• Defence Notes

  How integration of multiple sensors can enhance US missile defence

  24th April 2023

  The Pentagon is working on designing, developing and delivering capabilities to the armed services to enable them to counter ballistic, hypersonic and cruise missiles.

• Air Warfare

  Raytheon launches RAIVEN, an AI-enabled threat identification system

  25th April 2023

  Raytheon has launched a new intelligent EO/IR capability, RAIVEN, that uses artificial intelligence to allow pilots to identify threats faster and more accurately.

• Naval Warfare

  Pakistan receives final Chinese-built Type 054A/P frigates

  12th May 2023

  China has completed delivery of four multipurpose frigates to the Pakistan Navy.

• Training

  I/ITSEC 2023: US Army’s training transformation drive reports mixed results

  23rd November 2023

  How the US Army’s development of a new training environment has been utilising virtual reality technologies, what contracts have been awarded to different companies for its components and how has the industry been facing up to the challenges it faces.

• Digital Battlespace

  Integrated electronic warfare suite for F-16 fighter put to test against RF threats

  13th April 2023

  The AN/ALQ-257 IVEWS electronic warfare suite due for installation on USAF F-16 fighter jets as a programme of record has successfully completed testing against emulated radio frequency (RF) threats.

• Defence Helicopter

  Canada to upgrade AW101 rescue helicopters in-country under Leonardo-IMP deal

  3rd May 2023

  Canada's IMP Aerospace will carry out upgrades on 13 of the 16 AW101 aircraft covered by the CMLU programme under a sub-contract from Leonardo Helicopters UK.

• Training

  European military training shifts gear (Sponsored)

  19th April 2023

  This article is brought to you by Clarion Events As the international training and simulation market reconvenes in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, for IT²EC 2023 later …

• Training

  Simulated M4 carbine addition to XR platform declared as ‘major leap forward’

  23rd November 2023

  HGXR and Haptech have teamed up to create a realistic virtual military training system that uses a simulated M4 carbine with recoil and data capture features.

• Naval Warfare

  Thales Australia wins $1.3 billion navy maintenance contract

  22nd November 2023

  A contract to provide maintenance and support for Australia’s naval fleet in Sydney will create more than 900 jobs and boost Australia's sovereign naval shipbuilding industrial capability.

• Digital Battlespace

  US Army selects SoarTech autonomous UAS for xTechSearch 7 Competition

  18th April 2023

  SoarTech's is putting forward its Centralized Control of Commercial Drones (C3D) platform, an autonomous system that helps with the logistics and control of small UAS.

• Training

  IT2EC 2023: Western forces now have trained over 86,000 Ukrainians - what lessons have been learned?

  24th April 2023

  New doctrine, tactics, techniques and procedures are reducing casualty rates as Ukrainian forces move towards a more Western outlook.

• Air Warfare

  US Air Force receives first upgraded F-16 for South Korean air defence mission

  12th April 2023

  The US Air Force in South Korea has received the first F-16 fighter jet upgraded with an AN/APG-83 radar and other avionics improvements.

• Air Warfare

  Romania edges closer to F-35 fighter jet buy, but stops short of firm commitment

  11th April 2023

  Romania has reiterated its intent to acquire F-35 fighter jets in an announcement from the country's Supreme Defence Council.

• Land Warfare

  Japan set to join US, UK and Australia as owner of Tomahawk missiles

  21st November 2023

  The Tomahawk, a tactical, land-attack cruise missile which can be fired from surface platforms, submarines or aircraft, has primarily been used by the US Navy and the UK Royal Navy. Japan requested 400 missiles last month and the US Government has approved the purchase.

• Training

  Podcast: The evolving landscape of military simulation and training technologies

  25th April 2023

  This week on the Shephard Defence Podcast, we explore the evolution of military simulation and training technologies, including advancements in cloud computing, networked training, and the increasing use of simulation in response to changing military demands.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  A330 MRTT (1-12) [France]

  In November 2014, The French Defence Procurement Agency (DGA) has confirmed purchase of 12 A330 MRTT air-to-air refuelling aircraft from Airbus. The contract will cover the development and ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  A400M-Spain

  In December 2018, Spain Air Force took delivery of its first A400M. The aircraft will be operated by the Air Transport Wing (ATW) 31 of the ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  Tejas LCA - India Follow-On

  According to the HAL's chairman R Madhavan, 'apart from all the capabilities of IOC aircraft, the FOC variant additionally comes with an air-to-air refuelling capability, close-combat ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  Strategic Tanker Transport [Canada]

  Programme Background This project will replace the existing fleet capability, including strategic airlift, air-to-air refuelling, Aeromedical Evacuations and Strategic Government of Canada transport. The Strategic ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  Tanker Aircraft [Greece]

  Programme Background Requirement Procurement of tanker aircraft is aligned with a broader 2021-approved Hellenic National Defence General Staff (GEETHA) plan to enhance the HAF's reach and ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | Tanker Aircraft [Greece]

  The Hellenic Air Force (HAF) is advancing plans to procure four Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker aircraft from the United States through the Excess Defense Articles (EDA) ...

