• Defence Notes

  China to do 'whatever it takes' to retain Taiwan

  25th October 2018

  China's defence minister warned Thursday that the military would do "whatever it takes" to stop any attempt to "split" Taiwan from the mainland, days after …

• Defence Notes

  Pentagon grounds global fleet of F-35s after crash

  11th October 2018

  The Pentagon grounded the global fleet of F-35 stealth fighters on 11 October, as a result of the first ever crash of the costliest plane …

• Digital Battlespace

  Harris to deliver F-35 next generation ICP

  3rd October 2018

  Harris Corporation has been selected by Lockheed Martin to develop and deliver the next generation Integrated Core Processor (ICP) for the F-35 fighter jet, the …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Euronaval 2018: Hero prepares for flight trials from Italian FREMM

  24th October 2018

  Leonardo’s AWHero VTOL UAV will begin flight trials off of an Italian Navy FREMM frigate early next year, as preparations continue for its participation in …

• Land Warfare

  RADA announces $5 million in new orders

  19th October 2018

  RADA Electronic Industries has received new orders totalling $5 million from unnamed customers, the company announced on 15 October. The orders are for RADA’s software-defined …

• Digital Battlespace

  Kratos waveforms for Harris’ HH-VDL radios

  19th October 2018

  Kratos Defense & Security Solutions’ subsidiary Kratos RT Logic has licensed its common data link (CDL) waveforms to Harris Corporation for use in Harris’ nanoSVDL …

• Digital Battlespace

  ManTech to develop Hawkeye sensors

  18th October 2018

  ManTech has received a $45 million four-year contract for the technical advancement of sensors used on E-2D Hawkeye aircraft used by US Naval Air Systems …

• Defence Helicopter

  Afghan Air Force struggling to operate MD 530 fleet

  26th October 2018

  Afghanistan's air force is still consistently reliant on contractor intervention ‘to perform the majority of maintenance and sustainment activities’ on MD 530 light attack helicopters, …

• Digital Battlespace

  MEOLUT Next for SAR ground station

  19th October 2018

  Thales has been selected by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to develop and build an operational ground station at Holloman Air Force …

• Military Logistics

  Lithuania receives new Unimog trucks

  16th October 2018

  The Lithuanian armed forces have received a new batch of 54 Unimog U5000 trucks from Daimler, the Lithuania Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced on 12 …

• Digital Battlespace

  Controp launches Tornado-ER

  18th October 2018

  Controp USA has launched an electro-optical panoramic scanning and automatic maritime target detection system called the Tornado-ER, the company announced on 15 October. The system …

• Defence Helicopter

  Australia retires the Kiowa

  19th October 2018

  The Australian Army formally retired the Bell 206B-1 Kiowa on 18 October, a date that also marked the 50th anniversary of the service’s Aviation Corps. …

• Military Logistics

  AG600 makes its first water flight

  22nd October 2018

  The AG600 amphibian aircraft from the China Aviation Industry General Aircraft Company (CAIGA) performed its first official water take-off and landing in Jingmen, Hubei Province …

• 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

  Iran says it has carried out 700 drone attacks in Syria

  17th October 2018

  Iran's Revolutionary Guards have carried out 700 drone strikes against forces of the Islamic State group (IS) in Syria, its aerospace chief told conservative news …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Fighter - multirole

  F-35A (61-75) [Italy]

  Programme Background Requirement In 2009, the Italian MoD planned to purchase 131 F-35 aircraft, which was later reduced to 90. According to the MoD documentation, ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-35A (Add-On) [Germany]

  Programme Background The German newspaper Spiegel published a report on 20 October 2025 claiming that German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius is seeking to acquire 15 additional F-35A ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-35A (33-64) [Poland]

  Background Requirement announcement In June 2026, the Polish Minister of Defence announced that the classified Polish Armed Forces Development Programme, which was officially signed off ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-35A Japan

  In 2019, Japan requested to be an official partner in the F-35 programme, but this request was rejected by the Pentagon. The F-35 Joint Strike ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-35A [Denmark]

  Programme Background  Denmark joined the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program in 2002 during the System Development and Demonstration phase and has influenced technical elements ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Multirole Fighter (Austria)

  Background Fleet to be replaced In 2003, Austria purchased 15 Typhoon Tranche 1 aircraft and deliveries were completed between 2007-2009. Australian Tranche 1 fleet is ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-35A [UK]

  Programme Background Ahead of a NATO meeting taking place at the end of June 2025, the United Kingdom confirmed the procurement of 12 new F-35A ...

• Fighter - multirole

  MRCA - Multi Role Combat Aircraft (Fighter) [India]

  Programme Background Launched years ago, the Medium Multirole Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) programme is notorious internationally of the serpentine nature of Indian military procurements. Under the ...

