• Digital Battlespace

  Lockheed Martin deploys ten satellites for Low-Earth Orbit comms

  4th September 2023

  Ten Lockheed Martin Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) Tranche 0 Transport Layer (T0TL) communications satellites have been successfully deployed in support of the US Space Development Agency's (SDA) T0TL mission.

• Land Warfare

  Kongsberg to supply more air defence systems to Lithuania

  14th December 2023

  The National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) was originally developed by Kongsberg and Raytheon to meet the requirements of the Royal Norwegian Air Force but is now in service with 13 countries.

• Land Warfare

  Preparations underway for Saudi–US Red Sands exercise

  10th January 2024

  Last year’s Rad Sands Live Fire (RSLF) included a demonstration of C-UAS capability and the second of this year’s events in October/November will be expected to include similar activity and companies from earlier events such as MARSS.

• Naval Warfare

  Australia to respond to surface fleet review in 2024

  2nd October 2023

  The Australian government will receive the much-anticipated independent Royal Australian Navy surface fleet review today, but will not publish the document or its response until next year.

• Defence Notes

  US Congress approves FY2024 defence spending bill

  18th December 2023

  The US House of Representatives and Senate agreed to a $841.4 billion funding to cover DoD activities in the current fiscal year.

• Land Warfare

  Russia's UVZ makes new push to convert outdated T-72 tanks to BMPT 'Terminators'

  1st September 2023

  Russia's UralVagonZavod (UVZ) is offering the conversion of older T-72 main battle tanks (MBTs) into BMPT-72 'Terminator'-style fire support vehicles. According to UVZ, this offering is primarily intended for international customers who possess ageing fleets of the tank.

• Training

  An inter-connected and cyber-resilient enterprise system

  12th December 2023

  Modernizing training with fair-fight commonality at the highest fidelity for enhanced mission rehearsal.

• Land Warfare

  BAE Systems coalition aims to bring barrel manufacture back to UK

  12th December 2023

  The UK’s Mobile Fires Platform (MFP) requirement will replace the country’s three-decade-old AS90 howitzers and has three bidders already in place.

• Air Warfare

  US approves F-16 deal for Turkey and F-35 package for Greece

  27th January 2024

  An historic day for US military sales to two Mediterranean powers will have a major impact on the region’s air power dynamics as deals worth a total of more than $31 billion were approved by the US government.

• Air Warfare

  Canada orders 14 Poseidon P-8A maritime patrol aircraft

  1st December 2023

  Canada will purchase 14 Boeing P-8A Poseidon multi-mission aircraft to replace its ageing CP-140 Aurora fleet, joining Australia, New Zealand, US and UK as an operator of the aircraft type.

• Land Warfare

  Recent deliveries point to resurgent Russian defence industry

  19th January 2024

  The Russian defence industry has produced and delivered new and improved weapons systems to support the war effort in Ukraine, including the 2S35 Koalitsiya howitzer, the Gibka-S air defence system and the modernised T-80BVM tank, according to reports coming out of the country.

• Air Warfare

  Embraer C-390 triumphs in South Korea's transport aircraft competition

  5th December 2023

  Embraer's C-390 Millennium has secured a contract with South Korea, outperforming industry rivals such as Lockheed Martin and Airbus, marking a pivotal moment as the nation is set to become the first C-390 customer in Asia.

• Naval Warfare

  How serious a threat is North Korea's nuclear-armed navy?

  8th September 2023

  As well as splurging on ballistic weapons, North Korea has been developing submarines and surface combatants capable of firing nuclear-tipped missiles. Largely based on outdated designs, do they nonetheless pose a serious regional threat?

• Training

  DSEI 2023: BAE Systems showcases OdySSEy, single synthetic environment training platform for first time

  14th September 2023

  The ambitious BAE Systems OdySSEy, initiative, aimed at creating a future single synthetic environment (SSE) for military training, is making strides.

• Air Warfare

  Tactical advantage – is the best replacement for a C-130 another C-130?

  18th September 2023

  While designs like the Embraer C-390 have chalked up some export successes, Shephard analyses whether a true competitor (or successor) to Lockheed's C-130J currently exists. Or will the Hercules production line simply remain open for decades to come?

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Transport

  King Air 360 [Nigeria]

  Programme Background On 7 October 2021, Nigeria’s Budget Office published its proposed budget details. The Nigerian Air Force requested 10.86 billion Nigerian Naira (US$26.4 million) ...

• Maritime patrol

  P-8 Poseidon [South Korea]

  Programme Background South Korea is facing an imminent submarine threat from North Korea. The Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN) is operating an aging fleet of P-3C ...

• ISR/special mission

  King Air 350ER ISR [Kuwait]

  Programme Background In February 2018, the US State Department has approved an estimated $259m potential foreign military sale of King Air 350ER intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance ...

• Loitering munitions

  HX-2 (Contracted) (Ukraine Aid) [Germany]

  Background HF-1 Readjustment In November 2024, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius announced in Schrobenhausen, Bavaria, that Germany would supply Ukraine with 4,000 HF-1 loitering munitions. ...

• Loitering munitions

  HX-2 (Uncontracted) (Ukraine Aid) [Germany]

  Background Contracted Drones In November 2024, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius announced in Schrobenhausen, Bavaria, that Germany would supply Ukraine with 4,000 HF-1 loitering munitions. ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  C-2 (Japan)

  Programme BackgroundKawasaki Heavy Industries developed the C-2 for the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) to replace its Kawasaki C-1 and Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules fleets. ...

