• Defence Notes

  Two killed in Vietnam military plane crash

  14th June 2019

  Two pilots were killed in Vietnam on 14 June after their military plane crashed during a training session, an official told AFP.  Though Vietnam has …

• Land Warfare

  Russia reveals all-new 120mm self-propelled gun

  5th July 2019

  The 120-mm 2S42 Lotos self-propelled gun (SPG) for Russia’s elite Airborne Troops branch was shown to the public for the first time at Army-2019 defence …

• Defence Notes

  US senator says Libya shipments could end UAE arms sales

  3rd July 2019

  A Democratic senator warned 2 July that the United States could cut off arms sales to the UAE if proven that it shipped US missiles …

• Naval Warfare

  Boeing receives P-8A equipment order

  10th June 2019

  Boeing has received a contract modification from the US Navy for P-8A related equipment. The $40 million modification covers ancillary equipment for P-8A maritime patrol …

• Training

  Storm clouds arise for Pilatus in India

  18th July 2019

  The Indian Air Force’s (IAF) plans to acquire 38 additional PC-7 Mk II aircraft are in tatters after the country’s MoD imposed a one-year trading …

• Defence Helicopter

  Paris Air Show: Bell hints at bad timing for V-22 export sales

  25th June 2019

  The September 2020 deadline imposed by V-22 Osprey manufacturers Bell and Boeing, for international customers to place orders or letters of agreement for the tiltrotor, …

• Training

  Italy orders more M-345s

  14th June 2019

  Leonardo will supply a further 13 M-345 High Efficiency Trainer aircraft to the Italian Air Force under a contract announced on 13 June.The order, valued …

• Digital Battlespace

  Airbus to run UK MoD C4ISR test centre

  19th July 2019

  Airbus will run the UK Ministry of Defence’s (MoD’s) land C4ISR test centre under a £22 million, five-year contract announced on 19 July. The contract …

• Defence Helicopter

  High hopes for Hughes BLOS technology

  27th June 2019

  Based on a unique through-the-rotor waveform that enables full motion video transmission, Hughes has recently demonstrated BLoS technology on-board Spanish NH90 TTH aircraft, with a collection of …

• Training

  Joint Australian, US and Japan exercise ends

  10th June 2019

  This year’s Exercise Southern Jackaroo, a two-week field exercise carried out by soldiers of the Australian Defence Force, US Marine Rotational Force-Darwin and Japanese Self …

• Military Logistics

  Modern avionics for USAF C-130Hs

  11th June 2019

  L3 Technologies announced on 6 June that it has been awarded a contract valued at $499 million for the USAF C-10H Avionics Modernisation Program Increment …

• Digital Battlespace

  Lockheed Martin enhances C2BMC system

  24th June 2019

  Lockheed Martin has modernised the command, control, battle management and communications (C2BMC) system, enhancing the US Missile Defense Agency's Ballistic Missile Defense System. C2BMC enables …

• Digital Battlespace

  Kratos contracted for C5ISR work

  28th June 2019

  Kratos Defense & Security Solutions has been awarded a $5.9 million contract award to provide C5ISR hardware and subsystems for an undisclosed missile defence-related programme.  …

• Naval Warfare

  Bulgarian OPV programme drifts along

  22nd July 2019

  The procurement of two new multipurpose OPVs for the Bulgarian Navy could be delayed again with the country’s MoD having still not presented its evaluation …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  US Army moving AI into robotic platforms

  28th June 2019

  The US Army has begun technical experimentation targeting the introduction of artificial intelligence (AI) into its robotic platforms. Aspects of both current and planned AI …

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 ...