• Naval Warfare

  New naval vessel concepts appear in Taiwan

  2nd October 2018

  New designs appeared at the Kaohsiung International Maritime and Defense Expo from 27-30 September, including a multipurpose frigate cooperatively designed by the National Chung-Shan Institute …

• Defence Notes

  ​​​​​​​​​​​​Lethality of DF-21D anti-ship missile revealed

  15th October 2018

  Designed specifically to destroy US aircraft carriers, the DF-21D anti-ship ballistic missile (ASBM) is one of China’s key anti-access area denial weapons.  However, how it would …

• Defence Notes

  Italy, Sweden, US bid to sell combat jets to Bulgaria

  2nd October 2018

  Italy, Sweden and the US have submitted bids to sell fighter jets to Bulgaria's ailing air force, the Bulgarian Ministry of Defence (MoD) has confirmed. …

• Defence Notes

  Battle rages over EU defence pact

  1st October 2018

  A diplomatic tussle has broken out over the European Union's (EU) flagship defence cooperation pact, amid warnings the bloc could cut itself off from major …

• Land Warfare

  Leonardo DRS, Rafael test lighter Trophy VPS

  1st October 2018

  Leonardo DRS, with partner Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, has successfully completed a live-fire qualification process for key elements of the lighter Trophy Vehicle Protection System …

• Defence Notes

  Opinion: Stilwell considered for Thornton job

  3rd October 2018

  Sources within Washington’s Beltway indicate that retired USAF Brig Gen David Stilwell will serve as the next Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and …

• Defence Helicopter

  MDHI to deliver six MD 530Fs to Kenya

  2nd October 2018

  MD Helicopters (MDHI) has received a second order to deliver six armed MD 530F Cayuse Warrior helicopters for the Kenya Defence Force, the company announced …

• Training

  FlightSafety on a roll with heli FTD orders

  13th September 2018

  Following on from the award of the C-17 Aircrew Training System contract in support of the US Air Force Air Mobility Command and success in …

• Digital Battlespace

  Rockwell Collins’ AN/PRC-162 radio Type-1 NSA certified

  2nd October 2018

  Rockwell Collins has received National Security Agency (NSA) Type-1 certification for its AN/PRC-162 (V)1 RT-2048(C)U military ground radio, the company announced on 26 September. The …

• Land Warfare

  AUSA 2018: US Army downselects for Sub-Compact Weapon programme

  2nd October 2018

  Six contractors have been selected to provide the US Army with sub-compact weapon (SCW) prototypes for testing, as the service looks to acquire a new …

• Naval Warfare

  USCG orders seven RB-S IIs

  5th October 2018

  The US Coast Guard has issued an order worth around $3 million to Metal Shark Boats for the supply of seven response boats-small II (RB-S …

• Defence Helicopter

  AUSA 2018: Bell eyes FVL rapid prototype phase (video)

  9th October 2018

  V-280 Valor manufacturer Bell is open to the idea of a rapid prototype phase taking place, under the US Army's Future Vertical Lift medium to …

• Training

  CAE USA receives C-130H ATS contract

  1st October 2018

  CAE USA has received a US Air Force contract to provide comprehensive C-130H aircrew training services (ATS), CAE announced on 26 September. The eight-year, $200 …

• Land Warfare

  Pentagon to pull some Patriots from Middle East: US official

  27th September 2018

  The Pentagon is pulling Patriot missile systems from three countries in the Middle East as part of a ‘rebalance’ away from the region, a US …

• Special Operations

  ONR develops wetsuit to increase navy dive time

  11th September 2018

  The US Office of Naval Research (ONR) is sponsoring work to design a wetsuit that replicates the insulating properties of animal blubber—allowing divers to swim …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Maritime patrol

  P-8A Poseidon [USA]

  Programme Background The P-8A Multi-mission Maritime Aircraft (MMA) system is a heavily modified and militarized derivative of Boeing's 737-800 ERX commercial aircraft. The P-8A is ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | 40PB Flight II [USN]

  The US Navy has selected Metal Shark's Defiant 40 patrol boat design as a replacement for the fleet of force protection boats currently in use ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | 40PB Flight II [USN]

  The US Navy has selected Metal Shark's Defiant 40 patrol boat design as a replacement for the fleet of force protection boats currently in use ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | T-AOT (CONSOL tanker) [USN]

  The US Navy is procuring five tankers to support the transportation and distribution of bulk petroleum products in support of U.S. Navy and joint force operations. They ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | T-AOT (CONSOL tanker) [USN]

  The US Navy is procuring five tankers to support the transportation and distribution of bulk petroleum products in support of U.S. Navy and joint force operations. They ...

