• Naval Warfare

  Future of the US Navy’s Arleigh Burke programme remains unclear

  1st July 2025

  The US Navy does not have a precise date for the award of the procurement contract for the third Arleigh Burke-class destroyer despite having the funds to advance with the programme in FY2025.

• Land Warfare

  Digital backbone: bringing new capabilities to the UK defence market

  29th August 2025

  In Conversation: Shephard’s Gerrard Cowan talks to Bittium’s newly appointed general manager for UK defence, Dean Aldridge, about how the company’s tactical communications technologies can empower the British armed forces, and its ambitions for the UK market.

• Air Warfare

  US Congress limits F-35 procurement

  20th December 2024

  Restrictions cover new purchases of the three variants of the multirole fighter and require the DoD to correct issues in the acquisition programme.

• Land Warfare

  Kongsberg Defence Australia to supply control stations to Poland under $12 million deal

  20th January 2025

  The Naval Strike Missile (NSM) Coastal Defence System (CDS) command and control (C2) console is derived from the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System air defence console currently in service with the Australian Army,

• Land Warfare

  US to invest nearly $600 million in Israeli defence in 2025

  8th January 2025

  Jerusalem’s air defence capabilities procurement efforts will receive up to $190 million.

• Air Warfare

  Netherlands deploys F-35s for air policing in Estonia

  2nd December 2024

  The Dutch F-35s will replace the German Eurofighter Typhoons stationed in Latvia.

• Air Warfare

  Modified 757 aircraft planned to inform GCAP sensors and communications takes flight

  11th December 2024

  The Boeing 757, dubbed Excalibur, was equipped with new side and belly pods and assessed for stability during flight. The aircraft will now undergo further engineering work at QinetiQ’s Boscombe Down facility in Wiltshire, England.

• Land Warfare

  Aselsan successfully tests Gökberk system against FPV drones

  11th March 2025

  The system had been previously proven to work against rotary and fixed-wing kamikaze drones, with Aselsan now working on new capabilities for Gökberk to counter UAV swarms.

• Air Warfare

  Lithuania to send an extra 4,500 drones to Ukraine despite delivery delays

  16th January 2025

  According to local media sources, thousands of drones destined for Ukraine are currently stuck in warehouses due to bureaucratic delays.

• Defence Notes

  Ireland begins work on buying fighter jets and doubling the naval fleet

  3rd March 2025

  Since the release of Ireland’s Commission on the Defence Forces (CoDF) report two years ago there have been whisperings about the potential of Ireland buying fighter jets, one of the most ambitious recommendations. The prospect has now inched closer.

• Air Warfare

  US to deploy F-35As to Japan base by early 2026

  2nd December 2024

  The 48 F-35A aircraft are set to replace the 36 F-16s as part of the US Department of Defense’s plans to upgrade its aircraft across Japan.

• Air Warfare

  Lockheed sees 5% 2024 sales growth as CEO says DOGE is an “opportunity” for growth

  5th February 2025

  Lockeed Martin’s aeronautics sector saw $20 billion in orders, driven by its Lot 18 F-35 and US fiscal year F-35 sustainment contract wins.

• Land Warfare

  US sanctions fail to rattle India as it looks to Russian long-range radar

  20th December 2024

  India has been navigating a strategic balancing act in its defence modernisation efforts as it considers deals with Russia and the US.

• Land Warfare

  Europe “must provide the overwhelming share” of future defence aid to Ukraine, says US Secretary of Defence

  14th February 2025

  Pete Hegseth stated that Europe “must provide the overwhelming share of future lethal and nonlethal aid to Ukraine”.

• Air Warfare

  South Korea starts mass assembly of its MUAV

  17th December 2024

  Construction of the Busan-based production facility has also now been completed, with the new medium-altitude reconnaissance drones destined for the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) by 2028.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  A330 MRTT (1-12) [France]

  In November 2014, The French Defence Procurement Agency (DGA) has confirmed purchase of 12 A330 MRTT air-to-air refuelling aircraft from Airbus. The contract will cover the development and ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  A400M-Spain

  In December 2018, Spain Air Force took delivery of its first A400M. The aircraft will be operated by the Air Transport Wing (ATW) 31 of the ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  C-390 [Hungary]

  Programme Background The aircraft for Hungary will be specially configured for tactical transport operations, air-to-air refuelling of the service's Saab Gripen C/D fighters, and medical ...

• 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 ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  Strategic Tanker Transport [Canada]

  Programme Background This project will replace the existing fleet capability, including strategic airlift, air-to-air refuelling, Aeromedical Evacuations and Strategic Government of Canada transport. The Strategic ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | Tanker Aircraft [Greece]

  The Hellenic Air Force (HAF) is advancing plans to procure four Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker aircraft from the United States through the Excess Defense Articles (EDA) ...

