• Defence Notes

  Singapore Airshow: Honeywell finds Asia-Pacific encouragement

  18th February 2016

  Honeywell was obviously able to cater to both the commercial and military aviation sectors whilst at the Singapore Air Show, but one important announcement surrounded …

• Training

  UK orders Beechcraft training aircraft

  5th February 2016

  Beechcraft Defense has been subcontracted by Affinity Flying Training Services to provide ten Beechcraft T-6C Texan II military training aircraft to the UK Ministry of …

• Defence Helicopter

  Singapore Airshow: Bell building momentum with trifecta

  10th February 2016

  Despite an industry downturn, much of it driven by the oil and gas segment, Bell Helicopter ‘had a good year’ in 2015. Although the OEM …

• Digital Battlespace

  Harris offers all-digital GPS satellite payloads

  3rd February 2016

  Harris is gearing up to offer its fully digital navigation payloads for future US Air Force GPS satellites. This follows a Request for Proposal (RFP) in …

• Defence Helicopter

  US Army begins Apache sensor upgrades

  7th January 2016

  The US Army has begun the process of upgrading the electro-optical sensors on its Apache AH-64E aircraft, allowing crews to see daytime colour imagery for …

• Training

  Boeing to continue USAF T-38 support

  15th January 2016

  Boeing will continue maintenance and support of the US Air Force’s T-38 Talon trainer aircraft fleet through to 2026 under a new contract announced on …

• Land Warfare

  Cook on track with Ajax

  28th January 2016

  Tracks for the British Army’s new Ajax armoured reconnaissance vehicle will be provided by Cook Defence Systems. The company was selected on 16 December 2015 …

• Land Warfare

  Aster missile upgrade underway

  15th January 2016

  The EUROSAM consortium has been awarded a contract to develop a new version of the Aster 30 Block 1 missile for the French Ministry of …

• Defence Helicopter

  Lockheed to sustain Apache M-TADS/PNVS

  7th January 2016

  Lockheed Martin has been awarded a contract by the US Army to sustain the AH-64D/E Apache’s targeting and pilotage system, the Modernized Target Acquisition Designation …

• Training

  MilSim Asia: Stacks of simulation software in Singapore

  22nd January 2016

  There was a general consensus at MilSim Asia 2016 in Singapore that simulation still has a long way to go in terms of its utilisation …

• Land Warfare

  UK to test precision rounds on AS90

  15th January 2016

  The UK Ministry of Defence will begin testing precision-guided 155mm artillery rounds with the AS90 self-propelled gun later this year. An MoD official confirmed to …

• Naval Warfare

  Mexico orders Damen patrol vessels

  7th January 2016

  Damen will supply three additional patrol vessels to the Mexican Navy as part of a contract announced on 6 January. The vessels will be based …

• Defence Helicopter

  India makes Mi-25 Afghan donation

  5th January 2016

  The Afghan Air Force (AAF) is now in receipt of the first example of four Mil Mi-25 attack helicopters that are being donated by India. …

• Naval Warfare

  Airships have multirole future

  28th December 2015

  Airship producer Aeroscraft says lighter-than-air (LTA) aircraft have an advantage over other ISR platforms, particularly in roles such as coastal patrol and port security, as …

• Defence Helicopter

  M-TADS/PNVS systems for India

  18th December 2015

  Lockheed Martin has been awarded a foreign military sale contract from the US Army to provide Modernized Target Acquisition Designation Sight/Pilot Night Vision Sensor (M-TADS/PNVS) …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - fixed-wing

  MUM-T Drone [Thailand]

  Programme Background Roadmap In February 2024, the RTAF unveiled its White Paper 2024. Incorporating lessons from the Russo-Ukrainian War, the Israel-Hamas War, and other events ...

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

  KF-21 Loyal Wingman [South Korea]

  Programme Background KF-21 Boramae Crewed Fighter The Republic of Korea’s Air Force (ROKAF) plans to acquire the KF-21 Boramae fighter, replacing F-4E Phantom II and F-5E/F fighters in the ...

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

  Air Launched Effect (ALE) [South Korea]

  Programme Background KF-21 Boramae Crewed Fighter The Republic of Korea's Air Force (ROKAF) plans to acquire the KF-21 Boramae fighter, replacing F-4E Phantom II and ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing

  Air Launched Loyal Wingman [Japan]

  Programme Background Air-Launched Loyal Wingman As reported by Shephard, a 30 October 2020 contract awarded to Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) meant the company would lead ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  AH-64E Apache-UK

  According to the MoD, to further ‘guarantee value for money’ systems from the current Apache fleet such as the Modernised Target Acquisition & Designation System, ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  AH-64E Apache-Morocco

  Morocco has placed a request with the US government for AH-64E Apache attack helicopters. On 20 November 2019, it was announced that the US State ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  AH-64E Apache-Morocco Follow-On

  Morocco has placed a request with the US government for AH-64E Apache attack helicopters. On 20 November 2019, it was announced that the US State ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  T129B (Philippines)

  Programme Background On 31 August 2019, it was announced that the Philippines National Defence Acquisition Decision Memorandum continues with the T-129 procurement. However, on 30 April ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  Future Attack Helicopter (Germany)

  Programme Background Germany is reportedly struggling to keep its fleet of 68 Tiger attack helicopters in a decent technical condition that would allow combat squadrons ...

