• Defence Helicopter

  SOCOM seeks Little Bird cockpit upgrade

  15th October 2013

  US Special Operations Command (SOCOM) has approached industry to help upgrade the cockpit of the A/MH-6 Mission Enhanced Little Bird (MELB) helicopter.    On 8 …

• Defence Helicopter

  SOCOM develops DVE avionics for helicopters

  14th October 2013

  Three companies have been chosen to develop a synthetic-vision system for US Special Forces helicopters, to counter brownouts and degraded visual conditions (DVE), it has …

• Defence Helicopter

  Ex-Jordanian Cobras enter service in Pakistan

  11th October 2013

  The Pakistan Army Aviation (PAA) has recently inducted eight former Royal Jordanian Air Force (RJAF) AH-1S Cobra attack helicopters into service. The gunships’ arrival has …

• Defence Notes

  RFP released for Kiribati maritime safety vessel

  11th October 2013

  New Zealand has released a Request For Proposals (RFP) for a new maritime safety vessel for Kiribati. The RFP describes proposals for an ocean-going boat …

• Military Logistics

  New Bagram Airfield power plant completed

  10th October 2013

  A 30-megawatt power plant has been completed at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, to address severe power shortages experienced over the summer. The plant was installed by …

• Defence Helicopter

  Canada considers Cyclone alternatives

  10th October 2013

  The Canadian government has confirmed meetings are underway with rival aircraft manufacturers to determine the future of the troubled CH-148 Cyclone maritime helicopter project (MHP).  …

• Military Logistics

  Afghans receive two C-130s

  10th October 2013

  The Afghanistan Air Force (AAF) has taken delivery of two C-130H Hercules transport aircraft from US armed forces  during a ceremony at Kabul International Airport …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  CaMEL UGV to take part in US Army Demonstration

  9th October 2013

  Northrop Grumman’s Carry-all Modular Equipment Landrover (CaMEL) will take part in the US Army’s Maneuver Center of Excellence Robotics Limited Demonstration at Fort Benning to …

• Military Logistics

  USN logistics scandal widens

  9th October 2013

  In late September, Military Logistics International interviewed Capt Daniel Dusek, (see Autumn edition 2013) commander of the USS Bonhomme Richard, a US Navy Wasp class …

• Military Logistics

  Portsmouth gears up to support UK carrier

  9th October 2013

  More than half a billion pounds of funding is expected to be made available for the development of Portsmouth Naval Base out to 2020, according …

• Military Logistics

  Dutch choose Airborne Systems delivery system

  9th October 2013

  The Dutch Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO) has selected Airborne Systems to deliver Firefly and Microfly guided precision aerial delivery systems to Dutch SOF units. Airborne …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Bluefin Robotics acquires SeeByte

  8th October 2013

  Bluefin Robotics has enhanced its autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) software capabilities with the acquisition of SeeByte. The deal – the details of which have not …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Watchkeeper receives MAA approval

  7th October 2013

  The WK450 Watchkeeper UAV design has finally received certification from the UK’s Military Aviation Authority (MAA), Thales UK has announced. According to Thales, which manufactures …

• Defence Helicopter

  UTC reverses furlough plans

  7th October 2013

  United Technologies (UTC) has announced that it will cancel the furloughs it had planned for this week following the US government’s decision to recall most …

• Defence Notes

  Allen-Vanguard to train Azerbaijan Navy EOD Unit

  7th October 2013

  Allen-Vanguard International will provide EOD/IEDD, Diving and Instructor Training to the Azerbaijan Navy EOD Unit (AZE Unit) under a new contract awarded by NSWC-Indian Head. …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

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

  Long Range/Long Endurance (LR/LE) [USMC]

  Programme Background Force Design 2030 The USMC Force Design 2030 is a modernisation effort to create a lighter, more agile maritime force. The update to ...

• Military UAS - MALE, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  MQ-8C Fire Scout (USA)

  Programme Background Timeline According to the Naval Air Systems Command, having first ordered the MQ-8B in 2009, the UAV has become a pillar of the ...

• Landing platform docks/dock landing ships

  Medium Landing Ship (9-18) [USMC]

  Programme Background Requirements As part of the US Marine Corps' future force structure, it is developing a new platform under the Medium Lading Ship programme ...

• Landing platform docks/dock landing ships

  Medium Landing Ship (1-8) [USMC]

  Programme Background Development As part of the US Marine Corps' future force structure, it is developing a new platform under the Medium Lading Ship programme ...

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

  Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) Unmanned Expeditionary (MUX) (Increment 1) [USMC]

  Programme Background All-in-One UAV Since 2016, the USMC has wished to acquire a UAV that could be deployed from a vessel, be used for various missions, ...

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

  Medium Range/Medium Endurance (MR/ME) [USMC]

  Programme Background Force Design 2030 The USMC Force Design 2030 is a modernisation effort to create a lighter, more agile maritime force. The update to ...

• UAS: communication systems

  UAS: communication systems | Future Vertical Lift Maritime Strike (FVL-MS) [USA]

  The Future Vertical Lift Maritime Strike (FVL-MS) programme seeks to develop and acquire a family of systems, including crewed and uncrewed aircraft, to replace rotary life aircraft ...

