• Naval Warfare

  AUSA 2023: Steadicopter aims to fly high with new rotary UAVs

  19th October 2023

  Israeli manufacturer Steadicopter presented its new Black Eagle and Golden Eagle rotary unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for the first time in the US at AUSA. Shephard spoke with Steadicopter CEO Itai Toren about what makes these Eagles different from other birds in the market.

• Air Warfare

  Dubai Airshow 2023: MBDA to develop and build ‘smart missiles’ in UAE

  14th November 2023

  In a bid to bolster its strategic partnership with the UAE and further its missile capabilities, MBDA established the UAE Missile Engineering Centre earlier this year from where it will produce so-called 'smart weapons'.

• Training

  I/ITSEC 2023: Collins Aerospace introduces Arcus TM training image generator

  28th November 2023

  Collins latest solution has combined the company’s rendering and processing tools with gaming technology for aircrew training.

• Training

  I/ITSEC 2023: CAE unveils US Air Force digital F-16 cockpit

  30th November 2023

  For the first time CAE exhibited a digital F-16 cockpit integrated with the Simulators Common Architecture Requirements and Standards (SCARS) marking a major step forward in training equipment virtualisation.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Saildrone to produce USVs in Australia from 2024

  13th November 2023

  The use of long-duration Uncrewed Surface Vehicles for maritime surveillance and monitoring has become part of the fleet inventory as navies try to reduce the level of effort required to gather intelligence on areas of interest.

• Air Warfare

  Boeing’s upgraded AH-64 Apache attack helicopter completes first flight

  16th October 2023

  The latest version of the AH-64 Apache attack helicopter has been developed with optimised route and attack planning, advanced Link 16 capabilities and integration with open-systems interfaces.

• Digital Battlespace

  Viasat launches Black ICE software defined radio platform for secure data transmission

  2nd August 2023

  Viasat has unveiled its Black ICE Software Defined Radio (SDR) family, which is designed to enable secure data transmission with flexible waveform integration and meet high-demand requirements for mission-critical operations.

• Naval Warfare

  DSEI 2023: How PhantomBlu comms tech could mean an end to radio silence at sea

  15th September 2023

  Blu Wireless's PhantomBlu millimetre-wave communications nodes could put an end to the need to maintain radio silence to avoid detection or interception while supporting high data rates for C2 purposes.

• Land Warfare

  Havelsan's Barkan UGV demonstrates varied munition firing in a step towards swarming

  7th November 2023

  Havelsan has a focus on increasing digital battlespace capability for Turkish soldiers and test firing of a loitering munition from a Barkan UGV has marked a step towards swarming with loitering munitions.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Ocius expands Bluebottle USV capabilities

  10th November 2023

  A growing number of uncrewed systems have been on show at Sydney's Indo-Pacific Maritime exhibition with a select few currently being trialled to see if they can enhance the Royal Australian Navy's surveillance levels.

• Digital Battlespace

  Kratos wins $579 million space defence contract for ground control system

  27th November 2023

  Kratos Defense and Security Solutions to provide satellite control capabilities to US Space Force and US Space Command.

• Air Warfare

  UK awards $20 million contract to Anduril for avanced force protection solutions

  2nd November 2023

  The contract awarded to Anduril Industries will explore innovative capabilities for force protection and counter-intrusion, as well as counter-unmanned aircraft system solutions for the RAF and Strategic Command on Permanent Joint Operating Bases.

• Land Warfare

  AUSA 2023: Quantum Systems expands UAV family with Twister

  23rd October 2023

  The Twister UAV, which has a flight endurance of 75 minutes and a wingspan of 1.25m, was on display for the first time at AUSA in Washington earlier this month.

• Land Warfare

  Nothing Goes Unseen: Raytheon’s LTAMDS Radar Enhances Situational Awareness Amidst Increasing Aerial Threats (Studio)

  13th November 2023

  Never before have air defenders contended with such complex, rapid and varied threats in the air environment. Raytheon’s LTAMDS radar is the system they need for this ever-changing threatscape.

• Land Warfare

  AUSA 2023: US Army considers returning Iron Domes to Israel in the face of attacks by Hamas

  10th October 2023

  Although the list of systems and solutions to be sent to Jerusalem by the US government has not been defined yet, the possibility of shipping back those solutions has not been ruled out.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Fighter - multirole

  F-16V Procurement [Slovakia]

  Programme Background Earlier in April 2018, the US State Department announced that it has approved a possible FMS deal of 14 F-16V aircraft for an ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  Jaguar Medium Common Armoured Vehicle Platform [Belgium]

  Programme Background In its Strategic Vision for Defence document published in June 2016, the Belgian MoD outlined its aspirations for equipping five motorised manoeuvre battalions ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  Griffon Light Common Armoured Vehicle Platform [Belgium]

  Programme Background In its Strategic Vision for Defence document published in June 2016, the Belgian MoD outlined its aspirations for equipping five motorised manoeuvre battalions ...

