• Defence Notes

  US Air Force orders stand-down for safety review

  8th May 2018

  The US Air Force will ground all of its aircraft for a day while it conducts a safety review following a series of deadly accidents, …

• Defence Notes

  Boeing says it will follow US policy on Iran

  8th May 2018

  Boeing said on 8 May it will continue to take its cue from US government policy on sales to Iran after President Donald Trump announced …

• Digital Battlespace

  Malaysia’s network-centric programme makes unclear progress

  9th May 2018

  Despite Phase 1A of the Network-Centric Operations (NCO) programme of the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) being completed and handed over in December 2015 and officially …

• Naval Warfare

  Indian Coast Guard commissions OPV

  16th April 2018

  The Indian Coast Guard has commissioned its first of class offshore patrol vessel (OPV), ICGS Vikram, at Larsen and Toubro’s (L&T;) Defence shipyard at Kattupalli, …

• Naval Warfare

  HMNZS Te Kaha transferred to Lockheed Martin Canada

  30th April 2018

  Royal New Zealand Navy Anzac class frigate, HMNZS Te Kaha, has been transferred to Lockheed Martin Canada for its refit under the Anzac Frigate Systems …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  ​AUVSI 2018: Kittyhawk and Jeppesen moving fast to digital airspace integration

  1st May 2018

  Further to FAA approval, Kittyhawk and Jeppesen have announced that they are collaborating on a project to integrate digital airspace authorisation, the low altitude authorisation …

• Digital Battlespace

  AUVSI 2018: Colorado’s wildfire operations aided by apps

  30th April 2018

  Colorado's fire services are exploring the benefits that smartphone apps could bring in providing crews on the ground greater situational awareness in combating the wildfires …

• Defence Helicopter

  Nigeria takes its second pair of Hinds

  11th May 2018

  The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has taken delivery of two more Russian Helicopters Mi-35 Hind newly-built, night-capable attack helicopters.The aircraft were airlifted to Makurda Air …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  AUVSI 2018: In-Flight Data confident ahead of TCCA's BVLOS decision

  1st May 2018

  Canada-based UAS operator In-Flight Data is hopeful of gaining permission from Transport Canada Civil Aviation Authority (TCCA) to start BVLOS flight tests in the country …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Shots fired from ground robot in live testing

  11th May 2018

  Rheinmetall Canada has confirmed it has conducted successful live firings from its weaponised 8x8 UGV. Live firing tests were conducted in Canada in the fourth quarter …

• Naval Warfare

  Spain's navy wants role in post-Brexit European defence

  29th April 2018

  With naval power Britain at the EU's exit door, Spain has gone on the offensive to be the next major player defending European shores. Madrid's …

• Naval Warfare

  Saudi Border Guard small boat programme close to completion

  3rd May 2018

  Plascoa, subsidiary of French shipbuilder Couach, is close to completing a large order for 79 Plascoa 1650 high speed interceptors for the Saudi Border Guard (SBG) …

• Training

  ITEC 2018: SISO meeting heralds ITEC

  9th May 2018

  As in previous years, the Simulation Interoperability Standards Organization (SISO) will be organising its annual ‘Seminar on Modelling & Simulation (M&S;) standards’, in conjunction with …

• Defence Notes

  USCG commandant calls for trust building in arctic region

  9th May 2018

  Russia and China may be rushing to plant their flag in the melting arctic circle but now is the time to strengthen ties and build …

• Digital Battlespace

  Raytheon to demo FoXTEN intelligence platform

  16th April 2018

  Raytheon has received a contract from the US Army to demonstrate its FoXTEN mobile intelligence platform, designed to allow soldiers to collect and access real-time …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - HALE

  MQ-4C Triton (28-68) [USN]

  Background Requirement The MQ-4C Triton programme, developed under the Broad Area Maritime Surveillance (BAMS) programme, required an uncrewed system to provide persistent, broad-area intelligence, surveillance ...

• Military UAS - MALE, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  MQ-8C Fire Scout (USA)

  Programme Background Timeline According to the Naval Air Systems Command, having first ordered the MQ-8B in 2009, the UAV has become a pillar of the ...

• Landing platform docks/dock landing ships

  Medium Landing Ship (1-10) [USMC]

  Programme Background Development As part of the US Marine Corps' future force structure, it is developing a new platform under the Medium Lading Ship programme ...

• Landing platform docks/dock landing ships

  Medium Landing Ship (11-33) [USMC]

  Programme Background Requirements As part of the US Marine Corps' future force structure, it is developing a new platform under the Medium Lading Ship programme ...

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

  Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) Unmanned Expeditionary (MUX) (Increment 1) [USMC]

  Programme Background All-in-One UAV Since 2016, the USMC has wished to acquire a UAV that could be deployed from a vessel, be used for various missions, ...

• Military UAS - HALE

  MQ-4C Triton (1-27) [USN]

  Background Requirement The MQ-4C Triton programme, developed under the Broad Area Maritime Surveillance (BAMS) programme, required an uncrewed system to provide persistent, broad-area intelligence, surveillance ...

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

  Medium Range/Medium Endurance (MR/ME) [USMC]

  Programme Background Force Design 2030 The USMC Force Design 2030 is a modernisation effort to create a lighter, more agile maritime force. The update to ...

