• Air Warfare

  Raytheon contracted for space-based hypersonic missile tracker

  5th January 2023

  The Missile Track Custody system will give the US Space Force a medium Earth orbit-based missile tracking capability.

• Air Warfare

  Turkish Air Force tanker modernisation effort completed ahead of schedule

  2nd February 2023

  US contractor Field Aerospace has finished upgrading the Turkish Air Force's Boeing KC-135R tanker fleet flight decks to Block 45 configuration.

• Air Warfare

  US Air Force grows KC-46A tanker fleet

  30th January 2023

  The US Air Force has exercised an option to procure an additional 15 KC-46A Pegasus aircraft.

• Land Warfare

  India boosts defence capabilities for army and navy amid border tensions

  17th January 2023

  Procurement of helicopter-launched antitank guided missiles, as well as man-portable air defence missiles, are approved for the Indian Army.

• Training

  RAAF ponders Hawk 127 replacement tender

  6th March 2023

  The Defence Strategic Review may already have pushed the RAAF's efforts to find a replacement jet trainer to the right.

• Training

  Kongsberg Digital joins Royal Navy Selborne training programme

  15th February 2023

  Kongsberg will join the Capita-led Team Fisher on Project Selborne, providing a new suite of navigation simulators for training Royal Navy sailors.

• Air Warfare

  New HAL helicopter facility to speed up LUH production

  8th February 2023

  The Indian military continues to wait for new light helicopters, though a new HAL production facility will begin to solve the capability gap.

• Digital Battlespace

  Reaper UAV tests new SATCOM capability

  6th February 2023

  General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GS-ASI) has successfully flight-tested a low-Earth-orbit SATCOM capability on board an MQ-9A aircraft.

• Air Warfare

  DARPA X-plane with revolutionary controls hits new milestone

  24th January 2023

  The CRANE project exploring active-flow control technologies could contribute to developing extremely low-observable aircraft in the future.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  General Atomics' Eaglet air-launched effect soars in first flight

  1st February 2023

  The Eaglet air-launched effect can be deployed from other UAS, helicopters and ground vehicles.

• Defence Notes

  Despite the hype, India remains far from making it as a defence exporter (Opinion)

  13th January 2023

  There are positive signs of growth in India's defence exports, but there can be no denying that the country is punching well below its weight.

• Training

  US university to enhance army tactical vehicle training

  6th January 2023

  A Rowan University team will create VR, AR and MR environments featuring armoured and tactical vehicles, gunner protection kits, threats and engagement scenarios to improve US Army tactical vehicle training.

• Air Warfare

  Poland to arm AW149 helicopters with Hellfire missiles

  21st March 2023

  The 800 Hellfire missiles requested by Poland via a US Foreign Military Sale will equip the country's AW149 helicopter fleet, with a follow-on request likely to arm Apache helicopters and potentially other platforms.

• Air Warfare

  Nepal expands M28 light transport fleet under new US Foreign Military Financing buy

  7th February 2023

  PZL-Mielec will supply an additional two M28 twin-turboprop light transport aircraft to Nepal's air force.

• Air Warfare

  F-16 fighter jet backlog will increase before production rate can improve

  30th January 2023

  Lockheed Martin is facing a backlog of F-16 aircraft that is set to increase as the list of countries that want the jet grows. However, the company is convinced it can increase production rates significantly throughout 2023.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - fixed-wing

  Bandit (US)

  Programme Background Goal As stated by Alyson Turri, the AFRL Bandit programme manager, the goal is to "develop an unmanned platform that looks like a fifth-generation ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Rafale - Follow-On (Greece)

  Programme Background Referring to the rearmament programme for 2020-2025, Greek defence minister Nikolaos Panagiotopoulos said in parliament on 7 October 2021 that up to 48 new multi-role ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Kalina Class

  The Kalina-class conventionally powered submarine is being developed to follow the Lada-class submarines. The new fifth-generation Kalina-class will be used for coastal defence against surface ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Kalina Class

  The Kalina-class conventionally powered submarine is being developed to follow the Lada-class submarines. The new fifth-generation Kalina-class will be used for coastal defence against surface ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-35A (1-20) [Greece]

  Programme Background Timeline In April 2019, Defence Minister Evangelos Apostolakis confirmed the country’s serious interest in purchasing the F-35. He told the press that in ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Multirole Fighter (UAE)

  Programme Background Abu Dhabi has a long-standing interest in two squadrons of F-35, which had been refused until 2017 when it was reported that the ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Future Combat Air System (FCAS/SCAF) [France]

  Programme Background The governments of France and Germany have launched the demonstrator phase for the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) with the issue of an ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Multirole Fighter (Morocco)

  Programme Background In March 2019, the US State Department announced that it has approved a possible FMS of 25 F-16V Block 72 aircraft to Morocco ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Future Combat Air System (FCAS/SCAF) [Germany]

  Background Requirement The FCAS programme is based on the system-of-systems design, envisioning a "command fighter" aircraft that has stand-alone combat capability as well as controlling ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | JAS-39C/D Gripen Replacement [Czech Republic]

  The Czech Republic Air Force operates 14 Gripens (12 JAS 39C and two JAS 39D variants) under a lease agreement that runs until 2027 with an option ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  Air: Helmet-mounted displays | JAS-39C/D Gripen Replacement [Czech Republic]

  The Czech Republic Air Force operates 14 Gripens (12 JAS 39C and two JAS 39D variants) under a lease agreement that runs until 2027 with an option ...

