• Defence Helicopter

  Sea Lion takes to the air

  8th December 2016

  Germany’s NH90 Sea Lion naval multirole helicopter has officially flown for the first time, placing the type squarely in the frame for potential future selection …

• Naval Warfare

  Leonardo details Congo port security award

  23rd November 2016

  The port of Pointe Noire, Republic of Congo, will be secured by a Leonardo-Finmeccanica integrated maritime system under a contract announced on 18 November. The …

• Defence Helicopter

  Merlin Mk4 upgrades progress

  23rd November 2016

  The first AW101 Merlin Mk4 upgraded for the Royal Navy by Leonardo-Finmeccanica has completed its maiden flight, the company announced on 21 November. Leonardo is …

• Digital Battlespace

  Miysis countermeasure system ready

  22nd November 2016

  Leonardo has begun assembling the first production examples of its Miysis directed infrared countermeasure (DIRCM) system for an undisclosed NATO launch customer, the company has …

• Military Logistics

  C-27J to demo in Latin America

  17th November 2016

  Leonardo-Finmeccanica is looking to expand its customer base for the C-27J Spartan in Latin America, with a tour of the continent now underway, the company …

• Defence Helicopter

  Analysis: Brazilian beat to rumble on (Part 1)

  10th November 2016

  The growth of Brazilian helicopter manufacturer Helibras has been marred by political uncertainty which, in turn, has impacted military orders of aircraft and delivery schedules. Nevertheless, sale prospects with …

• Naval Warfare

  Indonesian CN-235 MPA using SAGE

  9th November 2016

  The Indonesian Air Force’s CN-235 Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) is now using the Leonardo-Finmeccanica SAGE Electronic Support Measures (ESM) system, the company announced on 4 November. …

• Defence Helicopter

  Singapore selects H225M and CH-47F

  7th November 2016

  Singapore’s Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) selected the Airbus Helicopters H225M Caracal and Boeing CH-47F Chinook as part of Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) efforts to …

• Defence Helicopter

  Royal Marines' first Merlin Mk4 flies

  2nd November 2016

  The first Merlin Mk 4 helicopter for the British Royal Marines Commando Helicopter Force (CHF) has completed its first flight in Yeovil, Somerset, the Royal …

• Land Warfare

  Indo Defence 2016: Rheinmetall aims for medium tank

  2nd November 2016

  A technology demonstrator vehicle has been developed by Rheinmetall that the company intends to use to bid for Indonesia’s future medium tank programme. Called the …

• Defence Helicopter

  China in their hand

  24th October 2016

  Covering the entire spectrum of the supply chain, rotorcraft companies are looking towards China as the pot of gold for the black hole in finances …

• Defence Notes

  Philippines seals deal for frigates

  22nd October 2016

  Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) announced on 24 October that it had won a contract to build two frigates for the Philippine Navy (PN). The lot …

• Naval Warfare

  Euronaval 2016: Spotlight on smaller naval sonars

  21st October 2016

  The ability for smaller warships and patrol vessels to have the ability to conduct meaningful sub-surface scanning was thrown into the spotlight during Euronaval, as …

• Training

  Sydney centre gets AW139 simulator

  20th October 2016

  Leonardo-Finmeccanica has selected Toll Helicopters to deliver AW139 Full Flight Simulator (FFS) training in Australia, the company announced on 18 October. The AW139 Level D …

• Defence Helicopter

  Helicopter industry waits on clarity from Warsaw

  19th October 2016

  Two weeks after cancelling the deal to procure H225M helicopters from Airbus Helicopters, the Polish government now appears to be hedging its bets and sharing …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Fighter - multirole

  Eurofighter Typhoon Tranche 3A [Kuwait]

  Programme Background The capability packages granted to Kuwait will include the integration of Storm Shadow and Brimstone and other air-to-surface weapons, the integration of a ...

• Hybrid effector systems

  M-SHORAD Increment 1 [USA]

  Background The US Army is developing a new maneuver short-range air defense system (M-SHORAD) to perform short-range air defense (SHORAD). Under this programme, there are ...

• Hybrid effector systems

  Lightweight Marine Air Defence Integrated System [US]

  Background The US Marine Corps' (USMC) Lightweight Marine Air Defence Integrated System (L-MADIS) supports deployed Marine Expeditionary Units with non-kinetic C-UAS capabilities and a shoulder-fired surface-to-air weapon for ...

• Military helicopters - light/training

  TH-73 Advanced Helicopter Training System (AHTS) (TH-57 Replacement)

  Programme Background Contenders for the competition included the Leonardo single engine TH-119 – a military variant of the AW119Kx – and Bell’s newly upgraded single ...

• Military helicopters - light/training

  AW119 Koala [Israel]

  Background Pre-contract timeline The initial request for information regarding a replacement system for the Israeli Bell 206 training platforms was released to industry in 2015, ...

