• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Opinion: Commercial enterprise

  21st September 2018

  This article first appeared in the Oct-Nov 2017 issue of UV magazine. It has been made available for non-subscribers following its shortlisting by the 2018 …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Bell-led team for NASA UAS demo

  11th September 2018

  Bell has signed a cooperative agreement with NASA for a UAS flight demonstration in the National Airspace System (NAS) expected to be conducted in 2020, …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Australia awards UAS tech contracts

  5th September 2018

  The Australian Defence Innovation Hub has awarded new contracts for the continued development of new UAS technologies, the Australian Department of Defence announced on 1 …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Textron demonstrates simulated manned-unmanned teaming capability

  2nd August 2018

  Textron Systems has successfully integrated and demonstrated manned-unmanned teaming capability via its Synturian control and collaboration technology and Textron Aviation Defense’s Scorpion jet, Textron announced …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Farnborough 2018: Nightwarden flights to continue from Textron’s Blackstone site

  19th July 2018

  Textron Systems Unmanned Systems is to move its Nightwarden UAV flights to its Blackstone facility near Richmond, Virginia, to continue preparations ahead of any future …

• Defence Notes

  Team Shadow unveiled at Farnborough Airshow (video)

  18th July 2018

  At Farnborough International Airshow 2018, Raytheon unveiled Team Shadow, a partnership between the company, the UK Ministry of Defence and Textron Aviation. Studio spoke with …

• Training

  Farnborough 2018: ATAC grows its Mirage F1 fleet

  13th July 2018

  US adversary air specialists, Textron-owned ATAC, has now received the first 13 of a total of 63 Mirage F1 aircraft from the French Government. The …

• Land Warfare

  Army explores SAW replacement with NGSAR awards

  13th July 2018

  The US Army has awarded six Other Transaction Agreements (OTA) for prototypes of a Next Generation Squad Automatic Rifle (NGSAR). The NGSAR, which will address …

• Land Warfare

  Eurosatory 2018: Bulgarian 8x8 competition to be launched soon

  4th June 2018

  With the Bulgarian government busily preparing to launch a competitive procurement for new armoured vehicles, aspiring manufacturers showcased their products at the recent HEMUS defence …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  AUVSI 2018: Flexibility is key for tactical UAS

  3rd May 2018

  As militaries become more accustomed to the current operational practices involving tactical UAS platforms, the demand placed on industry by these services to provide increased …

• Special Operations

  SOF explores unmanned naval platform

  20th April 2018

  The US Navy has conducted its latest demonstration of Textron Systems’ Common Unmanned Surface Vehicle (CUSV) as it considers a variety of concepts of operation …

• Special Operations

  Naval Special Warfare looks to marine radars

  24th April 2018

  The Naval Surface Warfare Center Carderock Division (NSWCCD) is calling for maritime craft radar demonstrations as part of the “Stiletto” Maritime Demonstration Platform.This comes just …

• Naval Warfare

  Sea-Air-Space 2018: Textron's new Ship-to-Shore Connector gets wet

  11th April 2018

  Textron Systems’ is preparing to put the US Navy's next-generation Ship-to-Shore Connector (SSC) through builder trails this month after the first craft entered the water. …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Australia details plans for unmanned surveillance

  17th April 2018

  A new High Altitude Sensor System (HASS) programme aims to harness new technologies for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) with the utilisation of unmanned technologies. …

• Digital Battlespace

  EO/IR Special Report: Market overview (video)

  12th February 2018

  The military EO/IR systems market is estimated to be worth around $10 billion and projected to reach $14.2 billion by 2022, at a CAGR of …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - tactical

  Nightwarden (Qatar)

  Programme Background The Qatar MoD has established the Surveillance and Reconnaissance Center to carry out ISR missions for the Qatar Armed Forces. Among its roles ...

• Trainer

  Beechcraft King Air 260 [Canada]

  Programme Background  The Future Aircrew Training (FAcT) programme was developed by the Royal Canadian Airforce to renew aircrew training services to help maintain a multi-purpose and ...

• Military UAS - small

  Aerosonde (Qatar)

  Programme Background The Qatar MoD has established the Surveillance and Reconnaissance Center to carry out ISR missions for the Qatar Armed Forces. Among its roles ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - small

  RQ-7 Shadow Replacement / Post Future Tactical UAS (FTUAS) [US Army]

  Background Future Tactical UAS (FTUAS) The US Army planned to procure an FTUAS to replace the Textron Systems RQ-7Bv2 Shadow tactical UAV in service with ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - small

  Future Tactical UAS (FTUAS) (Increment 1) [USA]

  Programme Background Programme Objective The Future Tactical UAS (FTUAS) was to provide a tactical ISTAR capability for US Army Brigade Combat Teams (BCTs). It was ...

• Landing craft and hovercraft

  LCAC 100 Class (SSC) [USN]

  Programme Background Timeline The major role of the SSC will be deployment from landing ships in support of USN and USMC operations and the transport ...

