• Air Warfare

  Alternative engine option emerges for PAK-DA

  8th October 2020

  ​An engine that would have powered a long-cancelled Russian supersonic tactical bomber has emerged as a potential alternative to a proposal based on the NK-321, but how realistic is this prospect?

• Training

  USAF picks Plexsys for AWACS training support

  2nd September 2020

  Plexsys Interface Products has received a $66.77 million sole-source contract from the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, to support the Airborne Warning and Control …

• Air Warfare

  Brazil awaits enhanced AEW&C platform

  31st July 2020

  The Brazilian Air Force (FAB) expects to introduce its first modified Embraer E-99 aircraft in November this year, as it seeks to enhance its AEW&C; …

• Air Warfare

  Lockheed Martin to redesign F-35 components

  29th September 2020

  Lockheed Martin is to provide $63.89 million worth of non-recurring engineering in support of redesigned components for the F-35 Lightning II multirole fighter aircraft, the …

• Digital Battlespace

  L3Harris offers full-spectrum SIGINT pod for airborne platforms

  29th September 2020

  L3Harris Technologies on 29 September launched a new airborne SIGINT pod called RASISR (standing for Rapid, Adaptable, Smart, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance). The pod provides …

• Defence Notes

  Pentagon report warns of PLA’s meteoric rise

  2nd September 2020

  On 1 September the Pentagon issued its 20th and most comprehensive report on developments within the Chinese military, for the benefit of the US Congress …

• Air Warfare

  RCAF receives first Kingfisher

  29th September 2020

  The first CC-295 for the Royal Canadian Air Force’s (RCAF’s) Fixed Wing Search and Rescue Aircraft Replacement (FWSAR) programme arrived at Canadian Forces Base Comox on …

• Air Warfare

  Brazil scraps A-Darter serial production plans

  3rd August 2020

  The cancellation last year of A-Darter AAM serial production in Brazil marked a change of course for the Brazilian Air Force (FAB). The decision was taken …

• Digital Battlespace

  Viasat launched new BATS-D configuration

  8th October 2020

  Manufacturer eyes new applications and expanded CONOPS for in-service Link 16 battlefield radio

• Training

  Thailand selects trainer and light attack aircraft

  2nd September 2020

  According to Thai media, the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) has selected the Textron Aviation T-6C Texan II as its new trainer aircraft, while its …

• Digital Battlespace

  FLIR to provide BRITE Star Block II for USN and Czech Republic

  6th October 2020

  FLIR Systems is providing BRITE Star Block II systems to the USN and the Czech Republic (an FMS customer) under a $14.56 million firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract …

• Digital Battlespace

  India to order two Phalcon AWACS

  7th September 2020

  As military tensions with China in eastern Ladakh show no sign of easing, India is looking to accelerate its long-delayed acquisition of two Phalcon ELW-2090 …

• Training

  Argentina resurrects domestic trainer programme

  26th August 2020

  Fábrica Argentina de Aviones (FAdeA) is to produce a protoype IA-100 Malvina trainer aircraft for the Argentine Air Force, using an initial ARS185 million ($2.5 …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Poland picks local provider to meet sUAS requirement

  1st October 2020

  The Polish Armed Forces are to receive six new VTOL sUAS and associated equipment in 2021, under a PLN4.6 million ($1.19 million) deal between the …

• Air Warfare

  Russia continues quest for sixth-generation fighter

  30th September 2020

  Recent public remarks from Anatoly Serdyukov, head of the aviation cluster in Russian defence conglomerate Rostec, indicate that a sixth-generation fighter aircraft for Russia will …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Fighter - multirole

  JAS 39E/F Gripen (Brazil)

  In 2016, Gripen’s Project and Development Center was opened in Sao Paulo to allow Sweedish and Brazillian engineers to work together in the Gripen development ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | M-346 FA [Brazil]

  Brazil is evaluating the procurement of up to 30 Leonardo M-346 light attack aircraft under a potential agreement with Italy, aimed at modernising its aerial ...

• Data links

  Data links | M-346 FA [Brazil]

  Brazil is evaluating the procurement of up to 30 Leonardo M-346 light attack aircraft under a potential agreement with Italy, aimed at modernising its aerial ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  Air: Helmet-mounted displays | M-346 FA [Brazil]

  Brazil is evaluating the procurement of up to 30 Leonardo M-346 light attack aircraft under a potential agreement with Italy, aimed at modernising its aerial ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | M-346 FA [Brazil]

  Brazil is evaluating the procurement of up to 30 Leonardo M-346 light attack aircraft under a potential agreement with Italy, aimed at modernising its aerial ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | M-346 FA [Brazil]

  Brazil is evaluating the procurement of up to 30 Leonardo M-346 light attack aircraft under a potential agreement with Italy, aimed at modernising its aerial ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  KC-390 [Brazil]

  Programme Background Requirement The aircraft deliveries were scheduled to start by the end of 2016 and continue over a period of ten years. However,  the first ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  C-130H Replacement [Sweden]

  Programme Background Requirements Sweden has five C-130H aircraft (designated Tp-84) and one KC-130H. Two C-130Es bought in the 1960s have retired, but the six H ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Army Aviation Project [Brazil]

  Background Brazilian Investment As reported by Shephard, in August 2023, the Brazilian government announced plans to invest BRL 52.8 billion ($10.6 billion) in new military capabilities. As ...

