• Digital Battlespace

  UK's ISR gaps to be plugged by new platforms

  19th January 2018

  The UK's capability to collect intelligence from airborne platforms will be affected by the impending retirement of the Sentinel R1 and Tornado, but other platforms …

• Digital Battlespace

  Philippines funds tactical radio acquisitions

  8th January 2018

  The Department of Budget Management in the Philippines has released funds for three separate programmes encompassing communications to benefit the Armed Forces of the Philippines …

• Special Operations

  USSOCOM looks to 5G communications

  5th January 2018

  Representatives from USSOCOM are exploring new tactical capabilities that could be provided by the application of so-called fifth generation (5G) mobile networks. One glimpse at these …

• Digital Battlespace

  US Army chief looks to capitalise on AI and robotics

  18th January 2018

  While US Army leaders continue working to modernise their current weapons, platforms and networks, they are also seeking ways to capitalise on advancements in artificial …

• Training

  Exercise Gunfighter Flag concludes

  6th January 2018

  Exercise Gunfighter Flag has recently concluded at the US Air Force’s 110,000 acre Mountain Home AFB range complex in Idaho. Designed to train participants in joint-service …

• Digital Battlespace

  Elbit’s Mercury Radio System achieves UK FOC

  5th January 2018

  Elbit Systems’ Mercury Radio System has achieved full operational capability (FOC) and is now in service with the UK's Army Cadet Force (ACF), the company …

• Digital Battlespace

  Oman requests software upgrades for F-16s

  9th January 2018

  The US State Department has made a determination approving a potential foreign military sale of electronic warfare and communications equipment for Oman's F-16 fleet, the …

• Digital Battlespace

  Raytheon falls out of JSTARS Recap programme

  11th January 2018

  Northrop Grumman is expected to be announced as the radar subcontractor for the US Air Force’s JSTARS Recap programme after the Government Accountability Office (GAO) …

• Defence Helicopter

  Northrop to begin AN/APR-39D(V)2​ production

  19th December 2017

  Northrop Grumman has received a $124.7 million contract for production of AN/APR-39D(V)2 digital radar warning receiver and electronic warfare management systems, the company announced on …

• Digital Battlespace

  USAF completes FMRT on GPS III, OCX

  20th December 2017

  Factory mission readiness testing (FMRT) has been completed on the US Air Force's first GPS III Space Vehicle 01 (GPS III SV01) and the Operational Control …

• Digital Battlespace

  Saab unveils Sea Giraffe 4A FF

  3rd January 2018

  Saab has introduced a fixed-panel configuration of its active electrically scanned array (AESA) radar family called the Sea Giraffe 4A Fixed Face (FF), the company …

• Digital Battlespace

  Saab to work on ROK AESA radar development

  4th January 2018

  Saab has received an order to support algorithm development and evaluation for an airborne Active Electrically Scanned Array (AESA) radar under development for South Korea’s …

• Special Operations

  USSOCOM publishes TALOS wish list

  3rd January 2018

  US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) is seeking technologies from industry to accelerate the delivery of innovative Tactical Assault Light Operator Suit (TALOS) capabilities to SOF.TALOS …

• Digital Battlespace

  MDA to support NATO’s Project Triton

  2nd January 2018

  MDA has signed a contract with the NATO Communications and Information Agency to provide a new maritime command and control solution, the company announced on …

• Digital Battlespace

  Raytheon's GPS receiver tested aboard B-2

  7th December 2017

  The US Air Force (USAF) has tested its next-generation military-code Global Positioning System (GPS) using a Raytheon receiver aboard a B-2 Spirit aircraft, the company …

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. ...