• Naval Warfare

  US Navy orders Block III Super Hornet

  27th March 2019

  The F/A18 Super Hornet will remain as the backbone of the US Navy strike fighter fleet for the foreseeable future as the service orders the …

• Military Logistics

  INVISIO receives US DoD order

  21st March 2019

  INVISIO has received a $3.13 million order from an existing US Department of Defense customer to deliver its communication and hearing protection systems, the company …

• Digital Battlespace

  NIWC Atlantic opens M-PNT laboratory

  25th March 2019

  The US Naval Information Warfare Center (NIWC) Atlantic officially opened a new Maritime Positioning, Navigation and Timing (M-PNT) facility at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek, …

• Digital Battlespace

  TransDigm acquires Esterline Technologies

  20th March 2019

  TransDigm has completed the acquisition of Esterline Technologies, a supplier of products to the global aerospace and defence industry. TransDigm Group Incorporated's wholly-owned subsidiaries design, …

• Special Operations

  USAF looks to new tandem jump technologies

  11th March 2019

  The USAF Life Cycle Management Center, IS&R; & Special Operations Forces Directorate, Special Warfare Branch, is looking for new tandem airdrop technologies and capabilities that …

• Digital Battlespace

  Airports more amenable to counter-drone technology

  6th March 2019

  In the wake of high-profile drone incursions over the UK’s Gatwick and Heathrow airports, as well as disruption in Dubai, civil aviation sites are now …

• Naval Warfare

  Transition of EU naval mission HQ from UK almost complete

  26th March 2019

  The command of the EU Naval Force (EUNAVFOR) Operation Atalanta to the waters off the Horn of Africa and wider Indian Ocean will continue operating from …

• Digital Battlespace

  India's ASAT test reflects space race

  1st April 2019

  India’s Mission Shakti, an anti-satellite (ASAT) missile test carried out on 27 March by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), makes it the fourth …

• Naval Warfare

  Raytheon receives SPY-6 radar order

  20th March 2019

  Raytheon has received a $402.65 million contract modification for low-rate initial production (LRIP) of the AN/SPY-6(V) Air and Missile Defense Radar (AMDR). Through this order, …

• Digital Battlespace

  Persistent Systems expands Fort Collins facility

  13th March 2019

  Persistent Systems has completed a major expansion of its Fort Collins office in Colorado to increase support for its customers with mobile ad hoc networking …

• Digital Battlespace

  US programme to beat adversary's ‘formidable’ capabilities

  17th March 2019

  A US government agency will award $45.5 million for development of new technologies able to coordinate a future autonomous army of unmanned air and ground …

• Digital Battlespace

  EASR to begin live testing

  22nd March 2019

  The Enterprise Air Surveillance Radar being built by Raytheon is set to begin live testing at the Surface Combat Systems Center at Wallops Island, Virginia, …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Heathrow picks C-UAS to combat drone disruption

  13th March 2019

  Heathrow has placed an order with German drone detection systems manufacturer Aaronia AG for a counter-UAS (C-UAS) system in a multi-million Euro deal, Shephard has learned.  Aaronia …

• Digital Battlespace

  Orbit receives order for TVRO system spares

  19th March 2019

  Orbit Communications Systems has received an order worth $3 million from an unnamed European navy to provide maritime Television Receive-Only (TVRO) satcom systems spares and …

• Digital Battlespace

  Rheinmetall Canada awarded ISTAR ISS contract

  19th March 2019

  Rheinmetall Canada has been awarded an in-service support (ISS) contract to help maintain and strengthen the communications and information systems the Canadian Army depends on …

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. ...