• Defence Helicopter

  Iraq requests armed Bell 407GX helicopters

  8th October 2018

  The US State Department has made a determination approving a potential foreign military sale of armed Bell 407GX helicopters to Iraq, the Defense Security Cooperation …

• Defence Notes

  Harris, L3 merging to form a defence-technology giant

  15th October 2018

  Harris and L3 Technologies, two American companies specialising in military communications and technology, announced their merger on Sunday, giving birth to a giant in the …

• Digital Battlespace

  RUAG to upgrade Swiss armed forces’ BTS

  11th October 2018

  RUAG Defence has received a contract to upgrade the broadband transmission system (BTS) of the routing network for the Swiss armed forces in Switzerland. Under …

• Digital Battlespace

  Euronaval 2018: Thales introduces new naval radar

  23rd October 2018

  Thales has launched a new multi-mission 4D AESA radar for small naval platforms at Euronaval 2018 in Paris. The new NS50 will complement the NS100 …

• Digital Battlespace

  Raytheon advances in US Army’s LTAMDS competition

  11th October 2018

  Raytheon has been selected to advance in the US Army’s Lower Tier Air and Missile Defense Sensor (LTAMDS) competition, the company announced on 8 October. …

• Digital Battlespace

  PacStar solutions for US Army SFAB comms

  15th October 2018

  PacStar will provide its tactical network baseband solution for six US Army Security Forces Assistance Brigades (SFAB) under a $20 million contract announced on 9 …

• Land Warfare

  Raytheon develops new rifle sight

  15th October 2018

  Raytheon has developed a new close quarters rifle sight that allows ground troops to identify targets more quickly, the company announced on 10 October. The …

• Digital Battlespace

  US Army tests Spider networked munition system

  17th October 2018

  The US Army’s 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) is testing an upgrade to the Spider munition system used to defend perimeters and support offensive ambushes …

• Digital Battlespace

  Euronaval 2018: Sea Giraffe stretches capability to include hypersonic threat detection

  23rd October 2018

  As western navies come face to face with the threats posed by next-generation anti-ship missile technologies, Saab has chosen Euronaval 2018 to launch a new …

• Digital Battlespace

  Deployable forensics lab for Australian Army

  15th October 2018

  Indra Australia has been selected by the Australian government to design and manufacture a Level 2 deployable forensic laboratory capability for IED analysis, the company …

• Digital Battlespace

  Finland to order Bittium Tough Comnode terminals

  9th October 2018

  Bittium Wireless and the Finnish Defence Forces Logistics Command are set to enter into a framework agreement on the purchase of Bittium Tough Comnode terminals …

• Defence Helicopter

  MDHI to deliver six MD 530Fs to Kenya

  2nd October 2018

  MD Helicopters (MDHI) has received a second order to deliver six armed MD 530F Cayuse Warrior helicopters for the Kenya Defence Force, the company announced …

• Defence Notes

  Opinion: Stilwell considered for Thornton job

  3rd October 2018

  Sources within Washington’s Beltway indicate that retired USAF Brig Gen David Stilwell will serve as the next Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and …

• Digital Battlespace

  AUSA 2018: New generation radio certified

  11th October 2018

  Rockwell Collins has received Type 1 certification from the US National Security Agency for the sixth generation of its ARC-210 RT-2036(C) networked communications airborne radio. …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Dedrone introduces DroneTracker 3.5

  26th September 2018

  Dedrone has launched DroneTracker 3.5, designed to detect, localise and track simultaneous targets to protect against advanced UAS threats, the company announced on 19 September. …

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. ...