• Military Logistics

  NZDF C-130 upgrade project complete

  16th March 2017

  The New Zealand Defence Force's C-130 Hercules upgrade project is now complete, the New Zealand government announced on 10 March.The life extension project included the …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Singapore Heron 1 attains FOC

  15th March 2017

  The Republic of Singapore Air Force's (RSAF) two squadrons of IAI Heron 1 MALE UAVs achieved full operational capability (FOC) on 15 March.'The FOC of …

• Military Logistics

  USAF looks at UAS flightline maintenance

  14th March 2017

  The US Air Force's 412th Test Wing's Emerging Technologies Combined Test Force (CTF) has used a quadcopter UAS to carry out maintenance inspection of a …

• Military Logistics

  Qinetiq North America wins WiPPR contract

  13th March 2017

  The US Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC) has awarded a $3 million contract to Qinetiq North America for its Wind Profiling Portable Radar …

• Training

  RAN receives AWD Command Team Trainer

  5th April 2017

  The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) has accepted the Hobart class Command Team Trainer as part of the Air Warfare Destroyer (AWD) programme, the AWD Alliance …

• Defence Helicopter

  US military helicopters face design hurdles

  4th April 2017

  Various design challenges with several of the Pentagon's key helicopter programmes has resulted in unexpected modifications, a new report has found.The CH-53K, Combat Rescue Helicopter …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Milipol Asia 2017: Spy’Ranger debuts in Southeast Asia

  4th April 2017

  Thales hopes the Spy'Ranger mini-UAV will see success in Asia-Pacific, following an order by the French DGA in January. The French electronics giant showcased it …

• Defence Helicopter

  Elbit receives HDTS order

  3rd April 2017

  Elbit Systems of America will provide the Helmet Display and Tracker System (HDTS) for the US Navy's MH-60S Seahawk helicopter under a $50 million contract …

• Military Logistics

  Antonov AN-132D takes flight

  3rd April 2017

  The Antonov AN-132D transport aircraft has completed its first flight, Ukroboronprom announced on 31 March. The AN-132D has been developed using components from Honeywell, Pratt …

• Digital Battlespace

  Industry looks to refresh Sentinel systems

  3rd April 2017

  With the Royal Air Force's Sentinel R1 aircraft now planned to be in service for at least another four years, industry is in talks with …

• Special Operations

  ​SOFINS: Anti-UAV rifle targets the drones

  3rd April 2017

  Monaco-based company MC-CLIC presented its anti-UAV rifle at the SOFINS exhibition, near Bordeaux, which was developed to meet a requirement from the government of the …

• Digital Battlespace

  Astro to deliver L-band mesh reflectors

  31st March 2017

  Airbus Defence and Space has selected Northrop Grumman company Astro Aerospace to provide L-band mesh reflectors for two Inmarsat 6 satellites, the company announced on …

• Training

  Simulator preps for F-35-QEC operations

  31st March 2017

  BAE Systems' flight engineering simulator is set to begin training for F-35 Lightning II pilots preparing for flight trials on the UK's incoming Queen Elizabeth …

• Defence Helicopter

  Helisota, Cobham enter partnership

  31st March 2017

  Helisota has signed a partnership deal with UK-based Cobham Helicopter Academy to develop and provide joint training programmes for helicopter maintenance personnel and other specialists, …

• Digital Battlespace

  Elbit wins Asia-Pacific ISTAR contract

  31st March 2017

  Elbit Systems will supply its Condor 2 electro-optic (EO) airborne system to an unnamed customer in the Asia-Pacific region. The company announced the four-year $82 …

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 ...

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

  Hermes 900 [Undisclosed European Country]

  Background Various Contracts On 18 November 2024, Elbit Systems announced it had awarded various contacts with a combined $335 million to an undisclosed European country. ...

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 - 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• Man-portable missile systems

  RBS 70 system

  The RBS 70 was developed in the 1970s to meet the Swedish Army’s requirement for a low-cost, easy-to-use MANPADS which could function in extreme climatic ...