• Air Warfare

  DSEI 2021: Airbus pitches H175M UK production for RAF’s New Medium Helicopter acquisition

  10th September 2021

  As competition intensifies across industry to fight it out for the RAF's New Medium Helicopter acquisition, Airbus has announced a compelling production plan.

• Naval Warfare

  German F126 frigate approaches review

  15th September 2021

  As the Mehrzweckkampfschiff 180 (MKS180) multirole ship transitions into the F126 frigate, the Bundeswehr has provided details of the progress towards its expected construction date.

• Land Warfare

  India orders Arjun Mk IA tanks

  24th September 2021

  After much dilly-dallying, India has ordered its second batch of Arjun tanks.

• Air Warfare

  China reveals J-16D and other aircraft at Zhuhai

  29th September 2021

  China showed off new aircraft and missiles at the Zhuhai air show, including a twin-seat J-16D shown in public for the first time.

• Defence Notes

  UK Space Strategy leaves unanswered questions

  28th September 2021

  The UK National Space Strategy omits the long-standing government goal for the UK to capture 10% of the global space market by 2030, while defence-specific elements will be addressed separately.

• Air Warfare

  Army-2021: Izdelie 305 sees the light of day

  31st August 2021

  Russian light multipurpose guided missile has probably seen combat in Syria and it was displayed at Army-2021 with an export designation.

• Air Warfare

  Kuwait to receive in-country Super Hercules support

  20th August 2021

  Vertex Aerospace services all three KC-130J aircraft flown by the Kuwait Air Force.

• Naval Warfare

  ROK submarine fires SLBM for first time

  8th September 2021

  The South Korean SLBM programme continues to make headway with a first ejection test from a submerged submarine.

• Air Warfare

  France eyes hot-weather operations for upgraded Mirage 2000Ds

  3rd September 2021

  Mirage 2000D RMV aircraft have been tested in Djibouti, with a view to deploy them on operational missions from Niger in 2022.

• Land Warfare

  Australia requests new C-IED robots

  23rd July 2021

  As its existing counter-IED robots near the end of their service lives, the Australian Defence Force is looking for a mix of new innovative platforms that can replace these essential capabilities.

• Defence Notes

  OneWeb successfully launches another 34 satellites

  23rd August 2021

  OneWeb, which is part-owned by the UK government, has successfully launched another 34 satellites.

• Air Warfare

  French Navy needs more Rafales, NFH90s

  9th September 2021

  Attrition and heavy maintenance demands affect French Naval Aviation fixed-wing aircraft and helicopter requirements.

• Land Warfare

  Army-2021: New-look BMP-3 with Berezhok makes its debut

  2nd September 2021

  Rostec subsidiaries have developed an up-armoured BMP-3 with the Berezhok combat module; meanwhile, work continues on the BMP-3M Manul.

• Air Warfare

  South Korea to receive extra engine for P-8A

  18th August 2021

  DoD announces FMS option for South Korea to receive one more engine to power Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft.

• Air Warfare

  USN and US Special Operations Command select Wescam

  18th August 2021

  Two contracts cover the provision of MX-10D, MX-15D and MX-20 EO/IR sensors for USN and special forces.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Tiltrotors

  V-22 Osprey [Japan]

  Programme Background Procurement Contracts The Japanese government is the first export customer of the Bell-Boeing V-22 Osprey, having ordered 17 helicopters from the US across ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | MAWS/PATMAR [France]

  French Navy is planning to purchase up to 22 MPA aircraft to replace its ATL2 fleet in service. Germany and France agreed to develop a ...

• Data links

  Data links | MAWS/PATMAR [France]

  French Navy is planning to purchase up to 22 MPA aircraft to replace its ATL2 fleet in service. Germany and France agreed to develop a ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | MAWS/PATMAR [France]

  French Navy is planning to purchase up to 22 MPA aircraft to replace its ATL2 fleet in service. Germany and France agreed to develop a ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | MAWS/PATMAR [France]

  French Navy is planning to purchase up to 22 MPA aircraft to replace its ATL2 fleet in service. Germany and France agreed to develop a ...

• Loitering munitions

  Harop [Morocco]

  Programme Background In November 2021, Haaretz reported that a $22 million drone sale between Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and Morocco had occurred. That publication and ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  Light Armed Helicopter (LAH) Forecast (South Korea)

  Programme Background The LAH is the first time that the South Korean OEM has developed an armed helicopter. The project kicked off in June 2015, ...

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

  MQ-4 Triton (Announced/Contracted) [USA]

  Programme Background Requirement The MQ-4C Triton programme, developed under the Broad Area Maritime Surveillance (BAMS) programme, required an uncrewed system to provide persistent real-time intelligence, surveillance ...

