• Uncrewed Vehicles

  UMS Skeldar officially axes R-350 UAV

  6th October 2020

  Having dispensed with the R-350, UMS Skeldar continues to develop its V-150 rotary-wing UAV

• Land Warfare

  Two bidders make the cut in Bulgarian IFV programme

  5th October 2020

  Proposals from General Dynamics European Land Systems (GDELS) and Patria have been downselected for the second phase of the Bulgarian 8x8 IFV procurement programme.  The …

• Digital Battlespace

  QPS integrates FarSounder sonar

  13th August 2020

  QPS integrates FarSounder sonar Netherlands-based Quality Positioning Services (QPS) has integrated Argos Forward Looking Sonars (FLS) from US company FarSounder into its Qinsy survey software …

• Land Warfare

  Boeing and General Atomics partner on Next Generation Interceptor

  24th September 2020

  Boeing and General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) are partnering to pursue the US Missile Defense Agency (MDA) contract for the Next Generation Interceptor (NGI). Announcing …

• Digital Battlespace

  Warfighter burden could be lightened with multipurpose RDC

  28th September 2020

  US company Persistent Systems has released details of a new Android-based Rugged Display and Controller (RDC), which is designed to be linked to the company’s …

• Naval Warfare

  More of the same for Malaysian maritime forces during COVID-19?

  20th October 2020

  The after-effects of COVID-19 could raise questions over the long-term sustainability of Malaysian maritime forces; even before the pandemic began, the government was struggling to recapitalise ageing assets and introduce more modern capabilities.

• 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

  BIRD launches special mission task force solution

  6th October 2020

  BIRD Aerosystems on 6 October unveiled what it described as a ‘complete end-to-end special mission task force solution tailored for maritime and ground surveillance missions’. …

• 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 …

• Land Warfare

  South Korea goes all out for indigenous AFV production

  8th October 2020

  South Korea's ambition to be a fully-fledged armoured vehicle manufacturer is gathering momentum, although some hurdles remain.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  IAI acquires 50% of BlueBird Aero Systems

  24th September 2020

  Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has agreed to acquire 50% of the equity of UAS developer BlueBird Aero Systems, the company announced on 24 September. In …

• Naval Warfare

  Venezuela acquired C-802A anti-ship missiles from China

  30th September 2020

  Prevented by international sanctions from buying Western-made equipment, the Venezuelan regime of President Nicolas Maduro is more aligned than ever with China, Iran and Russia …

• Training

  US awards first CAF CAS contracts

  29th July 2020

  Textron Systems subsidiary Airborne Tactical Advantage Company (ATAC) has been selected to provide two USAF bases with adversary air (ADAIR) live training under the Combat …

• Land Warfare

  Armies seek to accelerate autonomous tech developments

  20th August 2020

  In order to be ready for the battlefield of the future, armed forces around the world are increasing efforts and investing more resources to procure …

• Naval Warfare

  Spearfish swims on despite latest criticism

  13th August 2020

  Delivery of the Spearfish Mod 1 heavyweight torpedo upgrade for UK RN submarines is expected to improve following criticism from the Infrastructure and Projects Agency (IPA). …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Fighter - multirole

  Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) [Japan]

  Programme Background Shephard notes that GCAP's Japanese, British and Italian components are tracked in separate entries. Programme Timeline 2020: The Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency of Japan issued ...

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

  XQ-58A Valkyrie [USMC]

  Programme Background Contract Award On 30 December 2022, the US DoD announced that it had awarded Kratos Unmanned Aerial Systems a $15.52 million cost-plus-fixed-fee contract to ...

• Fighter - multirole

  JAS-39C/D Gripen Replacement [Czech Republic]

  Programme Background Requirements The Czech Republic Air Force operates 14 Gripens (12 JAS 39C and two JAS 39D variants) under a lease agreement that runs ...

• Fighter - electronic warfare

  Jamming and Escort Electronic Attack Aircraft (luWES) [Germany]

  Programme Background According to earlier reports, Berlin had earlier decided to procure 15 EA-18G Growlers over the Eurofighter Typhoon ECR concept, which is expected to be ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Multirole Fighter [Turkiye]

  Programme Background Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said that Turkey had already paid $1.4 billion into the programme, while its defence industry has ploughed significant ...

• Trainer

  Hawk 127 Replacement (Future Lead-In Fighter Training System- Project Air 6002 PH1) [Australia]

  Programme Background Requirements The RAAF is seeking a future solution that provides a ‘relevant, adaptable, affordable and safe LIFTS out to 2050’ for training pilots ...

• Fighter - multirole

  TF-X Kaan Next Generation Fighter [Türkiye]

  Programme Background Requirement Geopolitical factors have spurred aircraft development in Türkiye. With its removal from the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter project following the Russian S-400 ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Eurofighter Typhoon First-Batch [Türkiye]

  Programme Background Requirement The Turkish Air Force has operated two main fighter platforms, the F-16 and F-4, for several decades. As older F-16 airframes and ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-35A [Denmark]

  Denmark joined the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program in 2002 during the System Development and Demonstration phase and has influenced technical elements of the ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-35A (1-60) [Italy]

  The 2019 and 2020 budget contained significant funding for the F-35 programme: €690 million ($775 million) in 2019 and €859 million ($962 million) in 2020, ...

