• Naval Warfare

  US Navy eyes using UUVs to protect Columbia submarines

  1st March 2019

  The US Navy is examining how it could use unmanned undersea vehicles to protect its manned ballistic missile submarines, according to a key service official. …

• Military Logistics

  Improved CRL capability for B-52 tested

  20th February 2019

  The US Air Force (USAF) tested an upgrade to the B-52 Stratofortress and the Conventional Rotary Launcher (CRL) on 11 February. The CRL is a …

• Naval Warfare

  ADECS 2019: Thales push for 'top' navigation billing (video)

  29th January 2019

  The Thales manufactured Top Axyz Interial Measurement Unit is capable of providing advanced accuracy in GPS-denied and radar jammed environments. Mickael Brouillet, navigation business development …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Avalon 2019: Kelpie chases service role in Australia

  26th February 2019

  The Kelpie multirole UGV, unveiled on 25 February at the Avalon Air Show, is expected to reach production standard in 2020. It will be developed …

• Land Warfare

  EOS T2000 turret competing for Land 400 IFV programme

  5th March 2019

  At the Avalon Air Show, the Australian Department of Defence launched Electro Optic Systems’ (EOS) T2000 turret for armoured vehicles. Defence Minister Christopher Pyne was …

• Special Operations

  SO/LIC 2019: USSOCOM seeks to shrink sensors for drones

  8th February 2019

  US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) is looking to miniaturize sensors its uses on large unmanned aircraft systems so they can be flown on smaller UAS …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Heli-Expo 2019: Bell moves out with autonomous pod flight test programme

  26th February 2019

  Manufacturer Bell is continuing to test and develop its Autonomous Pod Transport (APT) unmanned vehicle programme as it bids to expand on collaborative partnerships announced …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  UGVs join Crossed Swords cyber exercise

  27th February 2019

  The NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence (CCDCOE)’s recent Crossed Swords exercise broke new ground, including UGVs and a Cyber Command element for the …

• Training

  Australian Navy's communication sim delivered

  25th February 2019

  The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) Defence Force School of Signals Maritime Wing at HMAS Cerberus in Victoria has recently received a new communication simulator. The device …

• Military Logistics

  CMS 330 selected for Canadian JSS

  11th February 2019

  Lockheed Martin Canada’s Combat Management System (CMS) 330 has been selected by Seaspan’s Vancouver Shipyards for the Royal Canadian Navy’s future Protecteur-class ships, the company …

• Special Operations

  JSOU looks to yoga and meditation

  12th February 2019

  Readiness and resilience of special operations forces could be extended through increased emphasis on yoga and meditation, a Joint Special Operations University (JSOU) report has …

• Defence Helicopter

  IDEX 2019: Helicopter issues hamper Jordanian air force

  13th February 2019

  According to the Royal Jordanian Air Force’s (RJAF) Brig Gen Pilot, Adham Belal Asendar, the service’s helicopters do not currently have weapons integrated with surveillance …

• Defence Notes

  Trump signs 'Space Force' directive

  20th February 2019

  President Donald Trump signed an order on 19 February 2019 outlining his vision for a new ‘Space Force’ that could one day become a separate …

• Naval Warfare

  West 2019: US Navy focuses on agility

  14th February 2019

  In the opening keynote address to West 2019, being held this week in San Diego, California, ADM John Richardson, US Navy chief of naval operations …

• Naval Warfare

  Diligence still on the cutting block

  7th February 2019

  The UK Royal Fleet Auxiliary's (RFA) former support vessel Diligence, put up for sale in 2016, appears to be struggling to find suitors after an …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Surface-to-surface missiles, Loitering munitions

  Project Brakestop [UK]

  Programme Background Information Notice On 25 September 2024, the UK MoD published a prior information notice on Project Brakestop, which informed the industry about the upcoming ...

• Loitering munitions

  Medium Range Precision Strike (MRPS) [UK]

  Programme Background Prior Information Notice (PIN) On 21 October 2024, the MoD published a PIN in collaboration with the Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S;). The notice ...

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

  Dominator XP [Thailand]

  Programme Background Purchase As reported by Shephard, in September 2023, the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) inducted three Dominator XPs. The RTAF purchased the trio ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  CH-47F Chinook (Singapore)

  Programme Background In July 2020, photos have emerged on the internet of the first Boeing CH-47F Chinook destined for the Republic of Singapore Air Force ...

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

  MQ-9B SkyGuardian (US)

  Programme Background On 6 March 2023, GA-ASI announced that the Air Force Special Operations Command (ASFOC) had contracted three MQ-9B SkyGaurdians, making it the first US customer of the ...

• Transport

  VC-25B - USAF

  The modifications to the 747-8 aircraft will include an electrical power upgrade with dual Auxiliary Power Units that are usable in flight, a mission communication ...