• UAS: communication systems

  UAS: communication systems | Future Vertical Lift Maritime Strike (FVL-MS) [USA]

  The Future Vertical Lift Maritime Strike (FVL-MS) programme seeks to develop and acquire a family of systems, including crewed and uncrewed aircraft, to replace rotary life aircraft ...

• UAS: flight control systems

  UAS: flight control systems | Future Vertical Lift Maritime Strike (FVL-MS) [USA]

  The Future Vertical Lift Maritime Strike (FVL-MS) programme seeks to develop and acquire a family of systems, including crewed and uncrewed aircraft, to replace rotary life aircraft ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Future Vertical Lift Maritime Strike (FVL-MS) [USA]

  Programme Background Requirement The FVL-MS programme seeks to develop and acquire a family of systems, including crewed and uncrewed aircraft, to replace rotary life aircraft utilised ...

• Military UAS - small

  Long Range/Long Endurance (LR/LE) [USMC]

  Background Force Design 2030 The USMC Force Design 2030 is a modernisation effort to create a lighter, more agile maritime force. The update to the ...

• Military UAS - small

  RQ-21A Blackjack / STUASLO - Replacement Units (USN)

  Programme Background Joint USN and USMC Procurment The RQ-21 Blackjack, or STUALSO, was a combined United States Navy (USN) and United States Marine Corps (USMC) programme ...

• Military UAS - small

  RQ-21A Blackjack / STUASLO - Replacement Units (USMC)

  Programme Background Joint USN and USMC Procurment The RQ-21 Blackjack, or STUALSO, was a combined United States Navy (USN) and United States Marine Corps (USMC) programme ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Global Fast Sealift [USN]

  At Sea Air Space 2026, Hanwha Ocean and Gibbs and Cox displayed the Global Fast Sealift concept design. The vessel is intended as a next-generation ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Global Fast Sealift [USN]

  At Sea Air Space 2026, Hanwha Ocean and Gibbs and Cox displayed the Global Fast Sealift concept design. The vessel is intended as a next-generation ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Landing craft and hovercraft

  SECAT

  In 2022, Textron Systems unveiled its new Surface Effect Cargo Amphibious Transport (SECAT) craft, designed to support logistics behind the US Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations and ...

• Military helicopters - maritime

  MH-53E Sea Dragon

  Sikorsky developed the MH-53E (S-80) Sea Dragon variant of its CH-53E to provide the USN with a dedicated airborne mine countermeasures helicopter. Equipped with enlarged ...

• Air: Integrated cockpit systems

  Tactical Mission System for Helicopter Applications

  The Saab tactical mission system is a system for transport, utility, C2 and combat helicopters intended to operate in a net-centric environment. It is designed ...

• Major networking projects

  CANES

  The Consolidated Afloat Networks and Enterprise Services (CANES) programme is a USN-wide effort to rationalise shipboard computing assets. It is designed to create a common ...

• Air: UAV simulators

  MQ-9 MTD

  SDS’s ROVATTS-based MQ-9 Mission Training Device (MTD) was developed to provide high-fidelity simulation to support US Air National Guard operational Reaper crew training. The PC-based ...

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

  MQ-8C Fire Scout

  The MQ-8C is a newer version of the Fire Scout and is based on a Bell 407 commercial helicopter. It offers a greater range, endurance and ...

• Land: soldier modernisation systems - national programmes

  MERS

  The Marine Expeditionary Rifle Squad (MERS) takes a systems engineering approach to equipping the USMC’s fundamental fighting unit. The integration and configuration management of all ...

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

  MQ-8B Fire Scout

  The MQ-8B Fire Scout is a rotary-wing UAV that provides situational awareness and precision targeting support for the US Armed Forces. The MQ-8B Fire Scout, ...

• Air: surveillance and maritime patrol radar

  AN/ZPY-1 STARLite

  The AN/ZPY-1 Small Tactical Radar-Lightweight (STARLite) is a synthetic aperture radar and GMTI sensor for UAVs, manufactured by Northrop Grumman. It offers strip and spot synthetic ...

• Fighter - multirole, Fighter - naval

  F-35C

  The F-35C Lightning II, also known as the F-35 carrier variant (CV), is a fifth-generation multirole combat aircraft in carrier configuration. It has larger wings and ...

• Military - UUVs

  Mission Specialist Defender

  The Mission Specialist Defender is a remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV) developed by VideoRay, now part of BlueHalo's unmanned maritime systems. The ROV is known ...

• Guided munitions

  AGM-154 JSOW

  The AGM-154 Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW) is a joint United States Navy (USN)/United States Air Force (USAF) programme with the USN as the lead service. ...

• Air: mission management systems

  Air Operations Systems of Systems

  Air Operations System of Systems is designed to enable management of airspaces across large states and/or regions focusing on strategic planning. The system integration approach ...

• Trainer

  Saab 340 trainer

  The Saab 340 trainer aircraft is based on the Saab 340 regional airliner. It is used by the USN for pilot training. The aircraft replaced ...

• Major networking projects

  DIB 1.3

  The Distributed Common Ground System (DCGS) Integration Backbone (DIB) is a key element of the US DoD strategy to build a net-centric capability, enabling service DCGS elements ...