• Defence Notes

  Integrated Review offers F-35 funding relief but cuts not confirmed

  16th March 2021

  The first part of the Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy has given the F-35 programme a financial shot in the arm, but a question mark over aircraft numbers looks only to be resolved once a 'Command Paper' is released on 22 March.

• Defence Notes

  Israeli F-35s operating from ‘Gulf soil’ a genuine possibility

  8th March 2021

  New possibilities for Israeli F-35s could be on the way, including the aircraft being fielded from 'Gulf soil' to better counter Iranian threats.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Spirit busy ‘optimising’ LANCA vehicle design ahead of 2023 first flight

  28th April 2021

  Belfast-based Spirit Aerospace is looking ahead to a possible first LANCA flight in 2023, as it weighs up air vehicle design considerations.

• Land Warfare

  Taiwan’s army to boost its counter-invasion arsenal

  21st April 2021

  More capable self-propelled howitzers and TOW antitank missiles are on their way to beleaguered Taiwan.

• Air Warfare

  Raytheon picks up new AMRAAM contract

  12th March 2021

  Could the AIM-120 find a place on the next generation of USAF fighters?

• Air Warfare

  Final ex-Portuguese F-16 arrives in Romania

  30th March 2021

  Landing at Borcea Air Base marks the completion of an eight-year programme to acquire second-hand F-16s for the Romanian Air Force. The next step is an upgrade in 2023-2025.

• Air Warfare

  Japan's first Global Hawk makes maiden flight

  22nd April 2021

  The delivery of the RQ-4B Global Hawk to Japan will equip the country with intelligence gathering and threat monitoring capabilities.

• Defence Notes

  Persistent Russians sniff out Saudi opportunities

  9th April 2021

  Russian optimism on arms exports to Saudi Arabia is energised by icier relations between Riyadh and Washington.

• Digital Battlespace

  Boeing obtains EPAWSS modifications

  31st March 2021

  Manufacturer of F-15 EW system receives contract modifications for LRIP and initial operational testing and evaluation.

• Air Warfare

  South Korea joins the ‘big boys’ with rollout of KF-21

  13th April 2021

  South Korea's project to create an affordable but capable modern fighter still appears to be on track, as the first prototype is rolled out.

• Digital Battlespace

  Germany orders Falcon III software-defined radios

  6th April 2021

  L3Harris is providing AN/PRC-117G radios to Germany under the FMS programme.

• Air Warfare

  Polish F-35A infrastructure may need more attention as F-16 upgrade looms

  11th March 2021

  Further airbase upgrades may be needed to accommodate the F-35 in Poland, while plans are solidifying to enhance the country’s fleet of 48 F-16 aircraft.

• Air Warfare

  Belgian F-16 fleet resumes flights

  23rd March 2021

  Belgian Air Component F-16s return to operational status, having been grounded earlier in March following an engine incident in February.

• Defence Notes

  US widens arms export gap over Russia

  19th March 2021

  Newly released data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute shows that the US has consolidated its position as the world's leading arms exporter, increasing its lead over Russia in the process.

• Training

  US Navy closes AIC training gap

  20th April 2021

  The US Navy has been facing challenges as to how it trains its Air Intercept Controllers. The arrival of ASCOT appears to have solved the issue.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Fighter - multirole

  F-35A Denmark

  Denmark joined the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program in 2002 during the System Development and Demonstration phase and has influenced technical elements of the ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-35A Japan

  In 2019, Japan requested to be an official partner in the F-35 programme, but this request was rejected by the Pentagon. The F-35 Joint Strike ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Multirole Fighter [Turkiye]

  Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said that Turkey had already paid $1.4 billion into the programme, while its defence industry has ploughed significant sums into ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-35A (61-75) [Italy]

  Programme Background Requirement In 2009, the Italian MoD planned to purchase 131 F-35 aircraft, which was later reduced to 90. According to the MoD documentation, ...

• Fighter - naval

  F-35B (31-40) [Italy]

  Programme Background Requirement In 2009, the Italian MoD planned to purchase 131 F-35 aircraft, which was later reduced to 90. According to the MoD documentation, ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | F-X III Phase II (F-35)

  South Korea is purchasing an additional 20 F-35 aircraft for about $3.3 billion under the second phase of F-X III programme, according to the Defense ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  Air: Helmet-mounted displays | F-X III Phase II (F-35)

  South Korea is purchasing an additional 20 F-35 aircraft for about $3.3 billion under the second phase of F-X III programme, according to the Defense ...

