• Defence Notes

  Farnborough 2012: AFSOC begins gunship conversions

  9th July 2012

  The US Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) has begun the process of upgrading 16 MC-130J aircraft into AC-130J platforms with 'precision strike' packages for …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Farnborough 2012: Industry awaits K-Max decision

  8th July 2012

  Lockheed Martin and Kaman Aerospace are awaiting a decision by the US Marine Corps (USMC) as to whether it wishes to extend the deployment of …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Farnborough 2012: Lockheed SAR payload integrated on undisclosed UAV

  8th July 2012

  Lockheed Martin's Advanced Synthetic Aperture Radar System (ASARS-3) will be integrated on board an undisclosed UAV by the start of 2013, Shephard has been informed. …

• Military Logistics

  C-27J carries out KC-767A refueling tests

  6th July 2012

  Alenia Aermacchi has announced that flight-refueling tests carried out by the C-27J with the KC-767A tanker have shown positive results so far. The company announced …

• Military Logistics

  Indonesia to receive Australian C-130 Hercules

  6th July 2012

  The Australian Department of Defence (DOD) has announced that it is to transfer four Australian Defence Force (ADF) C-130 Hercules aircraft to Indonesia under a …

• Digital Battlespace

  US Army proves sense and avoid capability

  2nd July 2012

  The US Army has successfully demonstrated its Ground Based Sense and Avoid (GBSAA) system during two weeks of testing at Dugway Proving Grounds in Utah, …

• Military Logistics

  Becker Avionics to provide ICS for C-130 retrofit

  29th June 2012

  Becker Avionics has announced that it has recently completed an intercom system (ICS) modernisation and upgrade project for C-130/L-382 aircraft with an undisclosed customer. The …

• Defence Helicopter

  Army outlines Gray Eagle lessons learned

  27th June 2012

  Following the first full company deployment of the Gray Eagle UAS to Afghanistan in March, the US Army has described the learning process associated with …

• Land Warfare

  Lockheed Martin wins MLRS contract

  27th June 2012

  Lockheed Martin has announced that it has received a contract from the US Army for the first phase of a three-year development programme that will …

• Military Logistics

  Elbit Systems awarded Korean C-130 upgrade contract

  25th June 2012

  Elbit Systems has announced that it has been awarded a contract to upgrade the Korean Air Force C-130 transport aircraft. Under the contract, valued at …

• Military Logistics

  Sixth C-17 delivered to UAE

  21st June 2012

  Boeing has announced that it has delivered the sixth United Arab Emirates (UAE) C-17 Globemaster III to the UAE Air Force and Air Defence earlier …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Simlat to deliver UAS training system to CASR

  21st June 2012

  Simlat has revealed that it has recently been awarded a contract to provide a highly advanced UAS training system to Saint Louis University’s Centre for …

• Naval Warfare

  Lockheed calls for review of sequestration

  19th June 2012

  Lockheed Martin Chairman and CEO Bob Stevens has described the 'uncertain' consequences of sequestration as company officials outlined their visions for the next decade in …

• Military Logistics

  Boeing tanker design passes milestone

  19th June 2012

  Boeing has claimed that the development of its KC-46 for the USAF is 'on time, ahead of schedule' following an 'amazing' PDR that was completed …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  First US Navy MQ-4C BAMS aircraft unveiled

  15th June 2012

  Northrop Grumman has unveiled the first US Navy MQ-4C Triton Broad Area Maritime Surveillance Unmanned Aircraft System (BAMS UAS) in a ceremony at the company’s …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - small

  Medium Range Reconnaissance (MRR) / Rucksack Portable UAS (RPUAS) [USA]

  Background The Rucksack Portable UAS (RPUAS) programme The RPUAS programme will provide the battalion and below-ground manoeuvre elements within the US Army with an organic, ...

• Military UAS - mini

  U&C reconnaissance drones [US Army]

  Methodology PGO The programme has been assigned a PGO of 100%, as a contract has been awarded. Unit cost It has not been clarified what ...

• Transport

  C-27J [Azerbaijan]

  Programme Background The Azerbaijani Air Force signed a contract with Leonardo in June 2023 to procure the C-27J Spartan tactical transport aircraft. This move is ...

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

  Mini Reconnaissance Drones [Lithuania]

  Programme Background Planned Purchases On 14 September 2022, the Lithuanian MoD announced in a short statement on Twitter, now X, that it had begun organising ...

• Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  ISTAR UAS project [Canada]

  Programme Background Objective The Royal Canadian Navy's (RCN) main significant UAV project is the RCN Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance Unmanned Aircraft System (RCN ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - small

  Small Reconnaissance Drones [Lithuania]

  Programme Background Planned Purchases On 14 September 2022, the Lithuanian MoD announced in a short statement on Twitter, now X, that it had begun organising ...

• Frigates

  European Combat Vessel [Spain]

  Programme Background Requirements The European Combat Vessel (ECV) is currently a conceptual project that seeks to design a European collaborative multi-mission, modular warship. As of ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | Combat Fighter Jet [Ireland]

  In February 2025, Simon Harris, the Irish Minister for Defence and Tánaiste, emphasised the importance of acquiring a new combat fighter jet to address aerial ...

