• Naval Warfare

  Ace Electronics Defense Systems receives Tomahawk kit IDIQ

  7th January 2020

  Ace Electronics Defense Systems has been issued an IDIQ contract by the US Naval Surface Warfare Center to produce kits for the hardware component refresh …

• Military Logistics

  GD NASSCO awarded Harpers Ferry maintenance work

  7th January 2020

  General Dynamics National Steel and Shipbuilding (NASSCO) will carry out phased maintenance availability on the US Navy’s USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49) landing ship dock. …

• Military Logistics

  Delta Digital Video converters approved for FRP

  15th January 2020

  Lockheed Martin has approved full rate production for Delta Digital Video to deliver multiple Model VSC/900 Universal Video Format Converters for use in the Electronic …

• Training

  RAAF retires PC-9/A fleet

  13th December 2019

  The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) has officially retired its PC-9/A fleet after more than 30 years of flying operations. The aircraft has provided the …

• Land Warfare

  New weapons for Philippine marines

  18th January 2020

  New weapons are on their way to the Philippine Marine Corps (PMC) following the recent award of two contracts for RPGs and 81mm mortars. With …

• Land Warfare

  US Army orders more self-propelled howitzers

  7th January 2020

  BAE Systems has been awarded a $249 million contract modification by the US Army to complete an additional 60 M109A7 self-propelled howitzers. The award exercises …

• Naval Warfare

  Panic over shipping routes through tense Middle East subside

  10th January 2020

  As the embers of US-Iranian struggle for influence in the Middle East return to a dull glow following a week of tensions, the heightened threat …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Hybrid Air Vehicles introduces Airlander 10

  13th January 2020

  Hybrid Air Vehicles (HAV) has developed an updated Airlander 10 aircraft as the version that will go into production for initial customers.The updated aircraft has …

• Special Operations

  Croatian helicopter training centre opens

  13th December 2019

  Croatia’s Multinational Special Aviation (MSAP) training centre formally opened at the Pukovnik Mirko Vukušić Barracks in Zemunik on 11 December. The MSAP will train special …

• Defence Notes

  BAE Systems, Renishaw sign MoU

  17th January 2020

  BAE Systems has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Renishaw to cooperate on the development of additive manufacturing capabilities for the defence and aerospace …

• Military Logistics

  Ireland orders maritime patrol aircraft

  16th December 2019

  The Irish Department of Defence has ordered two Airbus C295 medium airlifters in maritime surveillance configuration. The aircraft will be delivered fitted with the Fully …

• Naval Warfare

  RAN creates new Maritime Warfare Centre

  23rd January 2020

  The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) has opened a centralised warfighting agency called the Maritime Warfare Centre at Garden Island, Sydney. Designed to enhance the RAN’s …

• Defence Notes

  Podcast: Revolutions in Vertical Flight S1 E3 - The Tiltrotor

  20th December 2019

  Welcome to Shephard Studio’s podcast series on Revolutions in Vertical Flight, sponsored by our partner Bell. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify and more. The Revolutions in Vertical Flight …

• Training

  Misawa AFB connects to DMON

  3rd December 2019

  The US Air Force’s Misawa Air Force (AFB) Base F-16C simulator has connected to Northrop Grumman’s Distributed Mission Operations Network (DMON).DMON provides the virtual-constructive backbone …

• Defence Helicopter

  Winning streak continues as Leonardo scoops USN trainer award

  14th January 2020

  Leonardo has beaten off competition from Airbus, Bell and two other contenders to win the USN’s TH-73A trainer helicopter programme, with its offer coming in $265 million …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• Bomber

  B-21 Raider (USA)

  Programme Background 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 expected ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  UH-60M Black Hawks [Greece]

  Programme Background In October 2023, Greece submitted a formal request to acquire 49 Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters as replacements for the Army's Bell UH-1s after launching ...

• Military helicopters - light/training

  Bell 505 (Jordan)

  Programme Background Requirement The Jordanian Air Force has a requirement for training helicopters that are to be used in the King Hussein Air College. The country ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  Huey II

  The last announced contract, valuing at $19 million, was awarded to Bell by US Army to supply Lebanon Air Force with there furnished Huey IIs ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | Penetrating Counter Air (PCA)

  USAF is working on Penetrating Counter Air (PCA) aircraft concept which may replace F-15C/Ds and F-22s in service and complement F-35s. Boeing, Lockheed Martin and ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

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

  USAF is working on Penetrating Counter Air (PCA) aircraft concept which may replace F-15C/Ds and F-22s in service and complement F-35s. Boeing, Lockheed Martin and ...

• Data links

  Data links | Penetrating Counter Air (PCA)

  USAF is working on Penetrating Counter Air (PCA) aircraft concept which may replace F-15C/Ds and F-22s in service and complement F-35s. Boeing, Lockheed Martin and ...

• Air: Head-up displays

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

  USAF is working on Penetrating Counter Air (PCA) aircraft concept which may replace F-15C/Ds and F-22s in service and complement F-35s. Boeing, Lockheed Martin and ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | Penetrating Counter Air (PCA)

  USAF is working on Penetrating Counter Air (PCA) aircraft concept which may replace F-15C/Ds and F-22s in service and complement F-35s. Boeing, Lockheed Martin and ...

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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...