Defence Notes

India’s Defence Acquisition Council green lights $26.8 billion in spending

4th December 2023

India’s Defence Acquisition Council has unveiled a list of equipment needs and has stipulated that 98% of the contract value must be spent domestically. It added that 50% of the indigenous content should be in the form of material, components and software made in India.

Training

Advancing Defense Readiness: The Strategic Edge of Simulation Training

28th November 2023

Enhancing capabilities through simulation training fosters effective advancement and equips forces for evolving environments.

Air Warfare

South Korea and Boeing to jointly research long-endurance aerial UAVs

24th November 2023

Boeing and South Korea have solidified plans that would see Boeing UAV design and technology capabilities implemented locally by South Korean companies.

Land Warfare

Nothing Goes Unseen: Raytheon’s LTAMDS Radar Enhances Situational Awareness Amidst Increasing Aerial Threats (Studio)

13th November 2023

Never before have air defenders contended with such complex, rapid and varied threats in the air environment. Raytheon’s LTAMDS radar is the system they need for this ever-changing threatscape.

Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

Trial Operation Project [Japan]

Programme Background Japanese Coast Guard (JCG) Procurement The JCG was looking to replace its Chinese-made UAVs with MALE UAVs in the JCG PRAS Project. In April ...

Military helicopters - attack

T129B (Philippines)

Programme Background On 31 August 2019, it was announced that the Philippines National Defence Acquisition Decision Memorandum continues with the T-129 procurement. However, on 30 April ...

Trainer

Future Lead-In Fighter Training System (Project Air 6002 PH1) - Australia

Programme Background Requirements The RAAF is seeking a future solution that provides a ‘relevant, adaptable, affordable and safe LIFTS out to 2050’ for training pilots ...

Military helicopters - attack

AH-64E Apache-UK

According to the MoD, to further ‘guarantee value for money’ systems from the current Apache fleet such as the Modernised Target Acquisition & Designation System, ...

Military helicopters - attack

AH-64E Apache-Morocco

Morocco has placed a request with the US government for AH-64E Apache attack helicopters. On 20 November 2019, it was announced that the US State ...

Military helicopters - attack

AH-64E Apache-Morocco Follow-On

Morocco has placed a request with the US government for AH-64E Apache attack helicopters. On 20 November 2019, it was announced that the US State ...

Military helicopters - attack

Future Attack Helicopter (Germany)

Programme Background Germany is reportedly struggling to keep its fleet of 68 Tiger attack helicopters in a decent technical condition that would allow combat squadrons ...

Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - tactical

Ship-Bourne VTOL UAV (Forecast) [South Korea]

Programme Background Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) On 18 January 2023, Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with Northop Grumman at a ...

Military helicopters - attack

AH-64E Apache (Indian Air Force)

Programme Background The Indian Army was originally granted co-ownership of the 22 Apaches by the Indian MoD. However, the IAF refused to cede them to ...

Military helicopters - attack

Kruk / AH-64E Apache [Poland]

Programme Background In May 2019, Wojciech Skurkiewicz, the Polish deputy defence, released some details on the helicopter programme. Part of Poland's broader defence modernisation plan, the tender ...

Military helicopters - attack

AH-64E Apache (Israel)

Programme Background IDF Ground Forces Command is urging the Israeli MoD to request the acquisition of up to 40 AH-64E Apache Guardian attack helicopters from ...

Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - HALE

Kaori-X (South Korea)

Programme Background Kaori-X South Korea's Ministry of National Defense revealed on 23 December 2021 that the indigenous Kaori-X presently under development would combine with future KF-21 Boramae fighters as ...

Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

KUS-LW [South Korea]

Programme Background Development In November 2021, the Agency for Defence Development (AAD) began developing the KUS-LW, finalising its initial design before August 2022. Korean Air Aerospace Division ...

Military helicopters - attack

AH-64E Apache (Indian Army)

It is a hybrid procurement, as was the 2015 Air Force one (see separate entry), employing both a direct commercial sale with Boeing and an ...

Military helicopters - attack

Project Land 4503

Programme Background The Australian Army has begun its search for a successor to the Tiger Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter (ARH), with an RfI issued by the ...

Loitering munitions, Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - mini

MUM-T

The Military Unmanned Teaming (MUM-T) is a UAS in development by Korean Aerospace Industries. Showcased at Seoul ADEX 2021, the MUM-T can be launched from the ...

Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

Demogorgon

In late October 2021, the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) awarded Kratos Unnamed Systems Division an initial $17.68 million 12-month cost-plus-fixed-fee contract to develop an Off-Board Sensing ...

Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - HALE

Arrow

The Arrow is a supersonic prototype UAV developed by Singapore-based Kelley Aerospace. According to the manufacturer, the 16.8t prototype will be operated as a conventional UAV, ...

Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - HALE

Uncrewed Checkmate

At the Dubai Airshow 2021, United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), the parent company of Checkmate manufacturer Sukhoi Design Bureau, announced its intention to manufacture an uncrewed version of ...

Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - small

Koios

Manufactured by Callen-Lenz, the Koios is a small-UAS available in both a VTOL and non-VTOL variant.  Designed for the civil and military market, as standard, ...

Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - HALE

Defender

The Defender is a jet-powered uncrewed escort aircraft built by GA-ASI. The primary goal of the UAV is to protect high-value airborne assets, such as refuelling ...

Loitering munitions, Military UAS - fixed-wing

Air Launched Effect (ALE)

The Air-Launched Effect (ALE) is an in-development uncrewed platform from Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI). Shown at IDEX 2023, it is set to come in two variants, one ...

Land: handheld NV devices, Land: handheld day observation, surveillance and targeting systems, Weapon sights for night use (image intensifiers)

MUM-14

The Multi-Use Mini-Monocular (MUM-14) is a modular, passive NVD designed to maintain situation awareness in a range of low-light conditions, utilising a single Gen III ...

Data links

Micro TMA

Thales Micro TMA is a high-rate datalink designed for uncrewed platforms and video streaming applications from aircraft. It provides command and control functions as well ...

Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

Gambit (Series)

The Gambit Series are several UAV variants based around the Gambit Core, a common system containing the platform's hardware: landing gear, baseline avionics, chassis, and other essential functions. ...

Military UAS - MALE, Military UAS - rotary-wing

Night Intruder 600 Vertical Take-Off (NI-600VT)

The Night Intruder 600 Vertical Take-Off (NI-600VT) is an in-development UAV from Korean Aerospace Industries (KAI) based on an MD 500 twin-seat American commercial helicopter airframe. With the ...

Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - HALE

Anka-3

The Anka-3 MIUS, or Anka-III, is a developmental low-observable flying wing UCAV from Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI).  The UCAV has been designed to work alongside Turkey's ...

Military helicopters - attack

AH-64D Apache Longbow

The AH-64D Apache Longbow is an out-of-production attack helicopter that Boeing manufactured. Boeing delivered the first Apache Longbow in April 1997. From 2012, the Block III ...

Air: helicopter flight simulators

Apache Longbow Training System

The Longbow Crew Trainer is the centrepiece of Boeing’s AH-64 Apache training. Pilots and other personnel use the high-fidelity flight simulator to practice aircraft procedures ...

Military helicopters - attack

WAH-64 Apache

The WAH-64/AH1 Apache is a variant of the Boeing AH-64D Apache Longbow, developed and built by Leonardo from 1996 to meet British Army requirements. One ...