• Fighter - naval

  F-35B (FY2026-2031) [USA]

  Background According to U.S. budget documents throughout the decade, the U.S. Navy intends to acquire 324 F-35B STOVL aircraft. Prior to 2020, the U.S. Navy ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  CH-53K [USA]

  Programme Background The USMC is replacing its ageing CH-53E helicopters with the CH-53K heavy-lift helicopter. Designed as an evolution of the CH-53E, the CH-53K is ...

• Maritime patrol

  P-8A Poseidon [UK]

  Programme Background In July 2016, the UK government announced that it had ordered nine aircraft for service with the RAF. Under this frame, in January ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Constellation Class - FFG(X) (11-20)

  The US Navy ran the Next Generational Future Guided Missile Frigate (FFG X) programme to build a replacement for the Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigates, the ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Constellation Class - FFG(X) (11-20)

  The US Navy ran the Next Generational Future Guided Missile Frigate (FFG X) programme to build a replacement for the Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigates, the ...

• Sealift/replenishment vessels

  T-AOT (CONSOL tanker) [USN]

  Background The US Navy is procuring ten tankers to support the transportation and distribution of bulk petroleum products in support of U.S. Navy and joint ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | F-35B STOVL Future Procurement - US Navy

  The US Navy is planning to order 115 F-35B STOVLs between FY2026 and FY2031 under the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program. The purchase is estimated ...

• Data links

  Data links | F-35B STOVL Future Procurement - US Navy

  The US Navy is planning to order 115 F-35B STOVLs between FY2026 and FY2031 under the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program. The purchase is estimated ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  Air: Helmet-mounted displays | F-35B STOVL Future Procurement - US Navy

  The US Navy is planning to order 115 F-35B STOVLs between FY2026 and FY2031 under the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program. The purchase is estimated ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | F-35B STOVL Future Procurement - US Navy

  The US Navy is planning to order 115 F-35B STOVLs between FY2026 and FY2031 under the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program. The purchase is estimated ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Maritime patrol

  US-2

  The ShinMaywa US-2 is an amphibious short take-off and landing aircraft used primarily by the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) for SAR. 

• Military - USVs

  Voyager

  Voyager is an Uncrewed Surface Vessel (USV) built by US-based Saildrone. Voyager has been used by the US Navy (USN) and is one of three ...

• Military - UUVs

  Orca

  Orca is an extra-large uncrewed underwater vehicle (XLUUV) developed by Boeing for the US Navy (USN).

• Destroyers

  Kee Lung (Kidd) Class

  The Kee Lung-class consists of four ex-US Kidd-class guided missile destroyers in service with the Republic of China Navy (ROCN). The ships were originally built for ...

• Military - UUVs

  Mission Specialist Defender

  The Mission Specialist Defender is a remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV) developed by VideoRay, now part of BlueHalo's unmanned maritime systems. The ROV is known ...

• Data links

  GNOMAD US Domestic

  The US domestic version of GNOMAD (see separate entry) is a ruggedised system comprising a satellite antenna and baseband modular chassis that can be installed ...

• Military - USVs

  Explorer

  Saildrone's Explorer is the smallest of three USVs designed and built by the US-based USV manufacturer Saildrone. The system is used by the US Navy (USN) ...

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

  SeaFLIR 380-HD

  The SeaFLIR 380-HD is a long-range, multispectral surveillance system for surface vessels. Manufactured by Teledyne FLIR, the system combines HD IR, colour or SWIR spectral information. According to ...

• Unguided Medium Calibre Ammunition

  MK266 High Explosive Incendiary with Tracer

  The MK266 High Explosive Incendiary with Tracer is a 30mm medium calibre round manufactured by Northrop Grumman. It is currently in use with the US Navy.

• Military - UUVs

  Snakehead LDUUV

  The Snakehead Large Displacement Uncrewed Underwater Vehicle (LDUUV) is a US Navy (USN) Uncrewed Underwater Vehicle (UUV) designed to be launched from submarine Dry Dock Shelters ...

• Unguided Medium Calibre Ammunition

  XM1198 High Explosive Dual Purpose with Self Destruct (HEDP-SD)

  The XM1198 High Explosive Dual Purpose with Self Destruct (HEDP-SD) is a 30mm medium calibre round manufactured by Northrop Grumman. The US Navy uses the XM1198.

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Integrated Combat System

  The Integrated Combat System (ICS) is a combat management system being developed for the US Navy. The project, currently led by Lockheed Martin, aims to ...

• Unguided Medium Calibre Ammunition

  XM950 Target Practice Round

  The XM950 Target Practice Round is a 30mm medium calibre training round manufactured by Northrop Grumman. The US Navy uses the XM950 for training with its ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Navy Multiband Terminal (NMT)

  The Navy Multiband Terminal is the next-generation maritime military SATCOM for the US Navy and allied nations. The terminal integrates EHF and AEHF systems with ...

• 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 ...