• Data links

  Data links | Tanker Aircraft [Greece]

  The Hellenic Air Force (HAF) is advancing plans to procure four Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker aircraft from the United States through the Excess Defense Articles (EDA) ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | Tanker Aircraft [Greece]

  The Hellenic Air Force (HAF) is advancing plans to procure four Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker aircraft from the United States through the Excess Defense Articles (EDA) ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  Tanker Aircraft [Greece]

  Programme Background Requirement Procurement of tanker aircraft is aligned with a broader 2021-approved Hellenic National Defence General Staff (GEETHA) plan to enhance the HAF's reach and ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | KC-135 [Argentina]

  Argentina has reportedly formally requested two KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft, according to an interview given by the Chief of the Argentine Air Force on 1 September ...

• Data links

  Data links | KC-135 [Argentina]

  Argentina has reportedly formally requested two KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft, according to an interview given by the Chief of the Argentine Air Force on 1 September ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | KC-135 [Argentina]

  Argentina has reportedly formally requested two KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft, according to an interview given by the Chief of the Argentine Air Force on 1 September ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  A330 MRTT (1-9) [NATO]

  Programme Background Following operations in Libya and extensive analyses by the European Defence Agency (EDA), it was agreed at the NATO Summit in 2012 that ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  KC-135 [Argentina]

  Programme Background The Chief of the Argentine Air Force, Brigadier Gustavo Valverde, announced that a formal request was submitted through the U.S. FMS process for two KC-135R ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  KC-Y Tanker Aircraft (USA)

  Programme Background The USAF is replacing its fleet of 396 KC-135 Stratotanker refuelling aircraft, built in the 1950s and 60s, and 59 KC-10 Extenders, which entered service ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Air: transport/tanker simulators

  KC-767 JBOT Trainer

  ACME has delivered a Remote Air Refueling Operator trainer to the Japan Air Self-Defense Force. The trainer supports the KC-767J tanker aircraft that has a remote ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  A330 MRTT

  The 111t basic fuel capacity of the A330-200 airliner – from which the A330 is derived – enables the A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) to ...

• Air: transport/tanker simulators

  A330 MRTT Training Devices

  Under subcontract to Airbus Defence and Space, CAE has provided A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) training devices to the UAE Air Force and Royal Saudi ...

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

  X-47B UCAS

  The X-47B is a tailless, strike fighter-sized unmanned aircraft, which was developed as part of the USN's Unmanned Combat Air System Demonstration project. The aircraft ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  MC-X Orca

  At DX Korea 2022, KAI presented an MC-X Orca medium transport aircraft concept model. The twin-engine aircraft is aimed at the Republic of Korea Air Force ...

• Air: air combat simulators

  Hellenic Air Force F-16 ATD

  L3Harris Technologies has delivered two F-16C Block 52+ Aircrew Training Devices (ATDs) to the Hellenic Air Force. The trainers enable pilots to hone air-to-air and ...

• Surface-to-air missiles, Loitering munitions

  359

  Unveiled in January 2025, the 359 is a surface-to-air (SAM) loitering munition. It is designed to engage targets such as AWACS, refuelling tankers, and other high-altitude surveillance and ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  KC-130J Super Hercules

  The KC-130J Super Hercules is a tanker variant of the C-130J Super Hercules. It is designed to deliver fuel to several platforms, including helicopters and ...

• Trailers

  M900 Series

  Heil’s M900-series tactical refuellers are designed and built to meet US military performance standards. The M967A2 ground equipment refueller and the M969A3 aircraft refueller are ...

• Air: fixed-wing flight simulators

  M-346 FMS

  Developed in conjunction with CAE, the M-346 Full Mission Simulator (FMS) can emulate basic fighter manoeuvres, formation flight, in-flight refuelling and advanced air-to-air and air-to-ground ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  MB-339C

  The MB-339C is an advanced/lead-in fighter trainer developed based on the MB-339A that made its first flight in August 1976. The latest MB-339C version is ...

• Fixed wing aircraft engines

  CF6-80E1A3

  The CF6-80E engines, developed by GE Aviation, power the newest generation of airliners such as Airbus A330. The engine incorporates a new 96-inch (2.44 meters) ...

• Air: transport/tanker simulators

  Transport, Refuelling and Sensor Aircraft Training

  Thales supports air force training needs for multi-mission aircraft in service around the world including A400M, MRTT/Voyager, Boeing Wedgetail, C-130 and KC-135, covering tactical airlift, ...

• Air: fixed-wing flight simulators

  Fast Jet Training

  Thales provides a suite of training products for the life-cycle of military fast jet training. These encompass the design, development and establishment of training services ...

• ISR/special mission, Transport

  EC-130J Commando Solo

  The EC-130J Commando Solo is a special mission aircraft based on the C-130J transport airframe. It is used to conduct military information support operations and ...