• Defence Notes

  Taiwan: Are Chinese invasion plans viable?

  3rd October 2017

  What would it take for China to invade Taiwan in terms of materiel, logistics, firepower and men? Finally, one new study extracts Chinese-language government papers, …

• Land Warfare

  Ukraine-Polish consortium signs new agreement

  26th September 2017

  Ukroboronprom companies SpetsTechnoExport and Artem Holding have signed an agreement with Poland's WB Electronics to produce R-27-R1 guided medium-range air-to-air missiles for the Polish Air …

• Defence Helicopter

  AUSA 2017: Lakota readies for training takeover

  11th October 2017

  As another UH-72A Lakota is delivered to the US Army, the platform is now entering the final stages of fully replacing the TH-67 Creek as the service's principal …

• Defence Helicopter

  ACS expands to meet growing demand

  3rd October 2017

  Advanced Composite Structures (ACS) has expanded its facility in Sanford, Florida, to accommodate growth in its helicopter blade repair work for military and European operators. …

• Land Warfare

  Irish Army exercises with RBS 70 NG

  29th September 2017

  The Irish Army has completed a series of live-firings of the RBS 70 and RBS 70 NG MANPAD missile system, Saab announced on 25 September. …

• Training

  USS Truman completes carrier qualifications

  28th September 2017

  The US Navy's Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S Truman has returned to Naval Station Norfolk (NOB) after completing carrier qualifications and a successful ammunition …

• Digital Battlespace

  BAE Systems awarded NAWCAD contract

  8th September 2017

  BAE Systems has received a $76 million contract from the US Navy to help develop communications and electronics systems for the Naval Air Warfare Center …

• Defence Helicopter

  Z-19 sprouts radar and set to achieve exports

  15th September 2017

  For the first time the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) publicly exhibited an example of its Z-19 attack helicopter fitted with a mast-mounted millimeter wave radar, …

• Military Logistics

  Sopka-2 radar complex to enter serve

  25th September 2017

  The Eastern Military District (EMD) of the Russian armed forces will begin operating a new radar complex in the Zabaikalsky Krai from 2018, the Russian …

• Naval Warfare

  RAN commissions HMAS Hobart

  26th September 2017

  The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) has commissioned its first Air Warfare Destroyer (AWD), HMAS Hobart, the Australian Department of Defence announced on 23 September. HMAS …

• Military Logistics

  Northrop wins E-11A BACN support contract

  7th September 2017

  Northrop Grumman has received a contract worth $265 million from the US Air Force for aircraft maintenance and logistics support of the Battlefield Airborne Communications …

• Defence Helicopter

  Pacific 2017: Australia declares love for Romeo

  5th October 2017

  The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) received its 24th and final Sikorsky MH-60R last September, and the navy has so far operationally deployed five flights at …

• Defence Helicopter

  Patria to support Norwegian Bell 412s

  29th September 2017

  Patria Helicopters has signed a contract with the Norwegian Defense Logistics Organisation (NDLO) for the maintenance of the Norwegian armed forces’ Bell 412 helicopters, the …

• Land Warfare

  DSEI 2017: T-REX makes an entrance into C-UAS

  13th September 2017

  Orbital ATK has unveiled its Tactical Robotic Exterminator (T-REX) counter-unmanned aerial system (C-UAS) concept at DSEI in London. The T-REX concept, displayed in a scale-model …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Aurora to scale up production under Boeing

  6th October 2017

  The recent acquisition of Aurora Flight Sciences by Boeing is likely to result in the expansion of the company's military projects.  Aurora, a developer and …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | M-346 FA [Brazil]

  Brazil is evaluating the procurement of up to 30 Leonardo M-346 light attack aircraft under a potential agreement with Italy, aimed at modernising its aerial ...

• Data links

  Data links | M-346 FA [Brazil]

  Brazil is evaluating the procurement of up to 30 Leonardo M-346 light attack aircraft under a potential agreement with Italy, aimed at modernising its aerial ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  Air: Helmet-mounted displays | M-346 FA [Brazil]

  Brazil is evaluating the procurement of up to 30 Leonardo M-346 light attack aircraft under a potential agreement with Italy, aimed at modernising its aerial ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | M-346 FA [Brazil]

  Brazil is evaluating the procurement of up to 30 Leonardo M-346 light attack aircraft under a potential agreement with Italy, aimed at modernising its aerial ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | M-346 FA [Brazil]

  Brazil is evaluating the procurement of up to 30 Leonardo M-346 light attack aircraft under a potential agreement with Italy, aimed at modernising its aerial ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  KC-390 [Brazil]

  Programme Background Requirement The aircraft deliveries were scheduled to start by the end of 2016 and continue over a period of ten years. However,  the first ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  C-130H Replacement [Sweden]

  Programme Background Requirements Sweden has five C-130H aircraft (designated Tp-84) and one KC-130H. Two C-130Es bought in the 1960s have retired, but the six H ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  Hermes 900 [Chile]

  Methodology Unit cost In 2024, the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) acquired one Hermes 900 for 50 million reais ($9.14 million), giving each drone an estimated ...

