• Land Warfare

  Lockheed Martin signs Australian air and missile defence system deal

  25th April 2024

  Air 6500 Phase 1, worth AU$500 million (US$326 million), will result in a sovereign system that can provide greater situational awareness and help to defend against hostile aircraft and missiles. It will sit at the core of Australia’s Integrated Air and Missile Defence programme.

• Training

  How US Army aviation training plans to address the service’s accident rate problem

  9th July 2024

  In response to a troubling increase in aviation accidents, the US Army initiated an 'Army Aviation Safety Stand Up', implementing immediate, targeted training for rotary-wing pilots and maintainers.

• Air Warfare

  USAF orders Joint Strike Missile for its F-35s

  3rd June 2024

  The Joint Strike Missile (JSM) is a multirole version of the Naval Strike Missile. Norway funded the programme to develop and produce the JSM for the F-35 for anti-ship and land-attack missions.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  How Airbus’s UH-72 Unmanned Logistics Connector is revolutionising USMC logistics

  18th June 2024

  Unveiled in early 2024, the UH-72 Logistics Connector is a pivotal component of the Aerial Logistics Connector (ALC), aimed at addressing the logistics needs of the US Marine Corps (USMC).

• Land Warfare

  Large artillery gun added to new 10x10 Piranha

  21st May 2024

  In April, General Dynamics European Land Systems (GDELS) MOWAG unveiled the Piranha Heavy Mission Carrier (10x10), an enhanced version of its Piranha armoured vehicle series featuring increased payload capacity and specialised configurations for diverse battlefield roles.

• Land Warfare

  Will Ukraine war air defence experience unlock new markets for Korkut gun system?

  18th June 2024

  Aselsan’s Korkut twin 35mm air defence gun is a unique in-production self-propelled system that can be integrated on a range of tracked and wheeled platforms. Korkut is in Turkish service already, but the need for air defence and C-UAS capabilities highlighted by the Ukraine conflict may lead to greater foreign interest in this solution.

• Naval Warfare

  Australia’s new frigate options: No easy choices as pressure mounts on DoD

  16th April 2024

  A new class of General Purpose ‘Tier 2’ frigate will replace the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN’s) Anzac-class frigates, but the selected design options appear to have major issues in terms of compatibility and availability for the future fleet.

• Training

  US Navy amphibious group completes training and live firing

  21st May 2024

  During the exercise, BQM-177A targets were intercepted. BQM-177A is a surface-launched, recoverable, remotely piloted, fixed-wing target capable of speeds just short of Mach 1 and altitudes of up to 40,000ft.

• Air Warfare

  Staying power: The importance of mid-life upgrades (opinion)

  9th July 2024

  The rapid integration of advanced Western weapons with Soviet-era Ukrainian aircraft and the adaptability shown in makeshift solutions has highlighted the essential role of mid-life upgrades in maintaining effective military forces amid evolving combat and technological challenges.

• Air Warfare

  First three MH-60R naval helicopters join Hellenic Navy

  22nd March 2024

  Greece has strengthened its naval prowess with the formal induction of the first three Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk helicopters.

• Naval Warfare

  China advances construction of its innovative Type 076 amphib

  5th June 2024

  The construction of the People’s Liberation Army Navy’s (PLAN’s) advanced Type 076 amphibious assault vessel has been progressing rapidly at Hudong-Zhonghua Shipyard in Shanghai.

• Land Warfare

  Slovakia reshapes its plan for new tanks in face of Russian aggression

  23rd May 2024

  The Russia–Ukraine war has seen a renewed drive towards land vehicles and increased procurement throughout Eastern Europe, with Poland being the leader of the effort. Many countries, including as Slovakia, have focused their efforts on tanks.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Australia to adopt new predatory OWL species

  27th June 2024

  The Australian Defence Force will introduce the One-Way Loitering (OWL) platform by Innovaero, the country’s first long-range loitering munition, to enhance strike capabilities and understanding of loitering munitions.

• Defence Notes

  Majority of NATO countries will reach the 2% of the GDP mark this year

  20th June 2024

  The result, however, displeased US leadership as eight countries will miss the target in 2024.

• Air Warfare

  Belgian F-35A completes first flight

  17th May 2024

  The Belgian Air Force’s first F-35A Lightning II has taken flight, showcasing the national flag, with the first force’s first four F-35As set to head to Luke AFB for initial training amid software upgrade delays.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• 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 ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | PAK-DA - Procurement - Russia

  Russian MoD is planning to procure PAK-DA strategic bomber aircraft to replace the existing Tu-95MS Bear-H fleet, about 65 examples of which are in service with ...

• Data links

  Data links | PAK-DA - Procurement - Russia

  Russian MoD is planning to procure PAK-DA strategic bomber aircraft to replace the existing Tu-95MS Bear-H fleet, about 65 examples of which are in service with ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | PAK-DA - Procurement - Russia

  Russian MoD is planning to procure PAK-DA strategic bomber aircraft to replace the existing Tu-95MS Bear-H fleet, about 65 examples of which are in service with ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | PAK-DA - Procurement - Russia

  Russian MoD is planning to procure PAK-DA strategic bomber aircraft to replace the existing Tu-95MS Bear-H fleet, about 65 examples of which are in service with ...

