• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Specialist solutions: the growing importance of niche UAS in defence

  31st July 2024

  DARPA and Northrop Grumman outline plans for the XRQ-73 uncrewed aerial system with hybrid-electric power, which will join the growing ranks of highly specialist UAV designs.

• Land Warfare

  First locally built KF41 Lynx IFV handed over to Hungary

  26th July 2024

  The KF41 procurement is part of Hungary’s Zrínyi 2026 development plan and is one of several efforts to procure modern, NATO-standard platforms that will supersede legacy equipment received from the Soviet Union by 2026.

• Land Warfare

  AUSA 2024: GM Defense unveils new vehicle and highlights ISV’s current disaster relief work

  14th October 2024

  GM Defense’s Next Gen Tactical Vehicle (Next Gen) has been seen before but not in such an advanced prototype. Much like the company’s Infantry Squad Vehicle (ISV), the vehicle draws on a commercial platform.

• Land Warfare

  Allison’s latest propulsion system designed specifically for AFVs

  24th June 2024

  A transmission manufactured by Allison Transmission has been selected for the XM30 OMFV which will replace the US Army’s M2 Bradley IFV.

• Naval Warfare

  Lockheed Martin strengthens Spanish SPY-7 radar supply chain

  24th July 2024

  The global defence giant chose a Spanish firm for its work on the Bonifaz-class frigate.

• Land Warfare

  Swiss move forward on enhancing indirect firepower

  29th May 2024

  The Swiss Army will select a new self-propelled artillery system to replace its aging Pz Hb 88/95 155mm tracked units in a bid to modernise its artillery capabilities.

• Air Warfare

  Portugal wants F-35s, but has no firm plans in place

  1st May 2024

  The Portuguese Air Force’s leader has outlined the importance of embracing the F-35 to maintain the country's air capabilities despite the absence of a formal procurement plan for the latest Lockheed Martin fighter.

• Air Warfare

  South Korea’s KF-21 fighter fires guided IRIS-T missile

  20th May 2024

  Manufactured by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), the KF-21 Boramae is a fighter aircraft that resembles the design of the F-35A. South Korea has investing nearly US$8 billion in the fighter development programme which is set to be completed by 2028.

• Land Warfare

  Israeli Defence Forces aims to make remote-controlled ground systems autonomous

  8th July 2024

  The IDF has turned some of its unmanned M113 APCs into remotely controlled vehicles but it has also been exploring moves towards making the vehicles completely autonomous.

• Air Warfare

  Boeing delivers newest upgraded F/A-18 and reaffirms production end

  27th June 2024

  Boeing’s Super Hornet Block III modernisation programme has promised to significantly extend the jet’s service life and introduce advanced capabilities. The programme’s first aircraft were delivered to be upgraded in mid-2023.

• Land Warfare

  Norway cleared for HIMARS purchase worth $580 million

  12th August 2024

  HIMARS weapons have been in high demand with systems provided to Ukraine, Poland placing an order, Australia and Morocco being approved for Foreign Military Sales, Taiwan ordering more and the Netherlands requesting systems.

• 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

  Romania approved for $340 million Sidewinder purchase

  15th May 2024

  The AIM-9 Sidewinder is a short-range air-to-air missile (AAM). The heat-seeking AIM-9X Block 1 Sidewinder, the most widely used AAM on US and allied fighter aircraft, can also be mounted on helicopters.

• 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.

• Digital Battlespace

  US Space Force to launch “hundreds of satellites” to better protect its assets from Russia and China

  5th August 2024

  As part of the Evolved Strategic SATCOM programme, the service intends to operate a swarm of smaller, cheaper LEO 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

  Multirole Fighter [Morocco]

  Programme Background 2019 In March 2019, the US State Department announced that it had approved a possible FMS of 25 F-16V Block 72 aircraft to ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | F-16 Replacement (1-4) [Thailand]

  The Royal Thai Air Force is seeking a new aircraft to replace its fleet of F-16s. The procurement process will be initiated by an initial ...

• Data links

  Data links | F-16 Replacement (1-4) [Thailand]

  The Royal Thai Air Force is seeking a new aircraft to replace its fleet of F-16s. The procurement process will be initiated by an initial ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  Air: Helmet-mounted displays | F-16 Replacement (1-4) [Thailand]

  The Royal Thai Air Force is seeking a new aircraft to replace its fleet of F-16s. The procurement process will be initiated by an initial ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | F-16 Replacement (1-4) [Thailand]

  The Royal Thai Air Force is seeking a new aircraft to replace its fleet of F-16s. The procurement process will be initiated by an initial ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | F-16 Replacement (1-4) [Thailand]

  The Royal Thai Air Force is seeking a new aircraft to replace its fleet of F-16s. The procurement process will be initiated by an initial ...

• 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 ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• 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 ...

• Air: Integrated Defensive Systems

  ASPIS

  The Advanced Self-Protection Integrated Suite (ASPIS) was developed by Raytheon to equip the Hellenic Air Force's fleet of F-16 Fighting Falcon combat aircraft. It was ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• Air-to-surface missiles

  AGM-158A JASSM

  The AGM-158A Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) is an American air-launched, precision standoff cruise missile. The missile is designed for launch from outside area defences to ...