• Air Warfare

  Sky high diplomacy: Saudi Arabia's fighter jet puzzle entangles Eurofighter, Rafale and global alliances

  16th January 2024

  Saudi Arabia faces a juncture in aerial diplomacy as Germany's approval of a potential Eurofighter Typhoon deal introduces fresh possibilities and uncertainties, prompting the kingdom to weigh the Eurofighter against the appealing alternative of the Dassault Rafale.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Israel’s SpearUAV positions Viper loitering munitions for tactical and strategic functions

  27th February 2024

  SpearUAV’s Viper family of loitering munitions has been developed to provide effects across multiple domains.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Singapore Airshow 2024: Interest in Rafael’s Spike FireFly has increased after combat use in Gaza

  21st February 2024

  The Spike FireFly saw operational use in the West Bank and Gaza Strip in 2023 which has led to increased interest in the loitering munition.

• Air Warfare

  What is wrong with the US Armed Force’s rotary-wing aviation fleet?

  28th February 2024

  Following more than two months of operational stand down of CV-22 Ospreys, two separate crashes of AH-64D Apaches have forced the US Army National Guard to ground its entire helicopter fleet.

• Land Warfare

  British Army’s new Apaches come online as the force confronts new challenges

  28th February 2024

  The British Army’s new fleet of attack helicopters are a major step-change from the previous various and the force has a strong focus on the opportunities for spiral development and crewed-uncrewed teaming.

• Defence Notes

  US FY2024 funding package passes as China closes military capability gap

  26th March 2024

  The Pentagon has been operating under temporary funding since October 2023, which has impacted its main acquisition and development programmes, increasing the capability gap between the US and China.

• Land Warfare

  Israeli adopts advanced AI in Merkava 4 MBTs as Gaza war rages on

  1st March 2024

  Israeli’s war in Gaza has seen the country’s upgraded Merkava 4 MBTs utilising advanced AI capabilities while research has continued on the development of new defensive solutions for the tanks.

• Defence Notes

  US Senate approves $60 billion package to support Ukraine

  13th February 2024

  As part of the national security supplemental package, the fund will now be analysed by the House of Representatives.

• Land Warfare

  Finland purchases David’s Sling long-range air defence system from Israel

  13th November 2023

  David's Sling has been in service with Israel's defence forces since 2017, forming a part of its multi-layered air defence system, with Finland’s effort to buy the system following ongoing tensions with bordering Russia.

• Land Warfare

  US Army is close to producing 80,000 155mm shells per month

  8th February 2024

  Investments in its Organic Industrial Base have enabled the service to surge the manufacturing of artillery ammunition.

• Land Warfare

  Oshkosh lands JLTV order from Israel

  1st December 2023

  November was a good month for Oshkosh Defence and JLTV orders, and December has started just as well with the company contracted to supply 75 vehicles to Israel.

• Land Warfare

  Four issues the armoured vehicle industry needs to tackle

  18th June 2024

  As evident at Eurosatory 2024, the procurement of armoured vehicles is progressing, but some projects have stalled or been abandoned due to the fluid geopolitical and conflict landscape. Buyers, manufacturers and operators have been reassessing their needs, desires and capabilities amid tightening budgets and escalating demands.

• Land Warfare

  Israel Aerospace Industries signs two loitering munitions deals

  23rd November 2023

  IAI has developed several loitering munitions or attack UAS including Harpy NG, Harop, Rotem and Mini Harpy. It has also been developing Point Blank, described as a 'hand-launched electro-optical guided missile' but much like the company's loitering munitions can dwell while confirming a target's nature.

• Defence Notes

  US Pentagon to reduce investments in main acquisition programmes over FY2025

  12th March 2024

  The DoD requested nearly US$850 billion to fund operations over the next fiscal year. Despite the amount being 1% higher than the FY2024 budget request, it has not covered the 3% inflation rate, which could impact the DoD’s main programmes in the medium and long term.

• Land Warfare

  Pentagon runs out of funds to support Ukraine

  11th January 2024

  DoD authorities have been urging the US Congress to approve the national security supplemental request to ensure future donations to Kyiv.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | F-35I Adir (51-75) [Israel]

  Israel is forecasted to procure an additional 25 F-35I Adir to bring the total number of the fleet to 75 aircraft by 2030. This will ...

• Data links

  Data links | F-35I Adir (51-75) [Israel]

  Israel is forecasted to procure an additional 25 F-35I Adir to bring the total number of the fleet to 75 aircraft by 2030. This will ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | F-35I Adir (51-75) [Israel]

  Israel is forecasted to procure an additional 25 F-35I Adir to bring the total number of the fleet to 75 aircraft by 2030. This will ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | F-35I Adir (51-75) [Israel]

  Israel is forecasted to procure an additional 25 F-35I Adir to bring the total number of the fleet to 75 aircraft by 2030. This will ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Reshef Class (1-5) [Israel]

  The Israeli Navy is looking to replace the Sa'ar 4 and 4.5 fast-attack vessels with a new corvette design. In 2018, Israel Shipyards unveiled a ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Reshef Class (1-5) [Israel]

  The Israeli Navy is looking to replace the Sa'ar 4 and 4.5 fast-attack vessels with a new corvette design. In 2018, Israel Shipyards unveiled a ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Israel Heron Lease

  Programme BackgroundIn February 2018, Greece announced that it would lease seven Heron drones from Israel. The lease contract, worth €35.5 million ($44m), will cover a ...

