• Military Logistics

  Multinational MRTT Unit assumes command of fleet

  22nd July 2019

  NATO’s Multilateral Multi Role Tanker Transporter Fleet (MMF) programme has reached an important milestone, with command of the fleet handed over to the Multinational MRTT …

• Special Operations

  Red Flag Rescue training for special forces

  12th June 2019

  US special forces worked alongside US Air Force and US Navy personnel to carry out a number of missions, ranging from rapid infiltration and exfiltration, to …

• Defence Helicopter

  Malaysia launches search for naval helicopters

  25th July 2019

  Malaysia issued a notice inviting tenders for maritime operations helicopters for the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) on 19 July. No details of the programme value …

• Defence Notes

  Malaysian MPA and UAV programmes approved

  21st June 2019

  The Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) has confirmed to Shephard that the government has given approval for the service to prepare for the acquisition of …

• Naval Warfare

  LCS 17 completes acceptance trials

  28th June 2019

  USS Indianapolis, the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) 17, has completed acceptance trials at Lake Michigan, the final large milestone before it is delivered to the …

• Defence Helicopter

  France orders more H225M helicopters

  17th June 2019

  Airbus Helicopters has received an order from the French Defence Procurement Agency DGA for an additional H225M for the French Air Force. The aircraft will …

• Military Logistics

  DSCA approves support package for Moroccan F-16s

  1st July 2019

  The US State Department has approved a potential $250.4 million sustainment and support package contract for Morocco’s fleet of Lockheed Martin F-16 fighters.  Later this …

• Training

  British forces train for Swift Response

  12th June 2019

  Around 600 UK armed forces personnel have arrived in Croatia to take part in Exercise Swift Response, a major multi-national exercise taking place across Europe …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Paris Air Show: Door ajar for MQ-9 Middle East sales

  14th June 2019

  Large category UAS sales to US allies in the Middle East have been complicated by strict guidelines contained within the international Missile Technology Control Regime …

• Defence Helicopter

  MASE-equipped NH90s ready for operation

  20th June 2019

  Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) NH90 helicopters equipped with Terma's Modular Aircraft Survivability Equipment (MASE) system are now ready for operational use, the company announced …

• Naval Warfare

  US Navy tests RAM Block 2A missile

  24th June 2019

  The US Navy has successfully completed a series of guided flight tests of the Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) Block 2A short-range, surface-to-air missile, Raytheon announced …

• Defence Helicopter

  Greece gets ex-US military helicopters

  11th June 2019

  The US Army Security Assistance Command has completed the delivery of 70 OH-58D Kiowa Warrior armed reconnaissance helicopters and one CH-47D Chinook heavy-lift helicopter to …

• Defence Notes

  Paris Air Show: Warsaw's F-35 buy might hinder other modernisation efforts

  11th June 2019

  The Polish MoD has confirmed its intention of procuring 32 F-35A Lightning II multirole fighter jets, by sending an official Letter of Request to the …

• Digital Battlespace

  Lockheed Martin delivers GPS III COps upgrade

  13th June 2019

  Lockheed Martin has delivered the GPS III Contingency Operations (COps) software upgrade to the US Air Force's current GPS ground control system. The upgrade will …

• Digital Battlespace

  Northrop Grumman awarded LLDR 2H work

  10th July 2019

  Northrop Grumman will upgrade Target Locator Modules (TLMs) under a $17.6 million award from the US Army announced on 9 July. The TLMs will be …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | Penetrating Counter Air (PCA) [USA]

  The United States Air Force (USAF) is working on the F-47 Penetrating Counter Air (PCA) aircraft, which is intended to replace F-22s in service and ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  Air: Helmet-mounted displays | Penetrating Counter Air (PCA) [USA]

  The United States Air Force (USAF) is working on the F-47 Penetrating Counter Air (PCA) aircraft, which is intended to replace F-22s in service and ...

• Data links

  Data links | Penetrating Counter Air (PCA) [USA]

  The United States Air Force (USAF) is working on the F-47 Penetrating Counter Air (PCA) aircraft, which is intended to replace F-22s in service and ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | Penetrating Counter Air (PCA) [USA]

  The United States Air Force (USAF) is working on the F-47 Penetrating Counter Air (PCA) aircraft, which is intended to replace F-22s in service and ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | Penetrating Counter Air (PCA) [USA]

  The United States Air Force (USAF) is working on the F-47 Penetrating Counter Air (PCA) aircraft, which is intended to replace F-22s in service and ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  UH-60M Black Hawk [Latvia]

  Programme Background In August 2018, the Latvian government approved the acquisition of four UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters. The UH-60Ms are intended for both military and ...

