• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Digital Wasp AE SUAS introduced

  22nd May 2012

  AeroVironment has launched a digital upgrade to its Wasp SUAS, which has already received an order from the USAF. Announced during the Special Operations Forces …

• Land Warfare

  ITEC 2012: Sim specialist highlights virtual reality deficiencies

  22nd May 2012

  CAE is considering expansion into virtual reality training for squad-level operations despite reservations that 'hi-tech' systems do not provide an all-up solution for infantry units. …

• Defence Helicopter

  HH-60G Pave Hawk simulator enters USAF service

  21st May 2012

  FlightSafety has announced that its new Sikorsky HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter simulator has entered service at Kirtland US Air Force (USAF) Base in New Mexico …

• Land Warfare

  Lockheed Martinâ??s EAPS undergoes testing

  15th May 2012

  Lockheed Martin has announced that it has successfully conducted a series of target tracking tests against Rocket, Artillery and Mortar (RAM) targets using its Extended …

• Naval Warfare

  HP to review NGEN RfP

  10th May 2012

  HP has reaffirmed its interest in the US Navy’s Next Generation Enterprise Network (NGEN) and the company says it will ‘thoroughly review’ the RfP released …

• Land Warfare

  SOFEX 2012: Simulation critical for SOF HVT missions

  10th May 2012

  Simulation will maximise but never replace 'live' training, the USSOCOM's programme manager for special operations forces (SOF) training systems has announced. Speaking at the Special …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  SOFEX 2012: US Army to extend SMSS evaluation

  8th May 2012

  The US Army's Rapid Equipping Force (REF) is working through 'contractual obligations' to extend the evaluation of the Squad Mission Support System (SMSS) in Afghanistan, …

• Defence Helicopter

  RAN Bell 429s enter service

  2nd May 2012

  Raytheon Australia has announced that the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN’s) Retention and Motivation Initiative 2 (RMI 2) programme has achieved In-Service status, and the company’s …

• Defence Helicopter

  US Marine Corps confirm APKWS use in Afghanistan

  27th April 2012

  The US Marine Corps (USMC) has confirmed it has begun using the BAE Systems APKWS II WGU-59B laser-guided rocket system in Afghanistan. A statement to …

• Digital Battlespace

  SAIC wins BFTN contract

  27th April 2012

  Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) has announced that it was awarded a prime contract by the US Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR) to …

• Digital Battlespace

  Kratos introduces CyberC4: Armor product

  18th April 2012

  Kratos Defense & Security Solutions has announced that its RT Logic subsidiary released CyberC4:Armor, a product designed to provide host-level cyber security and anti-tampering capabilities …

• Digital Battlespace

  Defence IT 2012: MoD calls for wider secure information sharing

  18th April 2012

  The MoD’s deputy chief information officer (CIO) has called for a ‘single information environment’ allowing the armed forces, industry and government agencies to seamlessly communicate …

• Land Warfare

  Sentient demonstrates Desert Owl MTI and GCD capabilities

  18th April 2012

  Sentient has successfully demonstrated its newest Desert Owl, product, a software solution that automatically indicates movement and changes in electro-optical (EO) full motion video (FMV) …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  DSA12: Malaysian university looks to adapt UAS for local climate

  17th April 2012

  The National Defence University of Malaysia is conducting research into how the Malaysian Armed Forces can enhance its UAVs to make them more durable in …

• Military Logistics

  BAE Systems, ADF define AMACCS extension

  16th April 2012

  BAE Systems has announced that it has been issued with a five year extension to its Australian Military Airspace Control Communications System (AMACCS) support contract. …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Loitering munitions

  Project Brakestop [UK]

  Programme Background Information Notice On 25 September 2024, the UK MoD published a prior information notice on Project Brakestop, which informed the industry about the upcoming ...

• Loitering munitions

  Medium Range Precision Strike (MRPS) [UK]

  Programme Background Prior Information Notice (PIN) On 21 October 2024, the MoD published a PIN in collaboration with the Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S;). The notice ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  Dominator XP [Thailand]

  Programme Background Purchase As reported by Shephard, in September 2023, the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) inducted three Dominator XPs. The RTAF purchased the trio ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  Project Corvus [UK]

  Programme Background Retirement In November 2024, speaking in the House of Commons, Defence Secretary John Healey stated that the WK 450 Watchkeeper was to be retired ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  CH-47F Chinook (Singapore)

  Programme Background In July 2020, photos have emerged on the internet of the first Boeing CH-47F Chinook destined for the Republic of Singapore Air Force ...

