• Defence Notes

  USAF suspends KC-46A tanker deliveries again

  3rd April 2019

  For the second time this year, the US Air Force has temporarily stopped accepting new KC-46A Pegasus tankers after finding foreign object debris (FOD) in the …

• Defence Helicopter

  CH-47F Block II makes maiden flight

  29th March 2019

  Boeing’s CH-47F Block II EMD Chinook has made its first flight at the company’s Philadelphia facility, marking a key milestone in a programme that has …

• Defence Notes

  US approves $3.8 billion F-16 sale to Morocco

  26th March 2019

  The US approved the sale of 25 F-16 fighter aircraft to Morocco for $3.8 billion on 25 March, the State Department announced. Besides the new …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Unmanned Systems Asia 2019: Indonesia follows regional trend with ubiquitous ScanEagle

  5th April 2019

  Indonesia will become the latest country in the Asia-Pacific region to integrate ScanEagle UAVs into its aerial operations, following a contract modification award on 29 …

• Land Warfare

  AUSA Global 2019: Lockheed Martin ramps up rocket production

  28th March 2019

  Lockheed Martin’s rhetoric at AUSA Global Force was an emphasis on increasing production of a number of its weapon systems and this was proven as …

• Training

  T-1A Jayhawk trainer flies with Collins avionics

  1st April 2019

  A US Air Force (USAF) T-1A Jayhawk trainer equipped with Collins Aerospace’s Pro Line 21 integrated avionics system has completed its first flight from Field …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  AUSA Global 2019: Grizzly UGV breaks cover

  28th March 2019

  Textron's Howe and Howe displayed its bid for the US DoD’s Squad Multi Purpose Equipment Transport (SMET) programme for the first time during AUSA Global …

• Defence Helicopter

  USCG awards MH-65 components contract

  2nd April 2019

  The US Coast Guard (USCG) has awarded a $21.3 million contract to Tyonek Manufacturing Group to procure 89 wiring harness packages for its MH-65 short …

• Naval Warfare

  US Navy eyes using UUVs to protect Columbia submarines

  1st March 2019

  The US Navy is examining how it could use unmanned undersea vehicles to protect its manned ballistic missile submarines, according to a key service official. …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  France to arm MQ-9 Reapers with GBU-12 bombs

  28th March 2019

  The French Air Force is to weaponise its MQ-9 Reaper Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) with GBU-12 Paveway II laser guided bombs, in a move that …

• Special Operations

  New dive gear for Danish SOF

  22nd March 2019

  Danish special operations forces are due to receive non-magnetic dry suit technology to support combat diving missions at increased depths, an official solicitation has disclosed.According …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Spain to receive two new Reapers

  1st April 2019

  General Atomics Aeronautical Systems has been awarded a contract worth in excess of $34 million for two MQ-9 Reaper UAVs and associated equipment for the Spanish …

• Defence Notes

  Modi declares India 'space superpower' as satellite downed by missile

  28th March 2019

  India said it had destroyed a low-orbiting satellite in a missile test that proved the nation was among the world's most advanced space powers. In …

• Land Warfare

  DeepStrike missile completes PDR

  29th March 2019

  Raytheon, with the US Army, has completed a successful preliminary design review (PDR) of the DeepStrike surface-to-surface missile, the company announced on 26 March. The …

• Military Logistics

  USAF orders AAR 463L pallets

  22nd March 2019

  AAR Mobility Systems has received a $10.8 million order from the US Air Force for the production of 463L cargo pallets, the company announced on …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Maritime patrol

  P-8A Poseidon [US]

  Programme Background The P-8A Multi-mission Maritime Aircraft (MMA) system is a heavily modified and militarized derivative of Boeing's 737-800 ERX commercial aircraft. The P-8A is ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  CH-53K [USA]

  Programme Background The USMC is replacing its ageing CH-53E helicopters with the CH-53K heavy-lift helicopter. Designed as an evolution of the CH-53E, the CH-53K is ...

• Fighter - naval

  F-35B (FY2026-2031) [USA]

  Background According to U.S. budget documents throughout the decade, the U.S. Navy intends to acquire 324 F-35B STOVL aircraft. Prior to 2020, the U.S. Navy ...

• Maritime patrol

  P-8A Poseidon [UK]

  Programme Background In July 2016, the UK government announced that it had ordered nine aircraft for service with the RAF. Under this frame, in January ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Constellation Class - FFG(X) (11-20)

  The US Navy ran the Next Generational Future Guided Missile Frigate (FFG X) programme to build a replacement for the Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigates, the ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Constellation Class - FFG(X) (11-20)

  The US Navy ran the Next Generational Future Guided Missile Frigate (FFG X) programme to build a replacement for the Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigates, the ...

