• Air Warfare

  USAF sets sights on Skyborg prototype by 2026

  24th July 2020

  Four companies have been selected to design a new autonomous UAV prototype called Skyborg for the USAF by July 2026. Boeing, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, …

• Defence Notes

  Citadel automates C-UAS functions for frontline troops

  15th July 2020

  Citadel Defense on 14 July announced the release of new AI-powered software and networking solutions for autonomous protection against 98% of COTS drones.   By securely …

• Training

  T-7A Red Hawk stays the course

  15th July 2020

  Although Boeing has experienced a torrid time over the past year, with its share price plummeting from a high of $440.21 on 1 March 2019 …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  RN declares 700X NAS ready for action

  17th August 2020

  A new UK RN unit to operate shipborne RPAS is ready for deployment. Three flights in 700X Naval Air Squadron (NAS) have been established (Phantom …

• Air Warfare

  Air Warfare magazine: EO/IR payloads, loitering munitions and more

  7th August 2020

  Read the latest edition of Air Warfare for free in our app or on your desktop. What's inside this edition: Comment Jakarta’s procurement plans have …

• Air Warfare

  Leonardo eyes first M-346FA delivery after maiden flight

  23rd July 2020

  The M-346FA light attack aircraft successfully completed its initial flight on 13 July equipped with a bespoke Grifo-M-346 multimode radar, Leonardo announced on 23 July. …

• Training

  US sets out FMS opportunities for S&T industry

  4th August 2020

  The US International Programs Office (IPO) has announced a number of new FMS projects, under a $3.5 billion effort to build capacity in 64 partner …

• Naval Warfare

  Keel laid for the future USS Beloit

  31st July 2020

  Lockheed Martin and Fincantieri Marinette Marine marked the construction of Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) 29, the future USS Beloit, with a keel laying ceremony at …

• Air Warfare

  US snaps up would-be Turkish F-35As

  21st July 2020

  Eight F-35A fighter aircraft that were originally destined for Turkey have been ‘repositioned’ for the USAF, under a 20 July DoD contract award to Lockheed …

• Naval Warfare

  NAVAIR orders more Harpoon Block II+ missiles

  14th August 2020

  US Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) has placed a $15.62 million order with Boeing for 24 Harpoon Block II+ anti-ship missiles, plus 25 training missiles. Work …

• Air Warfare

  Kongsberg C-UAS system includes third-generation Spexer

  29th July 2020

  Hensoldt Sensors announced on 28 July that it is supplying the third generation of its Spexer 2000 3D radar to system integrator Kongsberg Defence & …

• Defence Helicopter

  Australia seeks capability partner for SOF helicopters

  8th August 2020

  The Australian Defence Force (ADF) released an RfP on 4 August regarding a capability enhancement programme (CEP) for the army’s forthcoming special operations rotary-wing (SORW) …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Belgium and UK seek SkyGuardian tie-up

  18th August 2020

  The air forces of Belgium and the UK have signed a bilateral letter of intent to cooperate on training, maintenance, logistical support, interoperability and capacity …

• Land Warfare

  Portuguese paratroops gain new airmobile vehicles

  18th August 2020

  The Portuguese Army is continuing its efforts to improve troop mobility by equipping the Parachutist Regiment in Tancos with ten new Multipurpose Airborne Platforms (MPAPs). The …

• Land Warfare

  Czech procurement surge caters for dismounted infantry

  25th August 2020

  The acquisition of IFVs for the army has tended to dominate attention among the equipment modernisation programmes in the Czech Republic, especially given its bumpy …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military helicopters - multirole

  HH-60W - Combat Rescue Helicopter (CRH)

  Background In 2010, the USAF announced the replacement of the HH-60G with a new Combat Rescue Helicopter (CRH), and in 2012, the request for proposals ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-15EX - USAF (Announced)

  Programme Background The F-15EX is based on the 2-seat F-15QA (Qatar) configuration upgraded with USAF-only capabilities, including the Eagle Passive Active Warning and Survivability System (EPAWSS) ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-15EX - USAF (Contracted)

  Programme Background USAF is looking to procure 144 F-15EX fighter aircraft, including two RDTE configurations and six low-rate initial production aircraft. F-15EX will replace ageing ...

• 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 ...

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

  Teal 2 [USAF]

  Programme Background On 8 August 2023, Teal Drones announced it had received a $2.6 million deal for 172 Teal 2 UAVs, spare parts and training from ...

• ISR/special mission

  P-1 EW [Japan]

  Programme Background Requirement Japan has operated the EP-3, a COMINT/SIGINT/ELINT configuration of the P-3 Orion, since 1993. As of 2024, the Japanese MoD maintains that these aircraft ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  MH-139 (UH-1N Huey Replacement)

  Background  Competing bids In competition with the Boeing/Leonardo bid was Sikorsky with a HH-60U offer, and Sierra Nevada with an upgrading offer of UH-60As to ...

