• Military Logistics

  Gilbane to build King Khalid airbase facilities

  10th February 2015

  Gilbane Federal has won a $166 million design-build construction contract from the US Department of Defense for the Royal Saudi Air Force's King Khalid airbase, …

• Digital Battlespace

  Northrop radars for Taiwan F-16s

  5th February 2015

  Northrop Grumman will provide 142 APG-83 Scalable Agile Beam Radar (SABR) systems to Lockheed Martin for Taiwan Air Force F-16s, the company announced on 2 …

• Military Logistics

  GE to support F110, F101, F108 engines

  5th February 2015

  GE Aviation has won a five-year contract from the US Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) for the support of F110, F101 and F118 engines, the company …

• Defence Notes

  Virtual training to avert readiness crisis

  5th February 2015

  Increased use of virtual training will assist the US military avert a readiness crisis as well as reduce costs by an estimated $1.7 billion over …

• Defence Helicopter

  Boeing signs support contract for US aircraft

  4th February 2015

  Boeing signed the second phase of a contract for providing support for 11 aircraft with the US Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), the company announced on …

• Defence Helicopter

  China and Russia edge closer to heavy-lift platform

  4th February 2015

  Despite some slow progress in recent years, the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) continues to jointly develop a heavy-lift helicopter with its partner Russian …

• Digital Battlespace

  Special forces suit project confirmed

  30th January 2015

  The future of the US Special Operations Command’s (USSOCOM’s) Tactical Assault Light Operator Suit (TALOS) programme is assured following a change of command. Details remained …

• Military Logistics

  DynCorp wins US aircraft maintenance contract

  30th January 2015

  DynCorp International has won a contract from the US Naval Air Systems Command, the company announced on 27 January. Under the contract, the company will …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Leidos’ autonomy system completes voyage

  29th January 2015

  Leidos’ prototype autonomous maritime system for the DARPA Anti-Submarine Warfare Continuous Trail Unmanned Vessel (ACTUV) programme recently completed its first self-guided voyage between Gulfport and …

• Defence Notes

  Israeli Air Force starts jet training with M-346

  28th January 2015

  Israeli Air Force (IAF) flight school cadets have commenced flights with the new Aermacchi M-346 instructional aircraft for the first time, the air force announced …

• Naval Warfare

  US Navy expands SM-6 missile deployment

  16th January 2015

  The US Navy has authorised ships in the Aegis Combat Weapon System baselines 5.3 and 3.A.0 series to carry the Raytheon Standard Missile-6 (SM-6), the …

• Naval Warfare

  US Navy's JSOW C-1 set for operational testing

  15th January 2015

  The US Navy has completed integrated test and evaluation of its Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW) C-1, according to an announcement on 12 January. The JSOW …

• Digital Battlespace

  Raytheon AESA radar completes flight test

  15th January 2015

  The Raytheon APG-79(V)X AESA radar system has successfully completed its first flight test, the company announced on 12 January. With this flight test, the system …

• Military Logistics

  PLA Navy uses 3-D printers on warships

  14th January 2015

  The People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has begun using 3-D printers to create replacements parts aboard its warships, as naval commanders study on-demand parts production. …

• Military Logistics

  Peerless wins F-22 advisory and assistance contract

  13th January 2015

  Peerless Technologies has won a contract for F-22 division advisory and assistance services, as announced by the US Department of Defense on 9 January. The …

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 ...