• Naval Warfare

  Textron awarded UAS contract for Littoral Combat Ships

  11th August 2023

  The US Navy (USN) is expanding the airborne surveillance capabilities of three of its Littoral Combat Ships (LCS) with the addition of new UAS capabilities.

• Defence Notes

  The centre of gravity of ‘Axis of Evil 2.0’ shifts eastwards (Opinion)

  14th September 2023

  Russia might be at the tip of the spear in terms of authoritarian aggression, but it has plenty of backers in the shape of countries like China, Iran and North Korea. Others, like India, try to duplicitously sit on the fence.

• Digital Battlespace

  EOS to provide AS-65 gimbal for L3Harris's VAMPIRE weapon system

  21st July 2023

  EOS Defense Systems USA's AS-65 gimbal has been selected for L3Harris's VAMPIRE weapon system, empowering Ukraine's ground forces to counter hostile drones and ground threats using precision rockets.

• Digital Battlespace

  Australia confirms SitaWare for critical C2 elements of Land 200 Phase 3 project

  28th July 2023

  The Australian Defence Force has chosen Systematic's SitaWare software for the C2 functions of the Land 200 Phase 3 project, enhancing situational awareness and battlefield management.

• Defence Helicopter

  Boeing receives $22.5 million contract for CH-47 Chinook long lead items

  13th July 2023

  Boeing has received a $22.5 million firm-fixed-price contract from the US DoD for CH-47 Chinook helicopter long lead items.

• Digital Battlespace

  Comtech wins $30 million contract for next-gen Troposcatter systems

  17th July 2023

  Comtech has secured a $30 million contract to provide its next-generation Troposcatter Family of Systems (FoS) to Fairwinds Technologies, enhancing US Army tactical communications capabilities and JADC2 operations.

• Air Warfare

  Insight: Is the Bayraktar TB2 UAV living up to expectations?

  15th September 2023

  Sold to well over 20 countries and combat-proven in Nagorno-Karabakh, Ukraine and elsewhere, the Bayraktar TB2 has been an export success for its Turkish manufacturer. Shephard Defence Insight analyses the aircraft's design and capabilities and reviews in depth who is buying it and why.

• Land Warfare

  David's Sling completes new test of capability

  10th July 2023

  The David’s Sling Weapon System (DSWS) is designed to defend against rockets, missiles and crewed or uncrewed aircraft and has completed testing of expanded capability.

• Air Warfare

  Northrop Grumman says no to prime role on US Air Force NGAD fighter programme

  28th July 2023

  'We're not planning to respond to the NGAD request for proposal as the prime,' Northrop Grumman's CEO said, revealing the company's decision to opt out of heading up the USAF's Next-Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) programme.

• Training

  Augmented reality integration on trainer aircraft progresses despite no official requirement

  27th June 2023

  Companies such as BAE Systems, Boeing, Lockheed Martin and Korea Aerospace Industries are pushing forward with implementing the Red 6 augmented reality system onto jet trainers, despite the absence of formal interest from customer air forces so far.

• Air Warfare

  Paris Air Show: Patria agrees industrial participation under Finland's F-35 fighter programme

  19th June 2023

  Patria and Lockheed Martin have signed the first agreement under Finland´s F-35 direct industrial participation programme.

• Air Warfare

  Paris Air Show: NATO brokers Greek deal to acquire Safran UAVs

  21st June 2023

  The Greek Army has chosen Safran Electronics & Defense to modernise its UAV inventory, adding four new Patroller tactical drones to its current Sperwer fleet.  The …

• Training

  US Navy T-45 Goshawk trainers to receive digital head-up display

  13th July 2023

  Mercury Systems has received a five-year contract worth $83 million from the Naval Air Systems Command to deliver high-definition, digital head-up display (HUD) systems for the T-45 Goshawk training aircraft.

• Digital Battlespace

  Aselsan to exhibit YILDIRIM-100 DIRCM for helicopters at IDEF 2023

  24th July 2023

  Aselsan has unveiled a new Directional Infrared Counter Measures (DIRCM) system, the YILDIRIM-100.

• Land Warfare

  Fibrotex develops mobile camouflage systems for US clients

  19th July 2023

  Fibrotex’s camouflage triad will be complete with the development of mobile camouflage systems.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military helicopters - attack

  Ka-52M Alligator-Russia

  Programme Background The loss of 66 Ka-52s and 8 Mi-24s damaged and/or destroyed leaves the Russian Military with an acute need of replacements.  The Ka-52M will ...

• AEW&C

  GlobalEye (1-3) [UAE]

  Programme Background The GlobalEye is a modification of Bombardier's Global 6000 jet aircraft fitted with the S-band Erieye Extended Range (ER) radar and mission system ...

• OPVs

  OPVs Procurement (1-2) [Greece]

  Programme Background Requirements According to the RFI issued in late 2022, the Hellenic Coast Guard is seeking to procure two new OPVs. The vessels are ...

• Military helicopters - light/training

  Bell 505 - Montenegro

  The deal between Montenegro and export agency Canadian Commercial Cooperation will see aircraft production take place at Bell’s Mirabel facility before being transited to the ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  AW101-Norway

  AgustaWestland is also providing initial support and training services, including spares at each of the operating bases and aircrew training. It will then provide performance ...

