• Digital Battlespace

  EU SATCOM agreement on horizon

  9th June 2017

  Plans for a pan-European Governmental Satellite Communications (GOVSATCOM) programme could be given the green light this month, enabling pooling and sharing of governmental satellite capacity …

• Defence Notes

  Amidst threats, Seoul eyes defence budget hike

  9th June 2017

  South Korea’s Ministry of National Defense (MND) has requested a record defence budget of KRW43.7 trillion ($38.7 billion) for next year. Although yet to be …

• Digital Battlespace

  Elbit Systems wins F-35 cockpit display deal

  9th June 2017

  Elbit Systems of America has secured a contract to develop a cockpit display replacement unit for the Lockheed Martin F-35 aircraft, the company announced on 6 …

• Naval Warfare

  RAAF P-8A flies for Operation Gateway

  9th June 2017

  A Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) P-8A Poseidon has completed its first overseas deployment to Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) Base Butterworth as part of …

• Defence Notes

  Analysis: Pentagon’s China report becomes more pastel

  9th June 2017

  Once again, the release of the annual Pentagon report, entitled Military and Security Developments Involving the People’s Republic of China, a US Congress-mandated document, contributes …

• Special Operations

  DTECH Labs to support USSOCOM’s TACLAN

  8th June 2017

  Cubic company DTECH Labs has received two delivery orders to support the next generation of US Special Operations Command’s (USSOCOM) Tactical Local Area Network (TACLAN), Cubic …

• Defence Helicopter

  Austria opts for Acehawk avionics

  8th June 2017

  Global Aviation Solutions (GAS) announced on 1 June that it will provide its Acehawk avionics systems for nine Austrian S-70A-42 Black Hawk helicopters. The contract, which …

• Training

  Saudi Arabia seeks training FMS

  8th June 2017

  The US State Department has made a determination approving a potential blanket training foreign military sale to the government of Saudi Arabia, the Defense Security …

• Digital Battlespace

  EW Europe: Direction finding gets flexible

  8th June 2017

  A new direction finding system with increased levels of performance has been launched by National Instruments. The company has recently launched its USRP  2945 software …

• Land Warfare

  Analysis: Can the Piranha devour the APC competition?

  8th June 2017

  General Dynamics European Land Systems (GDELS) is hoping for increased sales of their latest 8x8 Piranha 5 armoured personnel carrier (APC) following the handing over …

• Defence Notes

  Canada boosts defence spending by 70%

  8th June 2017

  The Liberal government in Canada is planning a 70% increase in defence spending under the long-awaited defence policy review (DPR) finally laid out on 7 …

• Naval Warfare

  Finnish corvettes on course

  8th June 2017

  With a budget of €1.2 billion, the Finnish navy is bolstering its fleet with its Squadron 2020 (Laivue 2020) project moving forward at pace. Most …

• Military Logistics

  EDA’s AM lab completes flight test

  8th June 2017

  The European Defence Agency’s (EDA) Additive Manufacturing (AM or 3D-printing) lab has completed a successful test flight on-board a Spanish C-130, fulfilling all airlift requirements …

• Military Logistics

  MCL wins new THPS, IECD contracts

  8th June 2017

  Marlborough Communications (MCL) has received two new contracts worth a combined £5.5 million from the UK Ministry of Defence, the company announced on 5 June. …

• Digital Battlespace

  EW Europe: Leonardo launches low-cost RF protection (video)

  8th June 2017

  Leonardo has unveiled a new integrated electronic warfare survivability product, which combines sensing and countermeasure solutions. Known as BriteEye, the new product is being exhibited …

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 ...