• Digital Battlespace

  USAF orders Viperfish SDI-1 video recorders

  8th February 2016

  Gatekeeper Systems has received a purchase order from Stirling Computers to provide 25 Viperfish SDI-1 high-definition airborne digital video recorders to the US Air Force, …

• Digital Battlespace

  Harris offers all-digital GPS satellite payloads

  3rd February 2016

  Harris is gearing up to offer its fully digital navigation payloads for future US Air Force GPS satellites. This follows a Request for Proposal (RFP) in …

• Military Logistics

  France green lights four C-130Js

  3rd February 2016

  France has finally confirmed its purchase of four Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules aircraft as part of a foreign military sales (FMS) deal with the …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Global Hawk nears U-2 sensor tests

  2nd February 2016

  The US Air Force (USAF) and Northrop Grumman will begin flight trials of new sensor payloads for the RQ-4 Global Hawk later this month, officials …

• Training

  CACI to continue ACE-IOS support

  21st January 2016

  The US Air Force (USAF) has awarded a contract to CACI International to support its Air, Space and Cyberspace Constructive Environment - Information Operations Suite …

• Digital Battlespace

  New rockets for USAF

  18th January 2016

  The US Air Force (USAF) has awarded contracts to SpaceX and ATK Launch Systems to produce prototype rocket propulsion systems for the Evolved Expendable Launch …

• Training

  Boeing to continue USAF T-38 support

  15th January 2016

  Boeing will continue maintenance and support of the US Air Force’s T-38 Talon trainer aircraft fleet through to 2026 under a new contract announced on …

• Defence Helicopter

  USAF joins race to clear DVE

  11th January 2016

  The US Air Force is looking to enhance the capabilities of its Sikorsky HH-60G Pave Hawk fleet so it can operate more safely and effectively …

• Digital Battlespace

  Rome Research awarded US C4I contract

  8th January 2016

  BAE Systems has contracted Rome Research for the operation and maintenance of multiple communications facilities operating under the Naval Computer and Telecommunications Area Master Station …

• Digital Battlespace

  Australian ISREW aircraft confirmed

  8th January 2016

  Australia has confirmed it is acquiring two Gulfstream G550 business jets for conversion into intelligence-gathering and electronic warfare platforms. Responding to queries from Shephard, an …

• Digital Battlespace

  Northrop to support GPS/INS work

  7th January 2016

  The US Air Force (USAF) has awarded a contract to Northrop Grumman to support its embedded Global Positioning System (GPS)/Inertial Navigation System (INS) Pre-Phase 1 …

• Training

  AVT Simulation details NAWCTSD work

  14th December 2015

  New upgrades to the Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division (NAWCTSD) visual/aero assessment system have been delivered to the US Naval Air Systems Command …

• Military Logistics

  USAF begins Airbus tanker testing

  10th December 2015

  The US Air Force has begun refuelling trials on the A330 multi-role tanker transport (MRTT) as part of efforts to fully certify its fleet to …

• Training

  USAF F-35 training picks up pace

  2nd December 2015

  US Air Force pilots are training on new simulators at Hill Air Force Base in preparation for the start of F-35 Lightning II operations, Lockheed …

• Training

  I/ITSEC 2015: Mockingbird RPA software flies in

  1st December 2015

  ZedaSoft’s mockingbird software for remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) and unmanned aerial system (UAS) operator training is making its debut at I/ITSEC in Orlando. The company …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - MALE

  MQ-9A Reaper [USAF]

  Background First order Following a development that began in 1998, in October 2002, the USAF ordered the first four MQ-9s of the production series. In ...

• Military UAS - mini

  RQ-20B Puma [USAF]

  Background Requirement According to Trace Stevenson, the AeroVironment (AV) Vice President and product line general manager, the USAF Security Forces required a small UAV to ...

• 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 ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) (Increment 1) [USAF]

  Background Requirements The programme’s requirements are based on the USAF’s belief that mass is necessary to compete effectively against an adversary in symmetrical warfare. However, ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  HH-60W - Combat Rescue Helicopter (CRH)

  Background In 2010, the USAF announced the replacement of the HH-60G with a new Combat Rescue Helicopter (CRH), and in 2012, the request for proposals ...

