• Defence Helicopter

  First operational aerial refuel for French EC725s

  6th November 2015

  The French Air Force (Armée de l'air) has completed its first operational air-to-air refuelling of an EC725 (H225M) helicopter, marking a significant capability enhancement for …

• Defence Helicopter

  Sikorsky completes PDR for VH-92A

  5th November 2015

  Sikorsky Aircraft has completed the preliminary design review (PDR) for the VH-92A Presidential Helicopter Replacement programme, it was announced on 4 November.  According to the …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  New team for firefighting demo

  5th November 2015

  Lockheed Martin has switched its unmanned firefighting team around as the K-MAX optionally-piloted vehicle and Stalker UAS line up to conduct a combined capability demonstration …

• Military Logistics

  Northrop Grumman delivers IAMD shelters

  5th November 2015

  Northrop Grumman has delivered four prototype enhanced engagement operations centre shelters to the US Army for the Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) Battle Command System (IBCS).  …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Italy looks to weaponise MQ-9s

  5th November 2015

  The US government is considering a request from Italy for equipment to weaponise its MQ-9 Reapers under a foreign military sale (FMS), the Defense Security …

• Digital Battlespace

  USAF wants cheaper, more secure SATCOM

  4th November 2015

  The US Air Force is in the midst of conducting several studies that could ‘fundamentally change’ how the service acquires and deploys protected satellite communications …

• Digital Battlespace

  Engility to support USNORTHCOM comms

  4th November 2015

  Engility will provide and support communications systems for the US Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) under a $49 million contract announced on 3 November.  The three year …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Funding for canister-launched UAS

  4th November 2015

  Lockheed Martin has received US military funding to continue development of a maritime canister-launched small Unmanned Aircraft System (SUAS), the company announced on 3 November.  …

• Digital Battlespace

  Second Global Xpress satellite goes live

  4th November 2015

  Commercial satellite company Inmarsat is making waves in the military satellite world with its second Global Xpress (GX) satellite going live on 3 November. The …

• Digital Battlespace

  US awards support contract to CACI

  4th November 2015

  The US Army has awarded a contract to CACI International to provide software application development and sustainment support for the army’s Communications-Electronics Command's (CECOM) Software …

• Digital Battlespace

  BMDS showcases layered defences

  4th November 2015

  The US’ ballistic missile defense system (BMDS) has undergone operational testing to demonstrate its ability to defeat three near-simultaneous air and missile targets, consisting of …

• Defence Notes

  D&S 2015: Embedded training for Thai T-50

  4th November 2015

  Thailand’s lead-in fighter trainer (LIFT) aircraft being procured from Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) will be the first equipped with an Embedded Tactical Training System (ETTS). …

• Defence Notes

  Turkey requests JDAM kits

  3rd November 2015

  The government of Turkey has requested the purchase of Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM) from the US under a foreign military sale, the Defense Security …

• Naval Warfare

  Lockheed laid keel for LCS 15

  3rd November 2015

  Lockheed Martin has laid the keel for the US Navy's fifteenth Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) at Fincantieri Marinette Marine in Marinette, Wisconsin, the company announced …

• Land Warfare

  Cobham to develop C-IED system

  3rd November 2015

  The US Army has awarded a contract to Cobham to develop next-generation technologies for the detection of landmines and other explosive hazards hidden in the …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military helicopters - multirole

  UH-72 Follow-On [USA]

  Programme Background In March 2019, Airbus stated that it expected orders from the US Army for between 12 and 15 UH-72A helicopters. In March 2020, ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  JLTV (US Army) (Batch 1) [USA]

  Background As of January 2021, the US DoD had signed 15 contracts with Oshkosh Defense covering the delivery of approximately 17,731 JLTVs to all branches ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  UH-60M Black Hawk (Second Contract) [Croatia]

  Programme Background Western Technology With the help of the US, Croatia has attempted to improve its military technology, replacing Soviet equipment, such as the Mi-8/Mi-17. ...

• Military UAS - mini

  RQ-11 Raven (US Army)

  Programme Background The AeroVironment RQ-11 Raven began to be deployed by the US Army in 2004 and was selected as its sole small UAS in ...

• Land: air defence radar

  Lower Tier Air and Missile Defence Sensor [US]

  Background The US Army's Lower Tier Air and Missile Defence Sensor (LTAMDS) is being acquired from US-based Raytheon.  The United States Army is the primary customer ...

• Main battle tanks

  Decisive Lethality Platform [USA]

  Background The DLP is one of five vehicle families being developed for the US Army's NGCV programme. Expanded to include five programmes in October 2018, ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  JLTV (USAF) (Batch 1) [USA]

  Baclground As of November 2020, the US DoD had signed 14 contracts with Oshkosh Defense covering the delivery of approximately 17,731 JLTVs to all branches ...

