• Training

  USAF exercises KC-135 training option

  2nd October 2019

  CAE has been awarded a $33 million contract modification that exercises an FY20 option to extend its US Air Force KC‐135 Stratotanker Aircrew Training System …

• Digital Battlespace

  Commtact launches HiveComm data link family

  7th October 2019

  Wireless communications provider Commtact has launched its HiveComm datalink family, a suite of systems for use on air, sea and land platforms.  The family of …

• Defence Helicopter

  Combat Rescue Helicopter gains Milestone C

  25th September 2019

  The US Air Force (USAF) has issued a Milestone C decision for the Sikorsky HH-60W Combat Rescue Helicopter (CRH) programme, clearing the way for low …

• Digital Battlespace

  AUSA 2019: Commtact looks to international market with new product line

  15th October 2019

  With the launch of Commtact’s HiveComm datalink family at AUSA 2019 the Israel-based company is continuing expansion of its datalink solutions to the international market. …

• Digital Battlespace

  Chemring’s US business bags countermeasure orders

  13th September 2019

  Chemring’s US-based subsidiary, Chemring Countermeasures USA, has received four contracts to supply countermeasures in support of the US Navy and US Air Force (USAF), the company …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Boeing Australia teams with DCRC for AI

  25th September 2019

  Boeing has announced that it will partner with Australia’s Trusted Autonomous Systems Defence Cooperative Research Centre (DCRC) to develop advanced artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to …

• Land Warfare

  Morocco requests TOW-2A missiles

  16th September 2019

  The US State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale of TOW-2A missiles to the government of Morocco. In a package …

• Digital Battlespace

  Singapore employs more AI in air force command post

  11th October 2019

  The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) is employing locally developed AI technology in its command post during Exercise Forging Sabre in Idaho, US. Used …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Australia selects DroneShield's RfPatrol detection device

  2nd October 2019

  DroneShield has announced that it has won an Australian Department of Defence tender to provide portable unmanned aerial system detection devices. Following an open tender, …

• Land Warfare

  DSEI 2019: AUDS unveils latest counter-drone variant

  13th September 2019

  The Anti-UAV Defence System (AUDS) consortium has unveiled an optimised version of its counter-UAS (C-UAS) designed to support mobility requirements in the land domain. The …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Camcopter completes Norwegian SAR demo

  7th October 2019

  Schiebel has completed a shipboard demonstration of its Camcopter S-100 unmanned helicopter for the Norwegian coast guard. Showcasing the unmanned aerial vehicle’s ability to support search …

• Defence Notes

  Chinese missiles dominate world’s largest military parade

  1st October 2019

  On 1 October China put on its largest ever parade through Tiananmen Square in celebration of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the modern-day …

• Land Warfare

  Raytheon high-power microwave system for USAF

  25th September 2019

  Raytheon is to deliver a prototype high-power microwave (HPM) system to the US Air Force under a contract announced on 24 September.The system will be …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  FLIR acquires Aria assets

  4th October 2019

  FLIR Systems has acquired the intellectual property and a number of the operating assets of Aria Insights. Aria – previously known as CyPhy - developed …

• Defence Helicopter

  Collins awarded contract for USN helicopter visual systems

  2nd October 2019

  Collins Aerospace has been awarded a $24.7 million contract to provide engineering and manufacturing development for the Enhanced Visual Acuity (EVA) system for US Navy …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• 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 ...

• CUAS - jammers

  NEROD RF [France]

  Background France has procured an unconfirmed number of MC2's NEROD RF C-UAS rifles ("fusils brouilleurs") for short-range counter-drone use. In a 2024 Senate report, it ...

• CUAS - hybrid effector systems

  Counter-Uncrewed Systems (C-UxS) Framework Agreement [UK]

  Background The UK intends to place a Closed Framework Agreement for the procurement of Counter Uncrewed Systems (C-UxS). It requires solutions to detect, track, identify, record/communicate, and ...

• Static/towed guns

  Ground-Based, Medium-Calibre Gun Weapon System [US]

  Background In September 2026, the USAF issued a request for information (RFI) for a ground-based air defence system (GBAD) centred on a medium-calibre gun. This RFI ...

• Military helicopters - scout/light attack

  MD 530F -Kenya

  Crew transition training took place at the MD Helicopters headquarters in Mesa, Arizona, with field service support, armament, and gunnery training scheduled to occur at ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  MQ-9A Reaper [USAF]

  Background First order Following a development that began in 1998, in October 2002, the USAF ordered the first four MQ-9s of the production series. In ...

