• Uncrewed Vehicles

  AUVSI 2017: Marine Corps spotlights SUAS growth

  12th May 2017

  The United States Marine Corps is predicting a continuing expansion of 'Group 1' small UAS systems across service elements.Speaking at this week's AUVSI Xponential event …

• Digital Battlespace

  Saudi AWACS radar upgrade complete

  25th May 2017

  A series of upgrades to improve the capabilities of Saudi Arabia’s E-3A Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft has been completed by Boeing, the …

• Digital Battlespace

  Airbus selects new Skynet 5 channel partner

  30th May 2017

  Airbus Defence and Space has selected Planet Communications Asia Public (PlanetComm) as its newest channel partner for Skynet 5 military satellite communication services, the company announced …

• Digital Battlespace

  RAN MASTIS terminals set for upgrade

  30th May 2017

  BAE Systems Australia has received a four-year contract worth $30 million to upgrade maritime satellite communications terminals for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), the company …

• Land Warfare

  IDEF 2017: Aselsan tests air defences

  10th May 2017

  The new HISAR-A and HISAR-O air defence missile systems are due to complete testing next year.Tolga Gungor, lead engineer at Aselsan for low/medium altitude air …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Commonality key for USN

  24th May 2017

  The US Navy could be using a common control system (CCS) for its unmanned assets as early as the mid-2020s. Speaking at an Unmanned Systems …

• Defence Notes

  CANSEC 2017: Canada severs talks with Boeing

  2nd June 2017

  CANSEC 2017 opened in dramatic style on Tuesday as an ongoing dispute between the Canadian government and Boeing boiled over. Canadian Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  IMDEX Asia: Seagull sets sail from Singapore

  17th May 2017

  The main highlight at Elbit Systems’ booth is a live demonstration of its Seagull unmanned surface vessel (USV), with an operator positioned at IMDEX Asia …

• Defence Helicopter

  UDT Europe 2017: ASW renewal challenges loom

  1st June 2017

  Anti-submarine warfare (ASW) is returning as a key agenda item for many nations looking at the future of maritime security. Germany is aware that a …

• Naval Warfare

  IMDEX Asia: Security at India’s minor ports shockingly low

  12th May 2017

  India's porous 7,500km coastline is dotted with fishing harbours, and because these are often adjacent to major ports, an incident could have severe security ramifications. …

• Military Logistics

  Flight testing for KC-46 continues

  5th May 2017

  Boeing now has six aircraft in its KC-46 tanker testing programme as it works on completing ground and flight tests for the US Air Force, …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Denied airspace difficulties for operators

  25th May 2017

  Future efforts by NATO to integrate unmanned systems into maritime and airborne area-denied operations could have been hampered by a decade of UAV activity in …

• Training

  ITEC 2017: C-130J training requirements emerge

  8th May 2017

  In February, Germany and France signed an agreement at a NATO Ministers meeting in Brussels to create a joint air transport unit to operate the …

• Land Warfare

  US approves $2 billion arms sale to UAE

  15th May 2017

  The US State Department has approved a $2 billion arms sale to the UAE. Approved on 11 May, the deal includes 60 Patriot Advanced Capability …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  AUVSI 2017: MUM-T first up at opening conference

  9th May 2017

  Among the key challenges for future integration of unmanned technology with manned platforms is the risk of saturating pilots and operators with additional tasks, resulting …

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 ...