• Digital Battlespace

  ​NGG partners complete subsystem preliminary design review

  25th June 2020

  Northrop Grumman and Ball Aerospace have successfully completed the preliminary design review for first payload subsystem on the Next Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared (OPIR) Geosynchronous …

• Defence Notes

  Thales to support Australian industrial capability with 10-year munitions deal

  1st July 2020

  Thales is to produce and supply the Australian government with strategic munitions, under a ten-year deal worth about A$1 billion ($686.7 million). Under the Strategic …

• Digital Battlespace

  Airbus DS gains Skynet 6A contract

  22nd July 2020

  The UK MoD on 19 July confirmed a £500 million ($637.34 million) contract with Airbus Defence and Space (DS) for the Skynet 6A SATCOM platform. …

• Training

  Taiwanese jet trainer achieves first official flight

  24th June 2020

  Taiwan’s new-generation Advanced Jet Trainer (AJT) performed its official maiden flight on 22 June, witnessed by President Tsai Ing-wen. The aircraft, nicknamed Brave Hawk, is …

• Air Warfare

  India turns to Russia for fighters with sense of urgency

  24th June 2020

  Amidst Chinese violations in the western sector of the Line of Actual Control, Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh was expected to discuss delivery of additional …

• Military Logistics

  Israel pushes US for accelerated KC-46 deliveries

  19th June 2020

  As the risk of regional conflict with Iran shows no sign of abating, Israel has asked the US to expedite delivery of its first pair …

• Digital Battlespace

  BeiDou constellation reaches fruition to fuel Chinese global ambitions

  25th June 2020

  China launched its final BeiDou (Compass) satellite from the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre on the morning of 23 June. This completes the country’s global coverage …

• Naval Warfare

  TKMS to buy Brazilian shipyard

  20th May 2020

  ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) announced on 20 May that it has signed a contract to acquire the Oceana shipyard in Brazil from CBO Group subsidiary Aliança …

• Training

  Australia begins quest for a new trainer jet

  16th June 2020

  Australia has issued an RfI for a future lead-in fighter training system (LIFTS), in a requirement called Project Air 6002 Phase 1. This formally begins …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Heron TP for Germany takes to the skies

  27th July 2020

  The Israeli MoD on 26 July claimed a ‘significant milestone’ in the German programme to lease and operate the Heron TP UAS, when the first …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  UK holds landmark MUM-T flight

  21st July 2020

  QinetiQ has completed the UK’s first manned/unmanned aircraft team (MUM-T) demonstration, featuring a manned H125 helicopter and semi-autonomous UAV. The event took place on 19 …

• Digital Battlespace

  DroneSentry stands guard for USAF

  23rd July 2020

  A USAF base in North Dakota will receive multiple units of the DroneSentry system (pictured) from DroneShield to detect and defeat hostile UAVs. The value …

• Digital Battlespace

  Link 16 Breaks New Ground (sponsored whitepaper)

  3rd July 2020

  This whitepaper is brought to you by Viasat Digital Situational Awareness for Dismounted Ground Forces INTRODUCTION Link 16 has evolved as the modern battlefield needs …

• Digital Battlespace

  Extra sensors enhance Elta radar capabilities

  14th July 2020

  Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) subsidiary Elta Systems has developed new sensors for a variant of its ELM-2084 Multi-Mission Radar (MMR). The baseline ELM 2084 MMR …

• Naval Warfare

  New weapon and radars appear on Beykoz

  24th July 2020

  Shephard has observed a new set of radars and a new gun aboard a Burak class Turkish Navy corvette. The legacy 100mm/55 Mod 68 CADAM …

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 ...

• 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 ...

• Trainer

  Phenom 100

  Phenom 100 is a very light jet originally developed for single owner-pilot operation but later gained popularity as a jet trainer aircraft. The platform first ...