• Corvettes

  Reshef Class (1-5) [Israel]

  Programme Background Requirements The Israeli Navy is seeking a replacement for its Sa'ar 4 and Sa'ar 4.5-class of fast attack vessels. Dubbed Reshef-class, the new ...

• Loitering munitions

  Harop [Israeli Navy]

  Programme Background MADEX 2023 At MADEX 2023, IAI displayed the Mini-Harpy, dubbed the Green Dragon, loitering munition in a 12-system launcher mounted to an Israel ...

• Corvettes

  Sa'ar 6 Class (Israel)

  Programme Background Timeline A new class of corvettes is in the process of being constructed for the Israeli Navy to replace the Sa'ar 5 class, ...

• Tanks

  Merkava Mk3 [Cyprus]

  Programme Background Following the announced donation of 41 T-80U/UK tanks to Ukraine, Cyprus is actively seeking a replacement MBT for its Armed Forces. Cyprus offered ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  KC-46A Forecast (Israel)

  Programme Background Boeing, according to reports, would not grant Israel Aerospace Industries permission to convert used 767s into tanker planes. Consequently, according to Channel 12 ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Eitan 8x8 [Israel]

  Programme Background Due to the provisions of the US Foreign Military Financing (FMF) system, there is a chance that the Eitan could be mass produced ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-35I Adir (51-75) [Israel]

  Programme Background On 15 February 2015, Israel signed an FMS deal to procure 33 F-35A (F-35I Adir) fighter aircraft with an option of 17. Israel ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  KC-46A (Israel)

  Programme Background Boeing, according to reports, would not grant Israel Aerospace Industries permission to convert used 767s into tanker planes. Consequently, according to Channel 12 ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Loitering munitions

  Shehab

  The Shehab is a Palestinian loitering munition that carries a 5kg explosive payload. According to Hamas' militant wing, the platform is indigenously produced. However, the ...

• 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 ...

• Military - UUVs

  BlueWhale

  BlueWhale is an autonomous uncrewed underwater vessel (UUV) developed by Israel's Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI).

• Surface-to-air missiles

  Stunner

  Developed by Rafael and Raytheon for the David's Sling air-defence weapon system, Stunner is a hit-to-kill interceptor to defeat various air threats, including asymmetric, short-range, ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

  Shaldag MK V

  The Shaldag Mk V is a multi-mission fast patrol boat designed to serve as both a naval and border police vessel. It is a variant of ...

• Corvettes

  Themistocles Corvette

  The Themistocles Corvette, also referred to as the Eastern Mediterranean Patrol Corvette, is a new design bringing about next-generation operational capabilities. It is a multipurpose ...

• Sea: naval surveillance radar

  EL/M-2248 MF-STAR

  The EL/M-2248 Multi-Function Surveillance Track and Guidance Radar (MF-STAR) is a three-dimensional solid-state naval radar manufactured by Elta in Israel. According to the manufacturer, it ...

• OPVs

  OPV 58

  The Israel Shipyards OPV 58 is based on the former Sa'ar 4 fast attack craft of the Israeli Navy. The Hellenic Coast Guard ordered three ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-16I Sufa

  The F-16I Sufa ('Storm' in Hebrew) is a Block 52+ D (dual-seat) variant of the Fighting Falcon, which Lockheed Martin produced for Israel. It is ...

• AEW&C

  Global 550 CAEW

  The G550 CAEW aircraft is a Gulfstream G550 adapted for AEW&C;, EW and ISTAR missions in Australia, Israel, Italy, Singapore and the US. The base platform is ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

  OPV 45

  The OPV 45 design was launched at IMDEX Asia in Singapore in May 2019. It is designed to be a low-cost multirole vessel that sits between ...

• Air: fixed-wing flight simulators

  Tzofit Training Centre

  In June 2009, Elbit inaugurated the Beechcraft King Air B200 Tzofit Training Centre for IDF pilots. Elbit Systems serves as the project’s prime contractor, while ...

• Anti-ship missiles

  Gabriel I

  The Gabriel Mk1 was an antiship missile developed in the 1960s in Israel and was first deployed in 1972. It was first used in combat ...

• Unguided Tank Ammunition

  M1147 Advanced Multi-Purpose (AMP)

  The M1147 Advanced Multi-Purpose (AMP) is a 120mm tank round developed by Northrop Grumman Defence Systems. Various customers, including Bahrain, Israel, and the US, use the tank ...

• Corvettes

  Sa'ar S-72/72 Class

  The Sa'ar S-72/72 is another variant of Israel Shipyards' popular Sa'ar-class fast-attack vessels. Marketed as the most advanced and cost-effective missile corvette available, the class ...