• Defence Notes

  ​USAF seeks to start work on GBSD facilities in 2023

  18th August 2020

  The USAF intends to start construction in 2023 on the first of three new facilities to house the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD), which will …

• Land Warfare

  Tatra set to commence Titus tests

  2nd October 2020

  Czech company Tatra Defence Vehicle has received the first prototype Titus troop carrier for blast and explosion tests; ultimately the Army of the Czech Republic will operate 62 vehicles in three variants.

• Training

  NAVAIR picks Cubic for LVC training support

  21st August 2020

  Cubic Defense Applications is to provide provides design, engineering, test and demonstration services for US Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), to mature technologies for LVC …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Four down, one to go for NATO AGS Force

  27th July 2020

  The fourth and penultimate RQ-4D UAV in the NATO Alliance Ground Surveillance (AGS) Force arrived at Sigonella Air Base in Italy on 26 July after a …

• Air Warfare

  RUAG prepares to make Gripen E/F payload suspensions

  10th September 2020

  RUAG Aerostructures is ready to begin serial production of payload suspension pylons for the Saab Gripen E/F, following final airworthiness test acceptance in late August. This is …

• Air Warfare

  India proves hypersonic technology for next-generation missiles

  11th September 2020

  On 7 September the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully demonstrated hypersonic air-breathing scramjet technology, with a successful flight test of its Hypersonic Technology …

• Training

  BISim promotes easier simulation

  28th August 2020

  Bohemia Interactive Simulations (BISim) has released a new software update for its VBS4 whole-Earth virtual and constructive simulation system.  The company claims the v.20.1 update is …

• Digital Battlespace

  Falkonry expands AI footprint within USAF

  6th August 2020

  Start-up machine learning company Falkonry has been awarded a contract by USAF innovation hub AFWERX under the Strategic Financing (STRATFI) programme, to broaden the adoption …

• Digital Battlespace

  Taiwan to search overseas for frigate radars

  18th September 2020

  According to Taiwanese media reports, the Republic of China Navy (ROCN) has approached both Raytheon and Thales for shipborne AESA radars for its future guided-missile …

• Defence Notes

  IDF demands extra funding with Iran in its sights

  6th August 2020

  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is proposing a funding boost for the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), citing ongoing tensions with Iran and its proxies in …

• Defence Notes

  Space Force sticks with Rocket Lab despite curse of unlucky 13

  28th July 2020

  Space payloads usually cost tens or hundreds of millions of dollars and their loss can be a huge setback for their operators. Launcher reliability is …

• Digital Battlespace

  Three companies gain AN/UYQ-70 sustainment work

  7th September 2020

  Three US-based firms have each received indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contracts from the Naval Surface Warfare Center to sustain the AN/UYQ-70 advanced display workstation aboard USN vessels. DRS Laurel …

• Training

  VR to enhance training for protection of US nuclear weapons

  28th July 2020

  Street Smarts VR has received a contract, worth almost $1 million under the AFWERX Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) programme, to support training for Air …

• Military Logistics

  ​USMC expects to gain more from upgraded RTCH

  21st September 2020

  Full-rate production is underway of an upgraded version of the Rough Terrain Container Handler (RTCH) for the USMC. The vehicle moves 20ft (6.1m) and 40ft …

• Air Warfare

  Japan to start receiving JSM from March 2022

  8th September 2020

  Japan is to take delivery of the Joint Strike Missile (JSM) in March 2022, according to the defence ministry and national media. Kongsberg Defence & …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military helicopters - multirole

  UH-60M Black Hawk [Latvia]

  Programme Background In August 2018, the Latvian government approved the acquisition of four UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters. The UH-60Ms are intended for both military and ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  Light Attack/Trainer Aircraft - Ghana

  In 2013, the Chief of Ghana Air Force stated that A-29 is their preferred platform and this position was also submitted to the Government. In ...

• Transport

  C-130J - USAF

  Programme Background The C-130J Super Hercules is a four-engine turboprop transport aircraft developed by Lockheed Martin to replace aging C-130 variants. The US and FMS ...

• Trainer

  PC-21 [France]

  Programme  Background The French Air and Space Force has chosen Dassault Aviation and Babcock to provide between nine and 13 Pilatus PC-21 aircraft for Phase ...

• Bomber

  B-21 Raider (USA)

  Programme Background The US DoD is developing a new long-range bomber called the B-21 Raider, previously known as LRS-B. At least 100 units are expected ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  T-2E Replacement - Greece

  The average unit cost is estimated to be around $12 million based on the Czech Republic's $48.5 million deal for the purchase of four L-39NG ...

