• Defence Notes

  South Korea accepts two bids for KF-X fighter

  10th March 2015

  Two companies have submitted bids for South Korea’s US$7.9 billion programme to develop and procure a locally-build fighter. The project suffered a slight hiccup when …

• Defence Helicopter

  Patria to support Finnish military aircraft

  9th March 2015

  Patria and the Finnish defence forces have signed a strategic partnership agreement for life cycle support of Finnish military aircraft and related systems, the company …

• Digital Battlespace

  Boeing, Raytheon team for RSAF C5I solution

  3rd March 2015

  Boeing will join the Raytheon team to offer a comprehensive Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Cyber and Intelligence (C5I) solution for the modernisation of the Royal …

• Military Logistics

  Avalon 2015: RAAF to trial tanker with allied aircraft

  27th February 2015

  Following a successful remediation program, the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) expects to conduct boom refuelling trials with its Airbus KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transports (MRTT) …

• Military Logistics

  TAE wins Abrams engine maintenance contract in Australia

  27th February 2015

  TAE announced on 18 February it had received a five-year contract to maintain and refresh Honeywell AGT1500 gas turbine engines used in the Australian Army’s …

• Defence Helicopter

  RUAG Australia receives multi-aircraft support contract

  26th February 2015

  RUAG Australia has been awarded a four-year contract for Multi-Aircraft Hydraulic and Undercarriage Systems Support (MAHUSS) for multiple aircraft, the company announced on 25 February. …

• Defence Notes

  Avalon 2015: USAF confident F-35 will meet targets

  25th February 2015

  The re-baselining of the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter programme has been successful and ongoing improvements in areas such as support and …

• Land Warfare

  IDEX 2015: Domestic 8x8 APC option for UAE

  24th February 2015

  The Emirates Defence Technology (EDT) company in the UAE launched its 8x8 armoured vehicle called Enigma at the IDEX exhibition. This could mean other international …

• Land Warfare

  IDEX 2015: Extended range air defence fires up

  23rd February 2015

  Raytheon is developing a new extended range (ER) variant of the AMRAAM (AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile) for ground air defence in partnership with Kongsberg. …

• Defence Notes

  IDEX 2015: UAE defence dependence to end

  22nd February 2015

  The UAE is set to become a regional power with the development of a larger defence industrial base. Speaking at the IDEX Conference in Abu …

• Defence Notes

  IDEX 2015: UAE shows ‘readiness to use force’ in Syria

  21st February 2015

  Fresh airstrikes carried out by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in Syria in late February have signalled its continued willingness to use military force to …

• Military Logistics

  A400M simultaneously refuels two F-18s

  19th February 2015

  The A400M airlifter has successfully demonstrated simultaneous air-to-air refuelling of two F/A-18 fighter jets, Airbus announced on 18 February. The new-generation airlifter performed 74 contacts …

• Digital Battlespace

  Lockheed introduces Legion Pod sensor system

  16th February 2015

  Lockheed Martin has introduced its new Legion Pod multi-function sensor system for collaborative targeting operations between multiple aircraft, the company announced on 12 February. Ken …

• Military Logistics

  BAE Systems to support F-35 airframe

  11th February 2015

  BAE Systems Australia has been selected to to support the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) airframe for the South Pacific region, the company …

• Digital Battlespace

  BANC3 wins US army contract

  10th February 2015

  BANC3 has won a contract from the US army research, development and engineering command covering low profile displays and lightweight imaging sensors, the company announced …

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 [Turkey]

  Background Programme involvement Turkish involvement in the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter programme began in the early 2000s, with the country's participation beginning in the concept demonstration ...

• 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

  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 - multirole

  Tornado Replacement (F-35A) [Germany]

  Background Requirement In March 2020, it emerged that the German government was considering  30 F/A-18E/F Super Hornets to replace 45 nuclear-capable Tornados. The remaining 40 Tornados ...

• Fighter - naval

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

  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, 131 ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-35 [Morocco]

  Background Acquisition motivation Morocco has been in negotiations with the US since 2020 over the potential acquisition of an F-35 fleet, which would make the ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-35I Adir (1-50) [Israel]

  Background F-35I modifications The F-35I Adir is an F-35A Lightning II variant customised to meet the requirements of the Israel Defense Forces to replace the ...

• 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

  Fighter Aircraft [United Arab Emirates]

  Bids and suppliers Lockheed MartinOn 10 November 2020, the US State Department announced that it has approved a possible FMS of 50 F-35As to UAE ...

• Fighter - naval

  F-35B [UK]

  Programme Background The total cost of the currently funded programme as reported through the UK Major Projects Report is expected to be £10.5 billion ($13.5 ...

• Fighter - multirole

  JAS-39C/D Gripen replacement [Czech Republic]

  Background Requirements The Czech Republic Air Force operates 14 Gripens (12 JAS 39C and two JAS 39D variants) under a lease agreement that runs until ...

• Fighter - naval

  F-35B (1-30) [Italy]

  The 2019 and 2020 budget contained significant funding for the F-35 programme: €690 million ($775 million) in 2019 and €859 million ($962 million) in 2020, ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-16 Replacement [Portugal]

  Programme Background At the Portuguese National Defense Conference on April 22, 2025, General João Cartaxo Alves reaffirmed that the F-35A remains the sole viable successor ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-35A (1-60) [Italy]

  Background Requirement The total requirement for the first round of funded platforms was 90 F-35 - 30 F-35B and 60 F-35A. The original plan committed ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Fighter - multirole

  F-35I Adir

  The F-35I Adir is an F-35A Lightning II variant customised to meet the requirements of the Israel Defense Forces to replace the F-16 fleet in ...

• 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 ...

• 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, ...

• 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

  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 ...

• 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.

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...