• Defence Notes

  MBDA navigates supply chain pressures amidst increased demand for armaments

  21st March 2023

  MBDA is adapting to supply chain pressures as the Russian invasion of Ukraine leads to increased demand for armaments.

• Digital Battlespace

  Babcock chosen for UK military SATCOM contract

  17th February 2023

  Babcock has been awarded a six-year contract to run the UK's Skynet satellite constellation and ground stations.

• Land Warfare

  New submachine guns for Indian Army are approved

  27th November 2022

  The Indian Army is on the hunt for new 9mm submachine guns, and a domestic solution looks the most likely option.

• Training

  Fireside Chat forum speakers stress need for training acceleration at I/ITSEC 2022

  29th November 2022

  This year's inaugural I/ITSEC Fireside Chat saw senior officers from the US Space Force (USSF) and US Air Force (USAF) highlight the need for speed in matching the pace of training with incoming new technologies.

• Air Warfare

  Sikorsky delivers 5,000th H-60 helicopter

  23rd January 2023

  The Black Hawk has been in service for over four decades, but both the US Army and Sikorsky believe the helicopter will have a role for at least another 40 years.

• Training

  Simulation and training industry gathers for I/ITSEC 2022

  25th November 2022

  This year's conference theme will be 'Accelerating Change by Transforming Training', and over 300 exhibitors from industry and government are expected.

• Naval Warfare

  Political shifts and threat developments drive Sweden to look for larger ships

  13th March 2023

  Due to political and technological threat developments, Sweden is seeking larger ships with different capabilities. Saab may build the hulls abroad, but nonetheless, fitting out and integration will still occur in Sweden.

• Special Operations

  France adds L3Harris sensor turret to A400M for special forces missions

  28th February 2023

  The French Air Force is modifying A400M transport aircraft with a mount for an MX-20 EO/IR turret for the special forces support role.

• Air Warfare

  Skydweller solar-powered aircraft achieves first autonomous flight

  6th March 2023

  Skydweller Aero's solar-powered solution completed its first fully autonomous flight and is being offered for military intelligence use.

• Training

  Textron to develop new US Navy training aircraft

  1st February 2023

  The new T-54A Multi-Engine Training System turboprops will replace the ageing fleet of T-44 Pegasus (King Air 90) aircraft and provide students with advanced instrument and asymmetric engine handling training.

• Air Warfare

  Finland prepares for F-35 fighter's arrival, contemplates fate of ageing F/A-18 Hornets amid NATO cooperation

  5th April 2023

  Finland is preparing to replace its aging fleet of F/A-18 fighters with the F-35A. The delivery of the new equipment is expected to take years, and the fate of the decommissioned Hornets remains uncertain.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Enhanced autopilots pave way to autonomy for US multi-engine jets

  27th February 2023

  The USAF has commissioned a year-long autonomy study by Reliable Robotics for large jet aircraft.

• Air Warfare

  US Air Force grows KC-46A tanker fleet

  30th January 2023

  The US Air Force has exercised an option to procure an additional 15 KC-46A Pegasus aircraft.

• Defence Notes

  UK and France target 2030 for future cruise missile, seek commonality on future fighter weapons

  15th March 2023

  The UK and France aim to deliver a new cruise missile in 2030 as part of the MBDA-led Future Cruise/Anti-Ship Weapon (FC/ASW) project.

• Air Warfare

  Australian Army aviation reconstitutes with host of new platforms

  8th March 2023

  New aviation platforms are all on the way for Australian Army - UH-60M Black Hawk, AH-64E Apache Guardian and Integrator UAVs.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Fighter - multirole

  MiG-35 (Russia)

  The MiG-35 is a new-generation derivative of the twin-engine MiG-29 (NATO code-name ‘Fulcrum’) featuring multi-role combat capabilities, significantly reworked airframe and a vastly expanded arsenal ...

• Loitering munitions

  Organic Precision Fire - Mounted (OPF-M) [USMC]

  Programme Background Armed Vehicles In June 2021, Shephard reported that the USMC had selected the HERO-120 for the OPF-M programme. The USMC planned to integrate ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Tigr-M

  The Tigr-M is a modified variant of the original Tigr design, which replaced the licence-produced Cummins diesel engine with a Russian-designed YaMZ diesel engine. This ...

• Landing platform docks/dock landing ships

  Modified Ivan Green Class (Project 11711)

  Programme Background The modified Ivan Gren class (Project 11711) large amphibious assault ships (LST) have been designed by Nevskoe Design Bureau for the Russian Navy. Two ships ...

• Military UAS - small

  Small UAV (Bulgaria)

  Programme Background The Bulgarian Army wants to procure UAVs to enhance the organic tactical ISR capabilities of its ground forces. According to Bulgarian media, a ...

• Military UAS - mini

  Mini UAV (Bulgaria)

  Programme Background The Bulgarian Army wants to procure UAVs to enhance the organic tactical ISR capabilities of its ground forces. According to Bulgarian media, a ...

• Trainer

  Undergraduate Jet Training System (UJTS)/T-45 Replacement [USN]

  Programme Background Requirements The US Navy’s (USN) Undergraduate Jet Training System (UJTS) programme is intended to replace the troubled T-45 Goshhawk trainer. The June 2024 RFI includes ...