• Military helicopters - maritime, Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  CH-53K - US Navy

  Background The Marine Corps is replacing its aging CH-53E helicopters with the CH-53K heavy-lift helicopter. Designed as an evolution of the CH-53E, the CH-53K is ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | F-35B STOVL Future Procurement - US Navy

  The US Navy is planning to order 115 F-35B STOVLs between FY2026 and FY2031 under the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program. The purchase is estimated ...

• Data links

  Data links | F-35B STOVL Future Procurement - US Navy

  The US Navy is planning to order 115 F-35B STOVLs between FY2026 and FY2031 under the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program. The purchase is estimated ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  Air: Helmet-mounted displays | F-35B STOVL Future Procurement - US Navy

  The US Navy is planning to order 115 F-35B STOVLs between FY2026 and FY2031 under the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program. The purchase is estimated ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | F-35B STOVL Future Procurement - US Navy

  The US Navy is planning to order 115 F-35B STOVLs between FY2026 and FY2031 under the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program. The purchase is estimated ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | F-35B STOVL Future Procurement - US Navy

  The US Navy is planning to order 115 F-35B STOVLs between FY2026 and FY2031 under the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program. The purchase is estimated ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | F-35C Carrier Variant (CV) Future Procurement

  The US Navy is planning to order 130 F-35Cs between FY2026 and FY2030 under the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program. The purchase is estimated be ...

• Data links

  Data links | F-35C Carrier Variant (CV) Future Procurement

  The US Navy is planning to order 130 F-35Cs between FY2026 and FY2030 under the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program. The purchase is estimated be ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  Air: Helmet-mounted displays | F-35C Carrier Variant (CV) Future Procurement

  The US Navy is planning to order 130 F-35Cs between FY2026 and FY2030 under the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program. The purchase is estimated be ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Maritime patrol

  US-2

  The ShinMaywa US-2 is an amphibious short take-off and landing aircraft used primarily by the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) for SAR. 

• Military - USVs

  Voyager

  Voyager is an Uncrewed Surface Vessel (USV) built by US-based Saildrone. Voyager has been used by the US Navy (USN) and is one of three ...

• Military - UUVs

  Orca

  Orca is an extra-large uncrewed underwater vehicle (XLUUV) developed by Boeing for the US Navy (USN).

• Destroyers

  Kee Lung (Kidd) Class

  The Kee Lung-class consists of four ex-US Kidd-class guided missile destroyers in service with the Republic of China Navy (ROCN). The ships were originally built for ...

• Military - UUVs

  Mission Specialist Defender

  The Mission Specialist Defender is a remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV) developed by VideoRay, now part of BlueHalo's unmanned maritime systems. The ROV is known ...

• Data links

  GNOMAD US Domestic

  The US domestic version of GNOMAD (see separate entry) is a ruggedised system comprising a satellite antenna and baseband modular chassis that can be installed ...

• Military - USVs

  Explorer

  Saildrone's Explorer is the smallest of three USVs designed and built by the US-based USV manufacturer Saildrone. The system is used by the US Navy (USN) ...

• EO/IR systems, Sea: ship surveillance and fire control systems

  SeaFLIR 380-HD

  The SeaFLIR 380-HD is a long-range, multispectral surveillance system for surface vessels. Manufactured by Teledyne FLIR, the system combines HD IR, colour or SWIR spectral information. According to ...

• Unguided Medium Calibre Ammunition

  MK266 High Explosive Incendiary with Tracer

  The MK266 High Explosive Incendiary with Tracer is a 30mm medium calibre round manufactured by Northrop Grumman. It is currently in use with the US Navy.

• Military - UUVs

  Snakehead LDUUV

  The Snakehead Large Displacement Uncrewed Underwater Vehicle (LDUUV) is a US Navy (USN) Uncrewed Underwater Vehicle (UUV) designed to be launched from submarine Dry Dock Shelters ...

• Unguided Medium Calibre Ammunition

  XM1198 High Explosive Dual Purpose with Self Destruct (HEDP-SD)

  The XM1198 High Explosive Dual Purpose with Self Destruct (HEDP-SD) is a 30mm medium calibre round manufactured by Northrop Grumman. The US Navy uses the XM1198.

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Integrated Combat System

  The Integrated Combat System (ICS) is a combat management system being developed for the US Navy. The project, currently led by Lockheed Martin, aims to ...

• Unguided Medium Calibre Ammunition

  XM950 Target Practice Round

  The XM950 Target Practice Round is a 30mm medium calibre training round manufactured by Northrop Grumman. The US Navy uses the XM950 for training with its ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Navy Multiband Terminal (NMT)

  The Navy Multiband Terminal is the next-generation maritime military SATCOM for the US Navy and allied nations. The terminal integrates EHF and AEHF systems with ...

• Ship-launched torpedoes, Submarine-launched torpedoes

  Mk-48 Mod 6AT ADCAP

  The Mk-48 ADCAP (Advanced Capability) is the improved version of the Mk-48 family. Development started with the Mk-48 Mod 5 and continues to the present ...