• Defence Notes

  Israeli Air Force starts jet training with M-346

  28th January 2015

  Israeli Air Force (IAF) flight school cadets have commenced flights with the new Aermacchi M-346 instructional aircraft for the first time, the air force announced …

• Military Logistics

  First A400M for Malaysia moves toward delivery

  28th January 2015

  The first A400M for the Royal Malaysian Air Force is set to begin its first round of test flights and ground tests at the Airbus …

• Defence Notes

  Japan, UK to enhance operational cooperation

  28th January 2015

  In the first ever UK-Japan defence ministerial meeting, the two ministries agreed to enhance operational cooperation, the UK government announced on 21 January. The meeting …

• Military Logistics

  European Air Transport Fleet plans solidify

  28th January 2015

  The European Air Transport Fleet (EATF) partnership has now entered its second phase, the European Defence Agency announced on 19 January. The EATF three-phase strategy …

• Digital Battlespace

  Sparton, Ultra Electronics win sonobuoy contracts

  28th January 2015

  Sparton and Ultra Electronics have won subcontracts worth $21.6 million for sonobuoys from their ERAPSCO/SonobuoyTech Systems joint venture, Sparton announced on 21 January. ERAPSCO/SonobuoyTech Systems …

• Defence Helicopter

  Airbus Helicopters bullish in face of low oil price

  27th January 2015

  Despite the recent plunge in oil prices creating some short-term pain, Airbus Helicopters is bullish that strong opportunities remain for larger rotorcraft such as the …

• Digital Battlespace

  DRS demonstrates new laser designating gimbal

  27th January 2015

  DRS Technologies has successfully performed the first airborne demonstration of its GS205-XRZ laser designating gimbal, the company announced on 21 January. The GS205-XRZ variant executed …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Exelis to supply BRU-71/A for MQ-9 Reaper

  27th January 2015

  Exelis has received a $27 million follow-on contract from General Atomics Aeronautical Systems for the BRU-71/A ejector rack, the company announced on 21 January. The …

• Digital Battlespace

  DRS to supply JTT-Rs for US, Australian Growlers

  27th January 2015

  DRS Technologies will deliver up to 180 Joint Tactical Terminal-Receivers (JTT-R) for US Navy and Australian EA-18G electronic warfare aircraft, the company announced on 22 …

• Defence Helicopter

  Boeing awarded Indonesian AH-64E Apache contract

  27th January 2015

  Boeing has been awarded a contract to manufacture eight AH-64E Apache attack helicopters for Indonesia, according to a US DoD announcement on 26 January. This …

• Military Logistics

  Taiwan receives new support ship

  26th January 2015

  The Taiwanese Republic of China Navy (ROCN) received a new fast combat support ship on 23 January 2015. After completing sea trials the $130 million …

• Defence Helicopter

  First ADF HATS training helicopter takes flight

  26th January 2015

  The first build EC135 T2+ helicopter for the Australian Defence Force’s (ADF’s) new Helicopter Aircrew Training System (HATS) has completed its first flight at the …

• Defence Helicopter

  Malaysia boosts helicopter capability to battle rebels

  26th January 2015

  To allow Malaysia’s military to better counter insurgents, the country is obtaining second-hand S-70A Black Hawks from Brunei, and improving the combat capability of its …

• Naval Warfare

  Boeing’s Maritime Surveillance Aircraft ready to demo

  26th January 2015

  Boeing has completed baseline ground and flight testing of the Maritime Surveillance Aircraft (MSA) mission systems, clearing the way for customer demonstration flights to begin. …

• Land Warfare

  USMC considers ATVs for ITV replacement

  23rd January 2015

  All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) are being included as one of the options to replace the US Marine Corp (USMC) Internally Transportable Vehicle (ITV). An RFI released …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military helicopters - multirole

  UH-60M Black Hawk [Latvia]

  Programme Background In August 2018, the Latvian government approved the acquisition of four UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters. The UH-60Ms are intended for both military and ...

• 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 ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-35A Joint Strike Fighter - USAF

  Background The programme’s early competitive phase included three different airframe designs. Boeing submitted one design, Lockheed Martin submitted another, and McDonnell Douglas submitted a third ...

• Transport

  King Air 360 [Nigeria]

  Programme Background On 7 October 2021, Nigeria’s Budget Office published its proposed budget details. The Nigerian Air Force requested 10.86 billion Nigerian Naira (US$26.4 million) ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  Light Attack/Trainer Aircraft - Ghana

  In 2013, the Chief of Ghana Air Force stated that A-29 is their preferred platform and this position was also submitted to the Government. In ...

• Bomber

  B-21 Raider [USA]

  Programme Background Development The US DoD is developing a new long-range bomber called the B-21 Raider, previously known as LRS-B. At least 100 units are ...