• OPVs

  Specialised Southern Ocean Patrol Vessel [New Zealand]

  Programme Background Requirements Plans for a new OPV for the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) first came about in April 2016. The RNZN wants to ...

• Tanks

  Viatura Blindada de Combate-Carro de Combate (VBC-CC) [Brazil]

  Programme Background Several key technical requirements have been outlined by the Brazilian MoD. Among the most important are that the platform should weigh less than ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  M-345 (1-18) [Italy]

  Programme Background Requirement Italy operated the MB-339 trainer platform since 1982, procuring 137 aircraft in total. These older airframes required replacement, with the Italian Air ...

• VBR-MSR Medium Wheeled Armoured Reconnaissance Vehicle

  Technical Requirements The Brazilian Army released two documents outlining the technical and operational requirements for the VBR-MR programme in early 2020. These outlined a number ...

• Trainer

  M-345 Italy Future Procurement

  Programme Background On 29 Decemeber 2017, Aermacchi's M-345 High Efficiency Trainer (HET) prototype aircraft successfully completed its first flight from Venegono Superiore airfield in Varese, ...

• Landing platform docks/dock landing ships

  San Antonio LPD 17 Flight I [USN]

  The LPD 17 Flight I ships are the first flight of the San Antonio-class Landing Platform Docks (LPD). Procured between FY1996 and FY2017, the vessels ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | M-346 FA [Brazil]

  Brazil is evaluating the procurement of up to 30 Leonardo M-346 light attack aircraft under a potential agreement with Italy, aimed at modernising its aerial ...

• Data links

  Data links | M-346 FA [Brazil]

  Brazil is evaluating the procurement of up to 30 Leonardo M-346 light attack aircraft under a potential agreement with Italy, aimed at modernising its aerial ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• UAS: Integrated systems - uncrewed

  NavStorm-M

  BAE Systems' NavStorm-M is a gun-hardened, integrated anti-jamming and Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver for artillery rounds, bombs, missiles, and uncrewed systems. It was revealed ...

• UAS: Integrated systems - uncrewed

  LN-251

  Northrop Grumman's LN-251 is an Inertial Navigation System/Global Positioning System (INS/GPS) solution. It is an integrated navigation system with an embedded 12/24 channel, All-In-View, Selective Availability/Anti-Spoofing Module ...

• UAS: Integrated systems - uncrewed

  KN-4074ED SAASM P(Y) Code INS/GPS

  The KN-4074EB SAASM P(Y) Code INS/GPS has an enhanced capability for the KN4074E with P(Y) code equivalent DGPS corrections.

• UAS: communication systems

  N-100-6 GPS Antenna

  The N100-6 GPS antenna offers a polarimetric solution for multiple element outputs, and has been designed to provide a significantly reduced size aperture for anti-jam ...

• Air: Integrated Defensive Systems

  ADA Anti-Jamming System

  The ADA is an airborne GNSS anti-jamming solution manufactured by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). It is designed to protect avionics systems from GPS jamming by using digital ...

• Air: Integrated cockpit systems

  Common Open Reuse Environment

  The Lockheed Martin Common Open Reuse Environment (CORE) is an integrated glass cockpit and avionics solution that can interact with both civilian and military systems. ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  PRC-434G/CS

  The PRC-434G/CS personal survival radio is a handheld, lightweight transceiver that is capable of responding to interrogations transmitted by the airborne location system. Short-burst transmissions ...

• UAS: Integrated systems - uncrewed

  KN-4074E

  Produced by Kearfott, the KN-4074E SAASM P(Y) Code INS/GPS is a lightweight navigation system that can be used on various uncrewed or crewed applications, including fixed- and rotary-wing ...

• Subsystems: visual

  EuroSim

  EuroSim is a configurable simulator tool used to support all phases of space and non-space programmes through real-time simulations with a person and/or hardware-in-the-loop, and ...

• Air: surveillance and maritime patrol radar, Air: UAS radar

  Lynx

  The Lynx (AN/APY-8) is a synthetic aperture radar manufactured by General Atomics. It is designed for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance for manned and unmanned aircraft. According to ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  M-ATV

  The Oshkosh 4x4 MRAP All-Terrain Vehicle (M-ATV) family of vehicles is designed to provide high levels of protection and mobility in off-road combat environments such ...

• UAS: Integrated systems - uncrewed

  KN-4075 High Performance INS/GPS

  Kearfott’s KN-4075 High Performance INS/GPS system offers a low weight and small-size navigation system for a variety of rotary- and fixed-wing unmanned and manned aircraft ...

• Air: helicopter flight simulators

  TESS

  The Tactical Engagement Simulation System (TESS) is a transparent training instrumentation system designed for the AH-64 Apache Longbow Force-on-Force collective training for live aerial gunnery ...

• UAS: Integrated systems - uncrewed

  KN-4073C SAASM P(Y) Code INS/GPS

  The KN-4073C SAASM P(Y) Code INS/GPS is a lightweight navigation system that can be used on a range of manned aircraft applications, fixed- and rotary-wing ...

• Maritime patrol

  US-2

  The ShinMaywa US-2 is an amphibious short take-off and landing aircraft used primarily by the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) for SAR.