• Trainer

  Trainer Aircraft (1-12) [Vietnam]

  Programme Background After years of operating Russian-built military equipment, Vietnam is more willing to procure US-supplied equipment following the lifting of the arms embargo in ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  UH-60M Black Hawks [Greece]

  Programme Background In October 2023, Greece submitted a formal request to acquire 49 Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters as replacements for the Army's Bell UH-1s after launching ...

• Military helicopters - light/training

  Bell 505 (Jordan)

  Programme Background Requirement The Jordanian Air Force has a requirement for training helicopters that are to be used in the King Hussein Air College. The country ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  Huey II

  The last announced contract, valuing at $19 million, was awarded to Bell by US Army to supply Lebanon Air Force with there furnished Huey IIs ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | Penetrating Counter Air (PCA)

  USAF is working on Penetrating Counter Air (PCA) aircraft concept which may replace F-15C/Ds and F-22s in service and complement F-35s. Boeing, Lockheed Martin and ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  Air: Helmet-mounted displays | Penetrating Counter Air (PCA)

  USAF is working on Penetrating Counter Air (PCA) aircraft concept which may replace F-15C/Ds and F-22s in service and complement F-35s. Boeing, Lockheed Martin and ...

• Data links

  Data links | Penetrating Counter Air (PCA)

  USAF is working on Penetrating Counter Air (PCA) aircraft concept which may replace F-15C/Ds and F-22s in service and complement F-35s. Boeing, Lockheed Martin and ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | Penetrating Counter Air (PCA)

  USAF is working on Penetrating Counter Air (PCA) aircraft concept which may replace F-15C/Ds and F-22s in service and complement F-35s. Boeing, Lockheed Martin and ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | Penetrating Counter Air (PCA)

  USAF is working on Penetrating Counter Air (PCA) aircraft concept which may replace F-15C/Ds and F-22s in service and complement F-35s. Boeing, Lockheed Martin and ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Air: EO/IR – Jamming Systems

  AN/AAQ-45

  Leonardo’s AN/AAQ-45 Distributed Aperture Infrared Countermeasures is designed to equip rotorcraft. The system is being installed on Sikorsky HH-60G Pave Hawk medium-lift utility helicopters used ...

• Air: Electronic Attack - Jamming

  J/ALQ-8

  Like Israel, Japan elected to outfit its McDonnell Douglas/Boeing F-15J/DJ combat aircraft with an indigenous self-protection system. This takes the form of Mitsubishi Electric’s J/ALQ-8 ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  FAB-T Force Element Terminal

  The Family of Advanced Beyond Line-of-Sight Terminals - Force Element Terminal (FAB-T FET) is a nuclear-hardened SATCOM solution designed for airborne applications. Produced by Raytheon, ...

• Unguided Medium Calibre Ammunition

  25mm PGU-48/B

  The 25mm PGU-48/B is a medium-calibre armour-penetrating round manufactured by American Rheinmetall. The US Air Force uses the PGU-48/B with its F-35 aircraft.

• Unguided Medium Calibre Ammunition

  25mm PGU-23/U

  The 25mm PGU-23/U is a medium-calibre training round manufactured by General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems. The US Air Force utilises it with its AC-130 and ...

• 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 ...

• Land: soldier modernisation systems - industry programmes

  Warrior Systems

  General Dynamics Mission Systems is prime contractor and system integrator for the US Army’s Warrior soldier systems, which include Air Warrior, Future Force Warrior, Land Warrior ...

• Air: mission management systems

  TBMCS

  Theater Battle Management Core Systems (TBMCS) is a US joint C2 integrated BMS used to plan and execute air campaigns in theatres of operations worldwide. ...

• Trainer

  King Air trainer

  Textron / Beechcraft King Air trainers are a family twin-engine aircraft based on King Air 90, 100, 200 and 350 utility aircraft. The King Air ...

• Trainer

  T-6A/B Texan II

  The T-6 Texan II is a single-engine trainer aircraft, which was developed from the Pilatus PC-9 to meet the training requirements of USAF and USN ...

• Unguided Medium Calibre Ammunition

  30mm PGU-13B High Explosive Incendiary

  The 30mm 30mm PGU-13B High Explosive Incendiary (HEI) is a medium-calibre munition manufactured by Northrop Grumman. The US Air Force uses the PGU-13B HEI with ...

• 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, Air: UAS radar

  Lynx

  The Lynx (AN/APY-8) is a synthetic aperture radar manufactured by General Atomics. It is designed for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance for manned and unmanned aircraft. According to ...

• 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: Integrated Defensive Systems

  AN/ALQ-213(V) DAC

  Terma’s AN/ALQ-213(V) electronic warfare management unit is used extensively on General Dynamics/Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon series combat aircraft around the world. The AN/ALQ-213(V) is ...