• Transport

  VC-25B - USAF

  The modifications to the 747-8 aircraft will include an electrical power upgrade with dual Auxiliary Power Units that are usable in flight, a mission communication ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  MQ-9B SkyGuardian (US)

  Programme Background On 6 March 2023, GA-ASI announced that the Air Force Special Operations Command (ASFOC) had contracted three MQ-9B SkyGaurdians, making it the first US customer of the ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  Anka-S (Second Batch) [Turkey]

  Programme Background First Batch Based on comments by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) and Turkish media in 2018, Shephard believes that Türkiye acquired 26 Anka-S drones ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | SSN(X) Programme [USN]

  The US Navy may be far from reaching the end of procuring the current Virginia-class nuclear attack submarines (SSNs), but that does not mean planning for ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | SSN(X) Programme [USN]

  The US Navy may be far from reaching the end of procuring the current Virginia-class nuclear attack submarines (SSNs), but that does not mean planning for ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  Mi-28NE Night Hunter

  Algerian military's follow-up order suggests that the country is satisfied with the Mi-28NE Night Hunters' performance in operational conditions in the desert environment featuring sandstorms ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  F-5E/F Adversary Trainer US Navy

  The F-5N is a single seat, dual engine supersonic land based fighter. It is designed to a service life of 9000 flight hours. The aircraft ...

• 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 ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

  New Water Jet Fast Attack Craft (NWJFAC) (1-31) [India]

  Programme Background Requirements The Indian Navy is seeking replacements for a large proportion of its 19 46-49m-long waterjet-powered fast attack craft, several of which are approaching ...

• Loitering munitions

  ZT-180 [Russia]

  Programme Background Claims On 23 February 2023, DER SPIEGEL reported that, according to information it had gathered, China and Russia were negotiating the purchase of 100 ZT-180 ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Air: surveillance radar

  AN/APQ-181

  The AN/APQ-181 is a low-probability-of-intercept radar fitted to USAFNorthrop Grumman B-2 stealth bombers. During the B-2 Radar ModernizationProgram – completed in 2012 – the B-2’s legacy ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  CreoLand HP

  CreoLand HP is a 10W MANET radio designed for command centres, long-range applications, artillery and special forces units. Notably, it offers a data throughput of 100Mbps ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - small

  H10 Poseidon

  The H10 Poseidon is a fixed-wing VTOL-capable UAV manufactured by Swamrly. Due to the UAV's electric propulsion system, small-radar cross-section, lack of detachable thermal signature and ability to operate ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - small

  Gogol-M

  The Gogol-M is a Ukrainian fixed-wing drone carrier, or mothership, from Strategy Force Solutions. The system can deliver two first-person view (FPV)-type attack drones to hit precision ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - small

  DT-101

  The DT-101 is a small fixed-wing UAV from Deftech. The VTOL-capable platform features SATCOM with up to 10Mbs bandwidth capability. DefTech lists various payloads for ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  ARX

  Unveiled at Xponential 2024, the ARX is a fixed-wing drone developed by Tekever.  It features common electronics and software with other Tekever drones. Unlike those ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - small

  DT-001

  The DT-001 is a tandem wing UCAV from Deftech. It can host a range of non-offensive payloads, such as IO/EO cameras and an airborne LIDAR. ...

• Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - small

  Khronos

  The Khronos is a tethered, fully automated UAV for ISR missions in GPS/GNSS-denied and RF-denied environments. The drone's manufacturer, Elistair, stated that it could be deployed from a ...

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

  Spider VTOL

  The Spider VTOL is a mini electrical fixed-wing UAV. Unlike traditional VTOL UAVs with dedicated motors, propellors and structural parts for performing take-off and landing, the Spider ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  AN/VRC-118(V)1

  The AN/VRC-118(V)1 is a Mid-tier Networking Vehicular Radio (MNVR) which provides warfighters with the ability to share situational awareness. The MNVR utilises two joint tactical ...

• Data links

  MAQA Terminal 3.8m Flyaway Variant

  The Modular Aperture Quad-Band Antenna (MAQA) Terminal is designed to provide a ruggedised, mobile, quad-band SATCOM terminal that supports operations with the WGS constellation, legacy ...

• Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - small

  BLADE-55

  The Ballistic Loitering Attack Drone (BLADE, or BLADE-55) is a multi-role, weaponised rotary-wing UAV from Alare Technologies.  The drone can notably host two NAMMO M72 LAW weapons. Additionally, the ...

• Loitering munitions, Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - small

  Disruptor

  Publically unveiled at AUSA 2024, the Disruptor is a loitering munition and UAV manufactured by AEVEX Aerospace. The Group III aircraft utilises a pneumatic launcher or Rocket Assisted ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  AN/ARC-231 Skyfire

  The AN/ARC-231 Skyfire is an airborne VHF/UHF/LOS and DAMA SATCOM system. This system supports US DoD requirements for airborne, multi-band, multi-mission, secure anti-jam voice, data ...

• OPVs

  Afrika Class (Vard 7 055)

  The Afrika-class (Vard 7 055) is a 53m OPV developed by Vard Marine. Designed to undertake surveillance, patrol and response operations with the EEZ, the ...