• Landing platform docks/dock landing ships

  Landing Platform Docks [India]

  Programme Background Requirements The LPD tender, although more akin to an LHD, specifies that the quartet of ships must be built within India, although collaboration ...

• Landing platform docks/dock landing ships

  Landing Platform Dock [Qatar]

  Programme Background Close to a €4 billion ($4.67 billion) contract was awarded to Fincantieri in June 2016 for the construction of seven surface vessels, including the four ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  T-X / T-7A Red Hawk [USAF]

  Programme Background Goal The T-X programme aims to acquire a two-seat jet trainer aircraft to replace its Northrop Grumman T-38 Talon. The programme could be worth ...

• AEW&C

  AEW&C Aircraft [South Korea]

  Programme Background Requirement The requirement was initially reported in 2016 when it was noted as being part of a long-term development plan, however, reports from ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) [Japan]

  Programme Background Shephard notes that GCAP's Japanese, British and Italian components are tracked in separate entries. Programme Timeline 2020: The Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency of Japan issued ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Horizon 2 - Multirole Fighter Programme [Philippines]

  Programme Background Requirement The Philippines wants a fighter able to perform score missions such as air-to-air combat, air-to-ground tasks and reconnaissance, including over water. It ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Global Combat Air Programme [UK]

  Programme Background The next-generation platform concept is part of the 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review, which sought to deliver a Future Combat Air System ...

• Frigates

  Multi-Role Combat Vessels (1-6) [Singapore]

  Programme Background Requirements Singapore is planning to replace its current ageing Victory-class corvettes, which are due to leave service in 2025, with an equal number of ...

• Trainer

  T-54A Multi-Engine Training System (METS) (USA)

  Programme Background Multi-Engine Training System is a USN programme to replace the ageing T-44C Pegasus fleet and modernize multi-engine aircraft training. Multi-Engine Training System provides ...

• Fighter - multirole

  H-X Fighter Programme [Finland]

  Programme Background In June 2020, Finnish MoD announced that the Hornet fleet life extension programme is neither cost-effective solution nor sufficient in terms of Finland’s ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Air: AEW/fire control radar

  N011M

  The N011M BARS is a hybrid X-band radar system combining passive electronically scanned array technology with mechanical scanning capabilities. The system features dual-band operation (X-band ...

• Air: AEW/fire control radar

  Super Kopyo PH

  The Super Kopyo-PH is an ultra-lightweight X-band radar system featuring a phased-array antenna, digital signal and data processors, and a 12-bit analogue/digital converter unit, designed for ...

• Air: COMINT and ELINT systems, Air: Integrated Defensive Systems

  HES-21

  HES-21 provides ESM, ELINT and self-defence as a pod. The HES-21 is an integrated system with tactical situational awareness claimed in terms of EOB, as ...

• Land: air defence radar

  MAR

  The Mobile Search Radar (MAR), developed by the Turkish company Aselsan, is a mobile, X-band, short-range 3D search and track radar specifically designed for point ...

• Air: AEW/fire control radar

  N019 Sapfir-29

  The N019 Sapfir-29 is an X-band pulse-Doppler radar developed for the MiG-29 fighter aircraft, featuring a hybrid analogue/digital design with an NII Argon Ts100 digital ...

• Land: air defence radar

  SkyFender ADR

  SkyFender Air Defence Radar (ADR) is a pulse-Doppler radar operating in the X-band that performs signal processing in time and spectral domains to provide target ...

• Land: air defence radar

  X-TAR

  The X-Band Tactical Acquisition Radar (X-TAR) is a fully coherent X-band radar designed for such applications as early warning for MANPADS and guns or tactical ...

• Air: AEW/fire control radar

  Zaslon AM

  The Zaslon-AM is a modernized variant of the Zaslon X-band radar family, featuring the Baget-55-06 onboard digital computer replacing the Argon-15A. The system maintains the ...

• Sea: naval surveillance radar

  Sea Giraffe 1X

  The Saab Sea Giraffe 1X is a short-range, three-dimensional naval radar variant of the Giraffe 1X. It is designed to be a compact and affordable ...

• Air: AEW/fire control radar

  PS-05/A

  Saab's PS-05/A is an X-band mechanically scanned pulse-Doppler radar used on the Gripen fighter aircraft. The system has undergone four iterations from the original variant, which ...

• Land: air defence radar

  AD26

  The AD26 Very Short Range Air Defence (VSHORAD) radar is a fifth-generation 3D tactical air defence system. The AD26 is a lightweight, transportable X-band solid-state ...

• Air: AEW/fire control radar

  Zaslon

  The N007 Zaslon was the first phased-array X-band radar to enter service on a fighter aircraft as of Mig-31, featuring a 1.1m diameter antenna and ...

• Air: AEW/fire control radar

  Kopyo

  The Kopyo is an X-band multi-mode pulse-Doppler radar developed by Phazotron NIIR as a private venture, featuring digital signal processing and designed for light combat ...

• Sea: naval surveillance radar

  Columbus Mk2

  The Columbus Mk2 is a three-dimensional naval and coastal surveillance radar manufactured by Gem Elettronica. According to the manufacturer, it is designed for surveillance and ...

• Air: Electronic Attack - Jamming, Air: Integrated Defensive Systems

  ALQ-500

  The ALQ-500 is an electronic attack system manufactured by Indra Sistemas. The radar band countermeasure sub-system uses digital radio frequency memory (DRFM) techniques and was ...