• Land Warfare

  USMC to modernise squads

  2nd July 2015

  US Marine Corps (USMC) officials have described future efforts to optimise the combat effectiveness of the base 'Squad' formation, reflecting on lessons learned more than …

• Defence Helicopter

  HAL LCH completes hot weather trials

  30th June 2015

  Hindustan Aeronautics Limited's (HAL) Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) has successfully completed hot weather flight trials at Jodhpur, Rajasthan, the company announced on 26 June. The …

• Defence Helicopter

  South Korea signs LAH and LCH contracts

  29th June 2015

  Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) has signed development contracts for both its Light Armed Helicopter (LAH) and Light Civil Helicopter (LCH) programmes, propelling both project forward. …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  NASA tests unmanned flying system

  26th June 2015

  NASA is working with General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Honeywell to conduct a series of tests of a system …

• Digital Battlespace

  GDMS secures WIN-T Increment 2 order

  25th June 2015

  General Dynamics Mission Systems (GDMS) has been awarded the first full-rate production (FRP) order for the US Army's Warfighter Information Network–Tactical (WIN-T) Increment 2 system, …

• Defence Notes

  Gulf temperatures reduce WR-21 output

  25th June 2015

  The high temperatures in the Arabian Gulf have resulted in increasing wear and reductions in power generation for the UK Royal Navy’s T45 destroyers when …

• Naval Warfare

  HII breaks ground for new JMAF

  23rd June 2015

  The Newport News Shipbuilding division of Huntington Ingalls Industries broke ground for its new Joint Manufacturing Assembly Facility (JMAF) on 22 June. The JMAF will …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Paris Air Show: Orbiter 1K fully operational by year end

  18th June 2015

  Fresh from Aeronautics’ unveiling of the Orbiter 1K UAV, company officials expect that the system would be fully operational by the end of the year. …

• Naval Warfare

  New cutters expand Taiwan’s coast guard

  16th June 2015

  Taiwan’s newest 3,000t coast guard cutter Kaohsiung (CG129) has commenced a secretive first deployment. Kaohsiung departed its homeport in southern Taiwan on 11 June, just …

• Land Warfare

  India to replace T-72 tanks

  16th June 2015

  The Indian Army has issued an RfI to replace its extensive fleet of T-72M1 main battle tanks (MBT) that began entering service in the mid-1980s. …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Paris Air Show: Re-using loitering munitions

  16th June 2015

  Loitering munitions could in the future be returned to the operator, as long as the warhead itself was not armed, said senior IAI officials at …

• Defence Helicopter

  Paris Air Show: TAI eyes export sales

  15th June 2015

  After a period of rapid expansion since 2005, Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) is entering a new phase and believes the appearance of its equipment with …

• Defence Helicopter

  Paris Air Show: Costs hamper heli ops

  15th June 2015

  While rotorcraft are ‘utterly essential’ to modern military operations, vulnerability, range and cost issues continue to hamper their utility, according to one senior British Army …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Paris Air Show: Sense-and-avoid comes of age

  12th June 2015

  Development is continuing on Honeywell Aerospace’s sense-and-avoid (SAA) system, with officials saying the final product would ‘probably be another two years away’. Work on the …

• Defence Helicopter

  Australian 725 Squadron to operate MH-60R

  11th June 2015

  The Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) commissioned its newest unit, 725 Squadron, which is equipped with Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawks, on 11 …

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 ...