• Uncrewed Vehicles

  AUVSI 2019: Flying Sea Glider programme nears the end

  2nd May 2019

  A US Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) programme to explore the technological feasibility of a swing-role UAV/UUV platform will enter flight and underwater tests in the …

• Naval Warfare

  Royal Navy christens HMS Tamar

  26th March 2019

  The Royal Navy has officially named its fourth Batch 2 River-class offshore patrol vessel (OPV) HMS Tamar. Designed for counter-terrorism and anti-smuggling operations, the 90m …

• Training

  ITEC 2019: Kratos unveils first MQM-178 built in Oklahoma

  1st May 2019

  Kratos Defense has formally unveiled the first MQM-178 Firejet aerial target to be built in its new manufacturing facility in Oklahoma City. Kratos’ CEO, Eric …

• Military Logistics

  US Navy to receive new class of tugboats

  8th May 2019

  The US Navy’s Military Sealift Command is set to receive new Navajo-class towing and salvage vessels in 2021, the navy announced on 3 May.   …

• Digital Battlespace

  Harris to supply radios to New Zealand Army

  10th May 2019

  New Zealand announced in Q1 2019 that Harris Defence Australia had been chosen to deliver a new tactical communications network for the New Zealand Army, …

• Naval Warfare

  UDT Europe 2019: Avon Protection takes a dive with MCM100

  9th May 2019

  Following its launch in 2017, Avon Protection will showcase its MCM100, a deep diving (100m CE rated), air and mixed gas, electronic control rebreather at …

• Naval Warfare

  Keel laid for future USS Marinette

  28th March 2019

  Lockheed Martin and Fincantieri Marinette Marine have laid the keel for the US Navy’s 13th Freedom-variant Littoral Combat Ship (LCS 25), the future USS Marinette, …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  AUVSI 2019: Less talk, more action from drone task force (video)

  2nd May 2019

  As AUVSI's 2019 edition of Xponential draws to a close, the Shephard Media team comprising of Richard Thomas, Editor-in-Chief, Helen Haxell, Air Editor and Senior …

• Digital Battlespace

  Australia to acquire new Peregrine EW aircraft

  19th March 2019

  On 18 March, Australia’s DoD confirmed it is acquiring four modified Gulfstream G550 aircraft for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). To be designated the …

• Land Warfare

  Russia showcases new assault rifles

  10th May 2019

  The Russian military showed three new-generation assault rifles from the Kalashnikov portfolio for the first-time during Victory Day parade on the Red Square in Moscow …

• Defence Notes

  Northrop receives AARGM-ER EMD contract

  13th March 2019

  Northrop Grumman has received a $322.5 million contract from the US Navy for engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) of the Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile-Extended Range …

• Naval Warfare

  AUVSI 2019: Unmanned technology driving naval change

  30th April 2019

  With the US Navy (USN) looking to spend up to $1 billion in the procurement and utilisation of unmanned maritime systems in the coming years, …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  IDEF 2019: Asis showcases new spy and weaponised drones

  3rd May 2019

  Turkish company Asis is expanding its portfolio of technologies revealing new weaponised and micro spy drones as well as disclosing acquisition of Bosnia and Herzegovinian-based …

• Land Warfare

  INKAS introduces right-hand drive Sentry APC

  1st May 2019

  INKAS has introduced a right-hand drive version of its Sentry armoured personnel carrier (APC), the company announced on 26 April. The Sentry APC is capable …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Milipol Asia 2019: TRD launches covert handheld C-UAS

  2nd April 2019

  Singaporean company TRD launched a new covert handheld counter-UAS device, adding to its existing range of such C-UAS systems, at the Milipol Asia 2019 exhibition …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - MALE

  XQ-58A Valkyrie [USMC]

  Programme Background Contract Award On 30 December 2022, the US DoD announced that it had awarded Kratos Unmanned Aerial Systems a $15.52 million cost-plus-fixed-fee contract to ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) [Japan]

  Programme Background Shephard notes that GCAP's Japanese, British and Italian components are tracked in separate entries. Programme Timeline 2020: The Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency of Japan issued ...

• Fighter - multirole

  JAS-39C/D Gripen Replacement [Czech Republic]

  Programme Background Requirements The Czech Republic Air Force operates 14 Gripens (12 JAS 39C and two JAS 39D variants) under a lease agreement that runs ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Typhoon Tranche 3A [Saudi Arabia]

  Background Timeline In June 2018, Saudi Arabia agreed to procure 48 Eurofighter Typhoon multirole fighter aircraft from BAE. However, Germany's defence export ban to Saudi ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Multirole Fighter [Turkiye]

  Programme Background Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said that Turkey had already paid $1.4 billion into the programme, while its defence industry has ploughed significant ...

• Fighter - multirole

  TF-X Kaan Next Generation Fighter [Türkiye]

  Programme Background Requirement Geopolitical factors have spurred aircraft development in Türkiye. With its removal from the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter project following the Russian S-400 ...

