• Defence Notes

  Dassault's death spurs speculation over fate of French empire

  29th May 2018

  Speculation was swirling on 29 May over the future of the French aeronautics and defence empire built by Serge Dassault, the industrialist-turned-politician who died aged …

• Special Operations

  Caribbean Special Tactics Center opens

  1st May 2018

  Special operations units across the Caribbean Sea, Central and South America are set to benefit from increasing levels in cooperation and interoperability with the establishment …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  SNC to participate in DARPA’s Gremlins programme

  14th May 2018

  Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) will participate in Phase 3 of DARPA’s Gremlins programme as part of the team led by Dynetics, the company announced on …

• Training

  ITEC 2018: Calytrix sharpen Titan's industry impact (video)

  16th May 2018

  Titan Vanguard - a new virtual and gaming simulation for military training is being developed by Australian industry partners Calytrix and TitanIM.  Shawn Parr, CEO …

• Naval Warfare

  Chinese carrier leads live fire drill in East China Sea

  24th April 2018

  China's sole aircraft carrier has led a flotilla of naval vessels in a ‘live combat drill’ in the East China Sea, the latest show of …

• Special Operations

  SOFIC 2018: USSOCOM embraces hackers and makers

  22nd May 2018

  USSOCOM has embraced the potential involvement of so-called “hackers” and “makers” in an accelerated acquisition process. Hacker and maker involvement feeds the process through the …

• Training

  Senegal selects Thales mission trainers

  23rd April 2018

  The Senegalese armed forces will use a Thales helicopter mission trainer solution to train its Mi-35 attack helicopter and Mi-17 transport helicopter crew, Thales announced …

• Training

  ITEC 2018: CAE take pressure off live training assets (video)

  16th May 2018

  With live training presenting budgetary challenges for militaries, industry continues to meet demands for increased capabilities across virtual and simulated environments. Marc-Olivier Sabourin, VP Defence …

• Digital Battlespace

  Sparton unveils new 4k military LCD display

  18th May 2018

  Sparton's Aydin Displays brand has introduced a new 24-inch rack/console mount rugged 4k military LCD display, the company announced on 15 May. The display is …

• Military Logistics

  IoT expands bot armies

  17th May 2018

  The rapidly expanding ‘Internet of Things’ (IoT) is significantly reinforcing the size and effect of the so-called ‘bot armies’ employed in Distributed Denial of Service …

• Military Logistics

  Serco to continue supporting NESS

  2nd May 2018

  Serco has received an IDIQ contract to provide life cycle sustainment, acquisition and integration support to the US Navy for anti-terrorism/force protection Naval Electronic Surveillance …

• Training

  ITEC 2018: Wildcat time shaved in simulator delivery

  16th May 2018

  One of the major challenges facing manufacturers of training systems is the delivery of synthetic training equipment to coincide with operators receiving their operational airframes. …

• Defence Helicopter

  Sikorsky develops German industry team

  20th April 2018

  Sikorsky has kicked-off its industrialisation plan to support its bid for the German Air Force heavy lift helicopter programme. The company is offering the CH-53K …

• Military Logistics

  US sees threats to global power projection

  17th May 2018

  The United States is facing threats to its ability to project power on a global basis. That was one of the messages from 15 May …

• Training

  ITEC 2018: CAE USA wins support services contract for US Navy

  15th May 2018

  CAE USA has announced that it has been awarded a contract  to provide the Chief of Naval Air Training (CNATRA) with Contract Instruction Services (CIS) …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | M-346 FA [Brazil]

  Brazil is evaluating the procurement of up to 30 Leonardo M-346 light attack aircraft under a potential agreement with Italy, aimed at modernising its aerial ...

• Data links

  Data links | M-346 FA [Brazil]

  Brazil is evaluating the procurement of up to 30 Leonardo M-346 light attack aircraft under a potential agreement with Italy, aimed at modernising its aerial ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  Air: Helmet-mounted displays | M-346 FA [Brazil]

  Brazil is evaluating the procurement of up to 30 Leonardo M-346 light attack aircraft under a potential agreement with Italy, aimed at modernising its aerial ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | M-346 FA [Brazil]

  Brazil is evaluating the procurement of up to 30 Leonardo M-346 light attack aircraft under a potential agreement with Italy, aimed at modernising its aerial ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | M-346 FA [Brazil]

  Brazil is evaluating the procurement of up to 30 Leonardo M-346 light attack aircraft under a potential agreement with Italy, aimed at modernising its aerial ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  KC-390 [Brazil]

  Programme Background Requirement The aircraft deliveries were scheduled to start by the end of 2016 and continue over a period of ten years. However,  the first ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  C-130H Replacement [Sweden]

  Programme Background Requirements Sweden has five C-130H aircraft (designated Tp-84) and one KC-130H. Two C-130Es bought in the 1960s have retired, but the six H ...

