• Digital Battlespace

  BAE Systems receives RFMLS contract from DARPA

  30th November 2018

  BAE Systems has received a $ 9.2 million contract from the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) for the Radio Frequency Machine Learning System …

• Training

  I/ITSEC 2018: Autonomy inbuilt into HuMans training

  28th November 2018

  A program to aid flight instructors and trainee pilots better analyse missions flown in simulators was revealed by Thales at I/ITSEC in Orlando, Florida this …

• Training

  I/ITSEC 2018: Improbable ‘supporting’ US Army’s STE efforts

  3rd December 2018

  With simulated environments long-since utilised by military forces around the world for training purposes industry is looking to take the sector to the next milestone; …

• Special Operations

  USSOCOM seeks enhanced SRSE capabilities

  5th December 2018

  The US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) is seeking enhanced stand-off capabilities for operators conducing Special Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Exploitation (SRSE) operations, according to new request …

• Training

  South Korea, US resume suspended joint marine drills

  5th November 2018

  South Korea and the United States resumed small-scale military training that was indefinitely suspended following a summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean …

• Land Warfare

  Russian armed forces receive IMR-3M vehicles

  28th November 2018

  Engineering units of the Russian armed forces have received 13 new IMR-3M mine-clearance vehicles as part of a contract signed in 2016. The IMR-3M, based …

• Naval Warfare

  Australia names OPV class as Arafura

  15th November 2018

  VADM Mike Noonan, Chief of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), announced on 15 November that the name of the navy’s new fleet of OPVs will …

• Defence Notes

  British Army lifts restriction on Commonwealth recruits

  5th November 2018

  Citizens of Commonwealth countries will be able to join the British Armed Forces even if they do not live in Britain, the Government said on …

• Defence Notes

  Nine countries meet to kickstart European force

  7th November 2018

  Defence ministers from nine European countries will meet in Paris on 7 November to set out plans for a joint force that could rapidly be …

• Defence Notes

  Serbia president says army being 'dramatically strengthened'

  12th November 2018

  Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic on 10 November said the country's army was being ‘dramatically’ strengthened. Vucic was speaking as he attended a major military exercise …

• Training

  I/ITSEC 2018: Global training trends (video)

  24th November 2018

  The fidelity of simulation continues to improve with more powerful image generators and high-resolution projectors being brought to market which enables virtual simulation to replace …

• Digital Battlespace

  Zhuhai Air Show 2018: Quantum radars, laser weapons and technology galore

  8th November 2018

  China likes to talk up its technological prowess, often in a peremptorily way, but at least there was evidence of the directions the country is …

• Naval Warfare

  Iran leader calls for boosting of naval forces

  28th November 2018

  Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called 28 November for the country to boost its naval forces as a deterrent against its enemies and hailed …

• Land Warfare

  Russia to deploy new S-400 missiles in Crimea

  28th November 2018

  Moscow will soon deploy more of its advanced S-400 air defence systems in Russian-annexed Crimea, a military official said 28 November amid rising tensions with …

• Digital Battlespace

  XpressSAR selects IAI’s TecSAR

  26th November 2018

  XpressSAR has signed a Memorandum of Understanding to purchase Israel Aerospace Industries’ (IAI's) TecSAR technology for its high-resolution x-band satellite constellation. Under the agreement, XpressSAR …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Fighter - multirole

  JAS 39E/F Gripen (Brazil)

  In 2016, Gripen’s Project and Development Center was opened in Sao Paulo to allow Sweedish and Brazillian engineers to work together in the Gripen development ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | M-346 FA [Brazil]

  Brazil is evaluating the procurement of up to 30 Leonardo M-346 light attack aircraft under a potential agreement with Italy, aimed at modernising its aerial ...

• Data links

  Data links | M-346 FA [Brazil]

  Brazil is evaluating the procurement of up to 30 Leonardo M-346 light attack aircraft under a potential agreement with Italy, aimed at modernising its aerial ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  Air: Helmet-mounted displays | M-346 FA [Brazil]

  Brazil is evaluating the procurement of up to 30 Leonardo M-346 light attack aircraft under a potential agreement with Italy, aimed at modernising its aerial ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | M-346 FA [Brazil]

  Brazil is evaluating the procurement of up to 30 Leonardo M-346 light attack aircraft under a potential agreement with Italy, aimed at modernising its aerial ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | M-346 FA [Brazil]

  Brazil is evaluating the procurement of up to 30 Leonardo M-346 light attack aircraft under a potential agreement with Italy, aimed at modernising its aerial ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  KC-390 [Brazil]

  Programme Background Requirement The aircraft deliveries were scheduled to start by the end of 2016 and continue over a period of ten years. However,  the first ...