• Trainer

  Undergraduate Jet Training System (UJTS)/T-45 Replacement [USN]

  Programme Background Requirements The US Navy’s (USN) Undergraduate Jet Training System (UJTS) programme is intended to replace the troubled T-45 Goshhawk trainer. The June 2024 RFI includes ...

• Trainer

  T-6 Texan II [Japan]

  Programme Background  In January 2025, Textron Aviation confirmed that the T-6C Texan II was selected as the new trainer aircraft for the Japanese Air Self-Defence ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  T-6C (Tunisia)

  Programme Background Requirement The Tunisian Air Force has a requirement for light aircraft in order to replace its ageing SF-206 and L-59T trainers. The country ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Iraq Federal Police 4x4 Patrol Vehicle

  The failure of this Iraqi Federal Police requirement for an additional 300 vehicles to translate into a contract may be related to issues encountered with ...

• Military helicopters - light/training

  Bell 505 (Jordan)

  Programme 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 ...

• ARV (USMC) [USA]

  Programme Background The ARV constitutes one component of a wider USMC effort to develop an interconnected network of manned and unmanned platforms more suited to ...

• Military helicopters - light/training

  Bell 505 (South Korea - Army)

  Programme Background Requirement South Korea operates an ageing fleet of Bell UH-1s and MD 500s for training purposes. The country has already replaced a part of ...

• Military helicopters - light/training

  Bell 505 (South Korea - Navy)

  Programme Background Requirement South Korea operates an ageing fleet of Bell UH-1s and MD 500s for training purposes. The country has already replaced a part of ...

• Trainer

  T-6C [Thailand]

  Programme Background The contract is for 12 Beechcraft T-6C Texan II advanced military training aircraft, ground-based training systems for pilots and maintenance professionals, a mission ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  Aerosonde HQ SUAS

  The Aerosonde Hybrid Quadcopter (HQ) SUAS is the VTOL version of the Aerosonde SUAS. It combines the capabilities of a multi-rotor platform with the efficiency ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - small

  Aerosonde Mk 4.7

  Jointly developed by AAI Unmanned Aircraft Systems, a unit of Textron Systems, and Aerosonde, the Aerosonde Mk 4.7 is a fixed-wing UAV.  First demonstrated in 2009, ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  Cottonmouth

  The Cottonmouth is a purpose-built 6x6 amphibious reconnaissance vehicle designed by Textron Systems to meet the requirements of the USMC's Advanced Reconnaissance Vehicle (ARV) programme. It ...

• Loitering munitions, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Damocles

  Unveiled in October 2025, the Damocles launched effect (LE) is a rotary-wing coaxial UAV designed to operate in peer warfare environments. Its primary role is as ...

• Air: mission management systems

  iCommand 2.5

  The iCommand 2.5 is the latest version of the iCommand integrated command suite, designed by Textron Systems Advanced Information Solutions. The system has been designed ...

• Medium/general-purpose machine guns

  7.62mm CT MMG

  Since June 2014, the US Army has awarded contracts totalling $7.7 million to Textron Systems to develop a 7.62mm version of the 5.56mm light machine ...

• Military helicopters - light/training

  Bell 505

  The Bell 505 is a light, single-engine helicopter initially designed for the utility, executive/passenger and law enforcement markets produced by Bell Textron. The Montenegrin Air ...

• Heavy UGVs

  Ripsaw M3

  The Ripsaw M3 is a tracked UGV developed by Textron Systems in partnership with Howe & Howe and Teledyne FLIR Systems. The vehicle has been developed ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  Aerosonde Mk 4.8 HQ FTUAS

  From the Texton family of Aerosonde UAS, the Aerosonde Mk 4.8 Hybrid Quad (HQ) FTUAS is a tactical drone purpose-built to meet the US Army's Future Vertical Lift ...

• Maritime patrol

  Cessna Maritime Patrol

  The Cessna 'special mission' Maritime Patrol Aircraft is a variant of the Cessna Citation Longitude business jet developed by Textron aviation. Textron has stated the onboard systems, ...

• EW test systems, Air: air combat simulators

  PRTS

  The Portable Range Threat Simulator (PRTS) is a modular package that adds long-range capabilities to Textron Systems' Radar Signal Simulator. 

• Heavy UGVs

  Ripsaw M5

  The Ripsaw M5 has been developed to meet the requirements of the US Army's Robotic Combat Vehicle (RCV) programme for a family of new UGVs. ...

• Landing craft and hovercraft

  LCAC 100 Class (SSC)

  The LCAC 100-class Ship-to-Shore Connector (SSC) is an amphibious landing craft designed to replace the USN's existing Landing Craft, Air Cushion (LCAC) vessels. Nine have ...

• Military - USVs

  Fleet Class/Common Unmanned Surface Vessel

  Developed for the USN, the Fleet Class Common USV System that can fulfil MCM, ISR and surface combat roles. It is designed by Textron Systems ...

• EW test systems, Air: air combat simulators

  MAST

  The Man-Portable Aircraft Survivability Trainer (MAST) replicates the visual and spectral effects of a shoulder-fired IR missile threat to stimulate UV-based aircraft survivability equipment systems ...