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

  Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) (Increment 1) [USAF]

  Background Requirements The programme's requirements are based on the USAF's belief that mass is necessary to compete effectively against an adversary in symmetrical warfare. However, ...

• Light attack, Trainer

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

  Background On 27 September 2018, it was announced that the Boeing-Saab team had been awarded a contract for the programme. The initial contract was worth $813 million ...

• AEW&C

  E-7A Wedgetail (1-2) [USA]

  Programme Background Shephard notes that this entry covers the two rapid-prototype E-7 aircraft, whose contract was signed in August 2024. A second programme entry covers the ...

• Military UAS - mini

  Electronic Warfare (EW) UAV [US Army]

  Background Army evaluations In May 2026, the US Army evaluated CX2’s Wraith rotary-wing UAV during Exercise Ivy Mass at Fort Carson. The evaluation was conducted in support ...

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

  Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) (Increment 2) [USAF]

  Background Requirements The baseline requirements for Increment 2 of the CCA effort are similar to Increment 1, which is covered in a separate entry on Defence ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | P-1 EW [Japan]

  Japan is advancing its electronic warfare (EW) capabilities through the development of an EW version of the domestically produced Kawasaki P-1 maritime patrol aircraft. The ...

• Data links

  Data links | P-1 EW [Japan]

  Japan is advancing its electronic warfare (EW) capabilities through the development of an EW version of the domestically produced Kawasaki P-1 maritime patrol aircraft. The ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | P-1 EW [Japan]

  Japan is advancing its electronic warfare (EW) capabilities through the development of an EW version of the domestically produced Kawasaki P-1 maritime patrol aircraft. The ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Air: maintenance simulators

  F-22 Training Devices

  TRU Simulation + Training F-22 MTD programme includes three training devices that provide USAF students at Sheppard AFB, Texas, with maintenance training on landing gear, ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - HALE

  EX-3 Revenant

  The EX-3 Revenant is a developmental fixed-wing aircraft being developed by Exosonic. It is a Mach 1.2 supersonic UAV designed to be a 5th-generation representative, modular, autonomous ...

• Air: transport/tanker simulators

  USAF KC-135 ATS

  The KC-135 Aircrew Training System (ATS) programme delivers initial qualification, requalification, continuation and upgrades training for USAF KC-135 aircrews, including pilots, co-pilots and boom operators. ...

• Air: fixed-wing flight simulators

  T-1 Jayhawk

  FlightSafety operates and maintains T-1 training devices as part of its CLS contract. Air Education and Training Command uses these high-fidelity simulators and part-task trainers ...

• 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.

• EW test systems

  JTE

  The Joint Threat Emitter (JTE) is a multi-threat, high-fidelity simulator with realistic ERP levels, which simulates single- and double-digit surface-to-air and anti-aircraft artillery radar systems. ...

• ISR/special mission

  EC-130H Compass Call

  The EC-130H is an EW aircraft based on the modified C-130H transport aircraft. It is used by the USAF to disrupt enemy command and control communications ...

• ISR/special mission

  EA-37B Compass Call

  The EA-37B (also known as EC-37B) is a Compass Call EW aircraft based on the commercial G550 platform. The USAF is now transitioning the EW capabilities previously ...

• Trainer

  T-38 Talon

  Developed by Northrop Grumman, the T-38 Talon is an advanced trainer aircraft introduced into service in 1961. The T-38 has the same basic airframe as ...

• EW test systems

  ELT A62

  ELT A62 product family deals with multiple sensors of EW equipment suites. ELT A62 is a training system for EW personnel that can be sea-, ...

• Air: fixed-wing flight simulators

  T-38C Talon

  FlightSafety supports nearly 40 T-38 training devices as part of its contract for logistics support for the T-38. The T-38C is a converted T-38A/B that ...

• Subsystems: software, Subsystems: visual

  SimuSphere HD

  SimuSphere HD immerses fast jet pilots in a virtual training environment claimed to be equivalent to real-world flying missions. As part of L3Harris Technologies' HD ...

• Air: air combat simulators

  JPRWRS

  The Joint Portable Radar Warning Receiver Stimulator (JPRWRS) has been developed as a method of providing fixed- and rotary-wing aircrews with a low-cost, open-air threat ...

• Air: transport/tanker simulators

  KC-46A ATS

  FlightSafety supports the USAF aircrew training program for the KC-46A Pegasus tanker aircraft. The program delivers a multi-faceted training package to the USAF from design, ...

• Air: helicopter flight simulators

  IFEWS

  The In Flight Electronic Warfare Simulator (IFEWS) is an autonomous onboard threat environment training and safety suite, capable of simulating the EW suite and a ...