• Air Warfare

  Space domain “has never been more critical” to US security, says US chief of space operations

  12th April 2024

  The increasing relevance of space in warfare scenarios and the proliferation of threats have been pushing the US Space Force towards modernising and investing in new capabilities.

• Land Warfare

  NATO procurement agency orders Carl-Gustaf multi-role weapon system

  25th March 2024

  In September 2015, Saab announced Slovakia had become the launch customer for the M4 and the first weapons were delivered in July 2017. The US Army has ordered systems having conducted a foreign comparative test of the M4 for US Special Operations Command and the US Army.

• Air Warfare

  Saab charts course for next-gen Swedish fighter

  22nd March 2024

  Studies on future fighters conducted by Saab and the FMV will aim to explore technologies and operational concepts, including crewed and uncrewed systems.

• Digital Battlespace

  Space Dominance: How Laser Technologies are Reshaping Modern Military Operations

  27th May 2024

  High-energy lasers and space-based technologies now play a pivotal role in modern military operations, emphasising their role in enhancing communications, surveillance, and security across multi-domain operations, particularly with the increasingly strategic use of space-based capabilities.

• Air Warfare

  South Korea’s KF-21 fighter fires guided IRIS-T missile

  20th May 2024

  Manufactured by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), the KF-21 Boramae is a fighter aircraft that resembles the design of the F-35A. South Korea has investing nearly US$8 billion in the fighter development programme which is set to be completed by 2028.

• Digital Battlespace

  China turns to US-made AI chips to boost hypersonic weapon performance

  17th May 2024

  Chinese researchers have been using a US-designed AI semiconductor chip to enhance the performance of a hypersonic weapon’s scramjet engine, significantly improving computational tasks and suggesting potential integration into future missile systems.

• Land Warfare

  Pearson Pioneer remote minefield breaching system set for trials with NATO countries

  17th June 2024

  Robotic Combat Vehicle-Pioneer (RCV-Pioneer) minefield breaching payload has been shown for the first time at Eurosatory 2024 and will follow the debut of the RCV-Pioneer urban obstacle clearance payload at DSEI 2023.

• Air Warfare

  BAE Systems “actively pursues” up to 200 Eurofighter Typhoon sales as fighter upgrade continues

  15th May 2024

  BAE Systems has been actively seeking potential buyers for Eurofighter Typhoon jets, with Germany and Italy among the countries considering additional purchases. The company remained aware, however, of the importance of enhancing the fighter’s capabilities to ensure relevance into the 2040s and beyond.

• Land Warfare

  Armed drone protection to be added to Iron Fist and Trophy

  3rd June 2024

  Two Israeli-made APS platforms have been in the process of being upgraded following a request from the Israeli Ministry of Defense (MoD).

• Digital Battlespace

  Marshall awarded $127 million to build containerised C2 suites for Sweden

  22nd May 2024

  In addition to the production and delivery of shelters and ancillaries, the contract awarded to Marshall also includes parts supply and ongoing technical and maintenance support for up to 10 years.

• Air Warfare

  First KC-390 Millennium lands in Hungary with official handover pending

  15th April 2024

  The first Embraer KC-390 will undergo testing before an official handover to the Hungarian Air Force could take place.

• Land Warfare

  Malaysian defence update: Key programmes under spotlight at DSA 2024

  3rd May 2024

  The Defence Services Asia (DSA) exhibition in Kuala Lumpur from 6–9 March will feature updates on Malaysia’s defence programmes, including the signing of Batch 2 Littoral Mission Ships and procurement plans for medium lift helicopters.

• Digital Battlespace

  The New Battlefield: Space Defence, Emerging Threats, and Strategic Opportunities (Studio)

  11th July 2024

  The growing importance of space in modern warfare, advancements in satellite technology, and increasing threats from rivals like China and Russia were among the topics of a Eurosatory 2024 panel on military space operations.

• Air Warfare

  US approves anti-radiation missile control section upgrade contract for UAE

  8th May 2024

  The High Speed Anti-Radiation Missile (HARM) is an air-to-surface anti-radiation missile designed to detect electronic transmissions coming from surface-to-air radar and then destroy it.

• Naval Warfare

  UAE Coast Guard orders 10 OPVs for $434 million

  20th May 2024

  A deal to supply 10 P51MR-class 51m offshore patrol vessels to the UAE Coast Guard was proceeded by the signing of an Abu Dhabi-based JV between Fincantieri and EDGE.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• AEW&C

  GlobalEye (1-3) [UAE]

  Programme Background The GlobalEye is a modification of Bombardier's Global 6000 jet aircraft fitted with the S-band Erieye Extended Range (ER) radar and mission system ...

• OPVs

  OPVs Procurement (1-2) [Greece]

  Programme Background Requirements According to the RFI issued in late 2022, the Hellenic Coast Guard is seeking to procure two new OPVs. The vessels are ...

• Military helicopters - light/training

  Bell 505 - Montenegro

  The deal between Montenegro and export agency Canadian Commercial Cooperation will see aircraft production take place at Bell’s Mirabel facility before being transited to the ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  AW101-Norway

  AgustaWestland is also providing initial support and training services, including spares at each of the operating bases and aircrew training. It will then provide performance ...

