• Defence Helicopter

  Japan plans to buy V-22 Ospreys amid China tensions

  17th December 2013

  The Japanese Self-Defense Force (JSDF) plans to acquire 17 V-22 Osprey tiltrotors and three Global Hawk UAVs to bolster defences against an increasingly aggressive China, …

• Defence Helicopter

  Sikorsky to advance VTOL X-Plane programme

  13th December 2013

  The US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has awarded Sikorsky Phase 1 of the VTOL Experimental Aircraft (X-Plane) programme.   The new contract, valued …

• Land Warfare

  Lockheed Martin JLTV completes latest assessment

  13th December 2013

  Lockheed Martin’s Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) bid remains on track with the successful completion of the US government’s Manufacturing Readiness Assessment (MRA). This assessment, …

• Defence Notes

  IITSEC 2013: Lockheed Martin demonstrates affordability in training cycle

  3rd December 2013

  Lockheed Martin is adapting to the constrained fiscal environment in the US by showing that money can be saved during the training process. ‘Right now …

• Defence Helicopter

  US Army achieves IOC with AH-64E Apache Guardian

  28th November 2013

  The US Army’s AH-64E Apache ‘Guardian’ attack helicopters have achieved initial operating capability (IOC), the service announced on 27 November. In a statement, the army …

• Land Warfare

  Poland to receive more Leopard MBTs

  27th November 2013

  Poland will receive a further 119 Leopard 2 MBTs and 18 Bergepanzer 2 armoured recovery vehicles (ARVs) following an agreement with Germany. A deal was …

• Defence Helicopter

  USAF set to award combat rescue helicopter contract

  27th November 2013

  Pending budget approval, the US Air Force (USAF) is set to award Sikorsky a contract for its Combat Rescue Helicopter (CRH) programme, it has been …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Experts reflect on Chinese and Iranian UAV milestones

  26th November 2013

  The sovereignty of Western UAV development has been challenged this week, as details emerge regarding latest developments in Chinese and Iranian systems. Media reports coming out …

• Naval Warfare

  US Navy contracts Raytheon for radar production

  19th November 2013

  Raytheon will supply AN/SPY-1 radar transmitters and MK99 Fire Control Systems for the US Navy’s AEGIS programme under a $406 million multi-year contract announced on …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  'Killer Robot' opponents approach UN

  19th November 2013

  A pressure group seeking to outlaw fully autonomous UAVs has secured a UN mandate to discuss the potential prohibition of such technology. The Campaign to …

• Defence Helicopter

  Dubai 2013: Middle East offers opportunities for growth

  18th November 2013

  Strong purchasing power in the Middle East is driving companies to increase their footprint in the region as they  look to boost international sales in …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  German UAS plans affected by political manoeuvring

  15th November 2013

  Plans by the German MoD to acquire an armed MALE UAV solution will be put on hold as an indirect result of trilateral negotiations in …

• Digital Battlespace

  Global Xpress on track for 2013 launch

  12th November 2013

  The first spacecraft in Inmarsat’s Global Xpress satellite constellation remains on course to be launched by the end of the year, according to Andy Start, …

• Naval Warfare

  New OPVs for UK Royal Navy amid restructuring

  7th November 2013

  Three new offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) will be ordered by the UK MoD to plug the gap in construction work at BAE Systems’ shipbuilding facilities …

• Land Warfare

  Polaris ATVs selected for USSOCOM

  6th November 2013

  Polaris Defense has been awarded a $30 million blanket purchase agreement (BPA) by US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) to provide two and four seat MRZR …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Light attack, Trainer

  F-5E/F ADVERSARY TRAINER [USA]

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

• 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 ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | F-16 Replacement [Portugal]

  On 12 April 2024, General João Cartaxo Alves, the Chief of Staff of the Portugese Air Force, revealed that Portugal would replace its fleet of F-16A/B ...

• Data links

  Data links | F-16 Replacement [Portugal]

  On 12 April 2024, General João Cartaxo Alves, the Chief of Staff of the Portugese Air Force, revealed that Portugal would replace its fleet of F-16A/B ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  Air: Helmet-mounted displays | F-16 Replacement [Portugal]

  On 12 April 2024, General João Cartaxo Alves, the Chief of Staff of the Portugese Air Force, revealed that Portugal would replace its fleet of F-16A/B ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | F-16 Replacement [Portugal]

  On 12 April 2024, General João Cartaxo Alves, the Chief of Staff of the Portugese Air Force, revealed that Portugal would replace its fleet of F-16A/B ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | F-16 Replacement [Portugal]

