• Defence Notes

  Gulf states approved for $1.3 billion in US munitions purchases in 2018

  14th August 2018

  Gulf states have traditionally been keen buyers of western, mainly US, military equipment. A number of possible recent programmes and ongoing procurement processes demonstrate the …

• Training

  Farnborough 2018: UK looks to future ACMI system

  23rd July 2018

  The UK is making some major investments in its air combat training capabilities with programmes such as the Defence Operational Training Capability – Air (DOTC-A), …

• Special Operations

  USSOCOM identifies “capability needs”

  30th July 2018

  The US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) has disclosed a list of “capability needs” to be considered at the 2018 Special Operations Forces Warrior Industry Collaboration …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  AARTOS for NATO summit protection

  23rd July 2018

  Aaronia's AARTOS counter-UAS system was used by the Belgium Police to protect the 2018 NATO summit from rogue UAS threats. Various AARTOS systems were deployed …

• Training

  JTAC training during Exercise Pitch Black 2018

  7th August 2018

  Joint Terminal Attack Controllers (JTACs) from the Australian Army and the Royal Netherlands Army are carrying out joint training operations at the Delamere Air Weapons …

• Training

  CAE invests in digital transformation

  15th August 2018

  CAE has announced a CAD $1 billion programme to digitally transform its training technologies. Under Project Digital Intelligence, the company will develop next generation training …

• Military Logistics

  Indra receives Spanish Army contract

  20th July 2018

  Indra has received a framework agreement to provide engineering services to achieve and maintain  airworthiness certification for the Spanish Army’s aircraft fleet, the company announced …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Kongsberg Geospatial concludes trials of EOAMS

  16th August 2018

  Kongsberg Geospatial has concluded the final trials of the Emergency Operations Airspace Management System (EOAMS), the company announced on 9 August. The EOAMS situational awareness …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Zephyr flies for more than 25 days

  10th August 2018

  The Zephyr S High Altitude Pseudo-Satellite (HAPS) UAS has completed its maiden flight of more than 25 days, Airbus Defence and Space announced on 8 …

• Land Warfare

  New Zealand reviews defence policy and procurement

  9th August 2018

  New Zealand’s new government has completed its reviews of defence policy and procurement, and is now reviewing the Defence Capability Plan and all current acquisitions …

• Digital Battlespace

  Raytheon opens radar development facility

  9th August 2018

  Raytheon has opened a new radar development facility at its Andover, Massachusetts-based site, the company announced on 6 August. The new $72 million, 30,000sq ft …

• Special Operations

  New night vision capabilities from Qioptiq

  22nd August 2018

  Excelitas Technologies’ Qioptiq company is utilizing this week’s “Modern Warfighting Symposium,” co-sponsored by the Global SOF Foundation and US Army Special Operations Command and held …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  CACI to provide C-UAS technology support

  7th August 2018

  CACI International has received a $48.5 million single-award, IDIQ contract from the US Navy to support the deployment of counter UAS capabilities, the company announced …

• Defence Helicopter

  SB>1 Defiant blades issue appears solved

  22nd August 2018

  The Sikorsky-Boeing in-development SB>1 Defiant demonstrator team appear to have resolved production issues concerning the future medium class helicopter's blades. Manufacturing issues of the components, being …

• Military Logistics

  Spectro Scientific updates SpectrOil M

  24th July 2018

  Spectro Scientific has released an updated and improved version of its SpectrOil M Elemental Analyzer, the company announced on 18 July. SpectrOil M Elemental Analyzer …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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. ...

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 ...