• Defence Notes

  US Air Force seeks additional operational squadrons

  17th September 2018

  Stretched thin by a growing workload the US Air Force needs to add 74 operational squadrons, nearly a 24% increase, to improve its ability to …

• Digital Battlespace

  What is Five Eyes connectivity? (video)

  10th September 2018

  Five Eyes (FVEY) refers to an alliance that includes Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK and US. These countries are bound by the multilateral UKUSA …

• Land Warfare

  MSPO 2018: Dana M2 Howitzer makes its debut

  4th September 2018

  Excalibur Army is showcasing the first working Dana M2 demonstration vehicle at MSPO 2018 in Poland as it seeks to meet a national requirement.  The …

• Military Logistics

  Boeing KC-46 receives FAA STC

  10th September 2018

  Boeing’s KC-46 tanker programme has received a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) from the US FAA, the company announced on 4 September. The STC verifies that …

• Defence Helicopter

  Apaches get new 'mega-nuts'

  11th September 2018

  The US Army has completed nearly 20% of work to retrofit strap pack 'mega-nuts' that connect Apache helicopter rotor heads to their air frame and …

• Defence Notes

  Mattis to visit Macedonia amid concerns of Russia meddling

  12th September 2018

  US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis announced plans on 11 September to visit Macedonia, ahead of a referendum that could end a years-long spat with Greece …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  USMC retires RQ-7B Shadow UAS

  6th August 2018

  The US Marine Corps RQ-7B Shadow UAS has officially retired from the service after its final flight during the culmination event for the Rim of …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  ANS CR selects AirMap UTM system

  9th August 2018

  AirMap’s UTM system has been selected by the Air Navigation Service of the Czech Republic (ANS CR) to bring situational awareness and authorisation services to …

• Land Warfare

  Project to enhance ADF equipment approved

  12th September 2018

  The Australian government has approved a project worth up to $1 billion over 13 years to improve the equipment used by the Australian Defence Force …

• Defence Helicopter

  Land Forces 2018: Australia outlines helicopter plans till 2040

  4th September 2018

  One topic at the CASG 3rd Army Aviation Symposium, hosted at Land Forces 2018 in Adelaide, was a session on Australian Army plans for helicopters, …

• Digital Battlespace

  General Dynamics to support CHS-5 programme

  6th August 2018

  General Dynamics Missions Systems has received a contract to support the Common Hardware Systems-5 (CHS-5) programme from the US Army Contracting Command at Aberdeen Proving …

• Defence Helicopter

  Apache and Chinook boost for Netherlands

  18th September 2018

  Two of the main Dutch rotary programmes - the Boeing AH-64 Apache and CH-47 Chinook - have been bolstered by a set of contracts which …

• Land Warfare

  MSPO 2018: Saab sticks to script on small diameter bomb

  6th September 2018

  Saab is playing down a lack of customer progress on its Ground-Launched Small Diameter Bomb (GLSDB) programme as it continues to search for its first sale of …

• Defence Notes

  Gulf, US commanders to hold talks in Kuwait

  10th September 2018

  Gulf Arab army chiefs, including Qatar's military commander, will meet with US Central Command officials for talks on defence cooperation in the week of 10 …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  ManTech receives UAS systems technical support contract

  7th August 2018

  ManTech has received a four-year $45 million task order from the US Air Force Installation Contracting Agency to provide technical upgrades for next generation UAS …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Transport

  King Air 360 [Nigeria]

  Programme Background On 7 October 2021, Nigeria’s Budget Office published its proposed budget details. The Nigerian Air Force requested 10.86 billion Nigerian Naira (US$26.4 million) ...

• Maritime patrol

  P-8 Poseidon [South Korea]

  Programme Background South Korea is facing an imminent submarine threat from North Korea. The Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN) is operating an aging fleet of P-3C ...

• ISR/special mission

  King Air 350ER ISR [Kuwait]

  Programme Background In February 2018, the US State Department has approved an estimated $259m potential foreign military sale of King Air 350ER intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance ...

• Loitering munitions

  HX-2 (Contracted) (Ukraine Aid) [Germany]

  Background HF-1 Readjustment In November 2024, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius announced in Schrobenhausen, Bavaria, that Germany would supply Ukraine with 4,000 HF-1 loitering munitions. ...

• Loitering munitions

  HX-2 (Uncontracted) (Ukraine Aid) [Germany]

  Background Contracted Drones In November 2024, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius announced in Schrobenhausen, Bavaria, that Germany would supply Ukraine with 4,000 HF-1 loitering munitions. ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  C-2 (Japan)

  Programme BackgroundKawasaki Heavy Industries developed the C-2 for the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) to replace its Kawasaki C-1 and Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules fleets. ...

• Military UAS - micro, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Teal 2 (Customs and Border Protection Force) [US]

  Programme Background First Order Global News Wire reported that Red Cat had filled an order for 54 Teal 2 units from the US Customs and ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-15EX (FY2021-2025) [USA]

  Programme Background The United States Air Force (USAF) is looking to procure 239 F-15EX fighter aircraft, which is an increase from an original requirement of 144 ...

