• Military Logistics

  EMDLS system passes US Army testing

  20th May 2021

  Commtact has announced that its EMDLS datalink system passed US Army rigorous testing.

• Digital Battlespace

  Arctic SATCOM moves into the spotlight

  7th June 2021

  ​Countries in the Arctic region are positioning themselves to maximise levels in connectivity across the High North, as their armed forces look to assert influence across the strategically important region.

• Land Warfare

  US Army indirect fire initiative advances

  24th May 2021

  The US Army is pushing ahead with the procurement of an indirect fire air defence capability on an aggressive timeline, to provide the protection needed in any future conflict against a near-peer competitor.

• Naval Warfare

  Nigerian naval procurement apparently stays on track

  8th June 2021

  The Nigerian Navy recently welcomed a new survey ship but it is also enhancing its airborne and maritime security capabilities, although it still lacks an active flagship.

• Special Operations

  AFSOC shines a light on laser for Ghostrider and amphibious MC-130J

  21st May 2021

  Transformative initiatives for US Air Force Special Operations Command include installing a 60kW attack laser on an AC-130J gunship and developing an amphibious MC-130J tanker.

• Military Logistics

  Poland refreshes its Hercules fleet

  16th April 2021

  Five second-hand C-130Hs will be supplied to Poland by mid-2024.

• Land Warfare

  M-ACE counter-UAS system verified

  3rd June 2021

  Northrop Grumman has developed its C-UAS system over recent years with a series of test and evaluation events.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Baykar Makina moves to ramp up Akinci UAV production

  2nd June 2021

  Akinci UAV production has been accelerated, says the CEO of manufacturer Baykar Makina.

• Land Warfare

  German Army faces reform challenge

  15th June 2021

  Following the publication of its 'Key Points for the Future of the German Armed Forces' ('Eckpunkte für die Bundeswehr der Zukunft') in May, the Chief of the German Army has highlighted the cultural and material challenges his organisation faces to bring about reform.

• Air Warfare

  Colombia freezes Kfir replacement programme

  25th May 2021

  Colombia may be left without a viable fighter fleet from 2023.

• Land Warfare

  Australia to splash out on heavy armour

  4th May 2021

  Modern Abrams tanks, bridge-layers, recovery vehicles and breaching vehicles for Australia await contract signature.

• Defence Notes

  FY2022 budget request delivers air power spending hit

  2nd June 2021

  Unsurprisingly, fifth-generation fighter funding dominates air power spending in the latest US defence budget request, but the retirement of over 200 US Air Force aircraft and a one-year delay to MH-139A helicopter plans are among the more eye catching subplots this time around.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  UAV deal breaks new ground for Poland and Turkey

  27th May 2021

  The decision by Poland to buy 24 Bayraktar TB2 UAVs is significant for multiple reasons.

• Air Warfare

  Su-30SM2s are destined for Baltic duties

  10th May 2021

  Two dozen Su-30SM2 fighters will be delivered to the Russian Navy by late 2022, mainly to the Kaliningrad Oblast where they will replace ageing Su-27s.

• Land Warfare

  Delayed Canadian LAV recce system back on track

  6th May 2021

  The LRSS has suffered delays because of the bankruptcy of a subcontractor to DRS that was supposed to provide the telescopic mast system for the LAV surveillance system.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  C-130 Hercules Replacement [Chile]

  Background Chile first acquired the C-130 Hercules at the start of the 1970's adding approximately two KC-130R Hercules platforms to their fleet between 2011 and 2016. ...

• Transport

  C-130J (Secondhand) [Greece]

  Programme Background The decision was prompted by repeated operational failures in the HAF’s C-130 fleet, particularly highlighted during a failed mission to transport a Greek ...

• Transport

  KC-390 [Colombia]

  Background  In 2020, the United States and Colombia formalised an agreement that saw the transfer of 3 C-130 Hercules transport aircraft. In March 2026, one ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  A400M-Forecast [Indonesia]

  Programme Background The TNI-AU currently relies on 17 Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules and L-100-30 aircraft, including five C-130Hs transferred from Australia. Indonesian Air Force (TNI-AU) is ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  C-2 (Japan)

  Programme BackgroundKawasaki Heavy Industries developed the C-2 for the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) to replace its Kawasaki C-1 and Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules fleets. ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  A400M [Indonesia]

  Programme Background The TNI-AU currently relies on 17 Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules and L-100-30 aircraft, including five C-130Hs transferred from Australia. Indonesian Air Force (TNI-AU) is ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | KC-390 [Colombia]

  Given government frustration with Colombia's fleet of second-hand transport aircraft following the fatal crash of a C-130 Hercules aircraft carrying over 60 soldiers, Shephard forecasts that Colombia ...