• Light attack

  M-346 Procurement (1-24) [Nigeria]

  Programme Background On 9 December 2023, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Chief of Air Staff Marshal Amao said the country expects delivery of 54 new ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  New Medium Helicopter (NMH) [UK]

  Background NMH Market Interest Day On 11 November 2021, the MoD communicated the requirements of the £1 billion ($1.34 billion) New Medium Helicopter (NMH) programme ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  AW139 [Greece]

  Background Programme proposal Reportedly, during a December 2023 meeting of the Greek Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Hellenic Air Force (HAF) proposed the purchase of ...

• Military helicopters - light/training

  SW4 Puszczyk Replacement [Poland]

  Background  Requirement In 2002, Poland order 47 SW4 training helicopters from Italian manufacturer Leonardo; as of Spring 2025, the Ministry of Defence is looking to ...

• Military helicopters - maritime

  Maritime Operations Helicopters

  The three maritime operations helicopters will be used for logistics and personnel transport, alongside transportation of PASKAL naval special forces in operations in the area. ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  MH-139 (UH-1N Huey Replacement)

  Background  Competing bids In competition with the Boeing/Leonardo bid was Sikorsky with a HH-60U offer, and Sierra Nevada with an upgrading offer of UH-60As to ...

• Main battle tanks

  C1 Ariete Replacement [Italy]

  Background Following nearly 20 years of service within the Italian Army, the C1 Ariete MBT is due for an upgrade or replacement. Suffering from poor ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  Next Generation Trainer/Light Combat Aircraft [Austria]

  Background Requirements Austria is replacing the Saab 105 training fleet, which was retired from service in 2020. Austria's 2019 White paper calls for replacing it with a ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  AW139M (1-7) [Algeria]

  Programme Background In 2016, Leonardo partnered with the Algerian National Defence Ministry to establish a second international production line for AW139 helicopters. By March 2025, ...

• Trainer

  Undergraduate Jet Training System (UJTS)/T-45 Replacement [USN]

  Programme Background Requirements The US Navy’s (USN) Undergraduate Jet Training System (UJTS) programme is intended to replace the troubled T-45 Goshhawk trainer. The June 2024 RFI includes ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  IVCS

  The Integrated Voice Communications System (IVCS) is a shipboard communications system that combines naval telephones and intercom equipment into one system. It consists of terminals, ...

• Land: battle management systems

  MFoCS

  Mounted Family of Computing Systems (MFoCS) is a modular family which is designed to integrate existing FBCB2, future JBC-P and WIN-T capability into a modular ...

• 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 ...

• EO/IR systems

  Arrowhead M-TADS/PNVS IR Receivers

  The DRS provides the integrated forward-looking-IR receivers for the Modernized Target Acquisition Designation Sight (M-TADS) and the Modernized Pilot Night Vision Sensor (M-PNVS) for Lockheed ...

• Land: air defence radar

  RPS-42 Air Surveillance Radar

  The RPS-42 radar is part of Leonardo DRS' family of Multi-Mission Hemispheric Radar (MHR), which are Active Electronically Scanned Array radars. It is designed to ...

• Data links

  JTT-NG

  The Joint Tactical Terminal - Next Generation (JTT-NG) is a small form factor Integrated Broadcast Service (IBS) transceiver produced by Leonardo DRS. It provides situational ...

• Data links

  Joint Tactical Terminal

  Leonardo's Joint Tactical Terminal (JTT) family of products provides Integrated Broadcast Service (IBS) capability to air, land and naval platforms. According to the manufacturer, over 1,200 ...

• Land: battlefield and ground surveillance radar

  Multi-Mission Hemispheric Radar

  RADA’s Multi-Mission Hemispheric Radars (MHR) are S-band, software-defined, pulse-Doppler AESA radars. The radars have beam-forming capabilities and advanced signal processing, which can provide for various ...

• Air: Defensive Systems - MLDS, Air: Defensive Systems - Laser Warning Receivers

  LIMWS

  BAE Systems is leading the US Army’s Limited Interim Missile Warning System (LIMWS) initiative. This is intended to enhance the missile protection provided to US ...

• Land: RWS

  RIwP

  The Reconfigurable Integrated-weapons Platform (RIwP) is a modular remote weapons station designed by Moog to counter a wide spectrum of threats ranging from enemy infantry ...

• Land: NVGs

  Leonardo DRS ENVG III/FWS-I

  The US Army has selected industry teams to meet its Enhanced Night Vision Goggle III and Family of Weapon Sight-Individual (ENVG III/FWS-I) programme goals of ...

• Land: battle management systems

  Joint Battle Command - Platform

  Joint Battle Command - Platform (JBC-P) is a networked mission command information system designed for the US Army and USMC. It can provide real-time blue ...

• Military - USVs

  Stormrunner

  Stormrunner is an autonomous unmanned surface vessel (USV) developed by Boston, Massachusetts-based unmanned systems manufacturer, Sea Machines Robotics. The platform is designed for for logistics, surveillance and counter-drone ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Stallion II

  KADDB displayed the first example of its 4x4 Stallion (Wahsh) II light armoured vehicle at SOFEX in May 2014, two years after the start of ...

• Sea: naval surveillance radar

  AN/SPQ-9B

  The AN/SPQ-9B is a multi-purpose naval surface search and fire control radar manufactured by Northrop Grumman. It is a TWS system and detects sea-skimming missiles on the ...