• Loitering munitions

  Project Brakestop [UK]

  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 competition ...

• Military UAS - mini, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  AR100-H [Germany]

  Programme Background In May 2022, it was announced that 145 AR100-H drones would be supplied to the German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr). At the time of ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  WH AFV [R&Sp]

  Programme Background The RfI for this requirement stipulated several technical requirements that a prospective platform must meet in order to provide 'high mobility, adequate armour ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  AW139 [Greece]

  Programme Background Reportedly, during a December 2023 meeting of the Greek Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Hellenic Air Force (HAF) proposed the purchase of 14 ...

• Bomber

  PAK-DA - Procurement - Russia

  Programme Background The full-scale design works on the new-generation strategic bomber developed under the PAK-DA initiative were launched by Tupolev in 2013, on order placed ...

• Light Bullet-Proof Vehicles (Army) [India]

  Programme Background An RfP for 375 light bullet-proof vehicles (LBPV) is expected to be announced by the end of 2023 following the approval of the Indian Army's ...

• Military UAS - micro, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Micro UAV [Argentina]

  Programme Background Tender The EA and MoD in April 2021 announced Public Tender 0090/2021 (UOC: 84/135), which saw the General Directorate of Material begin the process ...

• Corvettes

  Chinese Corvette [Algeria]

  Programme Background A press release by the UK-based maritime classification society Lloyd's Register (LR) in 2020 revealed the company had been selected to provide assurance and ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  UH-60M Black Hawk (First Contact) [Croatia]

  Programme Background Western Technology With the help of the US, Croatia has attempted to improve its military technology, replacing Soviet equipment, such as the Mi-8/Mi-17. ...

• 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 ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Air: Integrated cockpit systems

  H-1 Family of Avionics

  Northrop Grumman produces a family of avionics for Bell H-1-series helicopters.

• Magline Cruiser

  First displayed at the DefExpo exhibition in 2014, the Magline Cruiser was developed as three variants: Cruiser 1, Cruiser 2 and Mini Cruiser. The two larger ...

• Air: helicopter flight simulators

  UH-1Y/AH-1Z Training Devices

  Together with the prime contractor for the USMC’s new H-1 helicopters, FlightSafety produced the Viper (aka Super Cobra) and the Venom (Huey) flight simulator devices. ...

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

  Aybars-1

  The Aybars-1, alternatively known as the Aybars-I or Aerogard V3800-H, is a fixed-wing, VTOL-capable UAV from BMS Defence Technologies.  It is powered by a 100cc EFI engine and ...

• EO/IR systems

  HD25-XV

  The HD25--XV is a lightweight, compact UAV EO camera gimbal from Trillium Engineering. Sometimes called the Orion HD25, the system is designed to operate from ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  AN/ARC-186

  The Collins Aerospace AN/ARC-186 is a low-Cost multi-band VHF/AM/FM transceiver designed to fulfill the demanding multirole missions flown in complex tactical and international environments. Aircraft installations ...

• Land: air defence radar

  H-200

  CEIEC's H-200 is the basis of the KS-1 air defence missile which is thought to have developed from reverse engineering a Patriot air defence system. ...

• Bomber

  H-6

  The People's Liberation Army Air Force has eight regiments of bombers and they operate an estimated 160 H-6 variants that have been in service since ...

• Subsystems: visual

  SpectraView Front Projection Display System

  Designed to support a variety of training requirements, SpectraView systems provide cost-effective, scalable and flexible options for single, tandem and side-by-side seating configurations. Standard and ...

• Naval guns

  H/PJ-45A

  H/PJ-45A is a Chinese 130mm naval gun deployed on the Type 052D destroyers. Reportedly, its design is based on the Soviet AK-130 gun. During the ...

• Self-propelled mortars

  2S34 Chosta

  The 2S34 Chosta is an upgraded version of the 122mm 2S1 tracked SPH that replaces the original 2A31 ordnance with the 120mm 2A80-1 mortar-gun, an ...

• Uncrewed aerial systems engines

  Trident 140TD2

  The Trident 140TD2 is a compression-ignition engine designed for MALE platforms. Based on the Trident 100TD2, it is a lightweight, four-cylinder design that is intended ...

• Uncrewed aerial systems engines

  Trident 180TD2

  The Trident 180TD2 is a compression-ignition engine designed for heavier UAVs up to the 2t class. The design is intended to improve efficiency, while being ...

• Air: Electronic Attack - Jamming, Air: chaff, flare and decoy systems

  118 Mk 3 Type 1

  The Chemring CM118 Mk.3 Type-1 is a spectral flare intended to defeat infrared-guided, surface-to-air and air-to-air missiles. The flare is designed to equip rotorcraft and ...

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

  FL-1

  The FL-1, sometimes called the Feilong-1 or Flying Dragon-1, is an unmanned, long-endurance platform under development for civilian and military use. Its design is aimed towards ...