• Training

  USAF rises to training challenge with plan to network simulators

  19th June 2020

  At this year’s Training and Simulation Industry Symposium (TSIS), held virtually for the first time on 16-18 June due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the USAF …

• Digital Battlespace

  A3M prime contractor picks engineering support provider

  1st July 2020

  Comtech EF Data Corporation, part of the Commercial Solutions segment of  Comtech Telecommunications, has received a $1.8 million follow-on subcontract for a DoD programme. The …

• Digital Battlespace

  SE Asian airborne data links have a long way to go

  3rd July 2020

  Despite numerous modernisation programmes in Southeast Asian air forces, their true data link capabilities still have a long way to go to reach Western standards. …

• Training

  SCARS moves out of the blocks

  29th June 2020

  An L3 Harris Link Training and Simulation-led team has won the battle to secure the USAF's prestigious Simulator Common Architecture Requirements and Standards (SCARS) contract.  …

• Digital Battlespace

  Northrop continues AESA SABR upgrade for F-16s

  22nd June 2020

  Northrop Grumman is to provide more AESA radars for USAF F-16 aircraft under a $18.73 million contract modification, the DoD announced on 19 June. Work …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Reaper demonstrates three ATLC improvements

  26th June 2020

  General Atomics Aeronautical Systems has demonstrated three expanded automatic takeoff and landing capability (ATLC) enhancements for the MQ-9A Reaper UAS, under a modernisation contract from …

• Training

  KC-10 Training System moves forward

  23rd June 2020

  The USAF Life Cycle Management Center’s (AFLCMC) Air Mobility Organisation briefed delegates at last week’s virtual Training & Simulation Industry Symposium on four near-term requirements …

• Digital Battlespace

  ​Raytheon to aid ABMS development

  16th June 2020

  Raytheon Intelligence & Space (RI&S;) is to participate in development of the Advanced Battle Management System (ABMS) for the USAF, under multiple awards worth up …

• Digital Battlespace

  Japanese AWACS fleet to gain ADS-B Out

  24th June 2020

  Boeing is to upgrade transponder hardware and software on the Japan Air Self Defense Force’s (JASDF’s) fleet of four E-767 AWACS aircraft, under a $8.47 million …

• Air Warfare

  Raytheon supporting USAF F-15 radar upgrades

  15th June 2020

  Raytheon on 12 June was awarded a $202.6 million definitive contract for sustainment of the USAF F-15 fleet. The contract will see the company provide …

• Special Operations

  Five firms win AFSPECWAR support work

  22nd June 2020

  Five US companies have received a contract totalling USD950 million to provide equipment, training and product support to approximately 3,500 Air Force Special Warfare (AFSPECWAR) …

• Training

  Delay looms for KC-135 ATS training

  11th June 2020

  Time is short for the USAF to assess proposals for the next five-year iteration of aircrew training for the KC-135 Stratotanker. Training for USAF multi-engine …

• Air Warfare

  Bell Boeing celebrates 400th V-22 Osprey Tiltrotor delivery

  11th June 2020

  Bell Boeing has delivered its 400th V-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft to USAF Special Operations Command, the company confirmed on 10 June. The aircraft has been …

• Air Warfare

  Air National Guard awaits F-15EX basing announcement

  15th June 2020

  The director of the US Air National Guard (ANG) has declared it remains ‘on track’ to deploy its first Boeing F-15EX Eagle fighters in FY2022. …

• Air Warfare

  Runway accident in Iraq leaves USAF C-130H damaged

  9th June 2020

  The Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve confirmed that a USAF C-130H Hercules aircraft overran the runway at Camp Taji AFB, Iraq, on 8 …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

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

  RQ-20B Puma (USAF)

  Programme Background Requirement According to the AeroVironment Vice President and product line general manager, Trace Stevenson, the USAF Security Forces requires a small UAV to ...

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

  MQ-9A Reaper (USAF)

  Programme Background Procurement & Inventory According to the USAF FY2019 Budget Estimate document, the USAF set aside funds to acquire 433 MQ-9 Reapers by the end of ...

• MPVs - 4x4, Reconnaissance/patrol vehicles

  JLTV Oshkosh Contract [US Air Force]

  As of November 2020, the US DoD had signed 14 contracts with Oshkosh Defense covering the delivery of approximately 17,731 JLTVs to all branches of ...

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

  Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) [USAF]

  Programme Background Requirements The programme's requirements are based on the USAF's belief that it requires mass to compete effectively with an adversary in symmetrical warfare. However, ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | F-35A Joint Strike Fighter - USAF Future Procurement

  The USAF is planning to order 1137 F-35As between FY2026 and FY2048 under the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program. The purchase will be at a ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  Air: Helmet-mounted displays | F-35A Joint Strike Fighter - USAF Future Procurement

  The USAF is planning to order 1137 F-35As between FY2026 and FY2048 under the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program. The purchase will be at a ...