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

  Hermes 900 [Chile]

  Methodology Unit cost In 2024, the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) acquired one Hermes 900 for 50 million reais ($9.14 million), giving each drone an estimated ...

• Fighter - multirole

  JAS 39E/F Gripen [Brazil]

  Background In 2016, Gripen’s Project and Development Center was opened in Sao Paulo to allow Sweedish and Brazillian engineers to work together in the Gripen ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  H145M [Brazil]

  Background  Brazilian leadership announced in February 2022 that the Sabre Mil Mi-35M Hind-E attack helicopters were being retired from active service. This decision came as a ...

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

  Hermes 900 [Colombia]

  Methodology Unit cost In 2024, the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) acquired one Hermes 900 for 50 million reais ($9.14 million), giving each drone an estimated gross ...

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

  Hermes 900 (5) [Brazil]

  Background First three batches (2014-2024) Across three purchases, Defence Insight estimates that Brazil has acquired five Hermes 900 UAVs. In 2014, Elbit reported supplying one ...

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

  Hermes 900 (1-4) [Brazil]

  Background First batch (2014) In 2014, Elbit reported supplying one Hermes 900 UAV to the Brazilian Air Force (FAB). The drone is called the RQ-900 in Brazilian ...

• Maritime patrol

  C295 add-on [Brazil]

  Programme Background  In 2014 Brazil signed a contracted for two additional C-295 SAR platforms with the option to acquire one additional platform. In 2018, reports ...

• Transport

  C-130 Replacement [Greece]

  Programme Background Requirement The existing C-130 fleet of the Hellenic Air Force has faced operational readiness issues, with only one or two airframes in service at ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Air-to-surface missiles

  MAR-1

  The MAR-1 is a Brazilian air-to-surface anti-radiation missile (ARM) developed by Mectron in collaboration with the Aerospace Technology and Science Department (DCTA) of the Brazilian ...

• 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: air combat simulators

  TPTS

  Tactical Procedures Training Simulators (TPTS), operating with SWARM software, can be used to provide most core training elements to pilots or offload training tasks from ...

• Guided munitions

  SMKB (Smart-MK-Bomb)

  The Smart-MK-Bomb, or the SMKB, is a precision guidance kit developed by Mectron and designed to turn Mk 82 and Mk 83 bombs into guided munitions.

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

  Condor

  The Condor, or Atobá XR, is an in-development MALE-class UAV from Stella Technologia.  The development of the multi-role is tied to the Brazilian Air Force (FAB), which has ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  Albatroz Vortex

  The Albatroz Vortex from Stella Tecnologia is a development of the company's Albatroz UAV.  The key differentiator is that the Vortex is fitted with an ATJR ...

• Trainer, Transport

  EMB-121 Xingu

  The EMB-121 Xingu is a twin-turboprop light transport and advanced multi-engine trainer aircraft developed by Embraer based on the EMB-110 Bandeirante. Its maiden flight was ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  H225M

  The medium-weight, 11t-class H225M (formerly known as the EC725) is the latest military Super Puma/Cougar family member.  Technical features include a modular design of mechanical ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  KC-390/C-390 Millennium

  The KC-390 is a high-wing, twin-turbofan, T-tail design intended to meet the needs of the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) for a tanker/transport aircraft. Developed and ...

• Land: battle management systems

  Arkhe Mission & Combat

  Launched in 2017, Atech's Arkhe Mission & Combat solutions offer a variety of solutions enabling operator to conduct missions from planning to execution and debriefing. It ...

• 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 ...

• EO/IR systems, Land: unattended sensor/surveillance systems, Sea: ship surveillance and fire control systems

  SHAPO

  SHAPO is a multi-sensor, gyro-stabilised observation payload. It is intended for UAVs, helicopters, light aircraft, patrol boats, aerostats, airships, armoured vehicles and masts. Sensors include a ...

• Land: air defence radar

  Saber M60

  The Saber M60 is a low-altitude air-defence radar developed by the Brazilian Army's CTEx (Army Technology Centre) in collaboration with Bradar, part of Embraer Defence ...

• EO/IR systems

  Skyward

  The SkyWard system is an advanced Infrared Search and Track (IRST) solution developed for next-generation airborne platforms, including 5th-generation fighter aircraft.  Designed with modularity in ...

• Man-portable missile systems

  RBS 70 system

  The RBS 70 was developed in the 1970s to meet the Swedish Army’s requirement for a low-cost, easy-to-use MANPADS which could function in extreme climatic ...