• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Visual evidence drops heavy hint Azerbaijan has bought Akinci UCAV

  11th August 2022

  A group of Azerbaijani UAV pilots has completed training on the Akinci UCAV, although Baku has still not officially confirmed procurement of the aircraft.

• Land Warfare

  US greenlights sale of Javelin Lightweight Command Launch Units to the UK

  3rd August 2022

  The US State Department has approved the possible Foreign Military Sale (FMS) of Javelin Lightweight Command Launch Units (LWCLUs) to the UK worth up to $300m.

• Defence Notes

  USN picks Jacobs for air-launched and underwater test support

  11th July 2022

  Both the Air Launch Test Capability and the Underwater Launch Test Capability support the Conventional Prompt Strike hypersonic programme.

• Defence Notes

  News and views from the 2022 Farnborough International Airshow (podcast)

  22nd July 2022

  The Shephard Media news team report from the sidelines of the 2022 Farnborough International Airshow.

• Land Warfare

  Bulgarian T-72M upgrade makes headway

  17th June 2022

  While much attention from the defence industry has focused on the Eurosatory 2022 exhibition in Paris, the smaller Hemus event in Bulgaria delivered its share of news earlier this month.

• Digital Battlespace

  US Air Force glimpses future of BLoS communication for B-52s

  12th July 2022

  A new BLoS capability is on the horizon for USAF strategic bombers.

• Land Warfare

  Australia orders Bushmaster EW systems from Raytheon

  19th July 2022

  Raytheon Australia has won a contract to fit EW mission systems into Bushmaster vehicles for the Australian Army.

• Air Warfare

  Boeing gains another year of Stratotanker support

  4th July 2022

  Boeing continues to provide recurring engineering services for the KC-135 Stratotanker.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Hermes takes off in Switzerland

  20th June 2022

  The ADS-15 UAV (the Swiss designation for the Hermes 900) performed its first test flight on 15 June before planned transfer to the Swiss Air Force in the second half of the year.

• Naval Warfare

  RNZN’s second frigate returns after prolonged upgrade

  14th July 2022

  New Zealand's second frigate was out of commission for more than three years whilst undergoing an upgrade in Canada.

• Land Warfare

  US Army to receive Mid-Range Capability weapon system this year

  15th August 2022

  Lockheed Martin is progressing with the Mid-Range Capability effort and plans to hand over a prototype at the end of the year.

• Land Warfare

  Switzerland shortlists Archer and RCH 155 for self-propelled artillery replacement programme

  19th August 2022

  A final procurement decision under the ‘Artillery effective platform and effective means 2026’ effort is expected in 2026.

• Air Warfare

  Bangladesh joins the TB2 club, apparently

  10th August 2022

  Media reports suggest that the Bangladesh military has opted for the hottest UAV on the market at the moment, the Bayraktar TB2.

• Defence Helicopter

  Northrop Grumman to explore potential new avionics for Venom and Viper

  5th July 2022

  New IDIQ deal for Northrop Grumman opens up potential avenues to improve avionics on AH-1Z and UH-1Y attack helicopters.

• Defence Notes

  Thales subsidiary fully acquires Advanced Acoustic Concepts

  27th July 2022

  Thales Defense & Security Inc has completed its deal to acquire full ownership of Advanced Acoustic Concepts (AAC) after buying out its joint venture partner Leonardo …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - micro

  eBee Vision [US]

  Background Multiple orders In November 2025, the US Army acquired three eBee Vision systems to enhance training operations at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Germany. A ...

• Military UAS - small

  Thor [Israel]

  Background Various Contracts On 3 December 2024, the Israeli Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced it had purchased “advanced drones and autonomous systems” from Elbit Systems in various ...

• Maritime patrol

  Long Range Patrol Aircraft [The Philippines]

  Programme Background On 10 July 2023, Elbit Systems announced that it had secured a contract for two long-range patrol aircraft. Although the customer was not ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Bayraktar TB2 [Kenya]

  Programme Background Training On 23 August 2024, Baykar posted on social media that trainees from Kenya had completed their Bayraktar TB2 training at the Baykar Flight ...

• Trainer

  M-346 [Greece]

  Programme Background In April 2021, Elbit Systems was awarded a $1.65 billion contract to set up Hellenic Air Force International Flight Training Centre. The deal includes ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Hermes 900 (Uganda)

  Programme Background In September 2018, The East African reported that Uganda had received 24 Hermes 900 platforms from Elbit Systems. Evidence of the platform being ...

• Military UAS - small

  Robotics and Autonomous Systems (RAS) Project [UK]

  Programme Background Robotics and Autonomous Systems (RAS) Project The British Army launched the RAS project to provide the "direction required to exploit emerging technologies to ...

