• Defence Notes

  Podcast: Revolutions in Vertical Flight S1 E1 - The Birth of VTOL

  20th December 2019

  Welcome to Shephard Studio’s podcast series on Revolutions in Vertical Flight, sponsored by our partner Bell. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify and more. The Revolutions in Vertical …

• Training

  $6.4 billion ADAIR and CCAS contract

  31st October 2019

  The USAF Air Combat Command has awarded seven companies combined contracts valued at $6.4 billion to support its Combat Air Forces Contracted Air Support (CAF …

• Military Logistics

  US Navy C-40 fleet complete

  23rd October 2019

  The US Navy’s C-40 fleet is now complete with the deliveries of two new aircraft, Naval Air Systems Command announced on 22 October.The new aircraft …

• Defence Helicopter

  Airbus Helicopters delivers NH90 to Germany

  24th October 2019

  The first NH90 Sea Lion helicopter has been delivered to the German Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) by Airbus …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  UAVOS develops new VTOL UAS for LiDAR applications

  30th October 2019

  UAVOS has developed a new VTOL UAS, the UVH-25EL, designed for data capturing applications using Light Distance and Ranging (LiDAR). The fully automatic, compact and …

• Digital Battlespace

  AOC 2019: DARPA makes its case for Mosaic Warfare

  29th October 2019

  In an effort to move away from overarching CONOPS or C2 structures, DARPA has used the platform of AOC 2019 to make its case for …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Seaglider​ AUV becomes part of Hydroid

  1st November 2019

  Kongsberg’s Seaglider AUV has been transferred to Hydroid, Hydroid announced on 1 November.Hydroid will integrate Seaglider into its portfolio of AUV products, which includes the …

• Land Warfare

  Contracts signed as LAND 400 Phase 3 progresses

  22nd October 2019

  Contracts have been signed with the two companies selected to progress to the next stage of the Australian Army’s LAND 400 Phase 3, the Australian …

• Digital Battlespace

  GPS III COps connects with first GPS III satellite

  23rd October 2019

  The US Air Force’s (USAF’s) GPS III Contingency Operations Program (COps) has successfully connected with the first GPS III satellite on orbit, the USAF announced …

• Land Warfare

  Raytheon delivers C-UAS laser system to USAF

  23rd October 2019

  Raytheon has delivered a high-energy laser counter-UAS system to the US Air Force, the company announced on 22 October.The system is now set for an …

• Defence Helicopter

  V-22 fleet logs 500,000 flight hours

  9th October 2019

  The Bell-Boeing V-22 tiltrotor programme has reached a new milestone, with the fleet logging a combined 500,000 flight hours. More than 375 Ospreys are flying …

• Naval Warfare

  KraitSense in Portuguese Navy sea trials

  4th November 2019

  SEA’s Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) system has successfully completed sea trials with the Portuguese Navy, the company announced on 31 October.Carried out as part of Exercise …

• Digital Battlespace

  Commtact launches HiveComm data link family

  7th October 2019

  Wireless communications provider Commtact has launched its HiveComm datalink family, a suite of systems for use on air, sea and land platforms.  The family of …

• Digital Battlespace

  AOC 2019: Saab pushes latest countermeasures for international market

  5th November 2019

  Sweden’s Saab opted to use the AOC exhibition and conference in Washington, DC, in late-October to push its range of airborne countermeasure and surveillance systems, …

• Naval Warfare

  HMAS Brisbane completes combat system testing

  31st October 2019

  The Royal Australian Navy’s HMAS Brisbane has completed a live missile engagement in the US with the US Navy’s USS Stockdale.Brisbane’s combat system was tested …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Maritime patrol

  P-8I Follow-On [India]

  Programme Background The IN currently has eight P-8I aircraft in service, these ordered on 4 January 2009 for $2.1 billion. India inducted its first P-8I ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  T-50 [Thailand]

  The purchase had been earlier approved by the Thai cabinet on 11 July 2017.  AVM Pongsak Semachai revealed that the aircraft would be paid for ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  T-50 Follow-On [Thailand]

  Programme Background The Royal Thai Air Force  (RTAF) exercised its option to purchase additional two aircraft from an earlier deal. The RTAF purchased four T-50 jets in ...

• AEW&C

  E-2D (France)

  Programme Background In July 2020, France revealed its intention of buying a fleet of three E-2D Advanced Hawkeye Aircraft with a $2 billion potential FMS deal, ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing

  Fixed-Wing VTOL UAV (Malaysia)

  Programme Background Tender Issued As reported by Shephard, on 18 June 2021, Malaysia issued a tender for fixed-wing hybrid VTOL UAVs.  Requirement The tender stated that Malaysia required ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  HH-60W - Combat Rescue Helicopter (CRH)

  According to the FY2021 Base funding, the HH-60W helicopter unit cost is $43.2 million. The HH-60W will be capable of employment day or night, in ...