• Fighter - multirole

  JAS 39E/F Gripen [Brazil]

  Background In 2016, Gripen’s Project and Development Center was opened in Sao Paulo to allow Sweedish and Brazillian engineers to work together in the Gripen ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  H145M [Brazil]

  Background  Brazilian leadership announced in February 2022 that the Sabre Mil Mi-35M Hind-E attack helicopters were being retired from active service. This decision came as a ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  Hermes 900 [Colombia]

  Methodology Unit cost In 2024, the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) acquired one Hermes 900 for 50 million reais ($9.14 million), giving each drone an estimated gross ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  Hermes 900 (5) [Brazil]

  Background First three batches (2014-2024) Across three purchases, Defence Insight estimates that Brazil has acquired five Hermes 900 UAVs. In 2014, Elbit reported supplying one ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  Hermes 900 (1-4) [Brazil]

  Background First batch (2014) In 2014, Elbit reported supplying one Hermes 900 UAV to the Brazilian Air Force (FAB). The drone is called the RQ-900 in Brazilian ...

• Maritime patrol

  C295 add-on [Brazil]

  Programme Background  In 2014 Brazil signed a contracted for two additional C-295 SAR platforms with the option to acquire one additional platform. In 2018, reports ...

• Transport

  C-130 Replacement [Greece]

  Programme Background Requirement The existing C-130 fleet of the Hellenic Air Force has faced operational readiness issues, with only one or two airframes in service at ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Air-to-surface missiles

  MAR-1

  The MAR-1 is a Brazilian air-to-surface anti-radiation missile (ARM) developed by Mectron in collaboration with the Aerospace Technology and Science Department (DCTA) of the Brazilian ...

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

  Harpia

  Described as the UAV with the most onboard technology in Latin America, Harpia is a multifunctional fixed-wing Brazilian drone developed by Advanced Technologies Security & Defence.  The Uruguayan ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  EMB-312 Tucano

  The EMB-312 Tucano (Brazilian designation T-27) is a trainer and light attack aircraft developed by Embraer to meet the training requirements of the Brazilian Air ...

• Air: air combat simulators

  TPTS

  Tactical Procedures Training Simulators (TPTS), operating with SWARM software, can be used to provide most core training elements to pilots or offload training tasks from ...

• Guided munitions

  SMKB (Smart-MK-Bomb)

  The Smart-MK-Bomb, or the SMKB, is a precision guidance kit developed by Mectron and designed to turn Mk 82 and Mk 83 bombs into guided munitions.

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  Condor

  The Condor, or Atobá XR, is an in-development MALE-class UAV from Stella Technologia.  The development of the multi-role is tied to the Brazilian Air Force (FAB), which has ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  Albatroz Vortex

  The Albatroz Vortex from Stella Tecnologia is a development of the company's Albatroz UAV.  The key differentiator is that the Vortex is fitted with an ATJR ...

• Trainer, Transport

  EMB-121 Xingu

  The EMB-121 Xingu is a twin-turboprop light transport and advanced multi-engine trainer aircraft developed by Embraer based on the EMB-110 Bandeirante. Its maiden flight was ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  H225M

  The medium-weight, 11t-class H225M (formerly known as the EC725) is the latest military Super Puma/Cougar family member.  Technical features include a modular design of mechanical ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  KC-390/C-390 Millennium

  The KC-390 is a high-wing, twin-turbofan, T-tail design intended to meet the needs of the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) for a tanker/transport aircraft. Developed and ...

• Land: battle management systems

  Arkhe Mission & Combat

  Launched in 2017, Atech's Arkhe Mission & Combat solutions offer a variety of solutions enabling operator to conduct missions from planning to execution and debriefing. It ...

• Fighter - air superiority

  F-5E/F Tiger II

  The F-5E (single-seat)/F (twin-seat) Tiger II is an air superiority fighter developed by Northrop Grumman based on the original F-5 Freedom Fighter. Production of the ...

• EO/IR systems, Land: unattended sensor/surveillance systems, Sea: ship surveillance and fire control systems

  SHAPO

  SHAPO is a multi-sensor, gyro-stabilised observation payload. It is intended for UAVs, helicopters, light aircraft, patrol boats, aerostats, airships, armoured vehicles and masts. Sensors include a ...

• Land: air defence radar

  Saber M60

  The Saber M60 is a low-altitude air-defence radar developed by the Brazilian Army's CTEx (Army Technology Centre) in collaboration with Bradar, part of Embraer Defence ...

• EO/IR systems

  Skyward

  The SkyWard system is an advanced Infrared Search and Track (IRST) solution developed for next-generation airborne platforms, including 5th-generation fighter aircraft.  Designed with modularity in ...