• Training

  All F-35 orders will include LED-based flight simulator, says Lockheed

  9th April 2024

  Featuring advanced visual display technology and reduced lifecycle costs, Lockheed Martin's AMAZE simulators have promised to make training more affordable for both F-35 jets and other fixed-wing platforms in the future.

• Digital Battlespace

  Cubic highlights real-time tactical radio language translation (video)

  8th May 2024

  Among the capabilities on display by Cubic at SOF Week 2024 was the company's tactical radio voice translation, which was demonstrated to Shephard.

• Training

  AI innovation set to revolutionise military training landscape

  16th October 2024

  Artificial intelligence offers unprecedented potential to revolutionise military training, enabling agile and decisive forces.

• Naval Warfare

  Norway to massively increase defence budget by 2036

  5th April 2024

  Strengthening the Norwegian Navy has been laid out as the main investment in the new long-term plan, which will increase defence spending by almost US$60 billion (NOK600 billion) in the coming 12 years.

• Air Warfare

  Turkey completes first AESA radar flight test on F-16 Ozgur with drone trials imminent “within days”

  26th March 2024

  Turkey’s homegrown MURAD radar system has promised to enhance Turkish air combat missions, offering simultaneous air-to-air and air-to-ground functionality, enhanced target detection and EW capabilities.

• Air Warfare

  Long-range radar handed over to US Missile Defence Agency

  3rd May 2024

  Lockheed Martin delivered 10 antenna panels for its Long Range Discrimination Radar (LRDR) to Clear, Alaska in 2020. The system will be used by the Missile Defence Agency (MDA) as part of its layered defence strategy against ballistic missiles.

• Land Warfare

  Laser Precision: The Key to Countering the Rising UAS Threat (Studio)

  12th June 2024

  The rise of drones in warfare is revolutionising the battlefield, introducing new threats that require innovative countermeasures. Lasers, with their advantages of precision and efficiency, are at the forefront of this technological defence.

• Special Operations

  SOF capabilities demonstration returns to Tampa (video)

  6th May 2024

  A live USSOCOM capabilities demonstration showcasing various capabilities and featuring forces from ten different nations will be a central component of SOF Week 2024.

• Defence Notes

  US Congress urges Pentagon to expand the use of quantum science

  3rd June 2024

  Text proposed by the House Armed Services Committee for the NDAA for FY2025 directed the Pentagon to establish a quantum computing centre of excellence to accelerate the transition of quantum hybrid technology from R&D into operational use.

• Air Warfare

  Germany adds AI backbone to FCAS next-generation fighter jet

  1st September 2023

  A consortium of Helsing and Rohde & Schwarz has been selected by the German BAAINBw defence procurement agency to deliver an artificial intelligence (AI) backbone for the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) sixth-generation fighter jet.

• Defence Helicopter

  Dubai Airshow 2023: South Korean homegrown helicopters make international debut

  14th November 2023

  Two KAI helicopters, the KUH-1E utility helicopter and the Light Attack Helicopter (LAH), have taken centre stage at the Dubai Airshow 2023.

• Defence Notes

  US Congress approves FY2024 defence spending bill

  18th December 2023

  The US House of Representatives and Senate agreed to a $841.4 billion funding to cover DoD activities in the current fiscal year.

• Air Warfare

  US ponders weapons sales to Israel as UK faces calls to halt exports

  4th April 2024

  Amid calls for restraint in arms sales, the US has been reviewing an $18 billion deal with Israel, including F-15 fighters and air-to-air missiles. The UK has also been facing pressure to cease exports over potential violations of international law in the Gaza conflict.

• Air Warfare

  Doodle Labs expands use of its radios on UAV systems

  19th April 2024

  Mesh Rider is a SWaP (Size, Weight and Power) optimised mesh radio designed for uncrewed systems and supports six frequency bands in a single transceiver and AES-256 encryption. It was developed in cooperation with the US Defense Innovation Unit.

• Air Warfare

  Germany's potential SCAF exit for GCAP unpacked

  3rd November 2023

  The leaked information about Germany leaving the Future Combat Air Systems (FCAS/SCAF) project and joining the rival Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) hints at the growing complexities and tensions within the Franco-German partnership.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• ISR/special mission, Maritime patrol

  C295 MPAs/MSAs [Spain]

  Programme Background Required to replace Spain's existing P-3M Orion fleet set to reach OSD in the mid-late 2020s, Airbus' C295W has been selected as the replacement ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  Watchkeeper X (Contracted) [Romania]

  Programme Background 2021 In mid-2021, the Romanian manufacturer Aerostar signed a collaboration with U-TacS to potentially produce the Watchkeeper X in Romania. U-TacS is a ...

• Loitering munitions

  Larinae [France]

  Programme Background Origins French Ministry of Armed Forces spokesperson Hervé Grandjean stated in a press conference in May 2022 that the Direction Générale de l'Armement ...

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

  French MALE UAVs [France]

  Programme Background Requirements The French Ministry of the Armed Forces wishes to develop a French MALE offering comparable with the MQ-9 Reaper, the Eurodrone and the ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  Watchkeeper X (Uncontracted) [Romania]

  Programme Background 2021 In mid-2021, the Romanian manufacturer Aerostar signed a collaboration with U-TacS to potentially produce the Watchkeeper X in Romania. U-TacS is a ...

