• Land Warfare

  The Italian Army’s ambitious IFV plan

  14th June 2024

  The Italian Army has plans in place to procure up to 679 tracked IFVs to replace 200 Dardo IFVs currently in service with its mechanised units, as well as its M113 fleet.

• 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.

• Air Warfare

  US Air Force F-15 EW kit completes operational testing

  3rd April 2024

  Designed to offer full-spectrum electronic warfare capabilities for the F-15E and F-15EX fighters, the Eagle Passive Active Warning Survivability System (EPAWSS) will enable freedom of manoeuvre and deeper penetration into battlespaces.

• Training

  What is preventing the US Pentagon from succeeding in multi-domain scenarios?

  28th October 2024

  Outstanding issues to be addressed include improving doctrine, increasing the number of joint exercises and better integrating capabilities across the services.

• Air Warfare

  Insight: How India’s Tri-Service MQ-9B $4 billion deal was awarded

  22nd October 2024

  After lengthy negotiations, the Indian Ministry of Defence has now signed a US$4 billion contract with the US Government to procure 31 MQ-9B drones from General Atomics, marking India as the largest customer of this UAV model.

• Naval Warfare

  German-Filippino defence collaboration agreement edges closer in South China Sea

  6th August 2024

  The countries have agreed to have a collaboration plan in place by the end of 2024.

• Land Warfare

  US Army receives first RCV-Light platforms

  23rd August 2024

  The US Army will now start the testing phase of RCV bidders in the Aberdeen Proving Ground.

• Air Warfare

  Lockheed Martin signs with Patria for F-35 landing gear doors

  27th March 2024

  Finland’s purchase of F-35A aircraft was approved as a Foreign Military Sale (FMS) in October 2020 and 14 months later the aircraft was selected by the Finnish government. The FMS announcement noted a deal for 64 F-35A aircraft along with missiles, munitions and related equipment for an estimated cost of US$12.5 billion.

• Air Warfare

  Singapore Airshow 2024: Saab's Gripen E sets sights on fighter procurement breakthroughs

  21st February 2024

  Saab can see glimmers of hope for its Gripen E multirole fighter jets, despite facing hurdles in recent fighter procurement competitions, as discussions unfold with Thailand, the Philippines and the Czech Republic.

• Air Warfare

  UK F-35 deliveries navigate TR-3 software snag as MoD keeps cool

  29th March 2024

  While the Royal Air Force recently received two new Lightning F-35B jets, delays in TR-3 software implementation have raised questions about the delivery of the remaining 13 Lockheed Martin jets.

• Land Warfare

  Four issues the armoured vehicle industry needs to tackle

  18th June 2024

  As evident at Eurosatory 2024, the procurement of armoured vehicles is progressing, but some projects have stalled or been abandoned due to the fluid geopolitical and conflict landscape. Buyers, manufacturers and operators have been reassessing their needs, desires and capabilities amid tightening budgets and escalating demands.

• Defence Notes

  In depth: US and China’s complex arms race over Taiwan

  28th June 2024

  The US and China have been engaging in a complex game of mutual deterrence over Taiwan in a race that features a bewildering range of different equipment.

• Air Warfare

  Kongsberg to invest $110 million to increase production capacities in the US

  19th September 2024

  Expected contracts from the US Armed Forces will see the company build a new facility in Virginia, as well as improving and expanding its manufacturing capabilities in Pennsylvania.

• Land Warfare

  AUSA 2024 preview: Vehicles to take centre stage as competitions heat up

  3rd October 2024

  The Association of the US Army’s flagship conference and exhibition, the largest defence trade show in the US, returns on 14 October presenting one of the few chances for companies to publicly put their platforms to an audience of US decision-makers. Shephard takes a look at what’s in store for 2024.

• Digital Battlespace

  First South Korean 425 Project observation satellite launched

  8th April 2024

  In 2015, South Korea named a consortium of Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) and Hanwha Systems, along with Thales Alenia Space providing the SAR payload derived from its HE-R1000 product, as preferred bidder to develop new Korea 425 Project reconnaissance satellites.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Fighter - multirole

  F-35A [Netherlands]

  Programme Background The Netherlands was planning to procure a total of 46 aircraft for €5,5 billion ($6.17 billion) to replace its ageing F-16 Fighting Falcon ...

• Trainer

  S-211 Replacement [Philippines]

  Programme Background Requirement The Philippines is looking at replacement options for its ageing fleet of S-211 trainer jets. The S-211s have been in operation with ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-16V (1-8) [Bulgaria]

  Programme Background Requirement Bulgarian MoD plans to procure 16 new-built fighter aircraft to replace its fleet of 15 Russian-manufactured MiG-29 fighters. Lockheed Martin’s F-16 Block ...

• Maritime patrol

  AVSIMAR (France)

  Programme Background In November 2018, the French MoD announced that it awarded a contract for the detailed definition study of the future surveillance and maritime ...

