• Digital Battlespace

  How the new LTAMDS radar will thwart evolving air defence threats (Studio)

  12th July 2022

  The US Army’s newest air defence radar promises to better detect and defend against complex and evolving threats while reducing operator workload.

• Defence Notes

  Australian Dash 8s for maritime surveillance to receive radar upgrade with SeaVue

  28th July 2022

  Under contract from Cobham Special Mission, Raytheon is upgrading a fleet of 11 Dash 8 aircraft with the SeaVue MR radar.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  AeroVironment expands flight autonomy presence with Planck Aerosystems acquisition

  18th August 2022

  The acquisition of Planck Aerosystems gives AeroVironment more capabilities in UAV guidance and navigation, autonomy and AI.

• Air Warfare

  Farnborough 2022: Boom and Northrop Grumman partner to explore supersonic airliner’s military potential

  19th July 2022

  At Farnborough International Air Show, Supersonic airliner developer Boom announced a partnership with Northrop Grumman to explore the military applications of the in-development Overture supersonic airliner.

• Training

  Barco projector to power mini-dome simulator for USAF

  8th June 2022

  The Barco FS40-4K solid-state illumination projector will equip the Draco 240+ mini-dome simulator in the USAF Joint Simulation Environment.

• Air Warfare

  MH-60 Romeos flirt in India for the first time

  29th July 2022

  The first pair of MH-60Rs has arrived on Indian soil, with a third expected in a month's time.

• Air Warfare

  India faces a crisis in its fighter squadrons

  5th August 2022

  India is facing a crisis with crashes of older fighters, falling squadron numbers and delays in acquisition programmes.

• Defence Notes

  Australia onshores Super Hornet and Growler maintenance elements

  27th July 2022

  New MRO contract between Boeing Defence Australia and RUAG Australia replaces work previously done in the US.

• Naval Warfare

  Sweden begins to mull A26 successor

  28th June 2022

  Early work on a future next-generation submarine is progressing under the unofficial name 'UB30'.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  UK to accelerate heavy lift UAS technology development

  15th August 2022

  The UK has released new details about how it intends on examining heavy lift class UAS platforms and technologies.

• Naval Warfare

  MSPO 2022: Composite OSU-35K maritime air defence system to equip Kormoran II, Miecznik vessels

  7th September 2022

  Polish firms combine to develop a new 35mm gun system for naval air defence that can fire airburst munitions and sub-calibre ammunition.

• Defence Notes

  Ireland adopts middle course for defence spending growth with air surveillance radar a priority

  25th July 2022

  The Irish government aims to increase annual defence spending by 40% to €1.5 billion by 2028 with better airspace surveillance identified as a critical requirement, although no firm procurement decisions have been made.

• Air Warfare

  Philippines considers more FA-50s, but no fighter decision made yet

  16th June 2022

  Finances are a constant thorn in the side of the Philippine military, but it still dreams of more FA-50s and new multirole fighters.

• Land Warfare

  First US Army Mobile Protected Firepower vehicles will be delivered in 2023

  7th July 2022

  General Dynamics Land Systems will supply 96 vehicles under a $1.14 billion contract for the Mobile Protected Firepower programme.

• Defence Notes

  Irate China goes ballistic after Pelosi visits Taiwan

  7th August 2022

  Taiwan was on high alert while China militarily threatened it to the hilt. Beijing took the opportunity offered by Pelosi's visit to express its ambition to conquer the democratically governed nation.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - fixed-wing

  Bandit (US)

  Programme Background Goal As stated by Alyson Turri, the AFRL Bandit programme manager, the goal is to "develop an unmanned platform that looks like a fifth-generation ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Rafale - Follow-On (Greece)

  Programme Background Referring to the rearmament programme for 2020-2025, Greek defence minister Nikolaos Panagiotopoulos said in parliament on 7 October 2021 that up to 48 new multi-role ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Kalina Class

  The Kalina-class conventionally powered submarine is being developed to follow the Lada-class submarines. The new fifth-generation Kalina-class will be used for coastal defence against surface ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Kalina Class

  The Kalina-class conventionally powered submarine is being developed to follow the Lada-class submarines. The new fifth-generation Kalina-class will be used for coastal defence against surface ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-35A (1-20) [Greece]

  Programme Background Timeline In April 2019, Defence Minister Evangelos Apostolakis confirmed the country’s serious interest in purchasing the F-35. He told the press that in ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Multirole Fighter (UAE)

  Programme Background Abu Dhabi has a long-standing interest in two squadrons of F-35, which had been refused until 2017 when it was reported that the ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Future Combat Air System (FCAS/SCAF) [France]

  Programme Background The governments of France and Germany have launched the demonstrator phase for the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) with the issue of an ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Multirole Fighter (Morocco)

  Programme Background In March 2019, the US State Department announced that it has approved a possible FMS of 25 F-16V Block 72 aircraft to Morocco ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Future Combat Air System (FCAS/SCAF) [Germany]

  Background Requirement The FCAS programme is based on the system-of-systems design, envisioning a "command fighter" aircraft that has stand-alone combat capability as well as controlling ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | JAS-39C/D Gripen Replacement [Czech Republic]

  The Czech Republic Air Force operates 14 Gripens (12 JAS 39C and two JAS 39D variants) under a lease agreement that runs until 2027 with an option ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  Air: Helmet-mounted displays | JAS-39C/D Gripen Replacement [Czech Republic]

  The Czech Republic Air Force operates 14 Gripens (12 JAS 39C and two JAS 39D variants) under a lease agreement that runs until 2027 with an option ...

