• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Zhuhai 2016: China extends Wing Loong family

  3rd November 2016

  Two hitherto unknown fixed-wing Wing Loong UAVs were unveiled at the 11th Zhuhai Air Show being held from 1-6 November in southern China. The Wing …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Indo Defence 2016: Domestic long-endurance UAS unveiled (video)

  3rd November 2016

  Indonesian company PT Bhinneka Dwi Persada is displaying a new long-endurance UAS for the first time at this year's Indo Defence exhibition. Called the Rajawali …

• Defence Notes

  Zhuhai 2016: Mysterious J-20 sneaks in…and out

  1st November 2016

  China’s fifth-generation J-20 stealth fighter made a cameo appearance during the 11th Zhuhai Air Show in China, this being its first public foray anywhere in …

• Defence Helicopter

  Zhuhai 2016: China comes out fighting?

  28th October 2016

  The 11th Zhuhai Air Show, 1-6 November, will showcase the newest aerial weaponry available not just to the Chinese military, but for export to an …

• Military Logistics

  Cobham to develop MV-22B refuelling system

  27th October 2016

  Cobham has been awarded a contract to develop a palletised aerial refuelling system to enable the US Marine Corps (USMC) MV-22B Osprey to refuel other …

• Defence Helicopter

  Russia deploys Ka-31SV to Syria

  27th October 2016

  Russia has deployed a covert helicopter optimised for ground surveillance and reconnaissance to Syria, new video footage taken from the town of Latakia on 25 …

• Digital Battlespace

  Euronaval 2016: Kelvin Hughes sees French potential

  26th October 2016

  Eager to explore the potential in the French domestic and export markets, UK-based Kelvin Hughes attended Euronaval to make its case for the SharpEye radar. …

• Military Logistics

  KC-30A refuels F-16D+ Falcon

  25th October 2016

  A Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft has spent a week in Singapore for trials with the Republic of Singapore …

• Military Logistics

  Rockwell awarded JPALS subcontract

  24th October 2016

  Navigation and communication subsystems for the US Navy’s next-generation Joint Precision Approach and Landing System (JPALS) will be supplied by Rockwell Collins. The company announced …

• Defence Notes

  Indo Defence 2016: Four-way dogfight for F-5 replacement

  24th October 2016

  The race is still on for the Indonesian Air Force’s (TNI-AU) F-5E fighter replacement programme. Despite the air force expressing strong interest in the Sukhoi …

• Defence Helicopter

  Indo Defence 2016: Protecting Natuna

  24th October 2016

  With the increased focus on South China Sea disputes and alleged illegal fishing by Chinese fishing vessels, the Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI) have begun expanding …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Facebook’s internet drone expansion

  24th October 2016

  Facebook is pushing ahead with the development of a new solar-powered UAV that will expand internet coverage to remote areas. The company is developing its …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Juliet to build Guardian USV

  21st October 2016

  Juliet Marine Systems has unveiled plans to construct a submersible unmanned surface vehicle (USV) variant of its Ghost patrol vessel.  Called Guardian, the system is …

• Military Logistics

  Raytheon receives JPALS contract

  21st October 2016

  Raytheon will complete development of the Joint Precision Approach and Landing System (JPALS) under a $255 million contract from the US Navy announced on 19 October. …

• Training

  MCAT falls to Kratos

  21st October 2016

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

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Fighter - multirole

  F-35A [Denmark]

  Programme Background  Denmark joined the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program in 2002 during the System Development and Demonstration phase and has influenced technical elements ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-35A Japan

  In 2019, Japan requested to be an official partner in the F-35 programme, but this request was rejected by the Pentagon. The F-35 Joint Strike ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Multirole Fighter [Turkiye]

  Programme Background Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said that Turkey had already paid $1.4 billion into the programme, while its defence industry has ploughed significant ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-35A (61-75) [Italy]

  Programme Background Requirement In 2009, the Italian MoD planned to purchase 131 F-35 aircraft, which was later reduced to 90. According to the MoD documentation, ...

• Fighter - naval

  F-35B (31-40) [Italy]

  Programme Background Requirement In 2009, the Italian MoD planned to purchase 131 F-35 aircraft, which was later reduced to 90. According to the MoD documentation, ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | F-X III Phase II (F-35)

  South Korea is purchasing an additional 20 F-35 aircraft for about $3.3 billion under the second phase of F-X III programme, according to the Defense ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  Air: Helmet-mounted displays | F-X III Phase II (F-35)

  South Korea is purchasing an additional 20 F-35 aircraft for about $3.3 billion under the second phase of F-X III programme, according to the Defense ...