• CUAS - hybrid effector systems

  ReDrone [Romania]

  Background Romania signed a contract with Elbit Systems to receive its ReDrone multi-layered unmanned air defense systems (C-UAS). The ReDrone is equipped with a DAiR ...

• Military UAS - mini

  Magni-X [Albania]

  Background Larger Deal In September 2025, the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Albania announced that Elbit Systems would supply Albania with various military ...

• Military UAS - small

  Thor [Albania]

  Background Larger Deal In September 2025, the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Albania announced that Elbit Systems would supply Albania with various military ...

• Military UAS - mini

  Magni-X (1-350) [Austria]

  Background Contract Various outlets reported in mid-2025 that the Austrian Armed Forces had acquired 315 Magni-X UAVs from Elbit Systems. The contract was concluded with the German branch of ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  Watchkeeper X (Contracted) [Romania]

  Background 2021 In mid-2021, the Romanian manufacturer Aerostar signed a collaboration with U-TacS to potentially produce the Watchkeeper X in Romania. U-TacS is a joint ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  Watchkeeper X (Uncontracted) [Romania]

  Background 2021 In mid-2021, the Romanian manufacturer Aerostar signed a collaboration with U-TacS to potentially produce the Watchkeeper X in Romania. U-TacS is a joint ...

• Military UAS - mini, Military UAS - small

  Company Level Small Uncrewed Aircraft System (SUAS) Directed Requirement (DR) [US Army]

  Background Requirement The US Army approved the Co-Level SUAS DR acquisition in June 2023 to supply Brigade Combat Teams with an “immediate, commercially available capability” to meet ...

• CUAS - hybrid effector systems

  ReDrone [Netherlands]

  Background In 2023 the Netherlands signed a contract with Israeli company Elbit Systems to supply an unspecified number of its ReDrone C-UAS for $55 million.  ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Air: air combat simulators

  Air Combat Training

  Boeing has experience in delivering training for fixed-wing air combat platforms including F-15C/E, F-16, F/A-18E/F, EA-18G, F-22 and MV/CV-22.

• Air: UAV simulators

  UAV Simulators

  Elbit Systems has developed simulation systems to train personnel in UAV operation, from generic UAV training for initial screening procedures up to full mission, high-fidelity ...

• Air: air combat simulators

  USAF F-16 Training System

  L3Harris Technologies is supporting approximately 180 F-16 pilot and maintenance trainers as part of the USAF’s F-16 Training System. Programme contract options extend through 2019. ...

• Air: Displays

  F-16 Center Pedestal Display

  Produced by Elbit Systems of America, the F-16 Center Pedestal Display (CPD) provides a high-resolution colour display that replaces several legacy instruments on F-16 aircraft. 

• Land: C2 simulators

  BGSC

  The Battle Group Simulation Center (BGSC) is a commander’s open training tool for doctrine and tactics. BGSC uses AI-based, adaptive-behaviour CGF. Applications include: conventional and ...

• Air: air combat simulators

  SkyBreaker

  Elbit Systems' SkyBreaker is an airborne Mission Training Centre that enables networked training between various trainees and platforms, including a range of air force platforms. ...

• Air: mission management systems

  Naval Command Center

  The Elbit Systems Naval Command Center (NCC) provides the infrastructure, systems and functionality required to achieve maritime domain awareness in conjunction with applicable means, evaluating ...

• 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 ...

• Land: air defence simulators

  Live Training System for Air Defence

  Elbit Systems' Live Training System for Air Defence is integrated on various short- and medium-range air defence systems. The Live Training System provides networked and ...

• Land: tactical engagement simulators

  Instrumented Ground Combat Training Systems

  Cubic supplies combat training systems for CTCs, homestations and forward-deployed environments. The systems are designed to support missions including force-on-force, urban operations, joint, combined arms ...

• Air: fixed-wing flight simulators

  VMTS

  Elbit Systems' Virtual Mission Training System (VMTS) provides realistic training at a reduced cost in a fighter-like environment, claims the company. Using a data link, ...

• Major networking projects

  DAP

  Israel’s Digital Army Program (DAP) offers interoperability of tri-service (air, land, sea) platforms and sensors for force-wide collaboration. The system is implemented in the IDF ...

• Military UAS - mini

  Magni-X

  Magni-X is a mini rotary-wing UAV from Elbit Systems. The aircraft was first unveiled in 2019 and was designed specifically for Short Range Reconnaissance (SRR) operations ...

• Unguided Mortar Ammunition

  M769 Full Range Practice Round

  The M769 Full Range Practice Round is a 60mm mortar training round developed by the US Army's Armament Center and the Picatinny Arsenal.

• Air: fixed-wing flight simulators

  Tzofit Training Centre

  In June 2009, Elbit inaugurated the Beechcraft King Air B200 Tzofit Training Centre for IDF pilots. Elbit Systems serves as the project’s prime contractor, while ...