progress to the next phase, the USCG announced on …

• Land Warfare

  Australian steel for Rheinmetall Boxer bid

  25th October 2017

  Bisalloy Steel Group will develop and produce high performance armour steel for the Rheinmetall Boxer vehicle should it be selected for Australia’s Land 400 Phase …

• Land Warfare

  Romania selects the Piranha V

  24th October 2017

  The Romanian Ministry of Economy signed a MoI with General Dynamics European Land Systems (GDELS) for the licensed manufacture of the Piranha IFV. The signature …

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 ...