• Landing platform docks/dock landing ships

  Landing Platform Docks [India]

  Programme Background Requirements The LPD tender, although more akin to an LHD, specifies that the quartet of ships must be built within India, although collaboration ...

• Frigates

  Multi-Role Combat Vessels (1-6) [Singapore]

  Background Requirements Singapore is planning to replace its current ageing Victory-class corvettes, which are due to leave service in 2025, with an equal number of new ...

• Landing platform docks/dock landing ships

  Landing Platform Dock [Qatar]

  Programme Background Close to a €4 billion ($4.67 billion) contract was awarded to Fincantieri in June 2016 for the construction of seven surface vessels, including the four ...

• AEW&C

  AEW&C Aircraft [South Korea]

  Programme Background Requirement The requirement was initially reported in 2016 when it was noted as being part of a long-term development plan, however, reports from ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Horizon 2 - Multirole Fighter Programme [Philippines]

  Programme Background Requirement The Philippines wants a fighter able to perform score missions such as air-to-air combat, air-to-ground tasks and reconnaissance, including over water. It ...

• Land: air defence radar

  Giraffe AMB [Sweden]

  Background In support of its increasing Ground-Based Air Defences (GBAD) Sweden has placed an order with SAAB for four Giraffe AMB radars. Methodology Quantity required The ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Global Combat Air Programme [UK]

  Programme Background The next-generation platform concept is part of the 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review, which sought to deliver a Future Combat Air System ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  T-X / T-7A Red Hawk [USAF]

  Background On 27 September 2018, it was announced that the Boeing-Saab team had been awarded a contract for the programme. The initial contract was worth $813 million ...

• AEW&C

  E-2 Hawkeye replacement [Egypt]

  Background Requirement Between 1986 and 1993, Egypt acquired seven E-2C aircraft. Five of these platforms were modernised to the Hawkeye 2000 standard with APS-145 radar ...

• ISR/special mission

  ISTAR Aircraft [South Korea]

  Programme Background 2018 - Issue of RfI The South Korean Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) stated that Seoul planned to procure additional aircraft to minimise potential surveillance ...

• 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 ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Air: AEW/fire control radar

  N011M

  The N011M BARS is a hybrid X-band radar system combining passive electronically scanned array technology with mechanical scanning capabilities. The system features dual-band operation (X-band ...

• Air: AEW/fire control radar

  Super Kopyo PH

  The Super Kopyo-PH is an ultra-lightweight X-band radar system featuring a phased-array antenna, digital signal and data processors, and a 12-bit analogue/digital converter unit, designed for ...

• Air: COMINT and ELINT systems, Air: Integrated Defensive Systems

  HES-21

  HES-21 provides ESM, ELINT and self-defence as a pod. The HES-21 is an integrated system with tactical situational awareness claimed in terms of EOB, as ...

• Land: air defence radar

  MAR

  The Mobile Search Radar (MAR), developed by the Turkish company Aselsan, is a mobile, X-band, short-range 3D search and track radar specifically designed for point ...

• Air: AEW/fire control radar

  N019 Sapfir-29

  The N019 Sapfir-29 is an X-band pulse-Doppler radar developed for the MiG-29 fighter aircraft, featuring a hybrid analogue/digital design with an NII Argon Ts100 digital ...

• Land: air defence radar

  SkyFender ADR

  SkyFender Air Defence Radar (ADR) is a pulse-Doppler radar operating in the X-band that performs signal processing in time and spectral domains to provide target ...

• Sea: naval surveillance radar

  Sea Giraffe 1X

  The Saab Sea Giraffe 1X is a short-range, three-dimensional naval radar variant of the Giraffe 1X. It is designed to be a compact and affordable ...

• Land: air defence radar

  X-TAR

  The X-Band Tactical Acquisition Radar (X-TAR) is a fully coherent X-band radar designed for such applications as early warning for MANPADS and guns or tactical ...

• Air: AEW/fire control radar

  Zaslon AM

  The Zaslon-AM is a modernized variant of the Zaslon X-band radar family, featuring the Baget-55-06 onboard digital computer replacing the Argon-15A. The system maintains the ...

• Air: AEW/fire control radar

  PS-05/A

  Saab's PS-05/A is an X-band mechanically scanned pulse-Doppler radar used on the Gripen fighter aircraft. The system has undergone four iterations from the original variant, which ...

• Land: air defence radar

  AD26

  The AD26 Very Short Range Air Defence (VSHORAD) radar is a fifth-generation 3D tactical air defence system. The AD26 is a lightweight, transportable X-band solid-state ...

• Air: AEW/fire control radar

  Zaslon

  The N007 Zaslon was the first phased-array X-band radar to enter service on a fighter aircraft as of Mig-31, featuring a 1.1m diameter antenna and ...

• Air: AEW/fire control radar

  Kopyo

  The Kopyo is an X-band multi-mode pulse-Doppler radar developed by Phazotron NIIR as a private venture, featuring digital signal processing and designed for light combat ...

• Sea: naval surveillance radar

  Columbus Mk2

  The Columbus Mk2 is a three-dimensional naval and coastal surveillance radar manufactured by Gem Elettronica. According to the manufacturer, it is designed for surveillance and ...

• Air: AEW/fire control radar

  Raven ES-05

  The Raven ES-05 is an AESA fire-control radar developed by Leonardo in close collaboration with Saab for the Gripen E/F. It features a repositionable AESA ...