• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Dynetics claims ‘major step forward’ with latest Gremlins test

  27th August 2020

  After a delay due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, Leidos subsidiary Dynetics successfully tested a second X-61A Gremlins Air Vehicle (GAV) plus airborne recovery system in …

• Air Warfare

  Chinese KJ-600 AEW may have performed maiden flight

  4th September 2020

  The KJ-600, a carrier-borne airborne early warning (AEW) aircraft destined for the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), may have performed its maiden flight on 29 …

• Air Warfare

  Canada to build new facilities for FFCP fighters

  28th August 2020

  A new facility to house future Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) fighters will be built at the Cold Lake airbase by EllisDon Construction Services. The …

• Digital Battlespace

  ThinKom to start shipboard tests of Ka-band antenna for USN

  7th August 2020

  The Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), has awarded ThinKom Solutions a seven-month contract to provide its commercially available phased-array antenna for USN shipboard communications. ThinKom announced …

• Digital Battlespace

  R&S to provide integrated comms for new Philippine Coast Guard vessels

  10th September 2020

  Rohde & Schwarz (R&S;) will provide an integrated communications system for two 94m multi-role response vessels (MRRVs) for the Philippine Coast Guard. R&S; will supply the IP-based NAVICS system …

• Defence Helicopter

  Russian Helicopters displays upgraded Mi-171Sh

  24th August 2020

  The initial flying prototype of the upgraded Mi-171Sh helicopter is being exhibited for the first time on 23-29 August during the Army 2020 show. The ‘Storm’ …

• Digital Battlespace

  VectorNav claims disruptive development with new miniature inertial products

  11th August 2020

  VectorNav Technologies on 11 August launched a new line of inertial products called VectorNav Tactical Embedded. The product range includes VN-110E IMU/AHRS, the VN-210E GNSS-Aided …

• Digital Battlespace

  NZ network-enablement project continues apace

  9th September 2020

  New Zealand continues to progress its four-phase Network Enabled Army (NEA) programme, with the first tranche on track to reach fruition next year. At the …

• Digital Battlespace

  DoD looks beyond AlphaDogfight

  10th September 2020

  The DoD intends to conduct real-world dogfights between AI-controlled aircraft and crewed fighters in 2024. Speaking on 9 September during the DoD Artificial Intelligence Symposium …

• Training

  Training for the Future Capability Profile (Studio)

  1st September 2020

  The world of work is changing, with COVID-19 and emerging technologies accelerating existing trends in defence and wider afield. Raytheon UK believes the training sector …

• Defence Notes

  US Army researches self-healing material for autonomous systems

  9th September 2020

  The US Army Research Laboratory (ARL) has developed a new material that can autonomously heal in air and underwater, with plans now to expand the …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  RAF uses Leonardo C-UAS technology in R&D programme

  4th September 2020

  Leonardo has delivered the first of four modular ORCUS C-UAS systems to the UK, to support the next stage of an RAF R&D; programme run …

• Digital Battlespace

  Three companies gain AN/UYQ-70 sustainment work

  7th September 2020

  Three US-based firms have each received indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contracts from the Naval Surface Warfare Center to sustain the AN/UYQ-70 advanced display workstation aboard USN vessels. DRS Laurel …

• Digital Battlespace

  US seeks advanced RF systems

  14th August 2020

  First RF Corporation will develop prototype hardware and software for RF electronic antenna cancellation and beam-forming technology, under a $24.9 million contract from the US …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Russia tries to close MALE UAV gap

  9th September 2020

  Russian manufacturer Kronstadt Group unveiled important developments in domestic UAV technology in late August, during the Army 2020 exhibition near Moscow. In particular, three platforms …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military helicopters - attack

  Ka-52M Alligator-Russia

  Programme Background The loss of 66 Ka-52s and 8 Mi-24s damaged and/or destroyed leaves the Russian Military with an acute need of replacements.  The Ka-52M will ...

• AEW&C

  GlobalEye (1-3) [UAE]

  Programme Background The GlobalEye is a modification of Bombardier's Global 6000 jet aircraft fitted with the S-band Erieye Extended Range (ER) radar and mission system ...

• OPVs

  OPVs Procurement (1-2) [Greece]

  Programme Background Requirements According to the RFI issued in late 2022, the Hellenic Coast Guard is seeking to procure two new OPVs. The vessels are ...

• Military helicopters - light/training

  Bell 505 - Montenegro

  The deal between Montenegro and export agency Canadian Commercial Cooperation will see aircraft production take place at Bell’s Mirabel facility before being transited to the ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  AW101-Norway

  AgustaWestland is also providing initial support and training services, including spares at each of the operating bases and aircrew training. It will then provide performance ...

• Landing platform docks/dock landing ships

  Landing Platform Docks [India]

  Programme Background Requirements The LPD tender, although more akin to an LHD, specifies that the quartet of ships must be built within India, although collaboration ...

