• Defence Notes

  Centauri acquisition positions KBR for role in M-SHORAD

  5th October 2020

  KBR announced on 5 October that it has completed its acquisition of fellow US company Centauri for an undisclosed price. Centauri was an independent provider …

• Naval Warfare

  Argentina awaits enhanced OPV87 vessel

  16th October 2020

  ​Three vessels will feature enhancements to allow operations in the Southern Ocean

• Digital Battlespace

  Cyber concerns linger for USSF

  22nd October 2020

  Does the US Space Force recognise the proper importance of cyber security and is it acting accordingly?

• Land Warfare

  ​Kollsman to build advanced night sight prototypes for USMC

  8th September 2020

  Elbit Systems of America subsidiary Kollsman is to produce its multispectral, clip-on weapon night sight for the USMC. The selection is part of Phase II …

• Land Warfare

  Improved Armis 6x6 makes its public debut

  21st September 2020

  Arquus displayed its new-look Armis 6x6 logistics vehicle on 17 September during a demonstration day at the Satory test facility. Developed with support from Volvo, Armis …

• Defence Notes

  Experts expect ‘crawl, walk, run,’ process to make Skyborg a success

  9th October 2020

  In light of debate surrounding how well-suited loyal wingman aircraft are in competing against IADS and hypersonic missiles, analysts are confident the systems will eventually prove themselves in contested environments.

• Defence Notes

  US DoD bets on non-standard procurement to improve readiness

  23rd October 2020

  Other Transaction Authority (OTA) obligations of the US DoD have increased by 712% between FY2015 and FY2019. The largest proportion of these resources is going to non-traditional contractors and is primarily being used for R&D. The army was the leader in OTA usage across the DoD and accounted for 67% of obligations in FY2019.

• Naval Warfare

  UK juggles priorities as it assesses Middle East deployments

  21st September 2020

  The International Maritime Security Construct recently opened its formal headquarters in Bahrain. The grouping of nations focusing on delivering maritime security in the complex Gulf region …

• Military Logistics

  FN Herstal develops test unit for airborne weapon pods

  5th October 2020

  FN Herstal has launched a new test unit for aircraft weapon pods. Designed to offer an optimised level of integration, operational capability and maintenance on rotary- …

• Digital Battlespace

  Cobra Dane to gain more transmitter groups

  5th October 2020

  Diversified Technologies is building and factory-testing up to 11 new transmitter groups for the AN/FPS-108 Cobra Dane radar, under a $71.67 million sole-source contract from …

• Defence Helicopter

  Montenegro accepts first Bell 505

  18th September 2020

  The Montenegro Air Force accepted its first Bell 505 Jet Ranger X helicopter, with another to follow under a €3.3 million ($3.69 million) order with Bell …

• Land Warfare

  US Army takes delivery of its first Iron Dome system

  1st October 2020

  The US Army has received its first Iron Dome battery from the Israel MoD, manufacturer Rafael Advanced Defense Systems announced on 30 September. The army revealed …

• Naval Warfare

  India puts SMART to the test

  6th October 2020

  'Game-changer' weapon paves the way for India to extend the range of its ASW torpedoes

• Air Warfare

  Chinese KJ-600 AEW may have performed maiden flight

  4th September 2020

  The KJ-600, a carrier-borne airborne early warning (AEW) aircraft destined for the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), may have performed its maiden flight on 29 …

• Military Logistics

  Spanish bring in Supply to Australia

  8th October 2020

  Australia's new replenishment ship has arrived in-country, ready to be equipped with Australian-specific equipment.

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 ...