• Military UAS - mini

  RQ-20B Puma [USAF]

  Background Requirement According to Trace Stevenson, the AeroVironment (AV) Vice President and product line general manager, the USAF Security Forces required a small UAV to ...

• Military helicopters - scout/light attack

  Bell 407GX [Iraq]

  Programme Background Between 2009 and 2015 Iraq was supplied with at 26 Bell 407s as part of the reconstruction of the Iraqi Air Force. The ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  JLTV (USAF) (Batch 1) [USA]

  Baclground As of November 2020, the US DoD had signed 14 contracts with Oshkosh Defense covering the delivery of approximately 17,731 JLTVs to all branches ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) (Increment 1) [USAF]

  Background Requirements The programme’s requirements are based on the USAF’s belief that mass is necessary to compete effectively against an adversary in symmetrical warfare. However, ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  HH-60W - Combat Rescue Helicopter (CRH)

  Background In 2010, the USAF announced the replacement of the HH-60G with a new Combat Rescue Helicopter (CRH), and in 2012, the request for proposals ...

• AEW&C

  E-7A Wedgetail (1-2) [USA]

  Programme Background Shephard notes that this entry covers the two rapid-prototype E-7 aircraft, whose contract was signed in August 2024. A second programme entry covers the ...

• 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 ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-15EX (2025-2026) [USA]

  Methodology Units required Based off the FY2027 USAF budget request, between FY2025 and FY2026, the U.S. Air Force received funding for 40 F-15EX platforms. Congress ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  KC-46A (USA)

  Programme Background The first five Low Rate Initial Production lots were contracted for a total of 67 aircraft for $10.94 billion. The initial contract signed ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• ISR/special mission

  RF-4C

  The RF-4C is a tactical reconnaissance aircraft developed based on the F-4 Phantom II by McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) to meet the requirements of the USAF ...

• 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 ...

• Air: surveillance and maritime patrol radar

  SurSAR

  The Surveillance Synthetic Aperture Radar (SurSAR) is a coherent surveillance and imaging radar developed by Array Systems Computing in Canada. It is derived from UPD-8/9 systems ...

• EW test systems

  CEESIM

  The Combat Electromagnetic Environment Simulator (CEESIM) family of simulators is designed for use in development, T&E;, maintenance and training support of airborne, land, shipboard and ...

• Air: Integrated Defensive Systems

  F-15 Tactical Electronic Warfare Suite (TEWS)

  The F-15 Tactical Electronic Warfare Suite (TEWS) is an integrated defence system manufactured by Northrop Grumman. It is designed for the F-15, F-15K and F-15E ...

• Air: air combat simulators

  SECT

  The Simulator for Electronic Combat Training (SECT) is a device that blends high-fidelity equipment, environmental and EW simulation with a computer-based training engine, auto-evaluation and scoring ...

• Data links

  MIDS LVT-3 FDL

  For the MIDS LVT-3 Fighter Data Link (FDL) the USAF sought lower volume and cost than Class 1 and 2 JTIDS. The contract was awarded ...

• Land: battle management systems

  C4I Connect

  C4I Connect is a voice communications system for battlefield C2. It is a large-scale, divisional/regional system that manages voice sessions in the tactical battle area, ...

• Air: mission management systems

  9Air C4I

  9Air C4I provides an air C2 capability ranging from air operations level to real-time execution in a mobile environment. It is a net-centric system that ...

• Air: Integrated Defensive Systems

  AN/ALR-94

  BAE Systems’ AN/ALR-94 electronic countermeasures (ECM) system forms a key part of the self-protection suite of the US Air Force’s Lockheed Martin F-22A Raptor combat ...

• Bomber

  B-2 Spirit

  The B-2 Spirit is a multirole stealth bomber manufactured by Northrop Grumman for the USAF. The Spirit is a flying wing aircraft, meaning that it ...

• Air: Defensive Systems - Radar Warning Receivers

  AN/ALR-56C

  The AN/ALR-56C is a radar warning receiver manufactured by BAE Systems. It is designed to share data regarding radar threats with the aircraft's BAE Systems' ...

• Air: Electronic Attack - Jamming

  AN/ALQ-165 ASPJ

  Northrop Grumman’s AN/ALQ-165(V) Airborne Self Protection Jammer (ASPJ) is a widely used radar jammer and is deployed on an array of combat aircraft. The system ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  RF-7800W

  The RF-7800W-OU440 high-capacity LoS radio has an IP design that operates from 4.4-5GHz. This provides connectivity at distances over 50km and extending WANs and LANs ...

• Air: mission management systems

  DACCS

  Divisional Artillery Command and Control System (DACCS) integrates division artillery C4I with battalion C4I, making fire control an integral part of the C4I distribution network. ...