• Defence Notes

  Collins Aerospace to build secondary launch platform for next-gen US nukes

  11th November 2020

  ​Secondary Launch Platform-Airborne forms part of GBSD engineering and manufacturing development

• Training

  Farewell to Meggitt Training, hello InVeris

  26th October 2020

  Meggitt continues to shed its interests in the training and simulation industry

• Naval Warfare

  Delivery of first Sa'ar 6 corvette to Israel moves one step closer

  11th November 2020

  As the Israeli flag begins its first day flying from the foremast of INS Magen, the lead ship of four Sa’ar 6 class corvettes being built for the Israeli Navy, new details have emerged about the programme’s timeline.

• Digital Battlespace

  US Army releases robotic data collection tool

  16th November 2020

  ​Data DirectoR (DDR) will improve data collection and analysis as well as will pave the way to progress in the development of autonomous systems. It can record messages, topics, timestamps for all designated information a user wants to capture.

• Training

  DoD exercises option for more TH-73As

  16th November 2020

  ​The helicopter will be used to train future USMC, USN and Coast Guard pilots

• Training

  B-2 Spirit sim gains latest IG upgrade

  2nd October 2020

  Under contract to Northrop Grumman, visual system specialist Quantum3D has completed an overhaul of a B-2 Spirit simulator at Tinker AFB in Oklahoma County. The …

• Land Warfare

  Serbia receives upgraded T-72s from Russia

  16th November 2020

  Upgrade includes a third-generation thermal panoramic sight for the tank commander, a new ballistic computer, a new gun stabilising system and a 12.7mm RWS

• Naval Warfare

  USN issues contract modification for submarine missile guidance technologies

  16th November 2020

  Deal covers hypersonic guidance, navigation and control applications for the Common Missile Compartment

• Digital Battlespace

  Tussle for cyber advantage leaves no clear winner

  26th November 2020

  Vulnerabilities are multiplying for the US, even as it makes progress on an ambitious all-domain programme for information sharing

• Defence Notes

  Dassault put on notice for French Navy Falcon 2000 Albatros fleet

  20th November 2020

  The French government has announced it will contract Dassault for the production of 12 Falcon 2000 Albatros maritime multirole aircraft.

• Land Warfare

  German MoD will improve radio communication with new portable systems

  13th November 2020

  The German MoD will acquire 913 portable radios (AN/PRC-117G) from the American company L3Harris to replace the AN/PRC-117F version. This model and its corresponding previous versions have been in service with the national armed forces for ten years.

• Naval Warfare

  Final test phase begins for Suffren

  9th November 2020

  ​First of six new nuclear attack submarines was handed over to the French Navy on 6 November

• Land Warfare

  EDA plans joint programmes to procure or upgrade MBTs

  1st December 2020

  The latest Coordinated Annual Review on Defence (CARD) report mentions an initiative to develop and procure a next-generation MBT in the long term, as well as modernisation and upgrades of in-service platforms in the short term. Any solution will have to address aspects of C2, target acquisition, firepower, mobility, survivability and sustainability.

• Land Warfare

  EDA plans joint programmes to procure or upgrade MBTs

  1st December 2020

  The latest Coordinated Annual Review on Defence (CARD) report mentions an initiative to develop and procure a next-generation MBT in the long term, as well as modernisation and upgrades of in-service platforms in the short term. Any solution will have to address aspects of C2, target acquisition, firepower, mobility, survivability and sustainability.

• Defence Helicopter

  US Army and Sikorsky to test ‘multi-ship’ optionally piloted Black Hawks

  12th November 2020

  Multiple UH-60 optionally piloted Black Hawk flight tests, under DARPA's ALIAS Phase III, are set to begin next year.

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 ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  OC-135B Replacement (USAF- Cancelled)

  Programme Background The modification and Treaty Certification works include Digital Visual Imaging System kits, design and development for mission system integration (structural design, interphone communications systems, ...

• Military helicopters - scout/light attack

  Light Combat Helicopter (India - Air Force)

  Programme Background Requirement India's requirement for light attack helicopters capable of operating at high altitudes became apparent during the 1999 Kargil War. Originally planned to reach ...

• Military helicopters - scout/light attack

  Light Combat Helicopter (India - Army)

  Programme Background Requirement India's requirement for light attack helicopters capable of operating at high altitudes became apparent during the 1999 Kargil War. Originally planned to reach ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  Orlan-10 [Russian Navy]

  Background Frigate Augmentation Before Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the country planned to augment its Admiral Gorshkov class frigates with indigenously developed Orlan-10 ...

• Loitering munitions

  Loitering Munition [Switzerland]

  Background Announcement In a February 2023 interview with Swiss news outlet CH-Media, Swiss army chief Thomas Süssli stated that the country was considering acquiring loitering munitions ...