• Data links

  Data links | Combat Fighter Jet [Ireland]

  In February 2025, Simon Harris, the Irish Minister for Defence and Tánaiste, emphasised the importance of acquiring a new combat fighter jet to address aerial ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  Air: Helmet-mounted displays | Combat Fighter Jet [Ireland]

  In February 2025, Simon Harris, the Irish Minister for Defence and Tánaiste, emphasised the importance of acquiring a new combat fighter jet to address aerial ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | Combat Fighter Jet [Ireland]

  In February 2025, Simon Harris, the Irish Minister for Defence and Tánaiste, emphasised the importance of acquiring a new combat fighter jet to address aerial ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | Combat Fighter Jet [Ireland]

  In February 2025, Simon Harris, the Irish Minister for Defence and Tánaiste, emphasised the importance of acquiring a new combat fighter jet to address aerial ...

• OPVs

  Harry DeWolf Class (AOPS) Coast Guard (7-8) [Canada]

  Background Requirements The new vessels will replace the CCGS Leonard J Cowley, an ice-strengthened fisheries patrol vessel that entered service in 1984 and CCGS Cygnus, a ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  A400M [Germany]

  Programme Background Germany originally said it would but 60 A400Ms, but when the program was re-baselined in 2010 reduced its planed off take to 53, ...

• Destroyers

  Next-Generation Large Surface Combatants (LSC) - DDG(X) [USN]

  Programme Background Requirements The US Navy (USN) is acknowledging a need to move away from the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer design, which is slowly outgrowing. Flight III ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Counter-UAS systems

  MEHEL 2.0

  The Mobile Expeditionary High-Energy Laser (MEHEL) is a C-UAS-capable vehicle that employs directed energy to neutralise targets. MEHEL 2.0 was first seen at AUSA 2016, ...

• Laser-directed energy weapons

  Fractl:2

  Fractl:2, developed and manufactured by AIM Defence, is an Australian laser directed energy weapon (LDEW). The high-powered portable system is Australia's first acquisition of a directed ...

• Counter-UAS systems

  DroneDefender

  DroneDefender is a directed-energy UAS countermeasure that disrupts the adversary's control of the aircraft, neutralising it so that no remote action (including detonation) can occur, ...

• Counter-UAS systems, Land: Electronic Attack - Jamming

  EJDERHA HPEM System

  The EJDERHA is a high power electromagnetic system manufactured by Aselsan. It generates high-amplitude electromagnetic fields and directs them to potential targets such as IEDs ...

• Laser-directed energy weapons

  Apollo

  Apollo is a High-Energy Laser Weapon System manufactured by Electro Optic Systems (EOS). Apollo's laser utilises directed energy to disable or destroy aerial targets without ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  SCATA Mk1

  The SCATA Mk1 is the first military vehicle developed by Finland's SCATA.

• Laser-directed energy weapons

  Locust

  BlueHalo's Locust is a laser weapon system. The system delivers a complete kill chain, providing a layered and broadband detection capability that is coupled with electronic ...

• Laser-directed energy weapons

  Minotaur

  Minotaur, developed by Soukos Robots, is a Greek laser directed energy weapon (LDEW). Minotaur is an anti-drone platform with the ability to shoot down unmanned ...

• Laser-directed energy weapons, Self-propelled guns, Self-propelled missile systems

  SkyRanger 30

  SkyRanger 30 is a mobile ground-based air defence (GBAD) laser directed energy weapon (LDEW) system designed by Rheinmetall. The system comprises automatic cannons, guided missiles, and a ...

• OPVs

  PPA/MultiPurpose Combat Ship (MPCS) EVO

  The PPA/MultiPurpose Combat Ship (MPCS) EVO is an enhanced version of the Thaon di Revel-class PPAs unveiled at Euronaval 2024. The PPA/MPCS EVO retains the core platform ...

• Laser-directed energy weapons

  CROSSBOW MINI

  CROSSBOW MINI, developed by IPG Photonics, is a laser-directed energy weapon (LDEW). The LDEW has multiple deployable configurations and is a part of the manufacturers ...

• Laser-directed energy weapons

  DIAL

  The Laser Weapon Instrumental Demonstrator (DIAL), in joint development with Indra and Escribano Mechanical Engineering, is a Spanish laser directed energy weapon (LDEW). The system ...

• Laser-directed energy weapons

  Archimedes

  Archimedes, developed by Aurelius Systems, is a laser-directed energy weapon designed to stop drones at scale. The system is still in development, though Aurelius received ...

• Laser-directed energy weapons

  ALKA-KAPLAN

  ALKA-KAPLAN is a collaborative effort between Turkish manufacturers ROKETSAN and FNSS. The system is a mobile armoured anti-drone system, which integrates the ALKA directed energy-weapon ...

• Laser-directed energy weapons

  Italian LDEW (Leonardo/MBDA)

  As announced in December 2024, Leonardo and MBDA are collaborating to produce a Fire Unit Laser Directed Energy Weapon (LDEW) for the Italian Navy. The ...