• Air Warfare

  US Navy to explore integration of LRASMs on F-15E and F-15EX aircraft

  13th January 2025

  The contract opportunity, spearheaded by Naval Air Systems Command, intends to integrate and test the AGM-158C missile on the aircraft platform.

• Air Warfare

  F-16 not dead yet in Thailand despite RTAF’s selection of Gripen

  26th September 2024

  Lockheed Martin and Saab have both delivered updated offset proposals to Thailand’s air force with contracts yet to be signed on any deal.

• Naval Warfare

  Italian Navy finally takes delivery of Trieste

  10th December 2024

  The largest ship built in Italy in the post-war period has been delivered, and is expected to significantly boost Italy’s Amphibious Task Group.

• Naval Warfare

  Raytheon, Nammo and Northrop Grumman join forces to produce MK72 solid rocket motors

  8th April 2025

  MK72 is a crucial capability for the SM-3 interceptors and the Aegis BMD system.

• Air Warfare

  India moves to address fighter jet shortfalls amid rising regional pressures

  4th April 2025

  Delays, dwindling squadrons and global competition spur belated momentum in airpower procurement.

• Air Warfare

  Reiser secures new NH90 Sea Tiger maintenance training contract

  26th November 2024

  The training and simulation company’s new contract for the German Navy will replicate its NH90 Sea Tiger helicopter, which is set to join the fleet in 2025.

• Air Warfare

  Lockheed secures more than $12 billion in contracts for F-35 production and TR-3 upgrades

  9th January 2025

  The contracts include a $678.4-million contract for F-35 modification kits, along with an earlier December 2024 contract worth $11.7 billion for the production and delivery of 145 F-35 Lot 18 aircraft.

• Land Warfare

  Israel set to order more JLTVs and missile boats

  26th November 2024

  The Nagel Committee has been established to examine defence spending and IDF military force design for the future in the wake of last year’s 7 October Hamas attack on Israel.

• Air Warfare

  IDEX 2025: Industry poised to profit from Middle East air forces’ modernisation efforts

  14th February 2025

  Companies such as the Eurofighter consortium and Embraer, await potential orders from the Middle East, while countries including Saudi Arabia and the UAE work to add mass, modernise and replace ageing aircraft.

• Defence Notes

  New Zealand boosts defence spend to US$6.6 billion and vows increased closeness with Australia

  9th April 2025

  This budget will be spent over the next four years and nearly doubles the country’s defence spending as part of GDP to 2%.

• Air Warfare

  China’s modernisation could “gradually erode” US advantage, says IISS

  13th February 2025

  China’s growing capabilities, such as newly unveiled combat aircraft designs and ongoing J-20 aircraft production, were noted as examples of the country's rapid modernisation efforts and military reforms.

• Naval Warfare

  USS Arkansas Virginia-class submarine christened

  9th December 2024

  The commissioning of the last of the Virginia-class Block IV submarines has been planned for 2026.

• Air Warfare

  Air Warfare Review 2024: Budget cuts and delays fail to dampen modernisation efforts in 2024

  10th December 2024

  From major platform upgrades, high-value contract wins and programme delays, Shephard reported on a mixed year for air warfare in 2024, as geopolitical tensions rose across Europe and the Middle East.

• Air Warfare

  China unveils new military kit and demonstrates technological prowess

  9th December 2024

  From the J-35A twin-engine fighter and the CH-7 stealth surveillance platform, to the Smart-configuration Support UAV and JARI-USV-A unmanned surface vessel, China has been showcasing its ability to project military power through recent technological innovations.

• Naval Warfare

  Keel laid for Portuguese multi-purpose ship

  4th October 2024

  In June 2022, the Portuguese Navy released the concept of a multifunctional ship called Plataforma Naval Multifuncional (PNM) and a tender was issued in late May 2023. A contract with Damen was signed in November 2023.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• AEW&C

  E-7 Wedgetail (737) - UK

  Programme Background Seeking to replace its six ageing Boeing E-3 Sentry AEW&C;, the British Royal Air Force awarded Boeing a £1.89 billion contract in 2019 covering the ...

• AEW&C

  E-7 Wedgetail (Second Order) [U.K.]

  Programme Background Seeking to replace its six ageing Boeing E-3 Sentry AEW&C;, the British Royal Air Force awarded Boeing a £1.89 billion contract in 2019 ...

• 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 ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | E-7 Wedgetail - UK (Second Order)

  The UK MoD signed a £1.51 billion ($1.98 billion) deal to purchase five E-7 Wedgetail aircraft from Boeing for the Royal Air Force (RAF) in ...

• Data links

  Data links | E-7 Wedgetail - UK (Second Order)

  The UK MoD signed a £1.51 billion ($1.98 billion) deal to purchase five E-7 Wedgetail aircraft from Boeing for the Royal Air Force (RAF) in ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | E-7 Wedgetail - UK (Second Order)

  The UK MoD signed a £1.51 billion ($1.98 billion) deal to purchase five E-7 Wedgetail aircraft from Boeing for the Royal Air Force (RAF) in ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | E-7 Wedgetail - UK (Second Order)

  The UK MoD signed a £1.51 billion ($1.98 billion) deal to purchase five E-7 Wedgetail aircraft from Boeing for the Royal Air Force (RAF) in ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | E-7 Wedgetail (Second Order) [U.K.]

