• Training

  US Army enhances BAT technology

  10th December 2018

  The US Army has enhanced the UH-60 Black Hawk aircrew trainer (BAT) with the development of the Collective Aircrew Proficiency Environment (CAPE) to jointly train …

• Defence Helicopter

  Polish National Police receives first two S-70is

  10th December 2018

  PZL Mielec has delivered the first two S-70i Black Hawk helicopters to the Polish National Police. The helicopters have been delivered under a contract signed …

• Defence Notes

  AOC 2018: Directed energy solutions for high-tech threats

  30th November 2018

  Directed energy (DE) weapons, such as high-energy lasers (HEL) and high-power microwaves, are possible solutions to higher technology asymmetric threats.  While the latter has been …

• Defence Helicopter

  RTAF receives two new H225M helicopters

  29th October 2018

  Airbus Helicopters has delivered two new H225M multirole utility helicopters to the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF), the company announced on 24 October. The helicopters …

• Digital Battlespace

  GPS OCX passes cybersecurity tests

  9th November 2018

  Raytheon has completed rigorous cybersecurity vulnerability assessment of its GPS next-generation Operational Control System, GPS OCX. The assessments tested the system's ability to defend against …

• Military Logistics

  Lockheed Martin awarded $22.7 billion Pentagon contract

  15th November 2018

  The Pentagon on 14 November announced it had awarded Lockheed Martin a $22.7 billion contract for 255 F-35 fighter jets. Of the aircraft, 106 are …

• Digital Battlespace

  AOC 2018: US Army explores integrated tactical network concept

  23rd November 2018

  One of the potential capabilities evaluated at the recent US Army Network Integration Evaluation (NIE) 18.2, held from 1-12 November at Fort Bliss, Texas, was …

• Digital Battlespace

  Indo Defence 2018: InfoGlobal’s EFD poised for the skies

  9th November 2018

  Testing of InfoGlobal’s electronic flight display (EFD-5.5) is ramping up further to an explicit interest from the Indonesian Air Force for its C-130 Hercules, Shephard …

• Digital Battlespace

  Squad X Experimentation in testing

  5th December 2018

  The first test of DARPA's Squad X Experimentation programme has successfully demonstrated the ability to extend and enhance the situational awareness of small, dismounted units. …

• Military Logistics

  US looks to runway crater repair technologies

  5th December 2018

  The US military is conducting market research to identify commercially available technologies to support the US Army Corps of Engineers’ Engineer Research and Development Center …

• Naval Warfare

  UK carrier progamme costs increase as PoW build nears completion

  7th November 2018

  Although the build and outfitting of HMS Prince of Wales, the second of the UK’s new class of aircraft carrier, continues broadly on schedule, budgetary pressures …

• Training

  Cobham to upgrade T-6 ADS-B Out

  12th November 2018

  Cobham Aerospace Connectivity has been selected by Scientific Research Corporation (SRC) to upgrade ADS-B Out capabilities on the US military’s T-6A trainer fleet, the company …

• Defence Notes

  Trump to withdraw 'significant' troops from Afghanistan

  21st December 2018

  US President Donald Trump has decided to pull a significant number of troops from Afghanistan, a US official told AFP on Thursday, with the Afghan …

• Digital Battlespace

  Elbit Systems bags airborne intelligence systems contract

  6th December 2018

  Elbit Systems has received a contract from an unnamed Asia-Pacific country to supply advanced airborne intelligence systems, the company announced on 3 December. The $112 …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Zhuhai Air Show 2018: Wing Loong II now serves in PLA

  10th November 2018

  The People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) exhibited a Wing Loong II UCAV at its outdoor display area at Airshow China 2018, therefore confirming that …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Light attack, Trainer

  PC-21 (Project Air 5428) [Australia]

  The new PTS, including aircraft, flight training simulators and learning environments is being acquired from a single capability contractor, Team 21, which consists of Lockheed ...

• Transport, Transport/tanker aircraft

  Project Air 7404 [Australia]

  Programme Background Requirement Australia is thinking ahead to an enlarged transport fleet to replace the current C-130Js. The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) was the second ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-35A (Project Air 6000 Phase 2A/B) [Australia]

  Programme Background The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) took delivery of 18 F-35A aircraft as of March 2020 and the remaining aircraft are expected to ...

• Military UAS - HALE

  MQ-4C Triton (5-6) [Australia]

  Background Four Contracted Units In the summer of 2020, Northrop Grumman announced that the Australian Government provided $333 million for three MQ-4C Tritons and associated GCS. ...

• Medium Range Missile Defence Systems: 20-90km range

  Medium Range Air Defence [Australia]

  Background Faced with a growing threat from China and a vast land and sea territory to protect, Australia is seeking to establish a medium-range ground-based ...

• Patrol boats

  Evolved Cape Class (13-14) [Australia]

  Programme Background Austal was awarded a contract to build six 'Evolved'Cape-class patrol boats for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) on 1 May 2020 (see separate ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) [Australia]

  Background Older Efforts On 23 April 2021, the US State Department's Foreign Military Sales (FMS) approval announcement revealed that Australia had requested to buy up ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Project Air 7003 [Australia]

  Programme Background Requirement The Royal Australian Air Force has been without a UAS capability since the Heron was withdrawn in mid-2017. According to Defence Minister Linda Reynolds, ...