• Transport

  King Air 360 [Nigeria]

  Programme Background On 7 October 2021, Nigeria’s Budget Office published its proposed budget details. The Nigerian Air Force requested 10.86 billion Nigerian Naira (US$26.4 million) ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  Light Attack/Trainer Aircraft - Ghana

  In 2013, the Chief of Ghana Air Force stated that A-29 is their preferred platform and this position was also submitted to the Government. In ...

• Transport

  C-130J - USAF

  Programme Background The C-130J Super Hercules is a four-engine turboprop transport aircraft developed by Lockheed Martin to replace aging C-130 variants. The US and FMS ...

• Trainer

  PC-21 [France]

  Programme  Background The French Air and Space Force has chosen Dassault Aviation and Babcock to provide between nine and 13 Pilatus PC-21 aircraft for Phase ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  T-2E Replacement - Greece

  The average unit cost is estimated to be around $12 million based on the Czech Republic's $48.5 million deal for the purchase of four L-39NG ...

• Bomber

  B-21 Raider [USA]

  Programme Background Development The US DoD is developing a new long-range bomber called the B-21 Raider, previously known as LRS-B. At least 100 units are ...

• Trainer

  Trainer Aircraft (1-12) [Vietnam]

  Programme Background After years of operating Russian-built military equipment, Vietnam is more willing to procure US-supplied equipment following the lifting of the arms embargo in ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | KC-130J [Saudi Arabia]

  Royal Saudi Air Force is seeking to purchase three KC-130J tanker aircraft in addition to two units acquired under foreign military sale (FMS) programme. On 9 ...

• Data links

  Data links | KC-130J [Saudi Arabia]

  Royal Saudi Air Force is seeking to purchase three KC-130J tanker aircraft in addition to two units acquired under foreign military sale (FMS) programme. On 9 ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• 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 ...

• Air: Electronic Attack - Jamming

  J/ALQ-8

  Like Israel, Japan elected to outfit its McDonnell Douglas/Boeing F-15J/DJ combat aircraft with an indigenous self-protection system. This takes the form of Mitsubishi Electric’s J/ALQ-8 ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  FAB-T Force Element Terminal

  The Family of Advanced Beyond Line-of-Sight Terminals - Force Element Terminal (FAB-T FET) is a nuclear-hardened SATCOM solution designed for airborne applications. Produced by Raytheon, ...

• Unguided Medium Calibre Ammunition

  25mm PGU-48/B

  The 25mm PGU-48/B is a medium-calibre armour-penetrating round manufactured by American Rheinmetall. The US Air Force uses the PGU-48/B with its F-35 aircraft.

• Unguided Medium Calibre Ammunition

  25mm PGU-23/U

  The 25mm PGU-23/U is a medium-calibre training round manufactured by General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems. The US Air Force utilises it with its AC-130 and ...

• Land: soldier modernisation systems - industry programmes

  Warrior Systems

  General Dynamics Mission Systems is prime contractor and system integrator for the US Army’s Warrior soldier systems, which include Air Warrior, Future Force Warrior, Land Warrior ...

• 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 ...

• Air: mission management systems

  TBMCS

  Theater Battle Management Core Systems (TBMCS) is a US joint C2 integrated BMS used to plan and execute air campaigns in theatres of operations worldwide. ...

• Unguided Medium Calibre Ammunition

  30mm PGU-13B High Explosive Incendiary

  The 30mm 30mm PGU-13B High Explosive Incendiary (HEI) is a medium-calibre munition manufactured by Northrop Grumman. The US Air Force uses the PGU-13B HEI with ...

• Trainer

  King Air trainer

  Textron / Beechcraft King Air trainers are a family twin-engine aircraft based on King Air 90, 100, 200 and 350 utility aircraft. The King Air ...

• Trainer

  T-6A/B Texan II

  The T-6 Texan II is a single-engine trainer aircraft, which was developed from the Pilatus PC-9 to meet the training requirements of USAF and USN ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-4 Phantom II family

  The F-4 Phantom II is a two-seat multirole fighter developed originally by McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) to meet USN interceptor requirements. It soon became a unified ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing

  CLS-200

  The CLS-200 is part of the Yates Electrospace Corporation Silent Arrow family. It is a powered cargo-carrying one-use UAV, based on the company's GD-2000 glider.  In ...

• 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: surveillance and maritime patrol radar, Air: UAS radar

  Lynx

  The Lynx (AN/APY-8) is a synthetic aperture radar manufactured by General Atomics. It is designed for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance for manned and unmanned aircraft. According to ...