• Air Warfare

  Initial F130 engine tests for USAF B-52J bomber due to complete by end 2023

  8th September 2023

  Rolls-Royce is on track to complete initial testing of the F130 engine for the B-52J Stratofortress by year-end. The testing programme has achieved success and gathered significant data, de-risking the integration process.

• Land Warfare

  How to assure secure & resilient tactical communications in the new era

  6th September 2023

  Bittium’s handheld and vehicle-mounted Tough SDR radios support game-changing connectivity for real-time situational awareness

• Land Warfare

  DSEI 2023: Elbit wins $109 million contract to supply Iron Fist APS for CV90 vehicles

  11th September 2023

  Elbit Systems has been awarded a $109 million contract to provide BAE Systems Hägglunds with the Iron Fist Active Protection System (APS) for installation on the CV90 platform, enhancing the vehicle's protection against threats.

• Defence Helicopter

  Bell H-1 fleet achieves half a million flight hours

  30th June 2023

  The current fleet of AH-1Z Vipers and UH-1Y Venoms have surpassed the 500.000-flight hour mark.

• Air Warfare

  Chinese air power – analysing the bigger picture

  14th September 2023

  Admitted by the US to be a ‘pacing threat’, the development of Chinese air power will continue to be a core measure of Beijing’s military capability.

• Air Warfare

  DSEI 2023: Striker II helmet programme for Typhoon fighter jet gets £40 million boost

  13th September 2023

  This development contract for the Striker II helmet system aims to enhance the capabilities of the Eurofighter Typhoon fleet, providing advanced technology and improved operational effectiveness.

• Naval Warfare

  DSEI 2023: How PhantomBlu comms tech could mean an end to radio silence at sea

  15th September 2023

  Blu Wireless's PhantomBlu millimetre-wave communications nodes could put an end to the need to maintain radio silence to avoid detection or interception while supporting high data rates for C2 purposes.

• Land Warfare

  DSEI 2023: Sentinel UAS offers solution for communications relay and black holes

  12th September 2023

  UK company Drone Evolution is showing for the first time its tethered UAS, Sentinel, and outlined future plans for the system as a radio relay as well as surveillance asset.

• Air Warfare

  A welcome observer? Workshare wrangles loom as Belgium joins SCAF future fighter effort

  12th September 2023

  Of the three major Western next-generation fighter programmes, the (arguably) French-led SCAF has received the least attention in English-speaking media. As Belgium gains observer status on the programme, what will this mean for the workshare arrangements between France, Germany and Spain?

• Air Warfare

  F-35 Lightning II: key facts about the world's most popular fifth-generation fighter jet

  18th September 2023

  This growing family of F-35 operators exemplifies the power of collective effort, fostering stronger diplomatic ties and contributing to the evolution of modern aerial warfare on a global scale.

• Training

  DSEI 2023: Boeing and Red 6 partnership first to achieve successful AR integration on aircraft

  14th September 2023

  The partnership between Boeing and Red 6 has resulted in the successful flight testing of AR technology in a TA-4JA tactical aircraft, with plans to extend testing to the T-7 Red Hawk advanced trainer.

• Land Warfare

  Russia tests C-UAS slat protection over turrets and anti-UAV jamming systems for armoured vehicles

  20th September 2023

  Russian defence companies are adapting to emerging threats and exploring ways to counter top-attack munitions and first-person-view (FPV) UAVs.

• Digital Battlespace

  DSEI 2023: Northrop Grumman rolls out BattleOne integrated command and control package

  13th September 2023

  Northrop Grumman's BattleOne concept aims to transcend domain and national boundaries to produce an overarching command and control capability with integrated artificial intelligence.

• Air Warfare

  Dominator XP UAVs are commissioned into Thai air force

  5th September 2023

  Thailand has adopted its first ever UAVs in the medium-altitude long-endurance class.

• Defence Notes

  DSEI 2023: Avon Protection unveils new CBRN and military diving concepts

  12th September 2023

  Avon Protection is introducing new concepts in CBRN (chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear) protective equipment and military diving technologies at DSEI 2023.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Maritime patrol

  P-8I Follow-On [India]

  Programme Background The IN currently has eight P-8I aircraft in service, these ordered on 4 January 2009 for $2.1 billion. India inducted its first P-8I ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  T-50 [Thailand]

  The purchase had been earlier approved by the Thai cabinet on 11 July 2017.  AVM Pongsak Semachai revealed that the aircraft would be paid for ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  T-50 Follow-On [Thailand]

  Programme Background The Royal Thai Air Force  (RTAF) exercised its option to purchase additional two aircraft from an earlier deal. The RTAF purchased four T-50 jets in ...

• AEW&C

  E-2D (France)

  Programme Background In July 2020, France revealed its intention of buying a fleet of three E-2D Advanced Hawkeye Aircraft with a $2 billion potential FMS deal, ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  HH-60W - Combat Rescue Helicopter (CRH)

  According to the FY2021 Base funding, the HH-60W helicopter unit cost is $43.2 million. The HH-60W will be capable of employment day or night, in ...