• Trainer

  Trainer Aircraft (1-12) [Vietnam]

  Programme Background After years of operating Russian-built military equipment, Vietnam is more willing to procure US-supplied equipment following the lifting of the arms embargo in ...

• Military UAS - mini

  RemoEye-006A [Bolivia]

  Background Ceremony In June 2013, the Bolivian air force inducted its first two UAVs into service, with the models, FAB 0001 and FAB 0002, being ...

• Long Range Missile Defence Systems: > 90km range

  Barak MX [Thailand]

  Background Thailand is procuring the Barak MX air defence system, which will be operated by the Anti-Aircraft Regiment of the Security Force Command. The system ...

• CUAS - jammers

  Airbase Air Defence Systems CUAS [US]

  Background The US Air Force's Budget Documentation for FY 2027 included $1.529 billion for Air Base Air Defence, part of which was to be used for ...

• Military helicopters - light/training

  Bell 505 [Jordan]

  Background Requirement The Jordanian Air Force has a requirement for training helicopters that are to be used in the King Hussein Air College. The country currently ...

• Hybrid effector systems

  US Air Force Air Base Defence Missile Defence [US]

  Background The US Air Force's (USAF) Air Base Air Defence Missile Defence (ABAD MD) programme is part of the Air Force Physical Security System and sits ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Tornado Replacement (F-35A) [Germany]

  Background Requirement In March 2020, it emerged that the German government was considering  30 F/A-18E/F Super Hornets to replace 45 nuclear-capable Tornados. The remaining 40 Tornados ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-16V (1-8) [Bulgaria]

  Programme Background Requirement Bulgarian MoD plans to procure 16 new-built fighter aircraft to replace its fleet of 15 Russian-manufactured MiG-29 fighters. Lockheed Martin’s F-16 Block ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-47 Penetrating Counter Air (PCA) [USA]

  Background Requirement Originally conceived as a replacement for the F-22, the PCA was designed to counter various air threats, including integrated air defence systems and ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Air: EO/IR – Jamming Systems

  AN/AAQ-45

  Leonardo’s AN/AAQ-45 Distributed Aperture Infrared Countermeasures is designed to equip rotorcraft. The system is being installed on Sikorsky HH-60G Pave Hawk medium-lift utility helicopters used ...

• 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 ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  FAB-T Force Element Terminal

  The Family of Advanced Beyond Line-of-Sight Terminals - Force Element Terminal (FAB-T FET) is a nuclear-hardened SATCOM solution designed for airborne applications. Produced by Raytheon, ...

• Unguided Medium Calibre Ammunition

  25mm PGU-48/B

  The 25mm PGU-48/B is a medium-calibre armour-penetrating round manufactured by American Rheinmetall. The US Air Force uses the PGU-48/B with its F-35 aircraft.

• Unguided Medium Calibre Ammunition

  25mm PGU-23/U

  The 25mm PGU-23/U is a medium-calibre training round manufactured by General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems. The US Air Force utilises it with its AC-130 and ...

• Land: soldier modernisation systems - industry programmes

  Warrior Systems

  General Dynamics Mission Systems is prime contractor and system integrator for the US Army’s Warrior soldier systems, which include Air Warrior, Future Force Warrior, Land Warrior ...

• Air: mission management systems

  TBMCS

  Theater Battle Management Core Systems (TBMCS) is a US joint C2 integrated BMS used to plan and execute air campaigns in theatres of operations worldwide. ...

• Fighter - air superiority

  F-5E/F Tiger II

  The F-5E (single-seat)/F (twin-seat) Tiger II is an air superiority fighter developed by Northrop Grumman based on the original F-5 Freedom Fighter. Production of the ...

• Unguided Medium Calibre Ammunition

  30mm PGU-13B High Explosive Incendiary

  The 30mm 30mm PGU-13B High Explosive Incendiary (HEI) is a medium-calibre munition manufactured by Northrop Grumman. The US Air Force uses the PGU-13B HEI with ...

• 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 ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  CLS-200

  The CLS-200 is part of the Yates Electrospace Corporation Silent Arrow family. It is a powered cargo-carrying one-use UAV, based on the company's GD-2000 glider.  In ...

• Trainer

  T-6A/B Texan II

  The T-6 Texan II is a single-engine trainer aircraft, which was developed from the Pilatus PC-9 to meet the training requirements of USAF and USN ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-4 Phantom II family

  The F-4 Phantom II is a two-seat multirole fighter developed originally by McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) to meet USN interceptor requirements. It soon became a unified ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  EMB-312 Tucano

  The EMB-312 Tucano (Brazilian designation T-27) is a trainer and light attack aircraft developed by Embraer to meet the training requirements of the Brazilian Air ...

• Loitering munitions

  Sureshastra

  The Sureshastra, or Smart Unmanned Munitions System (S-UMS), is a jet-powered, catapult-launched loitering munition manufactured by Veda Aeronautics.  In 2023, the Indian Air Force (IAF) acquired ...