• Data links

  Data links | JAS-39C/D Gripen Replacement [Czech Republic]

  The Czech Republic Air Force operates 14 Gripens (12 JAS 39C and two JAS 39D variants) under a lease agreement that runs until 2027 with an option ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | JAS-39C/D Gripen Replacement [Czech Republic]

  The Czech Republic Air Force operates 14 Gripens (12 JAS 39C and two JAS 39D variants) under a lease agreement that runs until 2027 with an option ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | JAS-39C/D Gripen Replacement [Czech Republic]

  The Czech Republic Air Force operates 14 Gripens (12 JAS 39C and two JAS 39D variants) under a lease agreement that runs until 2027 with an option ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Future Combat Air System (FCAS/SCAF) [Spain]

  Programme Background Programme Timeline The Future Combat Air System (FCAS) was publicly announced in July 2017, followed by a Franco-German agreement in 2018. At the ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  Zero-G HMDS+

  The Zero-G HMDS+ is a developmental helmet-mounted display system being developed by Collins Aerospace and Elbit Systems for sixth-generation higher aircraft. According to the company, ...

• Data links

  Multifunction Advanced Data Link

  Multifunction Advanced Data Link (MADL) is a Ku-band data link designed for fifth-generation aircraft. The directional, interflight system is integrated into all F-35 variants, allowing ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Su-75 Checkmate

  Checkmate is a fifth-generation light tactical aircraft being developed by Sukhoi. Its prototype was unveiled at MAKS 2021. Checkmate's first flight is scheduled in 2023, ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Low Profile Head-Up Display (LPHUD)

  The Low profile Head-up Display (LPHUD) series is designed developed by Elbit Systems' ISTAR division, for fourth and fifth generation advanced fighter aircraft jets. Notalby, ...

• Fighter - multirole, Fighter - naval

  F-35C

  The F-35C Lightning II, also known as the F-35 carrier variant (CV), is a fifth-generation multirole combat aircraft in carrier configuration. It has larger wings and ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-35A

  The F-35A Lightning II is a fifth-generation multirole combat aircraft with CTOL capabilities. It is a multinational programme led by the US DoD, bringing together ...

• Fixed wing aircraft engines

  AL-41F-1S

  Manufactured by Saturn, the AL-41F-1S aircraft engine is a modular two-shaft turbofan engine with thrust vector control and integrated digital control. The engine is used ...

• Fixed wing aircraft engines

  PD-14M

  PD Family of Engines comprises of bypass two-shaft turbojet engines with a light shroudless fan. The PD family of engines are designed for short- and ...

• Air-to-air missiles, Surface-to-air missiles

  Python-5

  The Python-5 is an Israeli beyond-visual-range anti-air missile developed by Rafael. The newest member of the Python family, the Python-5 is described as a fifth-generation air-to-air ...

• Air-to-surface missiles, Anti-ship missiles

  JSM

  The Joint Strike Missile (JSM) is a multirole version of the Naval Strike Missile. Norway funded the programme to develop and produce the JSM for the ...

• Fighter - multirole, Fighter - naval

  F-35B

  The F-35B Lightning II is a fifth-generation multirole combat aircraft with short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) capability. The USMC is the main customer for the F-35B, ...

• Land: air defence radar

  ELM-2026B VSHORAD

  The ELM-2026B Very Short Range Air Defence Radar (VSHORAD) is designed for detection and tracking of airborne targets, including a variety of low-RCS and low-flying ...

• Reconnaissance/patrol vehicles

  Eagle V 4x4

  GDELS unveiled the fifth generation of its Eagle light tactical vehicle at Eurosatory 2012. The platform has replaced earlier-generation vehicles in production. More than 1,250 ...

• Fighter - multirole

  J-31/FC-31

  The J-31 (also known as the 'Falcon Eagle' in Chinese) is a fifth-generation multirole stealth fighter domestically developed by China. Its export variant is designated as ...

• ISR/special mission

  AC-130J

  The AC-130J 'Ghostrider' is a fifth-generation gunship manufactured by Lockheed Martin to replace the AC-130U/W gunships for the USAF deployed in 2019. The Ghostrider is a highly modified C-130J ...