  The UK MoD signed a £1.51 billion ($1.98 billion) deal to purchase five E-7 Wedgetail aircraft from Boeing for the Royal Air Force (RAF) in ...

• Data links

  Data links | E-7 Wedgetail (Second Order) [U.K.]

  The UK MoD signed a £1.51 billion ($1.98 billion) deal to purchase five E-7 Wedgetail aircraft from Boeing for the Royal Air Force (RAF) in ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | E-7 Wedgetail (Second Order) [U.K.]

  The UK MoD signed a £1.51 billion ($1.98 billion) deal to purchase five E-7 Wedgetail aircraft from Boeing for the Royal Air Force (RAF) in ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | E-7 Wedgetail (Second Order) [U.K.]

  The UK MoD signed a £1.51 billion ($1.98 billion) deal to purchase five E-7 Wedgetail aircraft from Boeing for the Royal Air Force (RAF) in ...

• AEW&C

  E-7A Wedgetail (USA - Forecast)

  Programme Background Speaking on 21 September 2021 during the annual Air Force Association (AFA) Meeting in Washington DC, USAF Chief of Staff Gen Charles Brown ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | Alliance Future Surveillance and Control (1-6) [NATO]

  NATO is estimated to procure up to 18 AEW aircraft under the Alliance Future Surveillance and Control (AFSC) programme to replace the current E-3 Sentry fleet when ...

• Data links

  Data links | Alliance Future Surveillance and Control (1-6) [NATO]

  NATO is estimated to procure up to 18 AEW aircraft under the Alliance Future Surveillance and Control (AFSC) programme to replace the current E-3 Sentry fleet when ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | Alliance Future Surveillance and Control (1-6) [NATO]

  NATO is estimated to procure up to 18 AEW aircraft under the Alliance Future Surveillance and Control (AFSC) programme to replace the current E-3 Sentry fleet when ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Fixed wing aircraft engines

  T56-A-15

  The T56-A-15, a member of the T56 family of engines, powers C-130B/E/H and E-2 military aircraft. Other military versions of engines from the T56 family ...

• Air: fixed-wing flight simulators

  E-7 Wedgetail Mission Simulator

  E-7 Wedgetail Mission Simulator was developed by Havelsan to meet the requirements of Turkey's Peace Eagle Airborne Early Warning and Control programme. The Mission Simulator ...

• AEW&C

  737 Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C)

  The Boeing 737 AEW&C; is based on Boeing’s 737-700 commercial aeroplane. It is used for airspace surveillance and battle management. Three countries operate it: Australia ...

• ISR/special mission

  E-4B Nightwatch

  Developed by Boeing based on the 747-200 airliner, the E-4B Nightwatch is a special mission aircraft used as the US National Airborne Operations Centre and is ...

• Air: AEW/fire control radar

  MESA

  The MESA is an L-band active electronically scanned array radar system providing 360-degree coverage for airborne early warning and control missions. The system employs GaN ...

• ISR/special mission

  E-6B Mercury

  The E-6B Mercury is an airborne command post and communications relay for US nuclear forces, including submarine-launched ballistic missiles. The USN operates a fleet of ...

• Land: vehicle surveillance/target acquisition systems

  Savan 15

  Savan 15 is an FCS for tanks and other AFVs designed to provide fire-on-the-move capability. The system includes a day/night gunner’s sight; fire-control computer; gun ...

• ISR/special mission

  E-8C Joint STARS

  The E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (STARS) is an ISR aircraft based on the 707-300 airliner. It is fitted with an 8-meter-long, canoe-shaped radome ...

• Air: Defensive Systems - MLDS

  Elix-IR

  Thales’ Elix-IR is a Missile Approach Warning System (MAWS). It uses infrared sensors to detect the hot exhaust plumes of incoming air-to-air and surface-to-air missiles. ...

• AEW&C

  E-3 Sentry

  The E-3 Sentry, also known as AWACS, is an AEW&C; aircraft developed by Boeing based on the 707-320B airliner. It is powered by four Pratt & ...

• Air: AEW/fire control radar

  Grifo E

  The Grifo-E is an advanced fire-control radar developed by Leonardo, featuring Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) technology for enhanced situational awareness. It employs Active Electronically Scanned ...

• Submarine-launched torpedoes

  VA-111/Shkval

  Shkval is a supercavitation torpedo launched originally in 1977 by the Soviet Union. Today, it is deployed by the Russian Navy and produced by the ...

• AEW&C

  Global 6500 AEW&C

  Developed by L3Harris Technologies and Israel Aerospace Industries’ ELTA Systems Group (ELTA), the Global 6500 AEW&C; consists of a conformal airborne early warning (CAEW) mission ...

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

  SHAPO

  SHAPO is a multi-sensor, gyro-stabilised observation payload. It is intended for UAVs, helicopters, light aircraft, patrol boats, aerostats, airships, armoured vehicles and masts. Sensors include a ...

• Land: handheld NV devices

  Sophie LITE

  The Sophie LITE is a handheld, integrated multifunction system that allows the user to detect, recognise, identify and locate targets. It can be used standalone ...