• Military Logistics

  KC-46 Pegasus returns to Edwards AFB

  18th June 2018

  The US Air Force’s (USAF) KC-46A Pegasus aerial refuelling aircraft has arrived at Edwards Air Force Base for further flight testing. The flight tests will …

• Digital Battlespace

  Harris to supply HH-VDL radios to USAF

  5th June 2018

  Harris Corporation has received a five-year, $130 million IDIQ contract from the US Air Force to develop and deliver a Handheld Video Data Link (HH-VDL) …

• Digital Battlespace

  Farnborough 2018: What could replace the UK’s AWACS?

  10th July 2018

  One of the key talking points at this year’s Farnborough air show will be the Royal Air Force’s growing desire to replace its ageing E-3D …

• Digital Battlespace

  EW Europe 2018: Patria revving up EW capabilities

  7th June 2018

  Finnish company Patria is probably best known for its work making highly-protected armoured vehicles, but it also has another lesser known specialisation in its repertoire; …

• Digital Battlespace

  US Navy's newest Warfighting Development Centre prioritises expert growth

  25th June 2018

  The new US Naval Information Warfighting Development Centre (NIWDC) has seen significant progress in its efforts to train subject matter experts in the domain, making …

• Digital Battlespace

  IAI Elta receives EW system contract

  15th June 2018

  Israel Aerospace Industries’ (IAI) Elta Systems has received a contract to modernise and upgrade a national level ground based SIGINT and EW system for an …

• Digital Battlespace

  EW Europe 2018: Saab to fly jamming pod by 2020

  7th June 2018

  Swedish company Saab has said it will begin flight tests for a new jamming pod by the beginning of next decade, as it eyes a …

• Land Warfare

  Thales introduces artillery version of TopAxyz

  14th June 2018

  Thales has launched an artillery version of its TopAxyz inertial navigation unit for mobile artillery systems, the company announced on 11 June.The system has been …

• Defence Helicopter

  Honeywell tests HSD-400 system on military helos

  18th June 2018

  Honeywell has installed and tested its HSD-400 voice and high-speed data transceiver onboard in-service UH-60 Black Hawk and CH-53 Stallion helicopters, the company announced on …

• Digital Battlespace

  EW Europe 2018: ERA sees expanding role for passive sensors

  1st June 2018

  Czech sensor specialists ERA is seeing expanded uses for its VERA-NG passive radar technology beyond traditional EW functions, evolving to surveillance missions and utilisation in …

• Digital Battlespace

  Trumps orders Pentagon to create US 'Space Force'

  18th June 2018

  US President Donald Trump ordered the Pentagon on 18 June to create a new US ‘Space Force’, which would become the sixth branch of the …

• Digital Battlespace

  USAF and MIT further waveform development

  24th May 2018

  The US Air Force (USAF) Research Laboratory (AFRL) Information Directorate and Massachusetts Institute of Technology Lincoln Laboratory (MIT-LL) are working together to test advanced waveforms …

• Land Warfare

  Finland fires Crotale NG with new camera

  13th June 2018

  The Finnish Defence Force has carried out a live firing of its Crotale New Generation (NG) short-range air defence system equipped with a new Catherine …

• Naval Warfare

  USCG accepts delivery of 29th FRC

  13th June 2018

  The US Coast Guard (USCG) received its 29th Fast Response Cutter (FRC), Forrest Rednour, in Key West, Florida, on 7 June. The 154ft FRC will …

• Land Warfare

  Palomar receives binocular display contracts

  12th June 2018

  Palomar Display Products has received two contracts totalling $9.3 million to deliver military biocular display systems for the M1 Abrams tank and Bradley Fighting Vehicle, …

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. ...