• Data links

  Data links | F-X III Phase II (F-35)

  South Korea is purchasing an additional 20 F-35 aircraft for about $3.3 billion under the second phase of F-X III programme, according to the Defense ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | F-X III Phase II (F-35)

  South Korea is purchasing an additional 20 F-35 aircraft for about $3.3 billion under the second phase of F-X III programme, according to the Defense ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | F-X III Phase II (F-35)

  South Korea is purchasing an additional 20 F-35 aircraft for about $3.3 billion under the second phase of F-X III programme, according to the Defense ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  Next-Generation Trainer Aircraft - UAE

  The UAE has a requirement for a next-generation fighter aircraft and possible platforms include F-35, F-16V, F/A-18, Rafale and Su-35. The UAE has historically sought ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-35A Japan Follow On

  The F-35 full-rate production is expected to be further delayed following an October 2020 US DoD announcement that postponed the simulation tests, originally planned for 2017 ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-35A (1-32) [Poland]

  Programme Background During MSPO 2021, Lockheed Martin announced details related to F-35A manufacturing for the Polish Air Force. According to J.R McDonald, Lockheed Martin’s VP, business ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | F-35B Follow-On [UK]

  The Royal Air Force is planning to acquire 90 F-35B Joint Strike Fighters from 2026, in addition to the 48 aircraft which London had ordered for delivery ...

• Data links

  Data links | F-35B Follow-On [UK]

  The Royal Air Force is planning to acquire 90 F-35B Joint Strike Fighters from 2026, in addition to the 48 aircraft which London had ordered for delivery ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Air-to-surface missiles, Anti-ship missiles

  JSM

  The Joint Strike Missile (JSM) is a multi-role version of the Naval Strike Missile. Norway funded the programme to develop and produce the JSM for the ...

• EO/IR systems

  F-35 Lightning II Advanced EOTS

  The F-35 Lightning II Electro-Optical Targeting System (EOTS) is a sensor that combines targeting forward-looking IR (FLIR) and IR search and track (IRST) capabilities for ...

• Fixed wing aircraft engines

  F135

  The F135, designed and developed by Pratt & Whitney, is one of the most advanced fighter engines in the world that delivers more than 40,000lb ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  F-35 Gen III HMDS

  The F-35 Gen III helmet-mounted display system (HMDS) is provided by a joint venture between Elbit Systems of America and Rockwell Collins, developed for the F-35 ...

• Fighter - multirole, Fighter - naval

  F-35B

  The F-35B Lightning II is a fifth-generation multirole combat aircraft with short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) capability. The USMC is the main customer for the F-35B, ...

• 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.

• Fighter - multirole

  F-35A

  The F-35A Lightning II is a fifth-generation multirole combat aircraft with CTOL capabilities. It is a multinational programme led by the US DoD, bringing together ...

• Air: AEW/fire control radar

  AN/APG-81

  AN/APG-81 is operating in the X-band active electronically scanned array (AESA) fire control radar designed by Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems for the F-35 “Lightning” all-weather ...

• Fighter - multirole, Fighter - naval

  F-35C

  The F-35C Lightning II, also known as the F-35 carrier variant (CV), is a fifth-generation multirole combat aircraft in carrier configuration. It has larger wings 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 ...

• Air: fixed-wing flight simulators

  F-35 Training System

  BAE Systems is involved in F-35 Lightning II Training System design and sustainment, working with prime contractor Lockheed Martin. BAE Systems leads the instructional systems ...

• Air: Displays

  Panoramic Cockpit Display

  Developed by L3Harris and Elbit Systems America, the Panoramic Cockpit Display (PCD) is a touchscreen MFD integrated into F-35 aircraft. It provides two electronically divided ...

• Fixed wing aircraft engines

  F414-GE-400

  The F414-GE-400 is a turbofan engine manufactured by GE Aviation and has various advanced technology features such as a Full Authority Digital Electronic Control (FADEC), ...

• Guided munitions

  GBU-53/B StormBreaker

  GBU-53/B StormBreaker is a precision-guided glide bomb developed by Raytheon to equip F-15, F/A-18 and F-35. It is also known as the Small Diameter Bomb II. The StormBreaker includes a ...

• Data links

  Multifunction Advanced Data Link

  Multifunction Advanced Data Link (MADL) is a Ku-band data link designed for fifth-generation aircraft. The directional, interflight system is integrated into all F-35 variants, allowing ...