• Air Warfare

  Northrop Grumman’s B-21 makes first flight

  13th November 2023

  Northrop Grumman’s strategic stealth bomber aircraft, the B-21 Raider, has been developed to succeed the B-1 and B-2 fleets in the US Air Force service.

• Training

  I/ITSEC 2023: Solving a Polish air defence training challenge

  22nd November 2023

  How Northrop Grumman developed a new and flexible training system for Poland’s purchase of the IBCS system before it was fully introduced in the US Army.

• Digital Battlespace

  Redefining Modern Warfare: Multi-Domain Operations and the Shift to Integrated Communications across the Force (Studio)

  25th October 2023

  The multi-domain operations (MDO) concept is now a core focus for the US and its allies. The paradigm has significant implications for communications technology as militaries seek to integrate platforms and systems across different networked communications domains.

• Training

  I/ITSEC 2023: 4GD smart targets to receive ChatGPT enhancement

  28th November 2023

  The integration of ChatGPT to 4GD's SimStriker could lead to the introduction of dynamic conversational capabilities, enabling realistic interactions with trainee soldiers in diverse training scenarios.

• Land Warfare

  Pentagon runs out of funds to support Ukraine

  11th January 2024

  DoD authorities have been urging the US Congress to approve the national security supplemental request to ensure future donations to Kyiv.

• Training

  US Army to increase soldiers' AI use with new app

  12th December 2023

  Game-If-AI uses artificial intelligence and gamification techniques to train skills and competencies to build, interact with or manage systems.

• Training

  I/ITSEC 2023: How VR and AR are reshaping the training capabilities for the Pentagon

  25th November 2023

  DoD’s branches and agencies have been working on multiple programmes in the growing realm of VR and AR to develop advanced systems that can recreate the complexities of a changing battlespace.

• Air Warfare

  Lockheed withdraws from US Air Force tanker competition, leaving Airbus to bid alone

  24th October 2023

  Airbus remains resolute in its commitment to compete for the KC-135 replacement independently after Lockheed's exit. The shift could prove advantageous to competitor Boeing, potentially boosting its chances of securing another contract with the US Air Force.

• Land Warfare

  New JLTV orders for Oshkosh takes production of JLTV line beyond mid-2025

  6th November 2023

  Oshkosh has produced more than 23,000 JLTVs since the first order in 2015 and the latest contract will add as many as 700 vehicles to orders already placed.

• Training

  I/ITSEC 2023: US Navy considers purchase of Vrgineers carbon fibre MR headset for V-22 pilots

  28th November 2023

  The new Vrgineers carbon fibre XTAL 3 CAVU mixed-reality headset will attempt to address calculation bottlenecks via high-performance graphical chip and AI ahead of launch in 2024.

• Training

  Royal Air Force opens new Hawk maintainer facility

  21st November 2023

  Amid ongoing challenges with technical issues in the Rolls-Royce engines of the Royal Air Force's Hawk T2 fast jet training aircraft, the service has inaugurated a new maintenance training facility.

• Training

  German airmobile forces to get new NH90 helicopter crew trainer

  22nd November 2023

  Reiser Simulation and Training has secured a deal to develop and deliver specialised NH90 helicopter rear-cabin trainer for the German airmobile forces.

• Training

  I/ITSEC 2023: Combined and joint exercises – when is bigger better?

  26th November 2023

  Why armed forces need to focus on the challenges associated with conducting military exercises at different levels and domains, by focusing on interoperability, as well as joint and combined operations.

• Air Warfare

  Taiwan completes F-16 upgrade programme as delivery timeline of new jets remains in doubt

  7th December 2023

  The Taiwanese air force has completed its six-year-long F-16 upgrade programme as the country awaits delivery of 66 new F-16V Block 70 fighter jets.

• Land Warfare

  How Europe is enhancing AFV survivability to counter new and old threats

  23rd December 2023

  A growing number of NATO countries are planning to upgrade their fleets of tracked and wheeled armoured fighting vehicles (AFV) to improve their survivability against emerging battlefield threats.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Fighter - multirole

  F-15EX - USAF (Announced)

  Programme Background The F-15EX is based on the 2-seat F-15QA (Qatar) configuration upgraded with USAF-only capabilities, including the Eagle Passive Active Warning and Survivability System (EPAWSS) ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-15EX - USAF (Contracted)

  Programme Background USAF is looking to procure 144 F-15EX fighter aircraft, including two RDTE configurations and six low-rate initial production aircraft. F-15EX will replace ageing ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  KC-Y tanker aircraft [USA]

  Programme Background The USAF is replacing its fleet of 396 KC-135 Stratotanker refuelling aircraft, built in the 1950s and 60s, and 59 KC-10 Extenders, which entered service ...

• Military UAS - micro, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Teal 2 [USAF]

  Programme Background On 8 August 2023, Teal Drones announced it had received a $2.6 million deal for 172 Teal 2 UAVs, spare parts and training from ...