• Fighter - naval

  F-35B (1-30) [Italy]

  The 2019 and 2020 budget contained significant funding for the F-35 programme: €690 million ($775 million) in 2019 and €859 million ($962 million) in 2020, ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | Eurofighter Typhoon First-Batch [Türkiye]

  The Turkish Air Force is modernising its fleet, focusing on Eurofighter Typhoons to complement its F-16s and the in-development Kaan fighter. Türkiye plans to acquire ...

• Data links

  Data links | Eurofighter Typhoon First-Batch [Türkiye]

  The Turkish Air Force is modernising its fleet, focusing on Eurofighter Typhoons to complement its F-16s and the in-development Kaan fighter. Türkiye plans to acquire ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  Air: Helmet-mounted displays | Eurofighter Typhoon First-Batch [Türkiye]

  The Turkish Air Force is modernising its fleet, focusing on Eurofighter Typhoons to complement its F-16s and the in-development Kaan fighter. Türkiye plans to acquire ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | Eurofighter Typhoon First-Batch [Türkiye]

  The Turkish Air Force is modernising its fleet, focusing on Eurofighter Typhoons to complement its F-16s and the in-development Kaan fighter. Türkiye plans to acquire ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Air: fixed-wing flight simulators

  F-35 Training System

  BAE Systems is involved in F-35 Lightning II Training System design and sustainment, working with prime contractor Lockheed Martin. BAE Systems leads the instructional systems ...

• Air: Defensive Systems - Radar Warning Receivers, EW test systems

  Model 527

  The Model 527 radar signal simulator is used for end-of-runway and walk-around radiated RWR testing to verify the operational status of the aircraft and its ...

• Air: Electronic Attack - Jamming, Air: chaff, flare and decoy systems

  AN/ALE-55 FOTD

  The ALE-55 Fibre Optic Towed Decoy (FOTD) is a high-powered electronic off-board countermeasure that works with an aircraft’s onboard EW equipment to defeat radiofrequency (RF) threats. It ...

• EW test systems

  A2PATS

  Advanced Architecture Phase Amplitude and Time Simulator (A2PATS) is a real-time EM test environment simulator for military platforms and installed systems, designed to deliver mission ...

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

  HAPS / PHASA-35

  The High Altitude Pseudo-Satellite (HAPS) is a solar-electric Persistent High Altitude Solar Aircraft (PHASA-35).  Produced by BAE Systems and Prismatic, the platform is designed to provide a persistent, ...

• Air: AEW/fire control radar

  AN/APG-81

  AN/APG-81 is operating in the X-band active electronically scanned array (AESA) fire control radar designed by Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems for the F-35 “Lightning” all-weather ...

• Fighter - multirole

  MiG-35

  The MiG-35 (NATO reporting name Fulcrum F) is a multirole fighter, the latest variant of the MiG-29 Fulcrum fighter family.  The production of the MiG-35 ...

• EO/IR systems

  F-35 Lightning II Advanced EOTS

  The F-35 Lightning II Electro-Optical Targeting System (EOTS) is a sensor that combines targeting forward-looking IR (FLIR) and IR search and track (IRST) capabilities for ...

• Fighter - multirole, Fighter - naval

  F-35B

  The F-35B Lightning II is a fifth-generation multirole combat aircraft with short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) capability. The USMC is the main customer for the F-35B, ...

• Air-to-surface missiles

  SPEAR-EW

  The SPEAR-EW missile, developed by MBDA in collaboration with Leonardo, is an air-to-surface weapon designed to perform Suppression of Enemy Air Defence (SEAD) missions. This ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  F-35 Gen III HMDS

  The F-35 Gen III helmet-mounted display system (HMDS) is provided by a joint venture between Elbit Systems of America and Rockwell Collins, developed for the F-35 ...

• Air: Integrated Defensive Systems

  AN/ALQ-178V(5)+

  The AN/ALQ-178(5)+ is an internally mounted self-protection system designed and developed by Aselsan and BAE Systems for the Turkish F-16C fighter aircraft. The system comprises ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-35I Adir

  The F-35I Adir is an F-35A Lightning II variant customised to meet the requirements of the Israel Defense Forces to replace the F-16 fleet in ...

• Air-to-surface missiles, Anti-ship missiles

  JSM

  The Joint Strike Missile (JSM) is a multi-role version of the Naval Strike Missile. Norway funded the programme to develop and produce the JSM for the ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-35A

  The F-35A Lightning II is a fifth-generation multirole combat aircraft with CTOL capabilities. It is a multinational programme led by the US DoD, bringing together ...