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

  Anka-S (Second Batch) [Turkey]

  Programme Background First Batch Based on comments by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) and Turkish media in 2018, Shephard believes that Türkiye acquired 26 Anka-S drones ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | SSN(X) Programme [USN]

  The US Navy may be far from reaching the end of procuring the current Virginia-class nuclear attack submarines (SSNs), but that does not mean planning for ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | SSN(X) Programme [USN]

  The US Navy may be far from reaching the end of procuring the current Virginia-class nuclear attack submarines (SSNs), but that does not mean planning for ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

  New Water Jet Fast Attack Craft (NWJFAC) (India)

  Programme Background Requirements The Indian Navy is seeking replacements for a large proportion of its 19 46-49m-long waterjet-powered fast attack craft, several of which are approaching ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  Mi-28NE Night Hunter

  Algerian military's follow-up order suggests that the country is satisfied with the Mi-28NE Night Hunters' performance in operational conditions in the desert environment featuring sandstorms ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  F-5E/F Adversary Trainer US Navy

  The F-5N is a single seat, dual engine supersonic land based fighter. It is designed to a service life of 9000 flight hours. The aircraft ...

• Loitering munitions

  ZT-180 [Russia]

  Programme Background Claims On 23 February 2023, DER SPIEGEL reported that, according to information it had gathered, China and Russia were negotiating the purchase of 100 ZT-180 ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  HH-60W - Combat Rescue Helicopter (CRH)

  According to the FY2021 Base funding, the HH-60W helicopter unit cost is $43.2 million. The HH-60W will be capable of employment day or night, in ...

• Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  Joint Tactical Autonomous Aerial Resupply System (JTAARS) / Medium ULS-A [USMC]

  Programme Background US Marine ULS-A programmes The US Marines are seeking a family of Unmanned Logistics Systems-Air (ULS-A), which will provide logistics and ground units with ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Air: surveillance and maritime patrol radar

  AN/APQ-181

  The AN/APQ-181 is a low-probability-of-intercept radar fitted to USAF Northrop Grumman B-2 stealth bombers. During the B-2 Radar Modernization Program – completed in 2012 – the ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  CreoLand HP

  CreoLand HP is a 10W MANET radio designed for command centres, long-range applications, artillery and special forces units. Notably, it offers a data throughput of 100Mbps ...

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

  H10 Poseidon

  The H10 Poseidon is a fixed-wing VTOL-capable UAV manufactured by Swamrly. Due to the UAV's electric propulsion system, small-radar cross-section, lack of detachable thermal signature and ability to operate ...

• Air: UAS radar

  ANKA SATCOM Radome

  The ANKA SATCOM Radome is a structural component developed by the Turkish defence manufacturer Meteksan Savunma Sanayi. It is designed for the protection of Ku-band ...

• Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - small

  Khronos

  The Khronos is a tethered, fully automated UAV for ISR missions in GPS/GNSS-denied and RF-denied environments. The drone's manufacturer, Elistair, stated that it could be deployed from a ...

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

  DT-101

  The DT-101 is a small fixed-wing UAV from Deftech. The VTOL-capable platform features SATCOM with up to 10Mbs bandwidth capability. DefTech lists various payloads for ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  ARX

  Unveiled at Xponential 2024, the ARX is a fixed-wing drone developed by Tekever.  It features common electronics and software with other Tekever drones. Unlike those ...

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

  DT-001

  The DT-001 is a tandem wing UCAV from Deftech. It can host a range of non-offensive payloads, such as IO/EO cameras and an airborne LIDAR. ...

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

  Spider VTOL

  The Spider VTOL is a mini electrical fixed-wing UAV. Unlike traditional VTOL UAVs with dedicated motors, propellors and structural parts for performing take-off and landing, the Spider ...

• Data links

  MAQA Terminal 3.8m Flyaway Variant

  The Modular Aperture Quad-Band Antenna (MAQA) Terminal is designed to provide a ruggedised, mobile, quad-band SATCOM terminal that supports operations with the WGS constellation, legacy ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  AN/VRC-118(V)1

  The AN/VRC-118(V)1 is a Mid-tier Networking Vehicular Radio (MNVR) which provides warfighters with the ability to share situational awareness. The MNVR utilises two joint tactical ...

• Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - small

  BLADE-55

  The Ballistic Loitering Attack Drone (BLADE, or BLADE-55) is a multi-role, weaponised rotary-wing UAV from Alare Technologies.  The drone can notably host two NAMMO M72 LAW weapons. Additionally, the ...

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

  Disruptor

  Publically unveiled at AUSA 2024, the Disruptor is a loitering munition and UAV manufactured by AEVEX Aerospace. The Group III aircraft utilises a pneumatic launcher or Rocket Assisted ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  AN/ARC-231 Skyfire

  The AN/ARC-231 Skyfire is an airborne VHF/UHF/LOS and DAMA SATCOM system. This system supports US DoD requirements for airborne, multi-band, multi-mission, secure anti-jam voice, data ...

• Air-to-surface missiles

  Viper-E

  In November 2011, MBDA bought the Viper-E (previously called Viper Strike) precision munition from Northrop Grumman. Viper-E allows aircraft, helicopters and UAVs to precisely engage ...