• Military UAS - mini

  RQ-20A Puma [Latvia]

  Programme Background The US DoD is financing military modernisation in the Baltic to improve the capabilities of the Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian militaries. This includes ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - mini

  Aerobo Wing AS-VT02A [Malaysia]

  Background Requirment As reported by Shephard, in June 2021, Malaysia issued a tender for fixed-wing, vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) capable UAVs. The tender stated that Malaysia ...

• Maritime patrol

  P-8I (13-18) [India]

  Programme Background India previously bought eight P-8Is from Boeing in 2009 in a direct commercial sale, adding four more in 2016. India inducted its first ...

• Loitering munitions

  Medium-Range Loitering Munition with LEO Satellite Data Link [South Korea]

  Background New Project In April 2025, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) and the Agency for Defense Development (ADD) announced a new project titled “Development of Medium-Range ...

• Military UAS - mini

  RQ-11 Raven (US Army)

  Programme Background The AeroVironment RQ-11 Raven began to be deployed by the US Army in 2004 and was selected as its sole small UAS in ...

• Military UAS - micro

  NX70 Microdrone (First Batch)

  Programme Background The French Army procured the NX70 to meet an urgent operational requirement for a small UAS that could provide short-range ISR for dismounted ...

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

  Vector / Scorpion [Netherlands]

  Programme Background AeroVironment RQ-11 Raven B The Royal Netherlands Army (RNLA) operates approximately 75 AeroVironment RQ-11 Raven B mini UAVs in the tactical ISTAR role, ...

• Military UAS - micro

  NX70 Microdrone (Second Batch)

  Programme Background The French Army procured the NX70 to meet an urgent operational requirement for a small UAS that could provide short-range ISR for dismounted ...

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

  MQ-9A Reaper [Spain]

  Programme Background First Contract The US State Department approved a Foreign Military Sale (FMS) of MQ-9 Block 5 aircraft and associated parts, equipment, and logistical ...

• Trainer

  T-4 Replacement [Japan]

  Programme Background The Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) has been using the T-4 as an intermediate trainer jet since 1988, but now the Acquisition, Technology ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Data links

  MLT 2920

  The MLT 2920 Multi Link Terminal is a Link 11/22 compatible data link solution. Supplied by Elbit Systems Deutschland, it comprises one Link 11 modem ...

• Data links

  DLP

  The Data Link Processor (DLP) is a TDL server able to support Link 11A, 11B, 16 and 22 data link operations. The DLP receives, transmits ...

• Data links

  MDM-2X02N

  The MDM-2X02N is a tactical data link modem that combines the functionalities of a Link 11 DTS and Link 22 signal processor controller (SPC) into ...

• Data links

  TIGER

  The Tactical Data Link Integration Exerciser (TIGER) stimulates systems under test with tactical scenarios. Among TIGER’s capabilities is the abilities, it can simulate multiple tracks: ...

• Data links

  GTS - TCG

  Curtiss-Wright Defence Solutions' Ground Tactical Data Link System (GTS) product line provides operational users with an affordable, interoperable and combat-proven battlefield tactical data link (TDL) system ...

• Data links

  MX-512PV-C

  Similar to the MX-512PV (see separate entry), the MX-512PV-C Link 11/TADIL-A Data Terminal Set/Link 22 SPC communicates tactical C2 data between ship, shore and air ...

• Data links

  Maritime Tactical Data Link

  The Maritime Tactical Data Link (MTDL) is a developmental tactical data link by Hanwha Systems. Offered in 16 configurations, the system is based on the ...

• Data links

  Naval M-DLP

  The Naval Multi-Data Link Processor (M-DLP) is designed for naval forces and was developed to comply with warship operating requirements, with redundant system architecture and ...

• Data links

  Link 22

  Link 22 is an ECM-resistant, BLoS tactical data communication system using fixed frequency or frequency-hopping techniques in the HF (3-30MHz) and/or UHF (225-400MHz) bands. The ...

• Data links

  AN/USQ-125V DTS

  Like its airborne Data Terminal Set counterparts, the AN/USQ-125V performs as a modem, communicating tactical C2 data between ship, shore and air platforms on the ...

• Data links

  Universal Link System

  Developed by Scytalys, the Universal Link System (ULS) is a modular, scalable multi data link processor. It supports all NATO and US standard data links ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  JTRS Later Increment Waveforms

  A number of waveforms are scheduled for implementation in later JTRS increments: WNW with low probability of intercept/detection and bandwidth-efficient advanced modulation; SRW with LPI/LPD; ...

• Data links

  LinkPro

  LinkPro is a standards-based, high fidelity, software-only, multi-link Tactical Data Link (TDL) processing engine that improves tactical communications, reduces the time, risk and expense of ...

• Data links

  Link-M

  Milsoft's Link-M is a tactical data link system which may be integrated into land, naval and air platforms. According to the manufacturer's website, it is ...

• Data links

  Multifunction Advanced Data Link

  Multifunction Advanced Data Link (MADL) is a Ku-band data link designed for fifth-generation aircraft. The directional, interflight system is integrated into all F-35 variants, allowing ...