• Defence Helicopter

  Longbow FCR support contract detailed

  19th February 2020

  Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman have detailed a recent contract from the US Army to support the AH-64 Apache helicopter AN/APG-78 Longbow Fire Control Radar …

• Land Warfare

  Russia receives first S-350 as it explores export opportunities

  6th March 2020

  The Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS) have accepted their first Almaz-Antey S-350 Vityaz surface-to-air missile (SAM) system. The initial unit was handed over on 26 February to the …

• Land Warfare

  ​BPI may re-emerge in Israel as extra piece of BMD jigsaw

  14th February 2020

  There has been a revival of support in Israel for laser rocket interceptor and boost-phase intercept (BPI) technology. While BPI remains a distant prospect, it …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  MQ-4C Triton arrives in Guam

  27th January 2020

  The MQ-4C Triton UAS has arrived in Guam for its initial deployment in the US Navy’s Pacific theatre. Unmanned Patrol Squadron 19, the first Triton …

• Naval Warfare

  Huntington Ingalls delivers Tripoli to USN

  2nd March 2020

  Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) delivered the America-class amphibious assault ship Tripoli (LHA 7) to the US Navy in a ceremony at its shipyard in Pascagoula, …

• Military Logistics

  L3 Harris to repair C-130H radar display units

  27th January 2020

  L3 Harris has been awarded an $11.4 million contract to repair electronic flight indicators and radar display units for the C‐130H Hercules. The contract was …

• Air Warfare

  Hub-and-spoke approach for USAF in Asia-Pacific

  5th February 2020

  The US Air Force (USAF) is adapting its air and cyber operations in the Asia-Pacific region to a more distributed approach given that the location …

• Naval Warfare

  Future USS Delbert D Black completes builder's trials

  26th February 2020

  The US Navy’s future USS Delbert D Black (DDG 119) has successfully completed builder’s trials, the navy announced on 24 February. Conducted by shipbuilder Huntington …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Northrop Grumman sonar to be tested on Iver4 UUV

  4th February 2020

  A Northrop Grumman synthetic aperture sonar is to be integrated onto L3Harris Technologies’ Iver4 Unmanned Undersea Vehicle (UUV) for testing, the company announced on 3 …

• Air Warfare

  Eurofighter updates HX programme proposal

  3rd February 2020

  Eurofighter has updated its proposal for Finland’s HX fighter acquisition programme, BAE Systems announced on 31 January. The proposal has been submitted by the UK …

• Training

  Exercise Combined Resolve XIII improves NATO interoperability

  17th February 2020

  NATO has detailed Exercise Combined Resolve XIII which took place at the Joint Multinational Readiness Centre (JMRC) in Hohenfels, Germany, between 20 January and 4 …

• Defence Helicopter

  HIL programme pre-development activities underway

  7th February 2020

  Airbus Helicopters and the French Armament General Directorate (DGA) are to undertake studies to further the militarisation of the H160 in the frame of France’s Joint …

• Training

  Spanish Air Force purchases 24 Pilatus PC-21 Trainer Aircraft

  31st January 2020

  Pilatus will supply 24 PC-21 single-engine turboprop trainer aircraft to the Spanish Air Force, the company announced on 31 January. The new trainer aircraft will …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  RAN to roll out unmanned MCM capability

  19th February 2020

  The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) is introducing deployable mine counter-measures (MCM) capabilities under Project Sea 1778. Under Project 1778 Phase 1, Australian Mine Warfare Team …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Schiebel S2 completes heavy fuel acceptance tests

  9th March 2020

  Schiebel announced on 9 March that it has completed heavy fuel acceptance testing of its S2 engine, which is to be used by the Royal …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | Penetrating Counter Air (PCA) [USA]

  The United States Air Force (USAF) is working on the F-47 Penetrating Counter Air (PCA) aircraft, which is intended to replace F-22s in service and ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

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

  The United States Air Force (USAF) is working on the F-47 Penetrating Counter Air (PCA) aircraft, which is intended to replace F-22s in service and ...

• Data links

  Data links | Penetrating Counter Air (PCA) [USA]

  The United States Air Force (USAF) is working on the F-47 Penetrating Counter Air (PCA) aircraft, which is intended to replace F-22s in service and ...

• Air: Head-up displays

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

  The United States Air Force (USAF) is working on the F-47 Penetrating Counter Air (PCA) aircraft, which is intended to replace F-22s in service and ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | Penetrating Counter Air (PCA) [USA]

  The United States Air Force (USAF) is working on the F-47 Penetrating Counter Air (PCA) aircraft, which is intended to replace F-22s in service and ...

• 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 ...

• Transport

  King Air 360 [Nigeria]

  Programme Background On 7 October 2021, Nigeria’s Budget Office published its proposed budget details. The Nigerian Air Force requested 10.86 billion Nigerian Naira (US$26.4 million) ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• Bomber

  B-21 Raider [USA]

  Programme Background Development 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 ...

• 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 ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | KC-130J [Saudi Arabia]

  Royal Saudi Air Force is seeking to purchase three KC-130J tanker aircraft in addition to two units acquired under foreign military sale (FMS) programme. On 9 ...

• Data links

  Data links | KC-130J [Saudi Arabia]

  Royal Saudi Air Force is seeking to purchase three KC-130J tanker aircraft in addition to two units acquired under foreign military sale (FMS) programme. On 9 ...

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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing

  CLS-200

  The CLS-200 is part of the Yates Electrospace Corporation Silent Arrow family. It is a powered cargo-carrying one-use UAV, based on the company's GD-2000 glider.  In ...

• 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: 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 ...