• Digital Battlespace

  AUSA 2018: Army's next-gen IBCS progresses

  5th October 2018

  Industry is preparing to speed up fielding of the US Army’s next-generation air and missile defence command and control (C2) system, which will form the …

• Training

  L3 opens expanded pilot training centre

  9th October 2018

  L3 Technologies has opened its newly expanded L3 Arlington Training Center facility near the Dallas Fort Worth International Airport in Arlington, Texas, the company announced …

• Defence Helicopter

  Ex-Change Parts acquires AS332 M1 Super Pumas

  12th October 2018

  Ex-Change Parts has signed an agreement with the Swedish Defence Material to acquire six AS332 M1 Super Puma helicopters, along with engines, components, spare parts, …

• Special Operations

  NSW looks to close quarters combat

  30th August 2018

  The US Naval Special Warfare Command (NSWC) has released a solicitation to enhance the close quarter combat (CQC) capabilities of operators in the area of …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Airbus conducts MUT test flights

  4th October 2018

  Airbus has carried out a series of manned-unmanned teaming (MUT) test flight campaigns to demonstrate the ability to control unmanned systems from a manned aircraft. …

• Military Logistics

  Boeing receives contract for fourth KC-46A lot

  13th September 2018

  Boeing has received a $2.9 billion contract from the US Air Force to deliver 18 additional KC-46A tanker aircraft with spares, support equipment, spare engines …

• Defence Notes

  Assad 'has been warned' on Idlib chemical use: Mattis

  12th September 2018

  US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis stressed on 11 September that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has been well warned against any chemical weapons use in an …

• Defence Helicopter

  Russian Baltic Navy takes upgraded Ka-27Ms

  15th October 2018

  The Russian Navy saw a boost of the anti-submarine capabilities of its Baltic Fleet thanks to the recent introduction of a five-strong batch of upgraded …

• Defence Helicopter

  Boeing expands Australian Chinook support

  9th October 2018

  Boeing Defence Australia has entered into a new partnership agreement with Australia's Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group for the support and maintenance of the Australian …

• Defence Helicopter

  Boeing to continue Chinook rotor blade support

  4th October 2018

  Boeing has received a new $160 million contract to continue its support for the US Army's inventory of H-47 Chinook rotor blades, the company announced …

• Training

  FlightSafety on a roll with heli FTD orders

  13th September 2018

  Following on from the award of the C-17 Aircrew Training System contract in support of the US Air Force Air Mobility Command and success in …

• Defence Notes

  US-South Korea military readiness hurt by drill pause

  25th September 2018

  The suspension of US-South Korean drills in summer 2018 hurt the readiness of the two militaries, the nominee to head US and UN forces in …

• Naval Warfare

  Euronaval 2018: France marches on with naval ambitions

  22nd October 2018

  With France's military embarking on a series of modernisation programmes the naval service has its focus on providing for its future requirements under a variety …

• Special Operations

  AUSA 2018: Smart Shooter debuts tactical drone eliminator

  15th October 2018

  Smart Shooter unveiled a tactical drone-elimination variant of its SMASH 2000 fire control system at last week’s AUSA annual meeting and exposition.  The basic SMASH 2000 …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Second MQ-9B SkyGuardian flies

  8th October 2018

  General Atomics Aeronautical Systems’ (GA-ASI's) second MQ-9B SkyGuardian RPA (aircraft YBC02) has completed its first flight at Laguna Army Airfield in Yuma Proving Grounds, Arizona, …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• 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 helicopters - attack

  H145M [Brazil]

  Background  Brazilian leadership announced in February 2022 that the Sabre Mil Mi-35M Hind-E attack helicopters were being retired from active service. This decision came as a ...

• Fighter - multirole

  JAS 39E/F Gripen [Brazil]

  Background 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 ...

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

  Hermes 900 [Colombia]

  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 gross ...

• 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 ...

• Maritime patrol

  C295 add-on [Brazil]

  Programme Background  In 2014 Brazil signed a contracted for two additional C-295 SAR platforms with the option to acquire one additional platform. In 2018, reports ...

• 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 ...

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 ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - small

  Harpia

  Described as the UAV with the most onboard technology in Latin America, Harpia is a multifunctional fixed-wing Brazilian drone developed by Advanced Technologies Security & Defence.  The Uruguayan ...

• 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 - 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...