• UAS: flight control systems

  UAS: flight control systems | Future Vertical Lift Maritime Strike (FVL-MS) [USA]

  The Future Vertical Lift Maritime Strike (FVL-MS) programme seeks to develop and acquire a family of systems, including crewed and uncrewed aircraft, to replace rotary life aircraft ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Future Vertical Lift Maritime Strike (FVL-MS) [USA]

  Programme Background Requirement The FVL-MS programme seeks to develop and acquire a family of systems, including crewed and uncrewed aircraft, to replace rotary life aircraft utilised ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  HH-60W - Combat Rescue Helicopter (CRH)

  According to the FY2021 Base funding, the HH-60W helicopter unit cost is $43.2 million. The HH-60W will be capable of employment day or night, in ...

• Destroyers

  Next-Generation Large Surface Combatants (LSC) - DDG(X) [USN]

  Programme Background Requirements The US Navy (USN) is acknowledging a need to move away from the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer design, which is slowly outgrowing. Flight III ...

• Military UAS - small

  RQ-21A Blackjack / STUASLO - Replacement Units (USN)

  Programme Background Joint USN and USMC Procurment The RQ-21 Blackjack, or STUALSO, was a combined United States Navy (USN) and United States Marine Corps (USMC) programme ...

• Military UAS - small

  RQ-21A Blackjack / STUASLO - Replacement Units (USMC)

  Programme Background Joint USN and USMC Procurment The RQ-21 Blackjack, or STUALSO, was a combined United States Navy (USN) and United States Marine Corps (USMC) programme ...

• Military helicopters - maritime

  Maritime Operations Helicopters

  The three maritime operations helicopters will be used for logistics and personnel transport, alongside transportation of PASKAL naval special forces in operations in the area. ...

• Military helicopters - maritime

  Naval Multi Role Helicopters

  The IN is seeking two configurations of future multirole helicopters – one for general use and one for special operations. These two variants will meet ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Naval: RF, IR and acoustic decoys

  Sea Lightning

  Developed by a joint venture between BAE Systems and General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems, Sea Lightning is being offered to the USN for the Block ...

• Landing craft and hovercraft

  SECAT

  In 2022, Textron Systems unveiled its new Surface Effect Cargo Amphibious Transport (SECAT) craft, designed to support logistics behind the US Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations and ...

• Air: Integrated cockpit systems

  Tactical Mission System for Helicopter Applications

  The Saab tactical mission system is a system for transport, utility, C2 and combat helicopters intended to operate in a net-centric environment. It is designed ...

• Major networking projects

  CANES

  The Consolidated Afloat Networks and Enterprise Services (CANES) programme is a USN-wide effort to rationalise shipboard computing assets. It is designed to create a common ...

• Air: COMINT and ELINT systems, Land: COMINT and ELINT systems, Naval: COMINT and ELINT systems

  LOKI

  The LOKI family is a cross-platform C2 system designed to integrate EW, SIGINT and Electro-Magnetic Spectrum Operations on many distributed platforms. The platform can be ...

• Air: UAV simulators

  MQ-9 MTD

  SDS’s ROVATTS-based MQ-9 Mission Training Device (MTD) was developed to provide high-fidelity simulation to support US Air National Guard operational Reaper crew training. The PC-based ...

• Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  MQ-8C Fire Scout

  The MQ-8C is a newer version of the Fire Scout and is based on a Bell 407 commercial helicopter. It offers a greater range, endurance and ...

• Land: soldier modernisation systems - national programmes

  MERS

  The Marine Expeditionary Rifle Squad (MERS) takes a systems engineering approach to equipping the USMC’s fundamental fighting unit. The integration and configuration management of all ...

• Air: surveillance and maritime patrol radar

  AN/ZPY-1 STARLite

  The AN/ZPY-1 Small Tactical Radar-Lightweight (STARLite) is a synthetic aperture radar and GMTI sensor for UAVs, manufactured by Northrop Grumman. It offers strip and spot synthetic ...

• Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  MQ-8B Fire Scout

  The MQ-8B Fire Scout is a rotary-wing UAV that provides situational awareness and precision targeting support for the US Armed Forces. The MQ-8B Fire Scout, ...

• Military helicopters - maritime

  MH-53E Sea Dragon

  Sikorsky developed the MH-53E (S-80) Sea Dragon variant of its CH-53E to provide the USN with a dedicated airborne mine countermeasures helicopter. Equipped with enlarged ...

• Military - UUVs

  Mission Specialist Defender

  The Mission Specialist Defender is a remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV) developed by VideoRay, now part of BlueHalo's unmanned maritime systems. The ROV is known ...

• Trainer

  Saab 340 trainer

  The Saab 340 trainer aircraft is based on the Saab 340 regional airliner. It is used by the USN for pilot training. The aircraft replaced ...

• Air: mission management systems

  Air Operations Systems of Systems

  Air Operations System of Systems is designed to enable management of airspaces across large states and/or regions focusing on strategic planning. The system integration approach ...

• Major networking projects

  DIB 1.3

  The Distributed Common Ground System (DCGS) Integration Backbone (DIB) is a key element of the US DoD strategy to build a net-centric capability, enabling service DCGS elements ...