• Trainer

  Hawk 127 Replacement (Future Lead-In Fighter Training System- Project Air 6002 PH1) [Australia]

  Programme Background Requirements The RAAF is seeking a future solution that provides a ‘relevant, adaptable, affordable and safe LIFTS out to 2050’ for training pilots ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Eurofighter Typhoon First-Batch [Türkiye]

  Programme Background Requirement The Turkish Air Force has operated two main fighter platforms, the F-16 and F-4, for several decades. As older F-16 airframes and ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | Typhoon Tranche 3A [Saudi Arabia]

  In June 2018, Saudi Arabia agreed to procure 48 Eurofighter Typhoon multirole fighter aircraft from BAE. The total procurement cost for 48 aircraft is estimated at ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  Air: Helmet-mounted displays | Typhoon Tranche 3A [Saudi Arabia]

  In June 2018, Saudi Arabia agreed to procure 48 Eurofighter Typhoon multirole fighter aircraft from BAE. The total procurement cost for 48 aircraft is estimated at ...

• Data links

  Data links | Typhoon Tranche 3A [Saudi Arabia]

  In June 2018, Saudi Arabia agreed to procure 48 Eurofighter Typhoon multirole fighter aircraft from BAE. The total procurement cost for 48 aircraft is estimated at ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | Typhoon Tranche 3A [Saudi Arabia]

  In June 2018, Saudi Arabia agreed to procure 48 Eurofighter Typhoon multirole fighter aircraft from BAE. The total procurement cost for 48 aircraft is estimated at ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | Typhoon Tranche 3A [Saudi Arabia]

  In June 2018, Saudi Arabia agreed to procure 48 Eurofighter Typhoon multirole fighter aircraft from BAE. The total procurement cost for 48 aircraft is estimated at ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-35A [Denmark]

  Programme Background  Denmark joined the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program in 2002 during the System Development and Demonstration phase and has influenced technical elements ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-35A Japan

  In 2019, Japan requested to be an official partner in the F-35 programme, but this request was rejected by the Pentagon. The F-35 Joint Strike ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Air: fixed-wing flight simulators

  F-35 Training System

  BAE Systems is involved in F-35 Lightning II Training System design and sustainment, working with prime contractor Lockheed Martin. BAE Systems leads the instructional systems ...

• Air: Defensive Systems - Radar Warning Receivers, EW test systems

  Model 527

  The Model 527 radar signal simulator is used for end-of-runway and walk-around radiated RWR testing to verify the operational status of the aircraft and its ...

• Air: Electronic Attack - Jamming, Air: chaff/flare/decoy systems

  AN/ALE-55 FOTD

  The ALE-55 Fibre Optic Towed Decoy (FOTD) is a high-powered electronic off-board countermeasure that works with an aircraft’s onboard EW equipment to defeat radiofrequency (RF) threats. It ...

• Air-to-surface missiles

  SPEAR-EW

  The SPEAR-EW missile, developed by MBDA in collaboration with Leonardo, is an air-to-surface weapon designed to perform Suppression of Enemy Air Defence (SEAD) missions. This ...

• EW test systems

  A2PATS

  Advanced Architecture Phase Amplitude and Time Simulator (A2PATS) is a real-time EM test environment simulator for military platforms and installed systems, designed to deliver mission ...

• Military UAS - HALE

  HAPS / PHASA-35

  The High Altitude Pseudo-Satellite (HAPS) is a solar-electric Persistent High Altitude Solar Aircraft (PHASA-35).  Produced by BAE Systems and Prismatic, the platform is designed to provide a persistent, ...

• Air: AEW/fire control radar

  AN/APG-81

  AN/APG-81 is operating in the X-band active electronically scanned array (AESA) fire control radar designed by Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems for the F-35 “Lightning” all-weather ...

• Fighter - multirole

  MiG-35

  The MiG-35 (NATO reporting name Fulcrum F) is a multirole fighter, the latest variant of the MiG-29 Fulcrum fighter family.  The production of the MiG-35 ...

• EO/IR systems

  F-35 Lightning II Advanced EOTS

  The F-35 Lightning II Electro-Optical Targeting System (EOTS) is a sensor that combines targeting forward-looking IR (FLIR) and IR search and track (IRST) capabilities for ...

• Fighter - multirole, Fighter - naval

  F-35B

  The F-35B Lightning II is a fifth-generation multirole combat aircraft with short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) capability. The USMC is the main customer for the F-35B, ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-35I Adir

  The F-35I Adir is an F-35A Lightning II variant customised to meet the requirements of the Israel Defense Forces to replace the F-16 fleet in ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  F-35 Gen III HMDS

  The F-35 Gen III helmet-mounted display system (HMDS) is provided by a joint venture between Elbit Systems of America and Rockwell Collins, developed for the F-35 ...

• Air: Integrated Defensive Systems

  AN/ALQ-178V(5)+

  The AN/ALQ-178(5)+ is an internally mounted self-protection system designed and developed by Aselsan and BAE Systems for the Turkish F-16C fighter aircraft. The system comprises ...

• Air-to-surface missiles, Anti-ship missiles

  JSM

  The Joint Strike Missile (JSM) is a multi-role version of the Naval Strike Missile. Norway funded the programme to develop and produce the JSM for the ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-35A

  The F-35A Lightning II is a fifth-generation multirole combat aircraft with CTOL capabilities. It is a multinational programme led by the US DoD, bringing together ...