• Digital Battlespace

  Comtech to supply troposcatter equipment to Iraq

  28th September 2018

  Comtech Systems has received a $9.1 million contract to supply equipment and services in support of an existing C4ISR maritime surveillance system in service with …

• Special Operations

  PacStar launches SWCP TLS

  28th September 2018

  PacStar has launched the PacStar Secure Wireless Command Post (SWCP) for classified communications over Wi-Fi and LTE-enabled commercial smartphones and tablets, the company announced on …

• Digital Battlespace

  Airbus tests stratospheric 4G/5G defence comms

  1st October 2018

  Airbus has successfully tested stratospheric 4G/5G defence applications with a high-altitude balloon demonstration, the company announced on 25 September. Supported by the French and Canadian …

• Digital Battlespace

  BAE Systems advances tactical hotspot tech

  26th September 2018

  BAE Systems’s Strike Hotspot technology demonstrator (TD) continues to be upgraded as it remains in an assessment programme with the British Army, company officials have …

• Digital Battlespace

  NSM to supply AFIS for JASDF

  25th September 2018

  Norwegian Special Mission has signed a contract with Textron Aviation to supply the UNIFIS 3000 automatic flight inspection system (AFIS) for the Japan Air Self-Defense …

• Digital Battlespace

  Rockwell Collins to provide airborne radios to US DoD

  26th September 2018

  Rockwell Collins has received a contract from the US Department of Defense (DoD) to supply sixth-generation ARC-210 RT-2036(C) radios, the company announced on 20 September. …

• Digital Battlespace

  UK looks to US again as Wedgetail leads AWACS race

  3rd October 2018

  Recent speculation that the UK could procure the E-7 Wedgetail aircraft to replace its ageing E-3D Sentry’s looks to have been on the mark after it …

• Digital Battlespace

  Harris receives AN/PRC-163 radio orders

  26th September 2018

  Harris Corporation has received orders to supply 1,540 AN/PRC-163 two-channel handheld radios and related equipment and services as part of the US Army’s leader radio …

• Digital Battlespace

  General Dynamics receives ATC radio order

  24th September 2018

  General Dynamics Mission Systems has received a contract to supply more than 140 CM-300/350 V2 air traffic control (ATC) radios for US Air Force in …

• Defence Notes

  US Air Force seeks additional operational squadrons

  17th September 2018

  Stretched thin by a growing workload the US Air Force needs to add 74 operational squadrons, nearly a 24% increase, to improve its ability to …

• Digital Battlespace

  US Army armoured brigade incorporates EW vehicle

  11th September 2018

  The US Army has fielded a new electronic warfare tactical vehicle (EWTV) with an armoured combat brigade, boosting the unit's ability to jam enemy communications. …

• Defence Helicopter

  MH-139 upsets the pack to claim UH-1N Huey replacement win

  24th September 2018

  The Boeing-Leonardo MH-139 has beaten off industry competition from Sikorsky and the Sierra Nevada Corporation to claim a $2.4 billion US Air Force UH-1N Huey …

• Naval Warfare

  JFD and US Navy introduce Shadow NAV

  25th September 2018

  JFD has partnered with the US Navy’s Naval Surface Warfare Centre – Panama City Division (NSWC PCD) to develop an advanced hands-free combat diver navigation …

• Land Warfare

  MBDA explores novel tech for land domain firepower

  19th September 2018

  European missile manufacturer MBDA is showcasing several new solutions at DVD 2018 geared towards future land requirements in both the UK and abroad. The company …

• Digital Battlespace

  AAD 2018: The house that Hensoldt built

  23rd September 2018

  Hensoldt has utilised AAD 2018 to bring together two of its South African subsidiaries under one roof: GEW Technologies, providers in EW and spectrum monitoring …

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. ...