• Defence Notes

  Podcast: Revolutions in Vertical Flight S1 E4 - The Future Battlespace

  20th December 2019

  Welcome to Shephard Studio’s podcast series on Revolutions in Vertical Flight, sponsored by our partner Bell. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify and more. The Revolutions in Vertical Flight …

• Digital Battlespace

  Lockheed Martin to develop Sentinel A4 radar

  30th September 2019

  Lockheed Martin will develop the Sentinel A4 radar system under a $281 million contract awarded by the US Army.  Sentinel A4 is a high-performance modification …

• Defence Helicopter

  China’s Z-20 gets its first public airings

  23rd October 2019

  The Z-20 helicopter manufactured by the Harbin Aircraft Industry Group – but clearly copied from the Sikorsky S-70 Black Hawk – has enjoyed a flurry …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Kratos to expand capability of tactical jet UAS

  9th October 2019

  Kratos Defense & Security Solutions’ Unmanned Systems Division has received a $3.6 million contract for capability expansion, mission system integration, and test work associated with …

• Naval Warfare

  Safran sub-systems for RAN future sub

  9th October 2019

  Safran Electronics & Defense Australasia has been selected by he Australian Department of Defence to design three major combat system components for the Royal Australian …

• Defence Notes

  A-Darter missile issued type certificate

  1st October 2019

  A type certificate for the South African/Brazilian A-Darter infrared short-range air-to-air missile has been granted, marking the completion of development of the system.  The certification …

• Defence Notes

  MSPO 2019: Patience a virtue for Polish AARGM deal

  3rd September 2019

  Northrop Grumman is confident it can land an order with Poland for the air-to-ground Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile (AARGM), despite developments between the two sides …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  South Korean firms display new and future UAVs

  25th October 2019

  While the most impressive UAV on display at Seoul ADEX 2019 was a prototype of the KUS-FS MALE platform from Korean Air, there were also …

• Land Warfare

  AUSA 2019: New Javelin launch unit on road to fielding in 2023

  16th October 2019

  Raytheon Missile Systems expects to go to low-rate initial production (LRIP) for its new Javelin Lightweight Command Launch Unit (CLU) in 2021 and full rate …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  AUSA 2019: AeroVironment takes punt on Puma LE

  14th October 2019

  Manufacturer AeroVironment has unveiled a new addition to its sUAS collection, the Puma LE, a hand-launched platform designed for ISR missions across land and sea. …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  AUSA 2019: MUTT gets a radio boost

  15th October 2019

  The Persistent Systems MPU5 radio has been installed on General Dynamics’s Multipurpose Unmanned Tactical Transport (MUTT) UGV as part of the latter’s Small Multipurpose Equipment …

• Digital Battlespace

  More ALR-69A radar receivers for KC-46A

  25th September 2019

  Raytheon will supply 111 ALR-69A systems, including spares, for installation on the US Air Force's KC-46 Pegasus tanker, the company announced on 24 September. Under …

• Military Logistics

  Park Air System to upgrade Chilean ATC radios

  23rd September 2019

  Northrop Grumman’s Park Air Systems is to upgrade Chile’s airspace communications equipment, the company announced on 17 September. This is the third consecutive time that …

• Land Warfare

  MSPO 2019: Polish Rosomak and Borsuk vehicles ‘stretched’ for success

  3rd September 2019

  Polish land capabilities are to be given a boost by Northrop Grumman’s Mk44 Stretch canon, which it will integrate on a fleet of 200 previously …

• Training

  Mirage F1 takes to the skies in Texas

  19th September 2019

  Textron subsidiary, Airborne Tactical Advantage Company (ATAC), has undertaken the first flight of its Mirage F1 aircraft from the company’s Alliance Airport Adversary Center of …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

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

  RQ-4 Global Hawk (Japan)

  Programme Background Selection & Contract AwardIn 2015, Northrop Grumman's RQ-4 Global Hawk UAS and E-2D Advanced Hawkeye airborne early warning aircraft were selected by Japan to ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  IAR-99 Replacement (Romania)

  On 29 August 2017, Leonardo announced that the IAR-99 trainer technology demonstrator (TD) will be fitted with company's Vixen 500E AESA radar. The Vixen 500E AESA ...

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

  Long-Range Drones [Norway]

  Programme Background Andøya Ambition On 3 April 2023, the Norwegian MoD released a statement confirming its plans for Andøya, the northernmost island in its Vesterålen archipelago. In addition ...

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

  MQ-4C Triton (Contracted) [Australia]

  Programme Background Three Contracted Units In June 2018, the Government provided Second Pass (Tranche 1) Approval to procure the first of six air vehicles, supporting ...

• AEW&C

  E-2D (France)

  Programme Background In July 2020, France revealed its intention of buying a fleet of three E-2D Advanced Hawkeye Aircraft with a $2 billion potential FMS deal, ...

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

  MQ-4C Triton (Option) [Australia]

  Programme Background Four Contracted Units In the summer of 2020, Northrop Grumman announced that the Australian Government provided $333 million for three MQ-4C Tritons and associated ...