• ISR/special mission

  P-1 EW [Japan]

  Programme Background Requirement Japan has operated the EP-3, a COMINT/SIGINT/ELINT configuration of the P-3 Orion, since 1993. As of 2024, the Japanese MoD maintains that these aircraft ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  MH-139 (UH-1N Huey Replacement)

  Other bidders included Sikorsky with HH-60U offer and Sierra Nevada with upgrading offer of UH-60As to UH-60L configuration.In February 2018, Leonardo filed a protest to ...

• 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 ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) (Increment 1) [USAF]

  Background Requirements The programme's requirements are based on the USAF's belief that mass is necessary to compete effectively against an adversary in symmetrical warfare. However, ...

• 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 ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) (Increment 2) [USAF]

  Background Requirements The baseline requirements for Increment 2 of the CCA effort are similar to Increment 1, which is covered in a separate entry on Defence ...

• Military UAS - mini

  Electronic Warfare (EW) UAV [US Army]

  Background Army evaluations In May 2026, the US Army evaluated CX2’s Wraith rotary-wing UAV during Exercise Ivy Mass at Fort Carson. The evaluation was conducted in support ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-15QA Qatar

  Programme Background On 17 November 2016, the US State Department announced that it has approved a possible FMS of 72 F-15QA aircraft to Qatar for ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | P-1 EW [Japan]

  Japan is advancing its electronic warfare (EW) capabilities through the development of an EW version of the domestically produced Kawasaki P-1 maritime patrol aircraft. The ...

• Data links

  Data links | P-1 EW [Japan]

  Japan is advancing its electronic warfare (EW) capabilities through the development of an EW version of the domestically produced Kawasaki P-1 maritime patrol aircraft. The ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | P-1 EW [Japan]

  Japan is advancing its electronic warfare (EW) capabilities through the development of an EW version of the domestically produced Kawasaki P-1 maritime patrol aircraft. The ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Air: maintenance simulators

  F-22 Training Devices

  TRU Simulation + Training F-22 MTD programme includes three training devices that provide USAF students at Sheppard AFB, Texas, with maintenance training on landing gear, ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - HALE

  EX-3 Revenant

  The EX-3 Revenant is a developmental fixed-wing aircraft being developed by Exosonic. It is a Mach 1.2 supersonic UAV designed to be a 5th-generation representative, modular, autonomous ...

• Air: transport/tanker simulators

  USAF KC-135 ATS

  The KC-135 Aircrew Training System (ATS) programme delivers initial qualification, requalification, continuation and upgrades training for USAF KC-135 aircrews, including pilots, co-pilots and boom operators. ...

• Air: fixed-wing flight simulators

  T-1 Jayhawk

  FlightSafety operates and maintains T-1 training devices as part of its CLS contract. Air Education and Training Command uses these high-fidelity simulators and part-task trainers ...

• Air: air combat simulators

  Air Combat Training

  Boeing has experience in delivering training for fixed-wing air combat platforms including F-15C/E, F-16, F/A-18E/F, EA-18G, F-22 and MV/CV-22.

• EW test systems

  JTE

  The Joint Threat Emitter (JTE) is a multi-threat, high-fidelity simulator with realistic ERP levels, which simulates single- and double-digit surface-to-air and anti-aircraft artillery radar systems. ...

• ISR/special mission

  EC-130H Compass Call

  The EC-130H is an EW aircraft based on the modified C-130H transport aircraft. It is used by the USAF to disrupt enemy command and control communications ...

• ISR/special mission

  EA-37B Compass Call

  The EA-37B (also known as EC-37B) is a Compass Call EW aircraft based on the commercial G550 platform. The USAF is now transitioning the EW capabilities previously ...

• Trainer

  T-38 Talon

  Developed by Northrop Grumman, the T-38 Talon is an advanced trainer aircraft introduced into service in 1961. The T-38 has the same basic airframe as ...

• EW test systems

  ELT A62

  ELT A62 product family deals with multiple sensors of EW equipment suites. ELT A62 is a training system for EW personnel that can be sea-, ...

• Air: fixed-wing flight simulators

  T-38C Talon

  FlightSafety supports nearly 40 T-38 training devices as part of its contract for logistics support for the T-38. The T-38C is a converted T-38A/B that ...

• Subsystems: software, Subsystems: visual

  SimuSphere HD

  SimuSphere HD immerses fast jet pilots in a virtual training environment claimed to be equivalent to real-world flying missions. As part of L3Harris Technologies' HD ...

• Air: air combat simulators

  JPRWRS

  The Joint Portable Radar Warning Receiver Stimulator (JPRWRS) has been developed as a method of providing fixed- and rotary-wing aircrews with a low-cost, open-air threat ...

• Air: transport/tanker simulators

  KC-46A ATS

  FlightSafety supports the USAF aircrew training program for the KC-46A Pegasus tanker aircraft. The program delivers a multi-faceted training package to the USAF from design, ...

• Air: helicopter flight simulators

  IFEWS

  The In Flight Electronic Warfare Simulator (IFEWS) is an autonomous onboard threat environment training and safety suite, capable of simulating the EW suite and a ...