• Data links

  Data links | KC-390 [Colombia]

  Given government frustration with Colombia's fleet of second-hand transport aircraft following the fatal crash of a C-130 Hercules aircraft carrying over 60 soldiers, Shephard forecasts that Colombia ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | KC-390 [Colombia]

  Given government frustration with Colombia's fleet of second-hand transport aircraft following the fatal crash of a C-130 Hercules aircraft carrying over 60 soldiers, Shephard forecasts that Colombia ...

• Transport

  C-130 Replacement [Saudi Arabia]

  Programme Background Requirement The Royal Saudi Air Force operates 33 C-130H, 7 KC-130H aircraft and two KC-130Js. The country has been seeking to replace its ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  C-130H Replacement [Sweden]

  Programme Background Requirements Sweden has five C-130H aircraft (designated Tp-84) and one KC-130H. Two C-130Es bought in the 1960s have retired, but the six H ...

• 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 ...

• Transport

  C-130 Replacement [South Africa]

  Programme Background Requirement South Africa’s current C-130BZ fleet has become increasingly difficult and expensive to maintain, being amongst the oldest C-130 aircraft still operational. Despite a 2023 ...

• Transport

  Strategic Airlift Capability [Mexico]

  Programme Background Requirement The Mexican Air Force's transport capability is provided by the country's 302nd (C-130 Hercules) and 502nd (Boeing 737-200) squadrons. Previously, it also operated Boeing ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  C-130 Replacement [Austria]

  Programme Background Requirement In September 2023, Austrian Defence Minister Klaudia Tanner declared that Vienna plans to replace its retiring C-130K Hercules fleet with Embraer's C-390 ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Transport

  C-130J Super Hercules

  The C-130J Super Hercules is the latest model of the C-130 Hercules four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft. The C-130J primarily performs the tactical portion of ...

• Air: transport/tanker simulators

  C-130 Tampa Training Center

  CAE owns and operates a training centre in Tampa, Florida, for operators of the Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules aircraft. CAE’s C-130 Tampa Training Center offers ...

• Self-propelled rocket launchers

  C-Lynx

  Unveiled in May 2017, the C-Lynx is a light weight multiple rocket launcher developed for use with the 122mm ACCULAR rocket, the latest member of ...

• Transport

  C-130 Hercules

  The C-130E/H Hercules is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft. It first entered service in 1962. According to Lockheed Martin, 1,693 C-130E and C-130H models ...

• Launchers

  Hercules AH-01

  The Hercules AH-01 high-pressure pneumatic launcher is designed to launch UAVs of up to 500kg MTOW. It is air-transportable in C-130, A400M, or other similar ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing

  CLS-300/500

  The CLS-300 and CLS-500 are the Yates Electrospace Corporation Silent Arrow family members. The number in the drone's name reflects its range in nautical miles, with ...

• 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 ...

• Transport

  C-2

  Kawasaki Heavy Industries developed the C-2 for the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) to replace its Kawasaki C-1 and Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules fleets. The ...

• Air: surveillance radar

  AN/APQ-175

  The AN/APQ-175 is a dual-band radar at the heart of the adverse weather aerial delivery system fitted to USAF C-130 Hercules transport aircraft. As well ...

• Combat Search and Rescue

  HC-130P/N

  HC-130P/N is a SAR aircraft developed as extended-range version of C-130 Hercules transport airframe to execute all weather personnel recovery operations from austere airfields and ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  KC-130J Super Hercules

  The KC-130J Super Hercules is a tanker variant of the C-130J Super Hercules. It is designed to deliver fuel to several platforms, including helicopters and ...

• Trucks and utility vehicles - 4x4, Trucks and utility vehicles - 6x6, Trucks and utility vehicles - 8x8

  SX Series

  The SX Extreme Mobility Truck System is primarily deployed as a carrier for sensitive weapon systems, since its boxed frame structure does not pass on ...

• Air: transport/tanker simulators

  C-130 ATS

  The Lockheed Martin C-130 Aircrew Training System (ATS) provides academic and simulation training for C-130 weapons system aircrews and maintenance personnel. Located in Little Rock, Arkansas, ...

• Transport

  Il-276

  The Ilyushin Il-276 began life as the Multipurpose Transport Aircraft and a joint international project between United Aircraft Corporation and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, but the Indian company ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  VN17

  Norinco displayed its VN17 tracked IFV for the first time during its Armour Day event in August 2017. Primarily aimed at the export market, it ...