• Air Warfare

  Thailand decommissions Pilatus PC-9 training aircraft

  6th February 2024

  All 22 Thai Pilatus PC-9 training aircraft have been retired with the T-6C Texan II fulfilling all training roles for the country’s air force.

• Air Warfare

  US Navy’s plan to replace fleet of MH60s moves forward

  16th May 2024

  The US Navy’s Future Vertical Lift (Maritime Strike) has been an effort to recapitalise Sikorsky MH-60R/S naval helicopters which have an out-of-service date in the late-2030s.

• Air Warfare

  Designs revealed for DARPA’s ANCILLARY VTOL UAS programme

  23rd May 2024

  Six bidders have been competing for DARPA’s AdvaNced airCraft Infrastructure-Less Launch And RecoverY (ANCILLARY) programme for a low-weight, large-payload, long-endurance VTOL uncrewed X-plane.

• Digital Battlespace

  Thales combines lightweight sensors on specialist target designator vehicle

  20th June 2024

  The 6x6 Griffon VOA specialist vehicle uses a mix of mast-mounted electro-optics and radar to locate and designate targets primarily for French Army artillery batteries, but can also perform the same role for combat aircraft and helicopters. The Thales mission package is platform-agnostic and could be integrated on other vehicle families for export.

• Air Warfare

  South Korean KF-21 Boramae fighter achieves aerial refuelling milestone

  21st March 2024

  The successful completion of the first aerial refuelling trial for South Korea's indigenous KF-21 Boramae fighter prototype has marked a leap forward in its development.

• Land Warfare

  Norway to provide more NASAMs to Ukraine

  9th February 2024

  If approved by the Norwegian Parliament, a proposal to supply additional National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) units to Ukraine would represent Norway’s fourth such donation of the systems.

• Air Warfare

  Turkey completes first AESA radar flight test on F-16 Ozgur with drone trials imminent “within days”

  26th March 2024

  Turkey’s homegrown MURAD radar system has promised to enhance Turkish air combat missions, offering simultaneous air-to-air and air-to-ground functionality, enhanced target detection and EW capabilities.

• Air Warfare

  BAE Systems “actively pursues” up to 200 Eurofighter Typhoon sales as fighter upgrade continues

  15th May 2024

  BAE Systems has been actively seeking potential buyers for Eurofighter Typhoon jets, with Germany and Italy among the countries considering additional purchases. The company remained aware, however, of the importance of enhancing the fighter’s capabilities to ensure relevance into the 2040s and beyond.

• Air Warfare

  US Space Force accelerates acquisition and development of capabilities

  4th March 2024

  The service’s efforts have related to the use of commercial technologies, as well as satellite development, missile tracking and warning, space data, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  UK’s EW UAS-jammer set for field testing

  16th May 2024

  The Radio Frequency Directed Energy Weapon (RFDEW) will be able to impact targets such as UAS up to 1km away by beaming radio waves to disrupt or damage critical electronic components.

• Land Warfare

  Germany commits more money to artillery for Ukraine

  3rd April 2024

  The Russia–Ukraine war has remained at a standstill testing the commitment of NATO countries, especially the US, but Germany has been stalwart as a leading source of vital munitions and other capabilities.

• Air Warfare

  US Navy turns to personnel and industry for Greyhounds to fill the V-22 hole

  7th March 2024

  The V-22 Osprey, a joint-service multirole tiltrotor aircraft manufactured by Bell and Boeing in a joint venture, performs carrier resupply for the US Navy. With its grounding, however, C-2 Greyhounds have been called upon to carry out more work.

• Defence Notes

  Why the US military needs an “innovation intervention”

  11th July 2024

  Several issues in the Pentagon’s structure and the defence industrial base have been hampering the country's efforts to produce cutting-edge solutions.

• Air Warfare

  US approves anti-radiation missile control section upgrade contract for UAE

  8th May 2024

  The High Speed Anti-Radiation Missile (HARM) is an air-to-surface anti-radiation missile designed to detect electronic transmissions coming from surface-to-air radar and then destroy it.

• Air Warfare

  Lockheed says Israel will buy third squadron of F-35s in coming months

  23rd February 2024

  Lockheed Martin has revealed insights into the latest developments surrounding the F-35 programme, from pending Letters of Acceptance (LoAs) with Israel and Greece, to ongoing Tech Refresher 3 upgrades.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• 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 ...

• Medium Range Missile Defence Systems: 20-90km range

  Medium-Range Air Defence [Malaysia]

  Background Historically, Malaysia has relied on a combination of SHORAD/V-SHORAD and fixed-wing interceptors.  Given the growth of modern stand-off weapons, Malaysia's Defence White Paper 2020 identified the ...

• Land: air defence radar

  GM400a [Malaysia]

  Background Malaysia is procuring Ground Master 400 Alpha radars to expand its inventory to four units. The radars will be deployed by the Royal Malaysian ...

• 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 ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  FLIT-LCA [Malaysia]

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

• Corvettes

  New Generation Patrol Vessels Batch II (7-12) [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 ...

• Military helicopters - maritime

  Maritime Operations Helicopters

  The three maritime operations helicopters will be used for logistics and personnel transport, alongside transportation of PASKAL naval special forces in operations in the area. ...

• OPVs

  LMS Batch II (5-7) [Malaysia]

  Background Requirements The current Keris-class Littoral Mission Ship (LMS) has been introduced to replace many of the current classes of obsolete ships that are proving expensive ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  TUAS [Malaysia]

  Programme Background Tender & Requirments The Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) issued a tender in May 2020 to provide a new Tactical Uncrewed Aerial System (TUAS). ...

• Landing platform docks/dock landing ships

  Multi-Role Support Ship (MRSS) (1-2) [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 ...

• Submarines: conventional/attack

  Submarines Procurement [Malaysia]

  Programme Background Requirements In 2015, the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) issued the so-called 15 to 5 Transformation Plan, which envisioned the service to be standardised ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft [Malaysia]

  Programme Background In mid-2024, Malaysia commenced discussions with Kuwait regarding a possible transfer of up to 33 F/A-18 Hornet aircraft. According to reports, the Kuwaiti government ...

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: 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 ...

• Air-launched ASW torpedoes, Ship-launched torpedoes

  Sting Ray Mod 1

  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 ...

• 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 - 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, ...

• 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 - 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 ...

• 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: 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

  Anka-3

  Unveiled in 2023, the Anka-3 MIUS or Anka-III, is a low-observable flying wing UCAV from Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI). The UCAV has been designed to ...

• Air: Electronic Attack - Pod

  SAP-518

  KNIRTT’s SAP-518 is a pod-mounted electronic warfare system which is designed to outfit the Sukhoi Su-30 series of combat aircraft. When deployed with onboard the Su-30 ...