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

  Hermes 900 [Brazil]

  Programme Background First Batch (2014) In 2014, Elbit reported supplying the Hermes 900 to the Brazilian Air Force (FAB). The drone is called the RQ-900 in ...

• Sealift/replenishment vessels

  Polar Support Vessel [Brazil]

  Programme Background Requirements In June 2020, the Brazilian Navy released a Request for Proposal (RfP) to procure a new Antarctic vessel to be manufactured in Brazil. The ...

• Transport

  C-130 Replacement [Greece]

  Programme Background Requirement The existing C-130 fleet of the Hellenic Air Force has faced operational readiness issues, with only one or two airframes in service at ...

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

  Hermes 900 [Undisclosed European Country]

  Background Various Contracts On 18 November 2024, Elbit Systems announced it had awarded various contacts with a combined $335 million to an undisclosed European country. ...

• Military helicopters - attack, Military helicopters - multirole

  Mi-35M Replacement [Brazil]

  Programme Background The Brazilian Air Force (FAB) High Command sprung a surprise on 10 February 2022 when it issued a document stating that its fleet ...

• Light attack

  M-346 FA [Brazil]

  Programme Background Requirement Brazil operates several A-1 (AMX) light attack aircraft, which were produced by Embraer in partnership with Leonardo in the 1980s. Similarly, the ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Air-to-surface missiles

  MAR-1

  The MAR-1 is a Brazilian air-to-surface anti-radiation missile (ARM) developed by Mectron in collaboration with the Aerospace Technology and Science Department (DCTA) of the Brazilian ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  EMB-312 Tucano

  The EMB-312 Tucano (Brazilian designation T-27) is a trainer and light attack aircraft developed by Embraer to meet the training requirements of the Brazilian Air ...

• Air: air combat simulators

  TPTS

  Tactical Procedures Training Simulators (TPTS), operating with SWARM software, can be used to provide most core training elements to pilots or offload training tasks from ...

• Air-to-air missiles

  Python-4

  The Python-4 is fitted with an 11kg high-explosive warhead and IR homing system as well as a double-base solid propellant rocket. The missile can fly at ...

• Trainer, Transport

  EMB-121 Xingu

  The EMB-121 Xingu is a twin-turboprop light transport and advanced multi-engine trainer aircraft developed by Embraer based on the EMB-110 Bandeirante. Its maiden flight was ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  KC-390/C-390 Millennium

  The KC-390 is a high-wing, twin-turbofan, T-tail design intended to meet the needs of the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) for a tanker/transport aircraft. Developed and ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  H225M

  The medium-weight, 11t-class H225M (formerly known as the EC725) is the latest military Super Puma/Cougar family member.  Technical features include a modular design of mechanical ...

• Land: battle management systems

  Arkhe Mission & Combat

  Launched in 2017, Atech's Arkhe Mission & Combat solutions offer a variety of solutions enabling operator to conduct missions from planning to execution and debriefing. It ...

• Fighter - air superiority

  F-5E/F Tiger II

  The F-5E (single-seat)/F (twin-seat) Tiger II is an air superiority fighter developed by Northrop Grumman based on the original F-5 Freedom Fighter. Production of the ...

• Guided munitions

  SMKB (Smart-MK-Bomb)

  The Smart-MK-Bomb, or the SMKB, is a precision guidance kit developed by Mectron and designed to turn Mk 82 and Mk 83 bombs into guided munitions.

• EO/IR systems, Land: unattended sensor/surveillance systems, Sea: ship surveillance and fire control systems

  SHAPO

  SHAPO is a multi-sensor, gyro-stabilised observation payload. It is intended for UAVs, helicopters, light aircraft, patrol boats, aerostats, airships, armoured vehicles and masts. Sensors include a ...

• Land: air defence radar

  Saber M60

  The Saber M60 is a low-altitude air-defence radar developed by the Brazilian Army's CTEx (Army Technology Centre) in collaboration with Bradar, part of Embraer Defence ...

• EO/IR systems

  Skyward

  The SkyWard system is an advanced Infrared Search and Track (IRST) solution developed for next-generation airborne platforms, including 5th-generation fighter aircraft.  Designed with modularity in ...

• Simulator Support Services

  Elbit Systems provides simulator support services such as contractor logistics support, training, manuals and spare parts. The latest integrated data environment is employed for visibility ...

• Man-portable missile systems

  RBS 70 system

  The RBS 70 was developed in the 1970s to meet the Swedish Army’s requirement for a low-cost, easy-to-use MANPADS which could function in extreme climatic ...