• Air Warfare

  Raytheon to produce Lot 36 AMRAAMs for US Air Force and FMS recipients

  1st September 2022

  Raytheon has received a contract modification to provide AMRAAMs for the USAF and 19 FMS customers.

• Defence Helicopter

  MH-139 Grey Wolf helicopter enters US Air Force developmental testing

  24th August 2022

  The USAF has taken acceptance of four MH-139A Grey Wolf helicopters for developmental testing following earlier trials after Military Flight Release.

• Training

  US Air Force tests emerging space and cyber tech during Red Flag

  16th August 2022

  This year's third Red Flag exercise provided the US Air Force with the right environment to test emerging space and cyber technologies.

• Defence Notes

  US Army and Navy target improved comms and signal processing

  5th August 2022

  Expedition Technology has received three small business innovation research awards from the US Army and US Navy’s Office of Naval Research to develop AI and machine learning technologies.

• Defence Notes

  Israeli C-UAS jammers take effect in sub-Saharan Africa

  22nd August 2022

  Mozambican troops have successfully used Israeli-supplied MCTECH MC-Horizon counter-UAS systems to neutralise drones operated by Islamic State.

• Naval Warfare

  Indonesian Navy moves forward on multiple ship programmes

  7th November 2022

  Indo Defence 2022 saw a raft of MoUs and announcement, as Indonesia seeks to bolster its indigenously built naval fleet.

• Digital Battlespace

  AUSA 2022: Systel introduces Kite-Strike II fully rugged AI mission computer

  11th October 2022

  The SWaP-optimised Kite-Strike II can be used in AI-powered autonomous platforms or with sensor ingest/data fusions and vehicle/force protection systems.

• Training

  HTX Labs to support US Air Force training modernisation

  11th August 2022

  The cloud-based enterprise software called EMPACT from HTX Labs will support USAF training modernisation by boosting the adaptation of immersive solutions.

• Air Warfare

  General Atomics claims fully autonomous AI-piloted flight with Avenger MQ-20A

  20th September 2022

  General Atomics claims that the latest Avenger MQ-20A test flight demonstrated capabilities in the race to operationalise autonomy for collaborative combat aircraft.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Expert claims ‘decentralised’ approach holds back USAF next-generation UAV ambitions

  6th September 2022

  Despite a number of Skyborg test successes, a defence expert has questioned how the development of next generation drones will advance without activities being concentrated and clear requirements set out.

• Digital Battlespace

  Drone Guard: The Complete C-sUAV Solution (Sponsored)

  3rd October 2022

  The proliferation of small Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (sUAV), whether specifically designed and equipped for military use, or adaptations of readily available commercial models, places a heavy burden on those responsible for countering them.

• Air Warfare

  US Air Force assesses EPAWSS data after F-15EX missile firings

  8th August 2022

  EPAWSS provides both the F-15E and F-15EX with fully integrated radar warning as well as advanced jamming and countermeasure employment capability in highly contested environments.

• Digital Battlespace

  Rheinmetall joins Helsing to accelerate AI for land systems

  15th September 2022

  German companies team up to apply digital capabilities at speed for land forces.

• Digital Battlespace

  Inmarsat clinches Commercial Broadband Satellite Program work

  12th September 2022

  Inmarsat will provide military C-, Ku-, Ka- and X-band satellite services for mobile and fixed transceivers.

• Training

  US Air Force selects Barco projector for sim solution

  9th August 2022

  The laser-phosphor projector from Barco will allow real-time image generation and display control.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military helicopters - scout/light attack

  MD 530G Lebanon

  The Armed MD 530G Scout Attack Helicopter features next-generation all-glass cockpit that includes: two Genesys Aerosystems IDU-680 6” x 9” LCD primary displays, Tek Fusion ...

• Military helicopters - scout/light attack

  Bell 407GX

  The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency noted that the proposed sale of five Bell 407GX helicopters will help compensate for the combat loss of seven IA407 helicopters ...

