• Digital Battlespace

  Belarus unveils new air surveillance radar

  14th October 2016

  The Belarus state-owned company SPLLC OKB TSP has made the first public presentation of its new RLS-50 3D air surveillance mobile radar.  This has been …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  UAVision to make UAS in Nigeria

  14th October 2016

  The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) and UAVision of Portugal have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the production of UAS in Nigeria, the NAF …

• Digital Battlespace

  Euronaval 2016: Software boost for SPx radar

  14th October 2016

  Cambridge Pixel has enhanced its SPx radar tracking software with new modelling algorithms to support the detection and tracking of very small targets. The new …

• Digital Battlespace

  Peru gets R-312ATs radios

  14th October 2016

  Rosoboronexport, the state intermediary agency for Russia's defence exports, has made the delivery of R-312ATs radios to Peru, the company announced on 10 October. The …

• Digital Battlespace

  New mission for DSCS satellite

  13th October 2016

  A Defense Satellite Communications System (DSCS) satellite has embarked on a new mission supporting the National Science Foundation (NSF)’s Amundsen-Scott Station at the South Pole. …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  USAF, Battelle target UAS ice protection

  13th October 2016

  The US Air Force (USAF) is exploring ice protection technology for UAS under a cooperative research and development agreement with Battelle Memorial Institute. The technology …

• Defence Helicopter

  Helitech 2016: Lord looks for more aftermarket opportunities

  13th October 2016

  Lord Corporation has been vocalising its long history in the aftermarket at Helitech International 2016, while looking to also branch out with its platform bases.  …

• Land Warfare

  Smerch MLRS replacement coming

  13th October 2016

  The production of Russia’s latest MLRS system dubbed Tornado-S is set to begin in 2017.  Yury Borisov, the Russian deputy defence minister, responsible for all …

• Digital Battlespace

  Russian reconnaissance radar launched

  13th October 2016

  The Russian MoD has completed testing and evaluation on a new radar called Pika-M and has started production. Built by Russia’s United Instrument-Manufacturing Corporation (UIMC), …

• Defence Notes

  US mulls AC-208 sale to Iraq

  13th October 2016

  The US State Department has made a determination approving a potential Foreign Military Sale of AC-208 Combat Caravan light attack aircraft, and related support, training …

• Defence Helicopter

  Helitech 2016: On Trakka for EMS missions (video)

  13th October 2016

  Trakka Systems unveiled its TrakkaBeam TLX and TC-300 payloads to the European market at Helitech International on 11-13 October. The company specialises in searchlights and …

• Training

  HMS Clyde undergoes aviation training

  13th October 2016

  The British Royal Navy has conducted an eight-day aviation training and assessment of HMS Clyde, a River-class offshore patrol vessel, before its deployment in the …

• Military Logistics

  L-3 starts work on KC-10 support contract

  12th October 2016

  L-3 Communications’ Vertex Aerospace division has started work to support the US Air Force (USAF) KC-10 aircraft fleet, the company announced on 11 October. The …

• Digital Battlespace

  Qwaltec to support US Navy satellites

  12th October 2016

  Qwaltec is to provide support to the US Navy’s Navy Satellite Operations Center (NAVSOC) in Pt Mugu, California, under a five-year $19 million contract beginning this …

• Land Warfare

  New Russian-made APC en route

  12th October 2016

  Russia’s KTZ concern has unveiled a brand-new tracked amphibious armoured personnel carrier (APC) developed from the the BMP-3 infantry fighting vehicle (IFV).  Designated as the …

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 ...