• Data links

  Data links | Tanker Aircraft [Greece]

  The Hellenic Air Force (HAF) is advancing plans to procure four Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker aircraft from the United States through the Excess Defense Articles (EDA) ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | Tanker Aircraft [Greece]

  The Hellenic Air Force (HAF) is advancing plans to procure four Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker aircraft from the United States through the Excess Defense Articles (EDA) ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  C-390 [Hungary]

  Programme Background The aircraft for Hungary will be specially configured for tactical transport operations, air-to-air refuelling of the service's Saab Gripen C/D fighters, and medical ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | KC-135 [Argentina]

  Argentina has reportedly formally requested two KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft, according to an interview given by the Chief of the Argentine Air Force on 1 September ...

• Data links

  Data links | KC-135 [Argentina]

  Argentina has reportedly formally requested two KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft, according to an interview given by the Chief of the Argentine Air Force on 1 September ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | KC-135 [Argentina]

  Argentina has reportedly formally requested two KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft, according to an interview given by the Chief of the Argentine Air Force on 1 September ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  A330 MRTT (1-9) [NATO]

  Programme Background Following operations in Libya and extensive analyses by the European Defence Agency (EDA), it was agreed at the NATO Summit in 2012 that ...

• 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 ...

• Maritime patrol

  P-8I Follow-On [India]

  Programme Background The IN currently has eight P-8I aircraft in service, these ordered on 4 January 2009 for $2.1 billion. India inducted its first P-8I ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Air: transport/tanker simulators

  KC-767 JBOT Trainer

  ACME has delivered a Remote Air Refueling Operator trainer to the Japan Air Self-Defense Force. The trainer supports the KC-767J tanker aircraft that has a remote ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  A330 MRTT

  The 111t basic fuel capacity of the A330-200 airliner – from which the A330 is derived – enables the A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) to ...

• Air: transport/tanker simulators

  A330 MRTT Training Devices

  Under subcontract to Airbus Defence and Space, CAE has provided A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) training devices to the UAE Air Force and Royal Saudi ...

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

  X-47B UCAS

  The X-47B is a tailless, strike fighter-sized unmanned aircraft, which was developed as part of the USN's Unmanned Combat Air System Demonstration project. The aircraft ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  MC-X Orca

  At DX Korea 2022, KAI presented an MC-X Orca medium transport aircraft concept model. The twin-engine aircraft is aimed at the Republic of Korea Air Force ...

• Surface-to-air missiles, Loitering munitions

  359

  Unveiled in January 2025, the 359 is a surface-to-air (SAM) loitering munition. It is designed to engage targets such as AWACS, refuelling tankers, and other high-altitude surveillance and ...

• Air: air combat simulators

  Hellenic Air Force F-16 ATD

  L3Harris Technologies has delivered two F-16C Block 52+ Aircrew Training Devices (ATDs) to the Hellenic Air Force. The trainers enable pilots to hone air-to-air and ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  KC-130J Super Hercules

  The KC-130J Super Hercules is a tanker variant of the C-130J Super Hercules. It is designed to deliver fuel to several platforms, including helicopters and ...

• Trailers

  M900 Series

  Heil’s M900-series tactical refuellers are designed and built to meet US military performance standards. The M967A2 ground equipment refueller and the M969A3 aircraft refueller are ...

• Air: fixed-wing flight simulators

  M-346 FMS

  Developed in conjunction with CAE, the M-346 Full Mission Simulator (FMS) can emulate basic fighter manoeuvres, formation flight, in-flight refuelling and advanced air-to-air and air-to-ground ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  MB-339C

  The MB-339C is an advanced/lead-in fighter trainer developed based on the MB-339A that made its first flight in August 1976. The latest MB-339C version is ...

• Fixed wing aircraft engines

  CF6-80E1A3

  The CF6-80E engines, developed by GE Aviation, power the newest generation of airliners such as Airbus A330. The engine incorporates a new 96-inch (2.44 meters) ...

• Air: transport/tanker simulators

  Transport, Refuelling and Sensor Aircraft Training

  Thales supports air force training needs for multi-mission aircraft in service around the world including A400M, MRTT/Voyager, Boeing Wedgetail, C-130 and KC-135, covering tactical airlift, ...

• Air: fixed-wing flight simulators

  Fast Jet Training

  Thales provides a suite of training products for the life-cycle of military fast jet training. These encompass the design, development and establishment of training services ...

• ISR/special mission, Transport

  EC-130J Commando Solo

  The EC-130J Commando Solo is a special mission aircraft based on the C-130J transport airframe. It is used to conduct military information support operations and ...