• Trainer

  Future Lead-In Fighter Training System (Project Air 6002 PH1) - Australia

  Programme Background Requirements The RAAF is seeking a future solution that provides a ‘relevant, adaptable, affordable and safe LIFTS out to 2050’ for training pilots ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  AH-64E Apache (Indian Air Force)

  Programme Background The Indian Army was originally granted co-ownership of the 22 Apaches by the Indian MoD. However, the IAF refused to cede them to ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  Kruk / AH-64E Apache [Poland]

  Programme Background In May 2019, Wojciech Skurkiewicz, the Polish deputy defence, released some details on the helicopter programme. Part of Poland's broader defence modernisation plan, the tender ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  AH-64E Apache (Israel)

  Programme Background IDF Ground Forces Command is urging the Israeli MoD to request the acquisition of up to 40 AH-64E Apache Guardian attack helicopters from ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  AH-64E Apache (Indian Army)

  It is a hybrid procurement, as was the 2015 Air Force one (see separate entry), employing both a direct commercial sale with Boeing and an ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  Project Land 4503

  Programme Background The Australian Army has begun its search for a successor to the Tiger Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter (ARH), with an RfI issued by the ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Loitering munitions, Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - mini

  MUM-T

  The Military Unmanned Teaming (MUM-T) is a UAS in development by Korean Aerospace Industries. Showcased at Seoul ADEX 2021, the MUM-T can be launched from the ...

• Loitering munitions, Military UAS - fixed-wing

  Air Launched Effect (ALE)

  The Air-Launched Effect (ALE) is an in-development uncrewed platform from Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI). Shown at IDEX 2023, it is set to come in two variants, one ...

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

  Demogorgon

  In late October 2021, the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) awarded Kratos Unnamed Systems Division an initial $17.68 million 12-month cost-plus-fixed-fee contract to develop an Off-Board Sensing ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - HALE

  Arrow

  The Arrow is a supersonic prototype UAV developed by Singapore-based Kelley Aerospace. According to the manufacturer, the 16.8t prototype will be operated as a conventional UAV, ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - HALE

  Uncrewed Checkmate

  At the Dubai Airshow 2021, United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), the parent company of Checkmate manufacturer Sukhoi Design Bureau, announced its intention to manufacture an uncrewed version of ...

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

  Koios

  Manufactured by Callen-Lenz, the Koios is a small-UAS available in both a VTOL and non-VTOL variant.  Designed for the civil and military market, as standard, ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - HALE

  Defender

  The Defender is a jet-powered uncrewed escort aircraft built by GA-ASI. The primary goal of the UAV is to protect high-value airborne assets, such as refuelling ...

• Land: handheld NV devices, Land: handheld day observation, surveillance and targeting systems, Weapon sights for night use (image intensifiers)

  MUM-14

  The Multi-Use Mini-Monocular (MUM-14) is a modular, passive NVD designed to maintain situation awareness in a range of low-light conditions, utilising a single Gen III ...

• Data links

  Micro TMA

  Thales Micro TMA is a high-rate datalink designed for uncrewed platforms and video streaming applications from aircraft. It provides command and control functions as well ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  AH-64D Apache Longbow

  The AH-64D Apache Longbow is an out-of-production attack helicopter that Boeing manufactured. Boeing delivered the first Apache Longbow in April 1997. From 2012, the Block III ...

• Military UAS - MALE, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Night Intruder 600 Vertical Take-Off (NI-600VT)

  The Night Intruder 600 Vertical Take-Off (NI-600VT) is an in-development UAV from Korean Aerospace Industries (KAI) based on an MD 500 twin-seat American commercial helicopter airframe. With the ...

• Air: helicopter flight simulators

  Apache Longbow Training System

  The Longbow Crew Trainer is the centrepiece of Boeing’s AH-64 Apache training. Pilots and other personnel use the high-fidelity flight simulator to practice aircraft procedures ...

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

  Gambit (Series)

  The Gambit Series are five UAV variants based around the Gambit Core, a common system containing the platform's hardware: landing gear, baseline avionics, chassis, and other essential functions. ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  WAH-64 Apache

  The WAH-64/AH1 Apache is a variant of the Boeing AH-64D Apache Longbow, developed and built by Leonardo from 1996 to meet British Army requirements. One ...

• Air: aerial targets

  BQM-34 Firebee

  The BQM-34 Firebee is an uncrewed aerial target system that the USAF and USN have used for more than 50 years. The primary mission of ...