• Loitering munitions

  Artemis [US]

  Background Origin Artemis began in 2024 due to the US European Command and Indo-Pacific Command's demand for UAVs that met the following requirements. As part ...

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

  Multidomian Micro Drones [USSOCOM]

  Background Special Notice On 14 November 2024, a Special Notice was released that informed the industry that the US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) was looking for ...

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

  Force Protection Drone Systems [Poland]

  Background Force Protection In November 2024, the Polish Defence Ministry's Armaments Agency signed a PLN 499 million (US$127.6 million) agreement with WB Group for 12 Force Protection drone ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  6x6 APC (Philippines)

  Programme Background The Philippine Army has identified an urgent need for new wheeled APCs, after the Battle of Marawi exposed shortcomings in its existing fleet ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-15SA Saudi Arabia

  The aircraft deal includes 170 APG-63(v)3 AESA radar sets, 193 F-110-GE-129 Improved Performance Engines, 100 M61 Vulcan Cannons, 338 Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing Systems amongst ...

• Fighter - multirole

  JAS 39E/F Gripen (Brazil)

  In 2016, Gripen’s Project and Development Center was opened in Sao Paulo to allow Sweedish and Brazillian engineers to work together in the Gripen development ...

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

  Bayraktar TB2 (Qatar)

  Programme Background In 2018 at DIMDEX, it was revealed that Qatar had bought six Bayraktar TB2 UAVs from Turkey. The deal also included three ground control stations, ...

• Military helicopters - scout/light attack

  Bell 407GX

  The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency noted that the proposed sale of five Bell 407GX helicopters will help compensate for the combat loss of seven IA407 helicopters ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  CV90 [Denmark]

  Programme Background Bidders and Suppliers The Danish Army has already taken delivery of 45 CV9035 IFV with deliveries running from 2007 through 2009. One of ...

• 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 ...

• Military helicopters - scout/light attack

  MD 530F -Kenya

  Crew transition training took place at the MD Helicopters headquarters in Mesa, Arizona, with field service support, armament, and gunnery training scheduled to occur at ...

• Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - small

  Tethered UAS (UK)

  Programme Background Requirements The Ministry of Defence (MoD) is seeking one UAV system, two drones, which operate from a tethered power supply and have the 'flexibility ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  BNET-V

  BNET-V is a MANET Software-Defined Radio for vehicles. Designed by Rafael, the multiband radio has a modular architecture and offers compatibility with several legacy systems.

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  Next Generation Survivor Radio

  The Next Generation Survivor Radio (NGSR) is a software-defined radio being developed by General Dynamics Mission Systems. It is expected to enter into service after June 2026.

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  Sentry Mesh 6161

  The Sentry Mesh 6161-L is a software-defined radio produced by Domo Tactical Communications and Codan Communications. Unveiled in 2023, the L-band radio is marketed at soldier ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM, Naval: Radio and SATCOM

  CNHF1

  Produced by KNL, the CNHF1 is a software-defined HF radio system with cognitive radio capabilities. Capable of receiving the entire HF spectrum, it provides secure, ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  F@stnet Twin

  Thales F@stnet Twin is a lightweight, dual-channel software-defined radio for dismounted soldiers. Launched in 2010, it is a member of the PR4G/F@stnet product family.

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  THOR VRM

  THOR VRM (Vehicle Radio Module) is a software-defined radio being developed by Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace as of Q3 FY2023. It is expected to enter ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  PRC-525

  The PRC-525 Combat Net Radio is a software-defined radio covering HF, VHF and UHF bands in a single unit. Offered in multiple configurations, it provides ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  MR6000A

  A member of Rohde & Schwarz's M3AR product family, the MR6000A is an airborne software-defined radio. Notably, it features an integrated cryptographic module, and the radio ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  SDR Family

  Designed to provide high-speed data and voice communications to support land, maritime and air platform applications on the digital battlefield. The family of SDRs consists ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  MCR1025

  Reutech's LANDSEC MCR1025 is an HF manpack radio system in service with the South African National Defence Force. Notably, it supports Automatic Link Establishment (ALE) ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  SWave VQ1

  Leonardo SWave VQ1 is a quad-channel software-defined radio node. Designed for headquarters and command vehicles, it provides secure voice and data through multiple legacy and ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM, UAS: communication systems

  R&S SDAR

  The R&S; SDAR is a software-defined airborne radio that extends the R&S; M3AR airborne radio family. The R&S; SDAR offers secure broadband voice and data ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  ESR-P

  Developed by Thales, the ESR-P (Équipement radio standard-Portatif) is a dual-band, handheld software-defined radio designed for France's CONTACT communications programme. Having completed evaluations in December 2023, it ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Aselsan 9681 V/UHF

  Aselsan 9681 V/UHF is a software-defined radio with frequency hopping and encryption capabilities. Designed for air platforms, it has been in service with the Turkish ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  TRC-1222 Rondon

  The TRC-1222 Rondon is a software-defined, multiband radio system produced by IMBEL. Offered in handheld, manpack and vehicular configurations, it is procured by the Brazilian Army.