• Military UAS - micro, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Teal 2 (Customs and Border Protection Force) [US]

  Programme Background First Order Global News Wire reported that Red Cat had filled an order for 54 Teal 2 units from the US Customs and ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-15EX (FY2021-2025) [USA]

  Programme Background The United States Air Force (USAF) is looking to procure 239 F-15EX fighter aircraft, which is an increase from an original requirement of 144 ...

• Military UAS - micro

  Short Range Reconnaissance (SRR) (Tranche 2) / Rucksack Portable UAS (RPUAS) [USA]

  Background The Rucksack Portable UAS (RPUAS) Programme The RPUAS programme will provide the battalion and below-ground manoeuvre elements within the US Army with an organic, ...

• Loitering munitions

  HF-1 (Ukraine Aid) [Germany]

  Background 4000 Drones In November 2024, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius announced in Schrobenhausen, Bavaria, that Germany would supply Ukraine with 4,000 HF-1 loitering munitions. Deliveries ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Ara 2 (Chad - Options)

  Programme Background The Chadian Armed Forces have a requirement for mine-resistant armoured vehicles to provide protected mobility to troops deployed on operations against hostile forces. ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  Fuchs 2 Local Assembly

  The Fuchs 2 will replace a variety of legacy APCs currently in service with the Algerian Army including the Panhard M3 VTT, the BTR-60 and ...

• ISR/special mission

  RC-2 - Japan

  Programme Background Japan has decided to develop its own EW aircraft to oppose China and Russia, countries that are already reinforcing their own EW capabilities. ...

• OPVs

  River Class Batch 2

  Programme Background BAE Systems developed an improved version at the River class Batch 1 ships (which first entered service in 2003), to be dubbed the ...

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

  Future Tactical UAS (FTUAS) (Increment 2) [US Army]

  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 intended to ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• EO/IR systems

  AN/AAQ-14

  The AN/AAQ-14 LANTIRN (Low Altitude Navigation and Targeting Infrared for Night) targeting pod is a crucial component of the LANTIRN system, developed by Martin Marietta ...

• EO/IR systems

  AN/AAQ-27A

  In production for USMC MV-22 Osprey tiltrotors, the AAQ-27A allows pilots to see through darkness, smoke, haze and adverse weather. The third-generation medium-wave IR system ...

• Air: Electronic Attack - Jamming, Air: Integrated Defensive Systems

  AN/AAQ-24(V)

  Northrop Grumman’s AN/AAQ-24(V) is a Directional Infrared Countermeasure (DIRCM) designed to protect large fixed-wing and small rotary wing aircrafts. The system has been installed in ...

• EO/IR systems

  AN/AAQ-13

  The AN/AAQ-13 is a navigation pod developed by Martin Marietta (now part of Lockheed Martin) for the U.S. Air Force. It is a key component ...

• Air: EO/IR – Jamming Systems

  AN/AAQ-45

  Leonardo’s AN/AAQ-45 Distributed Aperture Infrared Countermeasures is designed to equip rotorcraft. The system is being installed on Sikorsky HH-60G Pave Hawk medium-lift utility helicopters used ...

• Air: Defensive Systems - MLDS, EO/IR systems

  AN/AAQ-37 DAS

  The AN/AAQ-37 Distributed Aperture System (DAS) comprises six high-resolution infrared sensors mounted around the aircraft's airframe to provide seamless, spherical coverage (4π steradians).  The DAS ...

• EO/IR systems

  AN/AAQ-29A

  In production for USMC CH-53E and USAF HH-60G platforms, the medium-wave IR AAQ-29A is similar to the AN/AAQ-27A, the difference being its incorporation of an ...

• EO/IR systems

  LITENING

  The LITENING Advanced Targeting Pod is an electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) system designed to detect, acquire, identify, and track targets over extended ranges.  It supports diverse mission ...

• Air: Electronic Attack - Jamming, Air: Electronic Attack - Pod, Air: EO/IR – Jamming Systems

  Guardian

  Northrop Grumman’s Guardian Directional Infrared Countermeasure (DIRCM) is intended to product airliners and large aircraft against IR-guided missiles, principally surface-to-air missiles fired from Man-Portable Air ...

• EO/IR systems

  LANTIRN

  The Low-Altitude Navigation and Targeting Infrared for Night (LANTIRN) system increases the combat effectiveness of fighter aircraft, allowing them to fly at low altitudes, at night ...

• Combat Search and Rescue

  Saab 340B+ / SAR-200

  The Saab 340B+, known also as SAR-200, is a search and rescue aircraft based on the Saab 340 regional airliner.  It is powered by two CT7-9B turboprop ...

• Air: Integrated Defensive Systems

  SISCM

  The Suite of Integrated Sensors and Countermeasures (SISCM), also known as the AN/APR-39B, is designed to provide an integrated, multi-sensor threat warning and countermeasures capability using ...

• EW test systems

  Meon v3

  Developed as an end-to-end confidence flight-line test set for stimulation and radiometric measurement of MWS/IRCM systems. It is compatible with ALQ-144, ALQ-157, ALQ-204 Matador, AAQ-24 ...

• Air: Defensive Systems - MLDS

  AN/AAR-54(V)

  Northrop Grumman’s AN/AAR-54(V) is a Missile Approach Warning System (MAWS) designed for fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft. The MAWS employs ultraviolet sensing to detect the hot ...

• Combat Search and Rescue

  HC-130P/N

  HC-130P/N is a SAR aircraft developed as extended-range version of C-130 Hercules transport airframe to execute all weather personnel recovery operations from austere airfields and ...