• Landing platform docks/dock landing ships

  Landing Platform Dock [Qatar]

  Programme Background Close to a €4 billion ($4.67 billion) contract was awarded to Fincantieri in June 2016 for the construction of seven surface vessels, including the four ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  T-X / T-7A Red Hawk [USAF]

  Programme Background Goal The T-X programme aims to acquire a two-seat jet trainer aircraft to replace its Northrop Grumman T-38 Talon. The programme could be worth ...

• AEW&C

  AEW&C Aircraft [South Korea]

  Programme Background Requirement The requirement was initially reported in 2016 when it was noted as being part of a long-term development plan, however, reports from ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) [Japan]

  Programme Background Shephard notes that GCAP's Japanese, British and Italian components are tracked in separate entries. Programme Timeline 2020: The Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency of Japan issued ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Horizon 2 - Multirole Fighter Programme [Philippines]

  Programme Background Requirement The Philippines wants a fighter able to perform score missions such as air-to-air combat, air-to-ground tasks and reconnaissance, including over water. It ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Global Combat Air Programme [UK]

  Programme Background The next-generation platform concept is part of the 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review, which sought to deliver a Future Combat Air System ...

• Frigates

  Multi-Role Combat Vessels (1-6) [Singapore]

  Programme Background Requirements Singapore is planning to replace its current ageing Victory-class corvettes, which are due to leave service in 2025, with an equal number of ...

• Trainer

  T-54A Multi-Engine Training System (METS) (USA)

  Programme Background Multi-Engine Training System is a USN programme to replace the ageing T-44C Pegasus fleet and modernize multi-engine aircraft training. Multi-Engine Training System provides ...

• Fighter - multirole

  H-X Fighter Programme [Finland]

  Programme Background In June 2020, Finnish MoD announced that the Hornet fleet life extension programme is neither cost-effective solution nor sufficient in terms of Finland’s ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Air: AEW/fire control radar

  N011M

  The N011M BARS is a hybrid X-band radar system combining passive electronically scanned array technology with mechanical scanning capabilities. The system features dual-band operation (X-band ...

• Air: AEW/fire control radar

  Super Kopyo PH

  The Super Kopyo-PH is an ultra-lightweight X-band radar system featuring a phased-array antenna, digital signal and data processors, and a 12-bit analogue/digital converter unit, designed for ...

• Air: COMINT and ELINT systems, Air: Integrated Defensive Systems

  HES-21

  HES-21 provides ESM, ELINT and self-defence as a pod. The HES-21 is an integrated system with tactical situational awareness claimed in terms of EOB, as ...

• Land: air defence radar

  MAR

  The Mobile Search Radar (MAR), developed by the Turkish company Aselsan, is a mobile, X-band, short-range 3D search and track radar specifically designed for point ...

• Air: AEW/fire control radar

  N019 Sapfir-29

  The N019 Sapfir-29 is an X-band pulse-Doppler radar developed for the MiG-29 fighter aircraft, featuring a hybrid analogue/digital design with an NII Argon Ts100 digital ...

• Land: air defence radar

  SkyFender ADR

  SkyFender Air Defence Radar (ADR) is a pulse-Doppler radar operating in the X-band that performs signal processing in time and spectral domains to provide target ...

• Land: air defence radar

  X-TAR

  The X-Band Tactical Acquisition Radar (X-TAR) is a fully coherent X-band radar designed for such applications as early warning for MANPADS and guns or tactical ...

• Air: AEW/fire control radar

  Zaslon AM

  The Zaslon-AM is a modernized variant of the Zaslon X-band radar family, featuring the Baget-55-06 onboard digital computer replacing the Argon-15A. The system maintains the ...

• Sea: naval surveillance radar

  Sea Giraffe 1X

  The Saab Sea Giraffe 1X is a short-range, three-dimensional naval radar variant of the Giraffe 1X. It is designed to be a compact and affordable ...

• Air: AEW/fire control radar

  PS-05/A

  Saab's PS-05/A is an X-band mechanically scanned pulse-Doppler radar used on the Gripen fighter aircraft. The system has undergone four iterations from the original variant, which ...

• Land: air defence radar

  AD26

  The AD26 Very Short Range Air Defence (VSHORAD) radar is a fifth-generation 3D tactical air defence system. The AD26 is a lightweight, transportable X-band solid-state ...

• Air: AEW/fire control radar

  Zaslon

  The N007 Zaslon was the first phased-array X-band radar to enter service on a fighter aircraft as of Mig-31, featuring a 1.1m diameter antenna and ...

• Air: AEW/fire control radar

  Kopyo

  The Kopyo is an X-band multi-mode pulse-Doppler radar developed by Phazotron NIIR as a private venture, featuring digital signal processing and designed for light combat ...

• Sea: naval surveillance radar

  Columbus Mk2

  The Columbus Mk2 is a three-dimensional naval and coastal surveillance radar manufactured by Gem Elettronica. According to the manufacturer, it is designed for surveillance and ...

• Air: Electronic Attack - Jamming, Air: Integrated Defensive Systems

  ALQ-500

  The ALQ-500 is an electronic attack system manufactured by Indra Sistemas. The radar band countermeasure sub-system uses digital radio frequency memory (DRFM) techniques and was ...