• Fighter - naval

  F-35B (31-40) [Italy]

  Background Requirement In 2009, the Italian MoD planned to purchase 131 F-35 aircraft, which was later reduced to 90. According to the MoD documentation, 131 ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-15EX (2020) [USA]

  Programme Background The F-15EX is based on the 2-seat F-15QA (Qatar) configuration upgraded with USAF-only capabilities, including the Eagle Passive Active Warning and Survivability System (EPAWSS) ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Kfir Replacement [Colombia]

  Background Timeline In May 2021, budget constraints prompted new Colombian finance minister José Manuel Restrepo (in post since 3 May) to place on indefinite hold ...

• Fighter - multirole, Trainer

  MRCA - Multi Role Combat Aircraft (Trainer) [India]

  Programme Background Launched years ago, the Medium Multirole Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) programme is notorious internationally of the serpentine nature of Indian military procurements. Under the ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Future Fighter Capability Project [Canada]

  Background Canada’s defence policy estimates the acquisition of the aircraft, associated equipment and setup to enable entry into service will cost C$15-19 billion (US$12.9-14.5 billion). However, by ...

• Fighter - multirole

  JAS-39C/D Gripen replacement [Czech Republic]

  Background Requirements The Czech Republic Air Force operates 14 Gripens (12 JAS 39C and two JAS 39D variants) under a lease agreement that runs until ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-35I Adir (51-75) [Israel]

  Background Fleets one and two Across three separate orders, spanning from 2010 to 2016, Israel ordered 50 F-35I fighter aircraft, which make up its first ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Air: Displays

  GH-4200

  L3Harris GH-4200 Electronic Standby Instrument System (ESIS) is a repeater display designed for F-15 and F/A-18 aircraft.

• Fighter - air superiority

  F-15J/DJ

  The F-15J and F-15DJ "Peace Eagle" are variants of the F-15 Eagle air-superiority tactical fighter aircraft manufactured by Mitsubishi for the Japan Air Self-Defense Force.  

• 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 ...

• Fighter - air superiority

  F-15 Eagle

  The F-15 Eagle is a group of air-superiority tactical fighter aircraft that includes the F-15A/B/C/D models. The F-15A "Streak Eagle" and F-15C are single-seat versions used ...

• Air: Electronic Attack - Jamming

  AN/ALQ-135

  The AN/ALQ-135, manufactured by Northrop Grumman, is a mounted active jamming system carried on the F-15C and F-15 E combat aircrafts. The system is a ...

• Core systems: cameras and IR detectors

  Ophir Lightweight IR Zoom Lenses

  The LightIR thermal imaging zoom lenses include the 20-275mm f/5.5 mediumwave IR(264gr) and the 15-75mm f/1.2 longwave IR (320gr). Both lenses are lightweight and high-performance, ...

• Guided munitions

  Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM)

  The Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) is a guidance kit developed for the USAF and USN that converts unguided bombs into all-weather ‘smart’ munitions. JDAM-equipped ...

• Air: Defensive Systems - Radar Warning Receivers

  AN/ALQ-128(V)

  Raytheon’s AN/ALQ-128(V) is a Radar Warning Receiver (RWR) which equips the F-15C/D Eagle and F-15E Strike Eagle series combat aircraft. The system's original manufacturer was ...

• EO/IR systems

  IRST

  IRST is a passive, long-range IR search and track (IRST) sensor system that detects and tracks airborne threats in electronic attack and heavy countermeasure environments. ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  JHMCS II

  The Joint Helmet-Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS) is a joint USAF/USN programme that has fielded over 5,000 systems. The JHMCS is qualified on F-15, F-16 and ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-16A/B Block 1, 5, 10, 15, 20

  The F-16 Fighting Falcon programme started as a low-cost, highly manoeuvrable day fighter to complement the higher-cost, heavier McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle air superiority fighter. ...

• Core systems: cameras and IR detectors

  7020-1-D-01

  The 7020-1-D-01 is an athermal longwave infrared fixed-focal-length assembly, 25mm F/1.0. It supports multiple detectors with pitch from 15-50µm and designed for general thermal imaging ...

• Air: air combat simulators

  Pakistan Air Force F-16C ATDs

  The F-16C Aircrew Training Devices built by L3Harris Technologies for the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) became ready for training in 2014. Both simulators, one a ...

• Guided munitions

  GBU-53/B StormBreaker

  GBU-53/B StormBreaker is a precision-guided glide bomb developed by Raytheon to equip F-15, F/A-18 and F-35. It is also known as the Small Diameter Bomb II. The StormBreaker includes a ...

• Core systems: cameras and IR detectors

  7010-1-D-01

  The 7010-1-D-01 is an athermal longwave infrared fixed-focal-length assembly, 35mm F/1.2. It supports multiple detectors with a pitch from 15-50µm and is designed for general ...