• Air Warfare

  MiG displays its aspirations but scepticism is justified

  6th August 2021

  Two new fighters and a heavy UAV, displayed in model form by MiG Corporation at the MAKS-2021 event in late July, are unlikely to progress beyond the drawing board.

• Defence Notes

  Swiss F-35 decision, ‘Google for warships’ and North African AFV market (podcast)

  9th July 2021

  Welcome to Episode 27 of the third series of The Weekly Defence Podcast. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify and more.

• Air Warfare

  Checkmate marks latest Russian move in AI-centric fighter design

  21st July 2021

  There was razzmatazz at MAKS-2021 as Sukhoi lifted the lid on Checkmate with the export market in mind.

• Land Warfare

  Comprehensive Counter-Drone Capability, Soft, Hard and Directed Energy Kill Ready (sponsored)

  20th August 2021

  Countering the threat caused by drones is now a global issue and an increasing concern for the military, government and homeland security forces across every continent.

• Air Warfare

  Afghan Air Force has planes but no state

  27th August 2021

  The Afghan Air Force no longer exists within Afghanistan, but many of its personnel and aircraft scattered to neighbouring countries after defeat at the hands of the Taliban.

• Air Warfare

  Boeing supports weapon integration on Super Hornets and Growlers

  26th July 2021

  OEM Boeing gains another order related to weapon systems integration on USN F/A-18E/F and EA-18G aircraft.

• Air Warfare

  F-35 EW countermeasures manufacturer eyes a busy future

  30th June 2021

  BAE Systems is increasing monthly production of its AN/ASQ-239 system for the F-35.

• Air Warfare

  Leonardo details M-346FA offer to Poland

  15th July 2021

  Italian OEM hints at wide industrial and development cooperation potential if the Polish Air Force opts to replace its Su-22 fleet with the M-346FA.

• Land Warfare

  Abrams SEPv3 selection poses intriguing questions for Poland

  20th July 2021

  How is the Polish government funding the $6 billion procurement of 250 Abrams SEPv3 tanks, and does this mark the start of a broader MBT replacement programme?

• Naval Warfare

  Austal USA details LAW design approach

  20th August 2021

  Austal USA, Fincantieri, VT Halter Marine, Bollinger and TAI Engineers have all been awarded contracts for the current phase of the LAW programme.

• Air Warfare

  F-35 takes Swiss spoils to maintain remarkable European sales record

  1st July 2021

  In what amounted to a fairly one-sided contest, the F-35A has emerged as the winner of Switzerland's Air2030 procurement, with Bern opting to buy 36 of the fifth-generation jets.

• Defence Helicopter

  Podcast: Revolutions in Vertical Flight S2 E4 - The Utility of the Helicopter

  7th September 2021

  The helicopter has become an essential tool for militaries, parapublic agencies and emergency services. But its unique characteristics have also ensured a vital role for the helicopter across a myriad of commercial activities.

• Land Warfare

  Italy to upgrade army support capabilities

  17th August 2021

  The latest Italian defence multi-year plan has identified key areas across the Army's support capabilities that need to be modernised.

• Defence Notes

  HII posts $2.2bn in Q2 2021 revenues

  5th August 2021

  US shipbuilder Huntington Ingalls Industries said that strong performance on Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, submarine and aircraft carrier programmes bolstered revenues.

• Naval Warfare

  Izumo modifications pave the way for F-35 operations

  30th June 2021

  Changes to the flight deck on the helicopter carrier JS Izumo should allow Japan to project power more effectively over its dispersed territories.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Fighter - multirole

  F-35A [Denmark]

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

• 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]

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

• 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, ...

• 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 ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Tornado Replacement (F-35A) [Germany]

  Background Requirement In March 2020, it emerged that the German government was considering  30 F/A-18E/F Super Hornets to replace 45 nuclear-capable Tornados. The remaining 40 Tornados ...

• Fighter - naval

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

  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, 131 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• Air: AEW/fire control radar

  AN/APG-83 SABR

  The AN/APG-83 Scalable Agile Beam Radar (SABR) is an active electronically scanned array (AESA) fire control radar being developed by Northrop Grumman using its own ...

• Subsystems: hardware

  Flight Simulation Products

  Bugeye Technologies (BT) manufactures simulated-grade flight grips, controls and avionic displays for fixed-wing, rotary-wing and unmanned crafts. BT's full line of products includes replicated control ...

• Air: air combat simulators

  DACTS

  The DRS Air Combat Training System (DACTS) has been delivered to military customers worldwide. Customised versions have supported coalition training for the US government and ...

• Air: Defensive Systems - Radar Warning Receivers, EW test systems

  Model 527

  The Model 527 radar signal simulator is used for end-of-runway and walk-around radiated RWR testing to verify the operational status of the aircraft and its ...

• Air: air combat simulators

  E-CATS

  The Embedded Combat Aircraft Training System (E-CATS) provides realistic air-to-air and ground-to-air training for fighter pilots during training flights. By generating and injecting a synthetic ...

• EW test systems

  A2PATS

  Advanced Architecture Phase Amplitude and Time Simulator (A2PATS) is a real-time EM test environment simulator for military platforms and installed systems, designed to deliver mission ...

• Ground control stations

  Storm GCS

  GA-ASI's Safety Tactical Operational Reliability Maintenance (STORM) Ground Control Station (GCS) significantly improves the human-machine Interface (HMI), ergonomics, and mission capability for GCS operators, says ...

• Air: maintenance simulators

  F-35 Lightning II ASMT

  The Aircraft Systems Maintenance Trainer (ASMT) for the F-35 provides student maintainers with training on-ground operation, maintenance, fault isolation and testing procedures in a realistic ...

• Subsystems: visual

  Griffin Rear-Projected Dome

  The Griffin real-image display system is a high-resolution, rear-projected dome that gives high image contrast across multiple channels, as well as modular FoV up to ...

• 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 ...

• Air: air combat simulators

  F-35 Lightning II Training System

  The F-35 Lightning II pilot and maintenance training system is designed to blend together a variety of media to create an overall training product for ...