• ISR/special mission

  Baekdu-II (South Korea)

  Programme Background This ISR aircraft programme, which first appeared on the 2020-24 Mid-Term Defense Acquisition Plan, comprises four Baekdu-II aircraft. These will add to two ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-16V (Jordan)

  Programme Background On 3 February 2022, the US State Department announced that it has approved a potential sale of 12 F-16 C Block 70 aircraft,  four ...

• 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

  F-35A Denmark

  Denmark joined the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program in 2002 during the System Development and Demonstration phase and has influenced technical elements of the ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-16V (9-16) [Bulgaria]

  Programme Background In April 2022, the US State Department approved a potential FMS worth $1.673 million to procure eight F-16Vs to Bulgaria. The aircraft are ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-16V Block 70 (Bahrain)

  Programme Background In 2018, the US government awarded a $1.12 billion contract to Lockheed Martin to produce 16 F-16 Block 70 aircraft for Bahrain, which ...

• 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 ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | Next Generation Fighter (Romania)

  In February 2022 Romanian President Klaus Iohannis gave a speech stating that Romania was considering the acquisition of F-35 fighters to replace its F-16 inventory in ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  Air: Helmet-mounted displays | Next Generation Fighter (Romania)

  In February 2022 Romanian President Klaus Iohannis gave a speech stating that Romania was considering the acquisition of F-35 fighters to replace its F-16 inventory in ...

• Data links

  Data links | Next Generation Fighter (Romania)

  In February 2022 Romanian President Klaus Iohannis gave a speech stating that Romania was considering the acquisition of F-35 fighters to replace its F-16 inventory in ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | Next Generation Fighter (Romania)

  In February 2022 Romanian President Klaus Iohannis gave a speech stating that Romania was considering the acquisition of F-35 fighters to replace its F-16 inventory in ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Air: Electronic Attack - Jamming

  AN/ALQ-178(V)

  BAE System’s AN/ALQ-178(V) is an integrated self-protection system designed to protect combat aircraft. During its service life it has outfitted several airframes including the Dassault ...

• Fixed wing aircraft engines

  F101-GE-102

  Manufactured by GE Aviation, the F101-GE-102 was a turbofan engine that weighed 1,996kg and powered the B-1B Lancer. It delivered 30,000lbs of thrust. The engine’s ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-16C/D Block 25, 30/32, 40/42

  The F-16C/D ('C' one-seat, 'D' two-seat designation) is the second generation of the F-16 Fighting Falcon family. The production of the F-16C/D began in 1983 with ...

• EO/IR systems

  AN/AAQ-14

  The AN/AAQ-14 LANTIRN (Low Altitude Navigation and Targeting Infrared for Night) targeting pod is a crucial component of the LANTIRN system, developed by Martin Marietta ...

• 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 ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-16E/F Block 60

  The F-16E/F Block 60/61 ('E' single-seat, 'F' dual-seat) is a fourth-generation multirole combat aircraft introduced as part of the Fighting Falcon family. It is also ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-16A/B Block 1, 5, 10, 15, 20

  The F-16 Fighting Falcon programme started as a low-cost, highly manoeuvrable day fighter to complement the higher-cost, heavier McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle air superiority fighter. ...

• Uncrewed aerial systems engines

  TJ 20A

  The TJ 20A is a small engine designed for UAV applications. The engine is controlled by a fuel pump, electronic valves and sensors integrated in ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-2A/B

  Based on the design of the F-16 Fighting Falcon family, the F-2 Support Fighter is a single-engine multirole fighter aircraft produced for the Japan Air ...

• Air: Integrated Defensive Systems

  ASPIS

  Raytheon’s Advanced Self-Protection Integrated Suite, better known as ASPIS, was developed to equip the Hellenic Air Force’s (HAF) fleet of General Dynamics/Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-16C/D Block 50/52/52+

  A member of the F-16 Fighting Falcon family, the F-16C/D Block 50/52 ('C' single-seat, 'D' dual-seat) is a third-generation multirole fighter that was rolled out ...

• Air: AEW/fire control radar

  AN/APG-66

  The AN/APG-66 is an X-band, solid-state, medium-range pulse-Doppler radar designed for the F-16 Fighting Falcon, now adapted to platforms including Hawk 200, PBN Defender, Skyhawk, T-39N ...

• Fixed wing aircraft engines

  F100-PW-100

  The origin of the F100-PW-100 engine can be traced back to 1970 when Pratt & Whitney won a competition to design and manufacture the propulsion ...

• Air: Integrated Defensive Systems

  AN/ALQ-213(V) DAC

  Terma’s AN/ALQ-213(V) electronic warfare management unit is used extensively on General Dynamics/Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon series combat aircraft around the world. The AN/ALQ-213(V) is ...

• Air-to-surface missiles

  PGM-500/PGM-2000

  The PGM-500 and PGM-2000 are short-range ASMs manufactured in the UK and the US. They were developed and originally manufactured by Alenia Marconi Systems and ...