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

  Patroller (Unarmed) [Greece]

  Programme Background Contract Award On 20 June 2023, the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) announced at the Paris Air Show that Greece had signed a contract with ...

• 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 ...

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

  GA-ASI Drone [Ukraine]

  Programme Background MQ-9A Reaper - April 2022 On 13 April 2022, Forbes reported that Ukraine was talking with GA-ASI to acquire the MQ-9A Reaper. Ukrainian officials ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | Rafale [Iraq]

  Iraqi Air Force is planning to procure Rafale combat aircraft from France. The Iraqi Minister of Defence announced in November 2020 that Baghdad is in ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  Air: Helmet-mounted displays | Rafale [Iraq]

  Iraqi Air Force is planning to procure Rafale combat aircraft from France. The Iraqi Minister of Defence announced in November 2020 that Baghdad is in ...

• Data links

  Data links | Rafale [Iraq]

  Iraqi Air Force is planning to procure Rafale combat aircraft from France. The Iraqi Minister of Defence announced in November 2020 that Baghdad is in ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | Rafale [Iraq]

  Iraqi Air Force is planning to procure Rafale combat aircraft from France. The Iraqi Minister of Defence announced in November 2020 that Baghdad is in ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | Rafale [Iraq]

  Iraqi Air Force is planning to procure Rafale combat aircraft from France. The Iraqi Minister of Defence announced in November 2020 that Baghdad is in ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing

  Next-Generation Weapon System (NGWS) (FCAS) [Germany]

  Programme Background FCAS Project As noted by Airbus, the FCAS project is a tri-nation effort which will be centred around a core Next-Generation Weapon System (NGWS), which ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Future Combat Air System (FCAS/SCAF) [Spain]

  Programme Background Programme Timeline The Future Combat Air System (FCAS) was publicly announced in July 2017, followed by a Franco-German agreement in 2018. At the ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Air: Displays

  LAD2008DA

  Produced by Psion DSP, LAD2008DA is a 20"x8" Large Area Display for full-glass cockpit applications. It was showcased during the 2022 Farnborough Air Show and the 2023 ...

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

  Wing Loong X

  The Wing Loong X, or WL-X, is a fixed-wing UAV developed by the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC). Debuted at the Paris Air Show ...

• Air: Displays

  RDU-4208 LAD

  ScioTeq RDU-4208 is a 20"x8" Large-Area Display. It features a fully redundant, high-resolution screen with multitouch support. Unveiled in 2022, it was also demonstrated in ...

• Loitering munitions

  SpyX

  The SpyX is a loitering munition from BlueBird Aero Systems. Unveiled at the Paris Air Show 2023, the munition offers autonomous electro-optical guided attack capabilities and ...

• Air: aerial targets, Loitering munitions

  Super Simsek

  The Super Simsek (Süper Şimşek) is an improved version of the Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) training drone turned loitering munition.  The drone has reconfigurable payload options ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing

  Expendable Remote Carrier (ERC)

  The Expendable Remote Carrier (ERC) is an experimental autonomous system that MBDA revealed at the Paris Air Show 2023.  A critical part of the FCAS programme, ...

• EO/IR systems

  M-19 HD

  The M-19 HD multi-sensor, multispectral, HD observation and targeting payload was unveiled at the Paris Air Show in June 2015. It can incorporate up to ...

• Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  Rotary Wing Cargo UAV

  Displayed at Paris Air Show 2023, the Rotary Wing Cargo UAV is a cargo-carrying and ISR drone manufactured by Turkish Aerospace (TAI). Powered by a ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  Orbiter 5

  Unveiled at Paris Air Show 2023, the Orbiter 5 is a fixed-wing UAV from Aeronautics.  The multi-mission drone can host two payloads simultaneously, features autonomous flight and ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - mini

  Strix 425

  The Strix 425 is a mini fixed-wing drone from EOS Technologie. The hand-launched platform can host a removable VTOL system and multiple payloads.  According to a company ...

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

  AeroForce 380

  The AeroForce 380 is a MALE fixed-wing drone. Based on the Milkor 380, it is tailored for maritime surveillance and Coast Guard missions. It can ...

• Air: COMINT and ELINT systems

  Air Keeper

  Elbit Systems unveiled the Air Keeper, an airborne SIGINT and EW system for aircraft at the Paris Air Show 2015. Already operational, Air Keeper is ...

• Loitering munitions

  Toutatis

  The Toutatis is an in-development loitering munition from Thales. According to Thales, the platform is effective against groups of fighters and unarmored and light-armoured vehicles. Unveiled at ...

• Air: Integrated cockpit systems

  HeliSure

  Rockwell Collins HeliSure is a product line of situational awareness solutions for rotary-wing aircraft. It provides glass cockpit capabilities using commercial off-the-shelf equipment that can be ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - mini

  Strix 300

  The Strix 300 is a hand-launched mini fixed-wing drone from EOS Technologie. Designed for ISR operations, the drone is S2 certified and can operate as ...