• OPVs

  Arafura Class (Project SEA 1180) (1-6) [Australia]

  Programme Background Australia's new class of Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPV), the Arafura-class, will replace the Royal Australian Navy's (RAN) fleet of Armidale and Cape-class patrol ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  MQ-28 Ghost Bat [Australia]

  Background Goal As stated by the Head of Air Force Capability, Air Vice-Marshal Robert Denney, in March 2022, the Ghost Bat will be an "operational system ...

• Loitering munitions

  Mission Talon Strike [Australia]

  Background Request for Tender (RFT) On 19 May 2025, the Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator (ASCA), an agency aimed at streamlining defence invocation for the Australian Defence ...

• Military UAS - small

  VTOL UAV [New Zealand]

  Background Defence Capability Plan (DCP) In April 2025, the New Zealand government published the DCP, a document that is essentially a blueprint for what procurements ...

• Trainer

  Hawk 127 Replacement (Future Lead-In Fighter Training System- Project Air 6002 PH1) [Australia]

  Programme Background Requirements The RAAF is seeking a future solution that provides a ‘relevant, adaptable, affordable and safe LIFTS out to 2050’ for training pilots ...

• Military UAS - small

  DEF129 (Tactical UAS) [Australia]

  Programme Background Programme Announcement The Australian Army announced the Project Land 129 Phase 3 programme in 2017. This announcement led to the release of an industry ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Harpii Szpon (Loyal Wingman) [Poland]

  Background Market Evaluation On 6 November 2023, speaking at the IQPC International Fighter Conference (IFC) 2023 in Madrid, Major General Cezary Wiśniewski, the Deputy General Commander of the ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Air: Integrated Defensive Systems

  Air-5416 Project Echidna

  Air-5416 Project Echidna was an initiative launched in 2001 by BAE Systems for the Australian DoD. Its goal was to overhaul the self protection systems ...

• 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 ...

• Air: helicopter flight simulators

  Australian Defence Force MRH90 Training

  As prime contractor for the ADF's MRH90 training programme, CAE has provided two MRH90 full-flight mission simulators (FFMS), training facilities and engineering and support services. ...

• Air: air combat simulators

  RAAF Hawk Mk 127 FMS

  Under subcontract to BAE Systems, CAE is designing and manufacturing three Hawk Mk 127 full-mission simulators (FMS) for the Royal Australian Air Force that will ...

• Military UAS - mini

  Wanderer

  The Wanderer is a low-altitude, low-cost, long-endurance UAV produced in-house by the Royal Australian Air Force's (RAAF) Jericho Disruptive Innovation Group and the Australian Government's Defense Science ...

• Light attack

  Hawk 200

  The Hawk 200 is a single-seat light attack iteration of the Hawk 100 (see separate entry) and Advanced Jet Trainer or AJT (see separate entry). ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  MQ-28A Ghost Bat

  The MQ-28A Ghost Bat is a loyal wingman-type, Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA), MALE fixed-wing drone being developed by Boeing Defence Australia. Its development began in ...

• Military - USVs

  Bluebottle

  Bluebottle is a persistent, autonomous, uncrewed surface vessel from Ocius Technology in service with the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF). In ...

• Air: UAV simulators

  Predator Mission Trainer (PMT)

  The CAE Predator Mission Trainer (PMT) is an integrated platform that combines the features of CAE's UAS mission trainer with General Atomics Aeronautical Systems' Predator-specific ...

• Maritime patrol

  Challenger 604

  Bombardier Challenger CL-604 MPAs are in service with the Royal Danish Air Force and the Korea Coast Guard. The first of three Danish aircraft entered ...

• Military UAS - micro

  Phantom 4 (Series)

  Designed for aerial photograph applications by DJI, the Phantom 4 series of UAVs includes the Phantom 4 Pro, Phantom 4 Pro V2.0, Phantom 4 Advanced ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  Hawkei

  Thales Australia developed the 4x4 Hawkei for the Australian Army's Land 121 Phase 4 Protected Mobility Vehicle – Light (PMV-L) project.  The prototype was unveiled in ...

• Air: COMINT and ELINT systems

  AN/ALR-2001

  BAE Systems’ AN/ALR-2001 Electronic Support Measure (ESM) is thought to be based on Israel Aerospace Industries’ (IAI) Elta Systems division’s EL/M-8382 ESM. The AN/ALR-2001 is ...

• Air-to-surface missiles

  AGM-88E AARGM

  The AGM-88E Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile (AARGM) is a supersonic, medium-range, air-launched tactical missile compatible with US and allied strike aircraft. Designed to upgrade the AGM-88 ...

• Military UAS - mini

  M Solar-X

  First revealed in August 2020, in February 2024, at its symposium, the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) showcased the M Solar-X. This solar-powered fixed-wing drone was ...