• Data links

  Data links | E-6 TACAMO Recapitalisation Programme (E-130J) [USN]

  The TACAMO Recapitalisation Programme (E-130J) will replace the ageing E-6B Mercury and transition the US Airborne Strategic NC3 capability between aircraft. E-130J mission equipment will ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | E-6 TACAMO Recapitalisation Programme (E-130J) [USN]

  The TACAMO Recapitalisation Programme (E-130J) will replace the ageing E-6B Mercury and transition the US Airborne Strategic NC3 capability between aircraft. E-130J mission equipment will ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | E-6 TACAMO Recapitalisation Programme (E-130J) [USN]

  The TACAMO Recapitalisation Programme (E-130J) will replace the ageing E-6B Mercury and transition the US Airborne Strategic NC3 capability between aircraft. E-130J mission equipment will ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | E-6 TACAMO Recapitalisation Programme (E-130J) [USN]

  The TACAMO Recapitalisation Programme (E-130J) will replace the ageing E-6B Mercury and transition the US Airborne Strategic NC3 capability between aircraft. E-130J mission equipment will ...

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

  Embarked VTOL UAV [South Korea]

  Programme Background VTOL Development In January 2024, South Korea's Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) announced that it would commence development of a VTOL-capable rotary-wing UAV that ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  AW101-Norway

  AgustaWestland is also providing initial support and training services, including spares at each of the operating bases and aircrew training. It will then provide performance ...

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

  AdvaNced airCraft Infrastructure-Less Launch And RecoverY (ANCILLARY) [US]

  Programme Background Aims & Timeline As stated by DARPA, the ANCILLARY programme aims to develop and fly an X-plane that will provide a "leap-ahead" in long-endurance, ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | Penetrating Counter Air (PCA)

  USAF is working on Penetrating Counter Air (PCA) aircraft concept which may replace F-15C/Ds and F-22s in service and complement F-35s. Boeing, Lockheed Martin and ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  Air: Helmet-mounted displays | Penetrating Counter Air (PCA)

  USAF is working on Penetrating Counter Air (PCA) aircraft concept which may replace F-15C/Ds and F-22s in service and complement F-35s. Boeing, Lockheed Martin and ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Air: AEW/fire control radar

  AN/APG-81

  AN/APG-81 is operating in the X-band active electronically scanned array (AESA) fire control radar designed by Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems for the F-35 “Lightning” all-weather ...

• Air: AEW/fire control radar

  AN/APG-83 SABR

  The AN/APG-83 Scalable Agile Beam Radar (SABR) is an active electronically scanned array (AESA) fire control radar being developed by Northrop Grumman using its own ...

• 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 ...

• Air: UAS radar

  AN/ZPQ-1 TESAR

  The Tactical Endurance Synthetic Aperture Radar (TESAR), developed by Northrop Grumman, is primarily designed for use on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) such as the Predator. 

• Major networking projects

  IBCS

  The Integrated Air and Missile Defense Battle Command System (IBCS) is a C2 system designed to integrate current and future sensors. The system also improves ...

• Air-to-surface missiles

  Stand-in Attack Weapon (SiAW)

  The Stand-in Attack Weapon (SiAW) is an air-to-ground weapon that will provide strike capability to defeat rapidly relocatable targets as part of an enemy’s anti-access/area denial ...

• Land: air defence radar

  AN/TPS-80 G/ATOR

  AN/TPS-80 Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar (G/ATOR) is a multi-mission system designed to support worldwide expeditionary requirements. It provides detection and tracking capabilities and offers traffic ...

• Air: Integrated Defensive Systems

  Defensive Management System-Modernisation

  The Defensive Management System-Modernisation (DMS-M) is the overarching effort to substantially enhance the Northrop Grumman B-2A Spirit strategic bomber’s Integrated Self-Protection System (ISPS) which includes ...

• Air: surveillance and maritime patrol radar, Air: UAS radar

  AN/ZPY-5 VADER

  The Vehicle and Dismount Exploitation Radar (VADER) is an airborne radar system designed primarily for military applications. It is designed to track vehicles and foot traffic ...

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

  MQ-8C Fire Scout

  The MQ-8C is a newer version of the Fire Scout and is based on a Bell 407 commercial helicopter. It offers a greater range, endurance and ...

• Air: Integrated cockpit systems

  H-1 Family of Avionics

  Northrop Grumman produces a family of avionics for Bell H-1-series helicopters.

• Military - UUVs

  Manta Ray

  Manta Ray is an uncrewed underwater vessel (UUV) developed by Northrop Grumman.

• Loitering munitions

  Jackal

  The Jackal is a turbojet loitering munition designed by Northrop Grumman in partnership with AeroVironment.  It features an open architecture that provides the capability to support ...

• Air: AEW/fire control radar

  AN/APG-79

  The AN/APG-79 is an agile beam radar with a solid-state digital array that scans at nearly the speed of light, enabling detection and tracking of ...

• Air: Defensive Systems - Radar Warning Receivers

  AN/ALR-67B(V)2

  The AN/ALR-67 series Radar Warning Receiver (RWR) has been produced both by Northrop Grumman and Raytheon. It is one of the most widely used RWRs ...