• Military UAS - micro

  Short Range Reconnaissance (SRR) (Tranche 2) / Rucksack Portable UAS (RPUAS) [USA]

  Background The Rucksack Portable UAS (RPUAS) Programme The RPUAS programme will provide the battalion and below-ground manoeuvre elements within the US Army with an organic, ...

• Loitering munitions

  HF-1 (Ukraine Aid) [Germany]

  Background 4000 Drones In November 2024, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius announced in Schrobenhausen, Bavaria, that Germany would supply Ukraine with 4,000 HF-1 loitering munitions. Deliveries ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Ara 2 (Chad - Options)

  Programme Background The Chadian Armed Forces have a requirement for mine-resistant armoured vehicles to provide protected mobility to troops deployed on operations against hostile forces. ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  Fuchs 2 Local Assembly

  The Fuchs 2 will replace a variety of legacy APCs currently in service with the Algerian Army including the Panhard M3 VTT, the BTR-60 and ...

• ISR/special mission

  RC-2 - Japan

  Programme Background Japan has decided to develop its own EW aircraft to oppose China and Russia, countries that are already reinforcing their own EW capabilities. ...

• OPVs

  River Class Batch 2

  Programme Background BAE Systems developed an improved version at the River class Batch 1 ships (which first entered service in 2003), to be dubbed the ...

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

  Future Tactical UAS (FTUAS) (Increment 2) [US Army]

  Programme Background Programme Objective The Future Tactical UAS (FTUAS) was to provide a tactical ISTAR capability for US Army Brigade Combat Teams (BCTs). It was intended to ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• EO/IR systems

  AN/AAQ-14

  The AN/AAQ-14 LANTIRN (Low Altitude Navigation and Targeting Infrared for Night) targeting pod is a crucial component of the LANTIRN system, developed by Martin Marietta ...

• EO/IR systems

  AN/AAQ-27A

  In production for USMC MV-22 Osprey tiltrotors, the AAQ-27A allows pilots to see through darkness, smoke, haze and adverse weather. The third-generation medium-wave IR system ...

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

  AN/AAQ-24(V)

  Northrop Grumman’s AN/AAQ-24(V) is a Directional Infrared Countermeasure (DIRCM) designed to protect large fixed-wing and small rotary wing aircrafts. The system has been installed in ...

• EO/IR systems

  AN/AAQ-13

  The AN/AAQ-13 is a navigation pod developed by Martin Marietta (now part of Lockheed Martin) for the U.S. Air Force. It is a key component ...

• Air: EO/IR – Jamming Systems

  AN/AAQ-45

  Leonardo’s AN/AAQ-45 Distributed Aperture Infrared Countermeasures is designed to equip rotorcraft. The system is being installed on Sikorsky HH-60G Pave Hawk medium-lift utility helicopters used ...

• Air: Defensive Systems - MLDS, EO/IR systems

  AN/AAQ-37 DAS

  The AN/AAQ-37 Distributed Aperture System (DAS) comprises six high-resolution infrared sensors mounted around the aircraft's airframe to provide seamless, spherical coverage (4π steradians).  The DAS ...

• EO/IR systems

  AN/AAQ-29A

  In production for USMC CH-53E and USAF HH-60G platforms, the medium-wave IR AAQ-29A is similar to the AN/AAQ-27A, the difference being its incorporation of an ...

• EO/IR systems

  LITENING

  The LITENING Advanced Targeting Pod is an electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) system designed to detect, acquire, identify, and track targets over extended ranges.  It supports diverse mission ...

• Air: Electronic Attack - Jamming, Air: Electronic Attack - Pod, Air: EO/IR – Jamming Systems

  Guardian

  Northrop Grumman’s Guardian Directional Infrared Countermeasure (DIRCM) is intended to product airliners and large aircraft against IR-guided missiles, principally surface-to-air missiles fired from Man-Portable Air ...

• EO/IR systems

  LANTIRN

  The Low-Altitude Navigation and Targeting Infrared for Night (LANTIRN) system increases the combat effectiveness of fighter aircraft, allowing them to fly at low altitudes, at night ...

• Combat Search and Rescue

  Saab 340B+ / SAR-200

  The Saab 340B+, known also as SAR-200, is a search and rescue aircraft based on the Saab 340 regional airliner.  It is powered by two CT7-9B turboprop ...

• Air: Integrated Defensive Systems

  SISCM

  The Suite of Integrated Sensors and Countermeasures (SISCM), also known as the AN/APR-39B, is designed to provide an integrated, multi-sensor threat warning and countermeasures capability using ...

• EW test systems

  Meon v3

  Developed as an end-to-end confidence flight-line test set for stimulation and radiometric measurement of MWS/IRCM systems. It is compatible with ALQ-144, ALQ-157, ALQ-204 Matador, AAQ-24 ...

• Air: Defensive Systems - MLDS

  AN/AAR-54(V)

  Northrop Grumman’s AN/AAR-54(V) is a Missile Approach Warning System (MAWS) designed for fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft. The MAWS employs ultraviolet sensing to detect the hot ...

• Combat Search and Rescue

  HC-130P/N

  HC-130P/N is a SAR aircraft developed as extended-range version of C-130 Hercules transport airframe to execute all weather personnel recovery operations from austere airfields and ...