• Data links

  Data links | F-35A Joint Strike Fighter - USAF Future Procurement

  The USAF is planning to order 1137 F-35As between FY2026 and FY2048 under the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program. The purchase will be at a ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | F-35A Joint Strike Fighter - USAF Future Procurement

  The USAF is planning to order 1137 F-35As between FY2026 and FY2048 under the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program. The purchase will be at a ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | F-35A Joint Strike Fighter - USAF Future Procurement

  The USAF is planning to order 1137 F-35As between FY2026 and FY2048 under the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program. The purchase will be at a ...

• AEW&C

  E-7A Wedgetail (1-2) [USA]

  Programme Background Shephard notes that this entry covers the two rapid-prototype E-7 aircraft, whose contract was signed in August 2024. A second programme entry covers the ...

• 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 ...

• AEW&C

  E-7A Wedgetail (USA - Forecast)

  Programme Background Speaking on 21 September 2021 during the annual Air Force Association (AFA) Meeting in Washington DC, USAF Chief of Staff Gen Charles Brown ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  KC-46A (USA)

  Programme Background The first four Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) KC-46A aircraft were delivered to McConnell AFB in Kansas in January 2019. As of December 2020, a ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-15EX - USAF (Contracted)

  Programme Background USAF is looking to procure 144 F-15EX fighter aircraft, including two RDTE configurations and six low-rate initial production aircraft. F-15EX will replace ageing ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-15EX - USAF (Announced)

  Programme Background The F-15EX will be based on the 2-seat F-15QA (Qatar) configuration upgraded with USAF-only capabilities, including the Eagle Passive Active Warning and Survivability ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - HALE

  EX-3 Revenant

  The EX-3 Revenant is a developmental fixed-wing aircraft being developed by Exosonic. It is a Mach 1.2 supersonic UAV designed to be a 5th-generation representative, modular, autonomous ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  Next Generation Survivor Radio

  The Next Generation Survivor Radio (NGSR) is a software-defined radio being developed by General Dynamics Mission Systems. It is expected to enter into service after June 2026.

• Air: transport/tanker simulators

  USAF KC-135 ATS

  The KC-135 Aircrew Training System (ATS) programme delivers initial qualification, requalification, continuation and upgrades training for USAF KC-135 aircrews, including pilots, co-pilots and boom operators. ...

• Major networking projects

  C2 ConstellationNet

  According to David Tillotson, director of C4ISR architecture AF/XI, in a report to Congress: 'The ConstellationNet is the communications network – air, space and terrestrial ...

• Air: aerial targets

  QF-16 FSAT

  The QF-16 Full Scale Aerial Target (FSAT) is an optionally piloted supersonic aerial target developed to replace the QF-4 in USAF service. Retired F-16 fighters are ...

• Major networking projects

  DCGS 10.2 Upgrade

  Raytheon’s Distributed Common Ground System (DCGS) Block 10.2 upgrade allows intelligence data to be posted to the network for immediate use by analysts and warfighters, ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing

  SPX

  The SPX drone is a fixed-wing UAV manufactured by RapidFlight. It features a modular payload bay and is fitted with RapidFlight's Common Avionics 2.0 modular interface. ...

• Combat Search and Rescue

  HC-130P/N

  HC-130P/N is a SAR aircraft developed as extended-range version of C-130 Hercules transport airframe to execute all weather personnel recovery operations from austere airfields and ...

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

  Hexa

  The Hexa, or LIFT Hexa, is a rotary-wing aircraft developed by LIFT Aircraft for military and commercial markets. Due to its configuration and triple redundant autopilot ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  KC-10 Extender

  The KC-10 Extender is a tanker/transport aircraft developed for the USAF by McDonnell Douglas (now part of Boeing). It was derived from the company’s three-engine ...

• EW test systems

  JTE

  The Joint Threat Emitter (JTE) is a multi-threat, high-fidelity simulator with realistic ERP levels, which simulates single- and double-digit surface-to-air and anti-aircraft artillery radar systems. ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - HALE

  RQ-4 Global Hawk

  The Global Hawk is a HALE UAV manufactured by General Atomics (GA-ASI).  Primarily designed to carry ISTAR payloads, the platform has accumulated more than 200,000 ...

• Bomber

  B-2 Spirit

  The B-2 Spirit is a multirole stealth bomber manufactured by Northrop Grumman for the USAF. The Spirit is a flying wing aircraft, meaning that it ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  R-HUD

  The Replacement Heads-Up Display (R-HUD) is a Primary Flight Reference system designed to replace legacy HUD units on C-17 aircraft. Manufactured by Elbit Systems of ...

• Air: mission management systems

  Flat Panel Control Indicator

  BAE Systems Flat Panel Control Indicator (FPCI) is designed to replace legacy Navigation Control Indicators in F-15C/D aircraft. It features a new AMLCD display and ...