• 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 ...

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

  Hermes 900 [Chile]

  Methodology Unit cost In 2024, the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) acquired one Hermes 900 for 50 million reais ($9.14 million), giving each drone an estimated ...

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

  Hermes 900 (5) [Brazil]

  Background First three batches (2014-2024) Across three purchases, Defence Insight estimates that Brazil has acquired five Hermes 900 UAVs. In 2014, Elbit reported supplying one ...

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

  Hermes 900 (1-4) [Brazil]

  Background First batch (2014) In 2014, Elbit reported supplying one Hermes 900 UAV to the Brazilian Air Force (FAB). The drone is called the RQ-900 in Brazilian ...

• Transport

  C-130 Replacement [Greece]

  Programme Background Requirement The existing C-130 fleet of the Hellenic Air Force has faced operational readiness issues, with only one or two airframes in service at ...

• Sealift/replenishment vessels

  Polar Support Vessel [Brazil]

  Programme Background Requirements In June 2020, the Brazilian Navy released a Request for Proposal (RfP) to procure a new Antarctic vessel to be manufactured in Brazil. The ...

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

  Hermes 900 [Undisclosed European Country]

  Background Various Contracts On 18 November 2024, Elbit Systems announced it had awarded various contacts with a combined $335 million to an undisclosed European country. ...

• Loitering munitions

  Loitering munitions [Brazilian Navy]

  Background Growth Acceleration Plan (PAC) As reported by Shephard, in August 2023, the Brazilian government announced plans to invest BRL 52.8 billion ($10.6 billion) in new ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Air-to-surface missiles

  MAR-1

  The MAR-1 is a Brazilian air-to-surface anti-radiation missile (ARM) developed by Mectron in collaboration with the Aerospace Technology and Science Department (DCTA) of the Brazilian ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  EMB-312 Tucano

  The EMB-312 Tucano (Brazilian designation T-27) is a trainer and light attack aircraft developed by Embraer to meet the training requirements of the Brazilian Air ...

• Air: air combat simulators

  TPTS

  Tactical Procedures Training Simulators (TPTS), operating with SWARM software, can be used to provide most core training elements to pilots or offload training tasks from ...

• Guided munitions

  SMKB (Smart-MK-Bomb)

  The Smart-MK-Bomb, or the SMKB, is a precision guidance kit developed by Mectron and designed to turn Mk 82 and Mk 83 bombs into guided munitions.

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

  Condor

  The Condor, or Atobá XR, is an in-development MALE-class UAV from Stella Technologia.  The development of the multi-role is tied to the Brazilian Air Force (FAB), which has ...

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

  Albatroz Vortex

  The Albatroz Vortex from Stella Tecnologia is a development of the company's Albatroz UAV.  The key differentiator is that the Vortex is fitted with an ATJR ...

• Trainer, Transport

  EMB-121 Xingu

  The EMB-121 Xingu is a twin-turboprop light transport and advanced multi-engine trainer aircraft developed by Embraer based on the EMB-110 Bandeirante. Its maiden flight was ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  H225M

  The medium-weight, 11t-class H225M (formerly known as the EC725) is the latest military Super Puma/Cougar family member.  Technical features include a modular design of mechanical ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  KC-390/C-390 Millennium

  The KC-390 is a high-wing, twin-turbofan, T-tail design intended to meet the needs of the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) for a tanker/transport aircraft. Developed and ...

• Land: battle management systems

  Arkhe Mission & Combat

  Launched in 2017, Atech's Arkhe Mission & Combat solutions offer a variety of solutions enabling operator to conduct missions from planning to execution and debriefing. It ...

• Fighter - air superiority

  F-5E/F Tiger II

  The F-5E (single-seat)/F (twin-seat) Tiger II is an air superiority fighter developed by Northrop Grumman based on the original F-5 Freedom Fighter. Production of the ...

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

  SHAPO

  SHAPO is a multi-sensor, gyro-stabilised observation payload. It is intended for UAVs, helicopters, light aircraft, patrol boats, aerostats, airships, armoured vehicles and masts. Sensors include a ...

• Land: air defence radar

  Saber M60

  The Saber M60 is a low-altitude air-defence radar developed by the Brazilian Army's CTEx (Army Technology Centre) in collaboration with Bradar, part of Embraer Defence ...

• EO/IR systems

  Skyward

  The SkyWard system is an advanced Infrared Search and Track (IRST) solution developed for next-generation airborne platforms, including 5th-generation fighter aircraft.  Designed with modularity in ...

• Man-portable missile systems

  RBS 70 system

  The RBS 70 was developed in the 1970s to meet the Swedish Army’s requirement for a low-cost, easy-to-use MANPADS which could function in extreme climatic ...