  On 12 April 2024, General João Cartaxo Alves, the Chief of Staff of the Portugese Air Force, revealed that Portugal would replace its fleet of F-16A/B ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-16 Replacement [Portugal]

  Programme Background At the Portuguese National Defense Conference on April 22, 2025, General João Cartaxo Alves reaffirmed that the F-35A remains the sole viable successor ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Penetrating Counter Air (PCA) [USA]

  Background Requirement Originally conceived as a replacement for the F-22, the PCA was designed to counter various air threats, including integrated air defence systems and ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  Hawk Mk 165 Advanced Jet Trainer- Saudi Arabia

  The fleet will be used to train Saudi pilots before they transition to the Eurofighter Typhoon and F-15 in service with RSAF.  Under the Saudi-British Defence Cooperation Programme, ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Next Generation Fighter Aircraft (Vietnam)

  Programme Background Requirement The Vietnam People's Air Force (VPAF) operates an ageing fleet of Su-22 aircraft as well as Su-27s and Su-30s. According to expert commentary, ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-16V [Türkiye]

  Programme Background Requirement Turkish Air Force ordered 100 F-35A aircraft as a partner nation, however, the country was removed from the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter programme ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• Tiltrotors

  V-22 Osprey (Navy and Marine Corps) [USA]

  Programme Background Requirement According to USN FY2023 Budget Estimate documentation, the V-22 programme provides an aircraft to meet the amphibious and vertical assault needs of ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Air: air combat simulators

  Air Combat Training

  Boeing has experience in delivering training for fixed-wing air combat platforms including F-15C/E, F-16, F/A-18E/F, EA-18G, F-22 and MV/CV-22.

• Fighter - air superiority

  F-22A Raptor

  F-22A Raptor is a fifth-generation stealth air superiority fighter with air-to-ground attack capability. It was developed by Lockheed Martin to meet the requirement of the USAF ...

• Air: air combat simulators

  Collective Training

  Boeing has delivered and operates three USAF F-15C Mission Training Centers (MTCs), three F-15E MTCs and three F-16 MTCs. The F-22 platform was added into ...

• Subsystems: hardware

  Flight Simulation Products

  Bugeye Technologies (BT) manufactures simulated-grade flight grips, controls and avionic displays for fixed-wing, rotary-wing and unmanned crafts. BT's full line of products includes replicated control ...

• Air: air combat simulators

  DACTS

  The DRS Air Combat Training System (DACTS) has been delivered to military customers worldwide. Customised versions have supported coalition training for the US government and ...

• Air: AEW/fire control radar

  AN/APG-77

  The AN/APG-77 is a low-probability-of-intercept fire control radar for the F-22 Raptor. It is designed to significantly improve capability in air-to-air combat, allowing the pilot ...

• Air: chaff/flare/decoy systems

  IRCM Flares

  Kilgore develops and manufactures a range of airborne IR decoy flares. These are compatible with most available dispenser systems. Standard flare products manufactured include: MJU-7A/B, ...

• Air: AEW/fire control radar

  AN/APG-81

  AN/APG-81 is operating in the X-band active electronically scanned array (AESA) fire control radar designed by Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems for the F-35 “Lightning” all-weather ...

• 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 ...

• EW test systems

  CRIIS

  The Common Range Integrated Instrumentation System (CRIIS) provides time, space and position information (TSPI) as well as systems evaluation data to support testing for a ...

• Air: AEW/fire control radar

  AN/APG-83 SABR

  The AN/APG-83 Scalable Agile Beam Radar (SABR) is an active electronically scanned array (AESA) fire control radar being developed by Northrop Grumman using its own ...

• Data links

  Multifunction Advanced Data Link

  Multifunction Advanced Data Link (MADL) is a Ku-band data link designed for fifth-generation aircraft. The directional, interflight system is integrated into all F-35 variants, allowing ...

• Unguided Medium Calibre Ammunition

  25mm PGU-48/B

  The 25mm PGU-48/B is a medium-calibre armour-penetrating round manufactured by American Rheinmetall. The US Air Force uses the PGU-48/B with its F-35 aircraft.

• Fixed wing aircraft engines

  F100-PW-229

  The F100 family of engines, selected by 23 air forces globally, power all of the USAF's F-15 Eagles and a substantial proportion of the global ...

• Air: chaff/flare/decoy systems

  AN/ALE-52

  BAE Systems’ AN/ALE-52 countermeasures dispensing system was developed for the United States Air Force Lockheed Martin F-22A Raptor air superiority fighter. The AN/ALE-52 can launch ...