• Military Logistics

  Boeing lists KC-46A success, defends programme

  19th May 2019

  Boeing is pushing ahead despite hiccups in its KC-46A multirole tanker aircraft contract with the USAF and has just delivered another three on top of …

• Digital Battlespace

  EW Europe 2019: Kirintec display EW prowess

  17th May 2019

  The Mercury Blade 5 from Kirintec is the latest version of the company’s vehicle platform for jamming systems, and by the end of 2019 the …

• Digital Battlespace

  Future of contested battlespace points to directional communications

  10th June 2019

  The future of battlespace communications, particularly in the air domain, is seeing a trend towards direct platform-to-platform transmission as the capabilities of near-peer and peer …

• Digital Battlespace

  Weakest link eliminated in international exercise

  4th June 2019

  The wide availability of Link 16 is now removing interoperability issues between air power platforms during challenging international training exercises. At an Arctic Challenge Exercise …

• Digital Battlespace

  EW Europe 2019: IZT New Radio Direction Finder

  16th May 2019

  Germany-based IZT is introducing its new R5506 Radio Direction Finder (RDF) for the first time at EW Europe 2019 in Stockholm. The new RDF is …

• Digital Battlespace

  Saab’s SIRIUS on show

  16th May 2019

  Saab has unveiled a turnkey suite of passive sensor solution to support electronic warfare (EW) intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions across air, land and …

• Digital Battlespace

  Tapestry selected for Weapon Planning Software

  31st May 2019

  Boeing, through its subsidiary Tapestry Solutions, has received a 10-year contract from the US Air Force to provide Weapon Planning Software (WPS) for aircraft and …

• Training

  US Air Force orders more JTE units

  16th May 2019

  Northrop Grumman has received a $46 million order from the US Air Force (USAF) for eight Joint Threat Emitter (JTE) units, the company announced on …

• Digital Battlespace

  Elbit announces new vehicular radio order

  30th May 2019

  The army of an unnamed country in South Asia will be equipped with vehicular tactical radio systems by Elbit Systems, the company announced on 26 …

• Special Operations

  US NECC selects MOHOC Cameras

  29th May 2019

  MOHOC has delivered more than 1,400 cameras and accessories to the US Navy’s Coastal Riverine Group 2, the company announced on 20 May. The deliveries …

• Special Operations

  Leonardo DRS receives USSOCOM contract

  30th May 2019

  Leonardo DRS has received a contract to provide the US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) with satellite communications and support for its headquarters, components and major …

• Digital Battlespace

  Thales to expand big data capabilities

  24th May 2019

  Thales, in partnership with Sopra Steria, has been selected by the French defence procurement agency (DGA) to implement the second phase of the ARTEMIS programme, …

• Special Operations

  Viasat receives SOF, GPF contract

  23rd May 2019

  Viasat has received a contract to modernise operational capabilities for US Special Operations Forces (SOF) and General Purpose Forces (GPF), the company announced on 21 …

• Digital Battlespace

  USAF develops AERONet prototype

  14th May 2019

  A team at US Air Force Base Hanscom is developing a prototype combat system capable of providing video, voice, chat and C2 to partner nations, …

• Digital Battlespace

  Northrop demos GPS SDR navigation solution

  29th May 2019

  Northrop Grumman, in partnership with the US Air Force Research Laboratory Sensors Directorate, demonstrated a software defined radio (SDR)-based, M-code enabled GPS receiver on production-capable …

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. ...