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

  Medium Range Intercept Capability [US]

  Background The US Marine Corps' Medium Range Intercept Capability (MRIC) is a new medium-range air defence capability developed from the Israeli Tamir surface-to-air missile and Iron ...

• Maritime patrol

  P-8A Poseidon [UK]

  Background In July 2016, the UK government announced that it had ordered nine aircraft for service with the RAF. Under this frame, in January 2019, ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  UH-60M Black Hawk Add-on [Lithuania]

  Programme Background On 6 June 2020, the US State Department announced that it had approved a Foreign Military Sale (FMS) of six UH-60M Black Hawk ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Stryker DVH (March 2026) [US]

  Background The US Army has been operating the Stryker since 2002. The Stryker DVH is an upgraded variant that has additional armour on its underside ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  JLTV (USMC) (Batch 1) [USA]

  Background As of January 2021, the US DoD had signed 15 contracts with Oshkosh Defense covering the delivery of approximately 17,731 JLTVs to all branches ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Stryker DVH (September 2026) [US]

  Background The US Army has been operating the Stryker since 2002. The Stryker DVH is an upgraded variant that has additional armour on its underside ...

• Military UAS - small

  Future Tactical UAS (FTUAS) (Increment 1) [USA]

  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 ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  AMPV [US]

  Background Platform development The US Army initiated the AMPV programme to acquire a replacement for several variants of the M113 tracked APC, which has been ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Maritime patrol

  US-2

  The ShinMaywa US-2 is an amphibious short take-off and landing aircraft used primarily by the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) for SAR. 

• Data links

  GNOMAD US Domestic

  The US domestic version of GNOMAD (see separate entry) is a ruggedised system comprising a satellite antenna and baseband modular chassis that can be installed ...

• Air: helicopter flight simulators

  US Army AVCATT PDSS

  L3Harris Technologies is the prime contractor for the US Army’s Aviation Combined Arms Tactical Trainer (AVCATT) Post Deployment Software Support (PDSS) programme. L3Harris Technologies is ...

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

  Indirect Fire Protection Capability [US]

  Leidos' Indirect Fire Protection Capability has been selected to provide medium-range Ground Based Air Defence (GBAD) to sit between SHORAD and the high-end Patriot. 

• Air: helicopter flight simulators

  US Army Flight School XXI OFT/RCTD

  L3Harris Technologies is a major subcontractor to CSC on the US Army’s Flight School XXI (FSXXI) programme. L3Harris Technologies has built or is under contract ...

• Directed energy weapons

  Leonidas High-Powered Microwave DEW

  Leonardo's US-based subsidiary Epirus has received funding from both the US and Singapore to develop its Leonidas High-Powered Microwave (HPM) directed-energy weapon (DEW).

• Towed mortars

  M120/M120A1

  The M120/M120A1 120 mm Towed Mortar System is a US-built version of the Soltam K6 mortar that was accepted into US Army service in 1990.

• Surface-to-air missiles

  Lockheed Martin Next Generation Short Range Interceptor

  US-based Lockheed Martin is competing for the US Army's Next Generation Short Range Interceptor (NGSRI) programme with its QuadStar missile.  The programme aims to replace ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  RG33

  BAE Systems RG33 is a family of Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles available in both 4x4 and 6x6. The medium-weight class of BAE Systems MRAP ...

• Military - USVs

  Voyager

  Voyager is an Uncrewed Surface Vessel (USV) built by US-based Saildrone. Voyager has been used by the US Navy (USN) and is one of three ...

• Military helicopters - light/training

  TH-119 (TH-73A Thrasher )

  The US Navy announced on 13 January 2020 that Leonardo had been awarded a US$176.5 million contract for the production of 32 TH-119 helicopters in ...

• Frigates

  Oliver Hazard Perry Class

  The Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided missile frigates (FFG) were initially designed for the US Navy in the mid-1970s as cost-efficient surface combatants. The robust design has ...

• Self-propelled guns

  SIGMA

  The SIGMA is the latest self-propelled howitzer (SPH) developed by Elbit America and Oshkosh Defense. Produced entirely in the US, the SIGMA is intended to ...

• Land: Electronic Attack - Jamming

  AN/PLT-5 Thor-II

  Sierra Nevada Corporations’s (SNC's) AN/PLT-5 Thor-II Counter Improvised Explosive Device (CIED) system is designed to equip CIED teams and is used throughout the US armed ...

• Air: Defensive Systems - MLDS, Air: Defensive Systems - Laser Warning Receivers

  LIMWS

  BAE Systems is leading the US Army’s Limited Interim Missile Warning System (LIMWS) initiative. This is intended to enhance the missile protection provided to US ...