• Defence Helicopter

  Airbus opens H215 production in Romania

  16th September 2016

  Airbus Helicopters has opened a production unit for its H215 medium-size utility helicopter in Ghimbav, Romania, it was announced on 13 September. The company plans …

• Digital Battlespace

  AAD 2016: Radar on the cards for BIRO

  16th September 2016

  Delays to the South African Navy’s BIRO offshore patrol vessel (OPV) and inshore patrol vessel (IPV) progamme mean that radar offerings for the ships will …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  ECA sells UGVs COBRA MK2 for operations in Africa

  16th September 2016

  ECA Group has sold several COBRA MK2 UGVs to an undisclosed African interior ministry, the company announced in mid-September. The COBRA MK2 platform features a …

• Defence Notes

  SEA wins radar transducer contract

  16th September 2016

  SEA has been awarded a £2 million, five-year contract by Ultra Electronics to supply transducers as part of the Sonar 2050 Technology Refresh programme (S2050TR) …

• Digital Battlespace

  AAD 2016: Show is under surveillance

  16th September 2016

  Reutech is testing its latest radar system by tracking aircraft flying at the AAD exhibition in Pretoria. The company is developing the system to meet …

• Military Logistics

  AAD 2016: C-130J offered up

  16th September 2016

  Lockheed Martin has been touting its latest C-130J Super Hercules model to South Africa are ‘in talks’ with the government. Speaking at AAD Richard Johnston, …

• Naval Warfare

  Shipbuilding exhibition illustrates Taiwan’s challenges

  16th September 2016

  Super Typhoon Meranti, which caused a one-day postponement of Taiwan’s first ever shipbuilding exhibition – the Kaohsiung International Maritime & Defence Exhibition – perhaps portended …

• Land Warfare

  AAD 2016: Denel aims to lighten the load

  15th September 2016

  Denel Land Systems has launched a new light weight General Purpose Machine Gun that aims to revolutionise infantry weapons. The DMG-5 weighs just 8.4kg, which …

• Training

  CAE details new defence contracts

  15th September 2016

  CAE has won defence contracts worth a combined CAD$120 million (USD$91.6 million) to provide a range of training services and simulation product upgrades for global …

• Training

  Kratos to deliver MCATs to USMC

  15th September 2016

  Kratos Defense and Security Solutions has been awarded a $54 million contract to provide five Marine Common Aircrew Trainers (MCATs) to the US Marine Corps …

• Land Warfare

  AAD 2016: Anti-RPG protection for Puma

  15th September 2016

  A partnership between AmSafe Bridport and OTT Technologies was announced at the AAD 2016 exhibition on 14 September. The arrangements means that AmSafe’s lightweight Tarian …

• Naval Warfare

  PKR frigate embarks on trials

  15th September 2016

  Delivery of the first SIGMA 10514 PKR naval frigate to the Indonesian Navy is inching closer with the first vessel successfully completing its sea trials, Damen …

• Land Warfare

  AAD 2016: Industry joins for C-RAM

  15th September 2016

  Denel Dynamics has partnered with Rheinmetall Air Defence to develop a Counter-Rocket, Artillery and Mortar (C-RAM) system.  The system comprises the Oerlikon Skyshield radar as …

• Naval Warfare

  Hobart set to enter builder’s trials

  15th September 2016

  The future HMAS Hobart is set to enter builder’s trials this month off the coast of South Australia, the Air Warfare Destroyer Alliance announced in September. …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  AAD 2016: Mbombe 8 completes family

  15th September 2016

  Paramount Group has launched its Mbombe 8 vehicle at AAD 2016 in South Africa, it is an 8x8 variant of its Mbombe armoured vehicle range. …

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 ...