• Military Logistics

  US Navy christens future USNS Trenton (JHSV 5)

  12th January 2015

  On 10 January, the US Navy christened the future USNS Trenton (JHSV 5) in Mobile, Alabama. The 338ft aluminium catamaran is under construction at the …

• Digital Battlespace

  Boeing delivers F-22 Raptor training simulators

  12th January 2015

  Boeing has announced that it has delivered two F-22 Raptor training simulators with a 360-degree immersive visual environment to the US Air Force. The two …

• Military Logistics

  GE Aviation wins F414 engine PBL contract

  9th January 2015

  On 6 January GE Aviation announced that it has won a Performance Based Logistics (PBL) contract from the US Navy covering F414 engine components. The …

• Defence Notes

  Cubic selected to enhance F-35 fighter jet ACTS

  7th January 2015

  Lockheed Martin Aeronautics has awarded Cubic Corporation a series of contracts for creating and adding enhancements to the Air Combat Training System (ACTS) of its …

• Military Logistics

  Italian Air Force orders three M-346 aircraft

  5th January 2015

  A contract signed on 22 December will see Alenia Aermacchi supply three additional M-346 advanced trainer aircraft to the Italian Air Force along with ground …

• Military Logistics

  F-35 airframe and engine MRO&U assigned for Asia Pacific

  19th December 2014

  F-35 airframe and engine Maintenance, Repair, Overhaul and Upgrade (MRO&U) capability for the Asia Pacific region has been assigned to Japan and Australia, it was …

• Military Logistics

  European F-35 MRO&U capability assigned

  12th December 2014

  F-35 aircraft and engine Maintenance, Repair, Overhaul and Upgrade (MRO&U) capability for operators in the European region will be performed by Italy, the UK, Turkey, …

• Defence Helicopter

  Airborne Services and NHI sign deal for repair services

  5th December 2014

  During the NIDV Defence and Security exhibition in Rotterdam last month, Dutch company Airborne Services signed an agreement for the maintenance of NH90 rotor blades …

• Land Warfare

  Nammo details new contracts and live firings

  27th November 2014

  Nammo has signed new ammunition contracts with the Spanish Ministry of Defence (MoD) and the Norwegian armed forces, and announced a successful live fire demonstration …

• Defence Notes

  Airshow China: FC-31 fighter makes debut

  11th November 2014

  The FC-31 fighter, a developmental platform from the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC), is participating in flying displays at Airshow China 2014 in Zhuhai.  Widely known …

• Naval Warfare

  Egyptian Navy selects Swiftships’ patrol boats

  10th November 2014

  Swiftships will build six new patrol boats for the Egyptian Navy under a new agreement announced on 5 November. Contract negotiations are being finalised and …

• Military Logistics

  Cubic details new training support contracts

  6th November 2014

  Cubic has announced two training contracts that will see it support the training requirements of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and the US Army. …

• Digital Battlespace

  TRS-4D radar to equip Freedom Variant LCS

  30th October 2014

  The US Navy’s Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) programme's adaptable Freedom variant ships will be equipped with the Airbus Defense and Space (D&S) TRS-4D naval radar, …

• Digital Battlespace

  Boeing SSEE-F programme deliveries underway

  16th October 2014

  A maritime signals intelligence system for the US Navy’s Ship’s Signal Exploitation Equipment Increment F (SSEE-F) programme has been delivered by Boeing ahead of schedule, …

• Defence Helicopter

  Helitech 2014: BAE Systems targets civil customers for HUD/HMD

  16th October 2014

  BAE Systems has used Helitech International to drum up civil interest in its head-up display (HUD) and helmet-mounted display (HMD) systems. The company’s HUD and …

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 ...