• AEW&C

  E-7A Wedgetail (1-2) [USA]

  Programme Background Shephard notes that this entry covers the two rapid-prototype E-7 aircraft, whose contract was signed in August 2024. A second programme entry covers the ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  KC-Y tanker aircraft [USA]

  Programme Background The USAF is replacing its fleet of 396 KC-135 Stratotanker refuelling aircraft, built in the 1950s and 60s, and 59 KC-10 Extenders, which entered service ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-15EX (2025-2026) [USA]

  Methodology Units required Based off the FY2027 USAF budget request, between FY2025 and FY2026, the U.S. Air Force received funding for 40 F-15EX platforms. Congress ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  KC-46A (USA)

  Programme Background The first five Low Rate Initial Production lots were contracted for a total of 67 aircraft for $10.94 billion. The initial contract signed ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  KC-46A Add-On [USA]

  Background In July 2025, the former Chief of Staff for the US Air Force (USAF) Gen David Allvin confirmed that the USAF has authorised the procurement of ...

• Hybrid effector systems

  US Air Force Air Base Defence Missile Defence [US]

  Background The US Air Force's (USAF) Air Base Air Defence Missile Defence (ABAD MD) programme is part of the Air Force Physical Security System and sits ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  MH-139 (UH-1N Huey Replacement)

  Background  Competing bids In competition with the Boeing/Leonardo bid was Sikorsky with a HH-60U offer, and Sierra Nevada with an upgrading offer of UH-60As to ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  JLTV (USAF) (Batch 2) [USA]

  Background According to the FY2021 USAF budget request documents, the USAF procured 103 JLTVs in FY2019, 146 in FY2020 and 142 in FY2021. In 2023, ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  Next-Generation Air-Refueling System (NGAS) [USA]

  Background The U.S. Air Force originally planned the KC-Y programme as a follow-on acquisition of an estimated 179 tankers to bridge the gap between the delayed ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  C-37A [USA]

  Programme Background The USAF was using C-20B transport aircraft, variant of civilian Gulfstream III, to provide worldwide airlift for DoD and government officials. With the ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - HALE

  EX-3 Revenant

  The EX-3 Revenant is a developmental fixed-wing aircraft being developed by Exosonic. It is a Mach 1.2 supersonic UAV designed to be a 5th-generation representative, modular, autonomous ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  Next Generation Survivor Radio

  The Next Generation Survivor Radio (NGSR) is a software-defined radio being developed by General Dynamics Mission Systems. It is expected to enter into service after June 2026.

• Air: aerial targets

  QF-16 FSAT

  The QF-16 Full Scale Aerial Target (FSAT) is an optionally piloted supersonic aerial target developed to replace the QF-4 in USAF service. Retired F-16 fighters are ...

• Major networking projects

  C2 ConstellationNet

  According to David Tillotson, director of C4ISR architecture AF/XI, in a report to Congress: 'The ConstellationNet is the communications network – air, space and terrestrial ...

• Air: transport/tanker simulators

  USAF KC-135 ATS

  The KC-135 Aircrew Training System (ATS) programme delivers initial qualification, requalification, continuation and upgrades training for USAF KC-135 aircrews, including pilots, co-pilots and boom operators. ...

• Major networking projects

  DCGS 10.2 Upgrade

  Raytheon’s Distributed Common Ground System (DCGS) Block 10.2 upgrade allows intelligence data to be posted to the network for immediate use by analysts and warfighters, ...

• Military UAS - mini

  SPX

  The SPX drone is a fixed-wing UAV manufactured by RapidFlight. It features a modular payload bay and is fitted with RapidFlight’s Common Avionics 2.0 modular interface. ...

• 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 ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  KC-10 Extender

  The KC-10 Extender is a tanker/transport aircraft developed for the USAF by McDonnell Douglas (now part of Boeing). It was derived from the company’s three-engine ...

• EW test systems

  JTE

  The Joint Threat Emitter (JTE) is a multi-threat, high-fidelity simulator with realistic ERP levels, which simulates single- and double-digit surface-to-air and anti-aircraft artillery radar systems. ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  R-HUD

  The Replacement Heads-Up Display (R-HUD) is a Primary Flight Reference system designed to replace legacy HUD units on C-17 aircraft. Manufactured by Elbit Systems of ...

• Air: mission management systems

  Flat Panel Control Indicator

  BAE Systems Flat Panel Control Indicator (FPCI) is designed to replace legacy Navigation Control Indicators in F-15C/D aircraft. It features a new AMLCD display and ...

• Military UAS - mini

  Wasp III

  Produced from 2007 until 2012, the Wasp III was a hand-launched UAV produced by AeroVironment. The platform was powered by rechargeable lithium-ion batteries and featured two camera ...

• Military UAS - HALE

  RQ-4 Global Hawk

  The Global Hawk is a HALE UAV manufactured by Northrop Grumman. Primarily designed to carry ISTAR payloads, the platform has accumulated more than 200,000 flight hours ...

• Bomber

  B-2 Spirit

  The B-2 Spirit is a multirole stealth bomber manufactured by Northrop Grumman for the USAF. The Spirit is a flying wing aircraft, meaning that it ...