• Data links

  Data links | JAS-39C/D Gripen Replacement [Czech Republic]

  The Czech Republic Air Force operates 14 Gripens (12 JAS 39C and two JAS 39D variants) under a lease agreement that runs until 2027 with an option ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | JAS-39C/D Gripen Replacement [Czech Republic]

  The Czech Republic Air Force operates 14 Gripens (12 JAS 39C and two JAS 39D variants) under a lease agreement that runs until 2027 with an option ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | JAS-39C/D Gripen Replacement [Czech Republic]

  The Czech Republic Air Force operates 14 Gripens (12 JAS 39C and two JAS 39D variants) under a lease agreement that runs until 2027 with an option ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Future Combat Air System (FCAS/SCAF) [Spain]

  Programme Background Programme Timeline The Future Combat Air System (FCAS) was publicly announced in July 2017, followed by a Franco-German agreement in 2018. At the ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  Zero-G HMDS+

  The Zero-G HMDS+ is a developmental helmet-mounted display system being developed by Collins Aerospace and Elbit Systems for sixth-generation higher aircraft. According to the company, ...

• Data links

  Multifunction Advanced Data Link

  Multifunction Advanced Data Link (MADL) is a Ku-band data link designed for fifth-generation aircraft. The directional, interflight system is integrated into all F-35 variants, allowing ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Su-75 Checkmate

  Checkmate is a fifth-generation light tactical aircraft being developed by Sukhoi. Its prototype was unveiled at MAKS 2021. Checkmate's first flight is scheduled in 2023, ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Low Profile Head-Up Display (LPHUD)

  The Low profile Head-up Display (LPHUD) series is designed developed by Elbit Systems' ISTAR division, for fourth and fifth generation advanced fighter aircraft jets. Notalby, ...

• Fighter - multirole, Fighter - naval

  F-35C

  The F-35C Lightning II, also known as the F-35 carrier variant (CV), is a fifth-generation multirole combat aircraft in carrier configuration. It has larger wings and ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-35A

  The F-35A Lightning II is a fifth-generation multirole combat aircraft with CTOL capabilities. It is a multinational programme led by the US DoD, bringing together ...

• Fixed wing aircraft engines

  AL-41F-1S

  Manufactured by Saturn, the AL-41F-1S aircraft engine is a modular two-shaft turbofan engine with thrust vector control and integrated digital control. The engine is used ...

• Fixed wing aircraft engines

  PD-14M

  PD Family of Engines comprises of bypass two-shaft turbojet engines with a light shroudless fan. The PD family of engines are designed for short- and ...

• Air-to-air missiles, Surface-to-air missiles

  Python-5

  The Python-5 is an Israeli beyond-visual-range anti-air missile developed by Rafael. The newest member of the Python family, the Python-5 is described as a fifth-generation air-to-air ...

• Air-to-surface missiles, Anti-ship missiles

  JSM

  The Joint Strike Missile (JSM) is a multirole version of the Naval Strike Missile. Norway funded the programme to develop and produce the JSM for the ...

• Fighter - multirole, Fighter - naval

  F-35B

  The F-35B Lightning II is a fifth-generation multirole combat aircraft with short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) capability. The USMC is the main customer for the F-35B, ...

• Land: air defence radar

  ELM-2026B VSHORAD

  The ELM-2026B Very Short Range Air Defence Radar (VSHORAD) is designed for detection and tracking of airborne targets, including a variety of low-RCS and low-flying ...

• Reconnaissance/patrol vehicles

  Eagle V 4x4

  GDELS unveiled the fifth generation of its Eagle light tactical vehicle at Eurosatory 2012. The platform has replaced earlier-generation vehicles in production. More than 1,250 ...

• Fighter - multirole

  J-31/FC-31

  The J-31 (also known as the 'Falcon Eagle' in Chinese) is a fifth-generation multirole stealth fighter domestically developed by China. Its export variant is designated as ...

• ISR/special mission

  AC-130J

  The AC-130J 'Ghostrider' is a fifth-generation gunship manufactured by Lockheed Martin to replace the AC-130U/W gunships for the USAF deployed in 2019. The Ghostrider is a highly modified C-130J ...