• Defence Notes

  Avalon 2015: USAF confident F-35 will meet targets

  25th February 2015

  The re-baselining of the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter programme has been successful and ongoing improvements in areas such as support and …

• Military Logistics

  RuBee system takes part in pilot programme

  25th February 2015

  Lockheed Martin is hopeful that its new weapons maintenance system, developed with Visible Assets, will be expanded into a full programme following a pilot programme …

• Land Warfare

  IDEX 2015 (video): Orbital ATK looks to future

  23rd February 2015

  Dan Olson, VP and general manager of the armament systems division at Orbital ATK, speaks to Shephard about the future prospects in the Middle East …

• Digital Battlespace

  IDEX 2015: Terma launches infrastructure protection

  22nd February 2015

  Terma has launched its new T.react Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) system at IDEX 2015 to detect, identify, and track both internal and external perimeter threats. …

• Military Logistics

  Aero India: MTA project fails to meet requirements

  20th February 2015

  Failure to meet engine requirements and increased costs in the development of the Il-214 Medium Transport Aircraft – a $600 million Indo-Russian joint venture – …

• Land Warfare

  IDEX 2015: Qnective building maritime C2 for Oman

  18th February 2015

  A maritime communications network is being built for the Sultanate of Oman by Switzerland-based encryption software specialists Qnective and local partner Al-Madakhel. The companies are …

• Naval Warfare

  South African Navy to get OSI T-ACT systems

  18th February 2015

  OSI Maritime Systems has won a contract to supply its Tactical-Asset Control and Tracking (T-ACT) to the South African Navy, the company announced on 16 …

• Defence Helicopter

  Chinook may be destined for Indonesia

  17th February 2015

  Boeing has held high level cooperation discussions with Indonesian defence officials in a move that may pave the way for procurement of the CH-47 Chinook …

• Land Warfare

  Peru IFV has priority over MBTs

  13th February 2015

  A lot has been made about plans by the Peruvian Army to upgrade its main battle tanks (MBTs) but the actual priority is infantry fighting …

• Military Logistics

  West: USN tests magnetic logistics tracker

  12th February 2015

  A new logistics tracking system that employs magnetic field technology was tested by the US Naval Expeditionary Forces in a pilot programme in December 2014. …

• Land Warfare

  West: US Army readiness delayed to 2020

  11th February 2015

  The US Army has been degraded by a high operational tempo and sequestration in recent years that means it won’t achieve full readiness until 2020. …

• Land Warfare

  Poland to build artillery force

  11th February 2015

  As part of the Poland Armed Forces (PAF) vision for 2030 to modernise their land forces, the Polish Army is to introduce six new artillery …

• Digital Battlespace

  West: US to streamline NIEs

  10th February 2015

  The US Army’s semi-annual Network Integration Evaluations (NIEs) could lose some of their role. Held at Ft Bliss, Texas and White Sands Missile Range, New …

• Defence Helicopter

  Lockheed to sustain AH-64 Apache M-TADS/PNVS

  10th February 2015

  Lockheed Martin has won a US Army contract for sustainment solutions for the target acquisition and night vision sensor system of the AH-64 Apache helicopter, …

• Defence Helicopter

  Japan not seeking extra Apaches… for now

  9th February 2015

  Despite an ageing attack helicopter fleet, the Japan Ground Self-Defence Force (JGSDF) has said it is not seeking additional Boeing Apache AH-64DJP attack helicopters.  Japan …

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 ...