• Destroyers

  Canadian Surface Combatant/River Class (1-3) [Canada]

  Development and Procurement Requirements Fifteen frigates are being procured to replace the Royal Canadian Navy's 12 ageing Halifax-class frigates and the now-retired Iroquois-class destroyers with ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Shahed-171 (ANSU-200) [Venezuela]

  Background Independence Day Parade Venezuela operates the ANSU-200, a UAV with many visual similarities to the Shahed-171, which Defence Insight believes is a domestically produced ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  Seeker 400 - First Batch (UAE)

  Programme Background The UAE has a long history of transactions with Denel Dynamics. The country has been purchasing various Seeker systems from as far back ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | Pegasus SIGINT Aircraft (Follow-On) [Germany]

  In 2021, Germany awarded a contract to Hensoldt for the Kalaetron integrated SIGINT system to be installed on three Bombardier Global 6000 aircraft, forming the Persistent ...

• Data links

  Data links | Pegasus SIGINT Aircraft (Follow-On) [Germany]

  In 2021, Germany awarded a contract to Hensoldt for the Kalaetron integrated SIGINT system to be installed on three Bombardier Global 6000 aircraft, forming the Persistent ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | Pegasus SIGINT Aircraft (Follow-On) [Germany]

  In 2021, Germany awarded a contract to Hensoldt for the Kalaetron integrated SIGINT system to be installed on three Bombardier Global 6000 aircraft, forming the Persistent ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | Pegasus SIGINT Aircraft (Follow-On) [Germany]

  In 2021, Germany awarded a contract to Hensoldt for the Kalaetron integrated SIGINT system to be installed on three Bombardier Global 6000 aircraft, forming the Persistent ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  AW101-Norway

  AgustaWestland is also providing initial support and training services, including spares at each of the operating bases and aircrew training. It will then provide performance ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Joint Maritime Multi-Mission System (J3MS)/SIGINT Ship [Italy]

  The Italian Navy is now conducting de-risk studies to replace Elettra with a new Joint Maritime Multi-Mission System (J3MS) ship. The vessel will feature a ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Air: aerial targets

  Lakshya

  The Lakshya is an aerial target developed by India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for training fighter pilots in air-to-air combat or ground-based air ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  StreamCaster Mini 4210

  The StreamCaster Mini 4210 (SM4210) is a single-channel data radio (SCDR) that can create MANET mesh networks. It is currently in use with the US ...

• Air: mission management systems

  FireStorm

  FireStorm is an integrated targeting and mission management system for air-to-ground operations such as close air support, ground targeting and call for fire. It is ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  AW129

  The AW129 Mangusta (Mongoose, service designation) is a tandem two-seat, twin-engine attack helicopter originally developed for the Italian Army and subsequently developed into a multirole combat ...

• Air: mission management systems

  CMA-9000

  The CMA-9000  Flight and Radio Management System (FMS/RMS) is manufactured by the Canadian firm CMC Electronics. It is designed for a wide range of commercial, ...

• Air: aerial targets

  Chukar III

  The Chukar III, based on Northrop Grumman’s BQM-74E developed for the USN, is a high subsonic aerial jet target for export customers.

• Sea: weapon training, Military - USVs

  Sprite

  The Sprite is a USV developed by QinetiQ and designed for live-fire training exercises. 

• Air: aerial targets

  Banshee Whirlwind

  Originally made by Meggitt Target Systems, a company QinetiQ acquired in 2016, the Banshee is an aerial target and the first drone in the Banshee series.  ...

• Land: range systems and targets

  Badger UGV-T

  Badger is a remotely controlled, lightly armoured, all-terrain vehicle designed to exercise anti-armour combat systems. No permanent installations are required; Badger is transportable to and ...

• Sea: weapon training, Military - USVs

  Albatros-T

  The Aselsan Albatros-T is a high-speed, unmanned, surface-target boat manufactured by Aselsan. It is designed to be used as a moving target in shooting drills.

• Air: Integrated cockpit systems

  Integrated Avionics Suite

  Northrup Grumman's Integrated Avionics Suite is an open architecture mission equipment package, which can be deployed on a number of rotorcraft platforms. It consists of ...

• Air: aerial targets

  DO-SK6

  The DO-SK6 is a modular design tow body adaptable for various functions.

• Naval: RF/IR/acoustic decoys

  Integrated Decoy System

  Rafael's integrated ship-defence decoy system features real-time decoy deployment, fixed and/or rotating launchers and a computerised decoy controller that can be integrated with a ship’s ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Integrated Combat System

  The Integrated Combat System (ICS) is a combat management system being developed for the US Navy. The project, currently led by Lockheed Martin, aims to ...

• Air: air combat simulators

  Kuwait Air Force F/A-18 TOFT

  L3Harris Technologies has delivered two F/A-18C Tactical Operational Flight Trainers (TOFTs) built for the Kuwait Air Force (KAF). The high-fidelity TOFTs replace the KAF’s F/A-18 ...