• Military UAS - mini

  RQ-20A Puma [Latvia]

  Programme Background The US DoD is financing military modernisation in the Baltic to improve the capabilities of the Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian militaries. This includes ...

• Maritime patrol

  P-8I (13-18) [India]

  Programme Background India previously bought eight P-8Is from Boeing in 2009 in a direct commercial sale, adding four more in 2016. India inducted its first ...

• Loitering munitions

  Medium-Range Loitering Munition with LEO Satellite Data Link [South Korea]

  Background New Project In April 2025, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) and the Agency for Defense Development (ADD) announced a new project titled “Development of Medium-Range ...

• Military UAS - mini

  RQ-11 Raven (US Army)

  Programme Background The AeroVironment RQ-11 Raven began to be deployed by the US Army in 2004 and was selected as its sole small UAS in ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  Skeldar V-200 Dutch Navy

  Programme Background The Dutch Ministry of Defence issued a notice seeking information regarding the potential acquisition of a vertical takeoff and landing unmanned aerial vehicle ...

• Military UAS - micro

  NX70 Microdrone (First Batch)

  Programme Background The French Army procured the NX70 to meet an urgent operational requirement for a small UAS that could provide short-range ISR for dismounted ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  Skeldar V-200 Belgian Navy

  Programme Background For the joint MCM programme between Belgium and the Netherlands, the Dutch Ministry of Defence issued a notice calling for information regarding the ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - mini, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Vector / Scorpion [Netherlands]

  Programme Background AeroVironment RQ-11 Raven B The Royal Netherlands Army (RNLA) operates approximately 75 AeroVironment RQ-11 Raven B mini UAVs in the tactical ISTAR role, ...

• Military UAS - micro

  NX70 Microdrone (Second Batch)

  Programme Background The French Army procured the NX70 to meet an urgent operational requirement for a small UAS that could provide short-range ISR for dismounted ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Data links

  MLT 2920

  The MLT 2920 Multi Link Terminal is a Link 11/22 compatible data link solution. Supplied by Elbit Systems Deutschland, it comprises one Link 11 modem ...

• Data links

  DLP

  The Data Link Processor (DLP) is a TDL server able to support Link 11A, 11B, 16 and 22 data link operations. The DLP receives, transmits ...

• Data links

  MDM-2X02N

  The MDM-2X02N is a tactical data link modem that combines the functionalities of a Link 11 DTS and Link 22 signal processor controller (SPC) into ...

• Data links

  TIGER

  The Tactical Data Link Integration Exerciser (TIGER) stimulates systems under test with tactical scenarios. Among TIGER’s capabilities is the abilities, it can simulate multiple tracks: ...

• Data links

  GTS - TCG

  Curtiss-Wright Defence Solutions' Ground Tactical Data Link System (GTS) product line provides operational users with an affordable, interoperable and combat-proven battlefield tactical data link (TDL) system ...

• Data links

  MX-512PV-C

  Similar to the MX-512PV (see separate entry), the MX-512PV-C Link 11/TADIL-A Data Terminal Set/Link 22 SPC communicates tactical C2 data between ship, shore and air ...

• Data links

  Maritime Tactical Data Link

  The Maritime Tactical Data Link (MTDL) is a developmental tactical data link by Hanwha Systems. Offered in 16 configurations, the system is based on the ...

• Data links

  Naval M-DLP

  The Naval Multi-Data Link Processor (M-DLP) is designed for naval forces and was developed to comply with warship operating requirements, with redundant system architecture and ...

• Data links

  Link 22

  Link 22 is an ECM-resistant, BLoS tactical data communication system using fixed frequency or frequency-hopping techniques in the HF (3-30MHz) and/or UHF (225-400MHz) bands. The ...

• Data links

  AN/USQ-125V DTS

  Like its airborne Data Terminal Set counterparts, the AN/USQ-125V performs as a modem, communicating tactical C2 data between ship, shore and air platforms on the ...

• Data links

  Universal Link System

  Developed by Scytalys, the Universal Link System (ULS) is a modular, scalable multi data link processor. It supports all NATO and US standard data links ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  JTRS Later Increment Waveforms

  A number of waveforms are scheduled for implementation in later JTRS increments: WNW with low probability of intercept/detection and bandwidth-efficient advanced modulation; SRW with LPI/LPD; ...

• Data links

  LinkPro

  LinkPro is a standards-based, high fidelity, software-only, multi-link Tactical Data Link (TDL) processing engine that improves tactical communications, reduces the time, risk and expense of ...

• Data links

  Link-M

  Milsoft's Link-M is a tactical data link system which may be integrated into land, naval and air platforms. According to the manufacturer's website, it is ...

• Data links

  Multifunction Advanced Data Link

  Multifunction Advanced Data Link (MADL) is a Ku-band data link designed for fifth-generation aircraft. The directional, interflight system is integrated into all F-35 variants, allowing ...