• Data links

  Data links | F-X III Phase II (F-35)

  South Korea is purchasing an additional 20 F-35 aircraft for about $3.3 billion under the second phase of F-X III programme, according to the Defense ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | F-X III Phase II (F-35)

  South Korea is purchasing an additional 20 F-35 aircraft for about $3.3 billion under the second phase of F-X III programme, according to the Defense ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | F-X III Phase II (F-35)

  South Korea is purchasing an additional 20 F-35 aircraft for about $3.3 billion under the second phase of F-X III programme, according to the Defense ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  Next-Generation Trainer Aircraft - UAE

  The UAE has a requirement for a next-generation fighter aircraft and possible platforms include F-35, F-16V, F/A-18, Rafale and Su-35. The UAE has historically sought ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-35A (1-32) [Poland]

  Programme Background During MSPO 2021, Lockheed Martin announced details related to F-35A manufacturing for the Polish Air Force. According to J.R McDonald, Lockheed Martin’s VP, business ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-35A Japan Follow On

  The F-35 full-rate production is expected to be further delayed following an October 2020 US DoD announcement that postponed the simulation tests, originally planned for 2017 ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | F-35B Follow-On [UK]

  The Royal Air Force is planning to acquire 90 F-35B Joint Strike Fighters from 2026, in addition to the 48 aircraft which London had ordered for delivery ...

• Data links

  Data links | F-35B Follow-On [UK]

  The Royal Air Force is planning to acquire 90 F-35B Joint Strike Fighters from 2026, in addition to the 48 aircraft which London had ordered for delivery ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Air-to-surface missiles, Anti-ship missiles

  JSM

  The Joint Strike Missile (JSM) is a multi-role version of the Naval Strike Missile. Norway funded the programme to develop and produce the JSM for the ...

• EO/IR systems

  F-35 Lightning II Advanced EOTS

  The F-35 Lightning II Electro-Optical Targeting System (EOTS) is a sensor that combines targeting forward-looking IR (FLIR) and IR search and track (IRST) capabilities for ...

• Fixed wing aircraft engines

  F135

  The F135, designed and developed by Pratt & Whitney, is one of the most advanced fighter engines in the world that delivers more than 40,000lb ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  F-35 Gen III HMDS

  The F-35 Gen III helmet-mounted display system (HMDS) is provided by a joint venture between Elbit Systems of America and Rockwell Collins, developed for the F-35 ...

• Fighter - multirole, Fighter - naval

  F-35B

  The F-35B Lightning II is a fifth-generation multirole combat aircraft with short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) capability. The USMC is the main customer for the F-35B, ...

• 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.

• Fighter - multirole, Fighter - naval

  F-35C

  The F-35C Lightning II, also known as the F-35 carrier variant (CV), is a fifth-generation multirole combat aircraft in carrier configuration. It has larger wings and ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-35A

  The F-35A Lightning II is a fifth-generation multirole combat aircraft with CTOL capabilities. It is a multinational programme led by the US DoD, bringing together ...

• Air: AEW/fire control radar

  AN/APG-81

  AN/APG-81 is operating in the X-band active electronically scanned array (AESA) fire control radar designed by Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems for the F-35 “Lightning” all-weather ...

• Air: fixed-wing flight simulators

  F-35 Training System

  BAE Systems is involved in F-35 Lightning II Training System design and sustainment, working with prime contractor Lockheed Martin. BAE Systems leads the instructional systems ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  KC-130J Super Hercules

  The KC-130J Super Hercules is a tanker variant of the C-130J Super Hercules. It is designed to deliver fuel to several platforms, including helicopters and ...

• Air: Displays

  Panoramic Cockpit Display

  Developed by L3Harris and Elbit Systems America, the Panoramic Cockpit Display (PCD) is a touchscreen MFD integrated into F-35 aircraft. It provides two electronically divided ...

• Fixed wing aircraft engines

  F414-GE-400

  The F414-GE-400 is a turbofan engine manufactured by GE Aviation and has various advanced technology features such as a Full Authority Digital Electronic Control (FADEC), ...

• Guided munitions

  GBU-53/B StormBreaker

  GBU-53/B StormBreaker is a precision-guided glide bomb developed by Raytheon to equip F-15, F/A-18 and F-35. It is also known as the Small Diameter Bomb II. The StormBreaker includes a ...

• Data links

  Multifunction Advanced Data Link

  Multifunction Advanced Data Link (MADL) is a Ku-band data link designed for fifth-generation aircraft. The directional, interflight system is integrated into all F-35 variants, allowing ...