• Military helicopters - maritime

  Spain HT-29 Caiman MSPT (NH90 NFH) - Navy

  The deliveries of seven NH-90 NFHs to the Spanish Navy are expected to between 2022 and 2025, following the completion of 22-helicopters program for the ...

• Patrol boats

  Evolved Cape Class (1-6) [Australia]

  Programme Background Austal was awarded a contract to build six 'Evolved' Cape-class patrol boats for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) on 1 May 2020. The contract ...

• Tiltrotors

  V-22 Osprey (USN)

  Programme Background Requirement According to USN FY2023 Budget Estimate documentation, the V-22 programme provides an aircraft to meet the amphibious and vertical assault needs of ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  AAV7A1 RAM/RS (Japan - 2nd Batch)

  Programme Background The Japan Ground Self Defense Force (JGSDF) has procured the AAV7A1 RAM/RS to equip its Amphibious Assault Brigade formed in 2018. Tasked with ...

• Frigates

  30FFM Multi-Mission Frigates [Japan]

  Programme Background Timeline The Japanese Ministry of Defense (MoD) was expected to place orders for all eight multirole frigates by fiscal year (FY) 2021, with ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift, Tiltrotors

  V-22 Osprey [Indonesia]

  Programme Background Announcement Indonesia issued a letter of request for pricing, which eventually triggered the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) to announce on 6 June 2020, ...

• Loitering munitions, Military UAS - fixed-wing

  Phoenix Ghost (Ukraine Aid) [US]

  Programme Background Presidential Drawdown (21 April 2022) Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022, on 21 April 2022, President Biden announced an $800 ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

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

  MD-22

  The Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) unveiled the near-space hypersonic technology testbed MD-22 at the Zhuhai Airshow in 2022. Capable of speeds of Mach 7, the ...

• Air: air combat simulators

  Air Combat Training

  Boeing has experience in delivering training for fixed-wing air combat platforms including F-15C/E, F-16, F/A-18E/F, EA-18G, F-22 and MV/CV-22.

• Data links

  MDM-2X02N

  The MDM-2X02N is a tactical data link modem that combines the functionalities of a Link 11 DTS and Link 22 signal processor controller (SPC) into ...

• Data links

  MLT 2920

  The MLT 2920 Multi Link Terminal is a Link 11/22 compatible data link solution. Supplied by Elbit Systems Deutschland, it comprises one Link 11 modem ...

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

  Kaman-22

  Unveiled in February 2021, the Kaman-22 is the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Forces (IRIAF) flagship UAV. With a payload capacity of 300kg and seven hardpoints, ...

• Transport

  An-22

  The largest transport aircraft of the time, the An-22 Antei (NATO reporting name Cock) is a heavy military transport aircraft developed by Antonov in the ...

• Data links

  Maritime Tactical Data Link

  The Maritime Tactical Data Link (MTDL) is a developmental tactical data link by Hanwha Systems. Offered in 16 configurations, the system is based on the ...

• Air: AEW/fire control radar

  RP-22 Sapfir 21

  The RP-22 Sapfir 21 is an upgraded Sapfir for late-1960s MiG-21 fighters. 

• Anti-ship missiles

  P-270 Moskit

  The P-270 Moskit is a Soviet anti-ship missile designated as SS-N-22 (Sunburn) by NATO. It was not till after the end of the Cold War ...

• Sea: naval fire control radar

  Type 911

  The Type 911 is a lightweight, I-bad fire control system developed by Marconi, which is now part of BAE Systems. These radars were originally developed ...

• Data links

  LinkPro

  LinkPro is a standards-based, high fidelity, software-only, multi-link Tactical Data Link (TDL) processing engine that improves tactical communications, reduces the time, risk and expense of ...

• Corvettes

  Shahid Soleimani class

  At the beginning of September 2022, Iran unveiled the new Shahid Soleimani-class warship. The vessel features a catamaran design with a stealthy superstructure. Two other units are reportedly ...

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

  Air Wolf

  The Air Wolf, or Airwolf, is a catapult-launched developmental UAS manufactured by Kratos Defense & Security Solutions.  On 25 August 2021, Kratos announced the platform had completed its ...

• ISR/special mission

  IL-22

  The IL-22 Bison (NATO reporting name Coot-B), also known as IL-18D-36, is a special mission aircraft designed as an airborne command post for the Soviet Air Force.  ...

• Helicopter guns

  RGS (AWG-35)

  The RGS (AWG-35) fulfils the USMC requirement for an Interim Defensive Weapon System for the MV-22 tiltrotor. Armed with a three-barrel 7.62mm GAU-7 minigun, the ...