• 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 helicopters - scout/light attack

  MD 530F -Kenya

  Crew transition training took place at the MD Helicopters headquarters in Mesa, Arizona, with field service support, armament, and gunnery training scheduled to occur at ...

• 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

  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 ...

• 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 ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Joint Maritime Multi-Mission System (J3MS)/SIGINT Ship [Italy]

  The Italian Navy is now conducting de-risk studies to replace Elettra with a new Joint Maritime Multi-Mission System (J3MS) ship. The vessel will feature a ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Joint Maritime Multi-Mission System (J3MS)/SIGINT Ship [Italy]

  The Italian Navy is now conducting de-risk studies to replace Elettra with a new Joint Maritime Multi-Mission System (J3MS) ship. The vessel will feature a ...

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

  Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) (Increment 1) [USAF]

  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, ...

• 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 ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• ISR/special mission

  RF-4C

  The RF-4C is a tactical reconnaissance aircraft developed based on the F-4 Phantom II by McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) to meet the requirements of the USAF ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-4 Phantom II family

  The F-4 Phantom II is a two-seat multirole fighter developed originally by McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) to meet USN interceptor requirements. It soon became a unified ...

• Air: surveillance and maritime patrol radar

  SurSAR

  The Surveillance Synthetic Aperture Radar (SurSAR) is a coherent surveillance and imaging radar developed by Array Systems Computing in Canada. It is derived from UPD-8/9 systems ...

• EW test systems

  CEESIM

  The Combat Electromagnetic Environment Simulator (CEESIM) family of simulators is designed for use in development, T&E;, maintenance and training support of airborne, land, shipboard and ...

• Air: Integrated Defensive Systems

  F-15 Tactical Electronic Warfare Suite (TEWS)

  The F-15 Tactical Electronic Warfare Suite (TEWS) is an integrated defence system manufactured by Northrop Grumman. It is designed for the F-15, F-15K and F-15E ...

• Air: air combat simulators

  SECT

  The Simulator for Electronic Combat Training (SECT) is a device that blends high-fidelity equipment, environmental and EW simulation with a computer-based training engine, auto-evaluation and scoring ...

• Data links

  MIDS LVT-3 FDL

  For the MIDS LVT-3 Fighter Data Link (FDL) the USAF sought lower volume and cost than Class 1 and 2 JTIDS. The contract was awarded ...

• Land: battle management systems

  C4I Connect

  C4I Connect is a voice communications system for battlefield C2. It is a large-scale, divisional/regional system that manages voice sessions in the tactical battle area, ...

• Air: mission management systems

  9Air C4I

  9Air C4I provides an air C2 capability ranging from air operations level to real-time execution in a mobile environment. It is a net-centric system that ...

• 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: Defensive Systems - Radar Warning Receivers

  AN/ALR-56C

  The AN/ALR-56C is a radar warning receiver manufactured by BAE Systems. It is designed to share data regarding radar threats with the aircraft's BAE Systems' ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  RF-7800W

  The RF-7800W-OU440 high-capacity LoS radio has an IP design that operates from 4.4-5GHz. This provides connectivity at distances over 50km and extending WANs and LANs ...

• Air: Electronic Attack - Jamming

  AN/ALQ-165 ASPJ

  Northrop Grumman’s AN/ALQ-165(V) Airborne Self Protection Jammer (ASPJ) is a widely used radar jammer and is deployed on an array of combat aircraft. The system ...

• Air: mission management systems

  DACCS

  Divisional Artillery Command and Control System (DACCS) integrates division artillery C4I with battalion C4I, making fire control an integral part of the C4I distribution network. ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  HH-60W

  The HH-60W Jolly Green II is being developed by Sikorsky, based on the UH-60M Black Hawk, to meet the Combat Rescue Helicopter (CRH) programme requirements of ...