• Training

  I/ITSEC 2016: CM Labs announces Vortex Studio

  1st December 2016

  CM Labs Simulations has used this year’s I/ITSEC in Orlando, Florida, to showcase several applications for its new Vortex Studio simulation and visualisation software, as …

• Defence Notes

  Analysis: UK naval shipbuilding

  30th November 2016

  Too little too late There are some great recommendations from Sir John Parker in his independent report about the UK naval shipbuilding industry, all of …

• Training

  I/ITSEC 2016: Open architectures in, proprietary out

  30th November 2016

  Open architecture is a key buzzword permeating any new acquisition strategy outlined by a defence department, particularly when it comes to the ‘plug-and-play’ approach for …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  DJI thinks big for wider applications

  16th December 2016

  DJI, which at last count enjoyed a 70% market share in the sale of consumer UAVs according to an Oppenheimer report, continues to emphasise the …

• Training

  I/ITSEC 2016: NATO field HQs go virtual

  30th November 2016

  NATO’s Allied Command Transformation (NATO-ACT) is using this year’s I/ITSEC to demonstrate a new virtual operational headquarters (VOHQ) concept, designed to bring personnel from different …

• Digital Battlespace

  GPS constellation has upgraded control system

  5th December 2016

  The US Air Force’s Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite constellation has a new fully operational upgraded ground control system, Lockheed Martin announced on 1 December. …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  FLIR Systems Acquires Prox Dynamics

  5th December 2016

  FLIR Systems has acquired Norway’s Prox Dynamics, manufacturer of the Black Hornet nano UAS, FLIR announced on 30 November. The purchase, for approximately $134 million, …

• Training

  I/ITSEC 2016: UK selects VBS3 – at last

  30th November 2016

  The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has selected Bohemia Interactive Simulations’ (BISim's) Virtual Battlespace 3 (VBS3) as the winner of its Defence Virtual Simulation (DVS) …

• Training

  I/ITSEC 2016: Barco unveils the F70

  5th December 2016

  Although seen by Shephard in 2015 in a whisper suite, I/ITSEC 2016 saw Barco unveil its F70 4K projector to the public. The laser phosphor …

• Naval Warfare

  Blighter C400 series radar introduced

  6th December 2016

  Blighter Surveillance Systems has introduced a new member of its Blighter radar portfolio designed for coastal security, the Blighter C400. The Blighter C400 series is a …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Northrop Grumman details Tern progress

  2nd December 2016

  Northrop Grumman has cleared two milestones for the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s (DARPA’s) Tactically Exploited Reconnaissance Node (TERN) programme, the company announced on …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Sky Futures targets UAS vessel inspection market

  30th November 2016

  Sky-Futures USA has been certified by the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) to carry out UAS internal vessel inspections. The certification follows a two-day survey …

• Digital Battlespace

  STC radio moves past review

  10th November 2016

  The Harris RF-335M radio completed its Critical Design Review in October and will be modified further with new capabilities before its introduction into service. RF-335M …

• Training

  I/ITSEC 2016: Pentagon selects DiSTI for C-RAM LPWS

  21st November 2016

  US company DiSTI, the provider of graphical user interface software and customised 3D virtual maintenance training solutions, has been selected by PEO STRI as prime …

• Training

  I/ITSEC 2016: Swiss Army helicopter simulator upgrades for Thales

  29th November 2016

  The Swiss federal defence procurement authority, armasuisse has contracted Thales to undertake a number of significant concurrency upgrades to the Swiss Air Force’s AS 532 …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Fighter - multirole

  F-16V Procurement [Slovakia]

  Programme Background Earlier in April 2018, the US State Department announced that it has approved a possible FMS deal of 14 F-16V aircraft for an ...

• Aircraft carriers

  Queen Elizabeth Class

  The contract to begin the construction of the first ship was awarded in 2008, ten years after the programme was announced in the 1998 SDR. ...

• Reconnaissance/patrol vehicles

  Belgium Jaguar Medium Common Armoured Vehicle Platform

  Programme Background In its Strategic Vision for Defence document published in June 2016, the Belgian MoD outlined its aspirations for equipping five motorised manoeuvre battalions ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  6x6 APC (Philippines)

  Programme Background The Philippine Army has identified an urgent need for new wheeled APCs, after the Battle of Marawi exposed shortcomings in its existing fleet ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

  Intercept and Escort Craft (UK)

  Programme BackgroundThe UK MoD launched a programme aimed at developing a class of Intercept and Escort craft intended to replace the existing stock of Avon Sea Rider, Pacific ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

  Intercept and Escort Craft (UK) (Option)

  Programme Background The UK MoD launched a programme aimed at developing a class of Intercept and Escort craft intended to replace the existing stock of Avon Sea ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-15SA Saudi Arabia

  The aircraft deal includes 170 APG-63(v)3 AESA radar sets, 193 F-110-GE-129 Improved Performance Engines, 100 M61 Vulcan Cannons, 338 Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing Systems amongst ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  Belgium Griffon Light Common Armoured Vehicle Platform

  Programme Background In its Strategic Vision for Defence document published in June 2016, the Belgian MoD outlined its aspirations for equipping five motorised manoeuvre battalions ...

• Fighter - multirole

  JAS 39E/F Gripen (Brazil)

  In 2016, Gripen’s Project and Development Center was opened in Sao Paulo to allow Sweedish and Brazillian engineers to work together in the Gripen development ...

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

  Bayraktar TB2 (Qatar)

  Programme Background In 2018 at DIMDEX, it was revealed that Qatar had bought six Bayraktar TB2 UAVs from Turkey. The deal also included three ground control stations, ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  Tejas LCA - India Follow-On

  According to the HAL's chairman R Madhavan, 'apart from all the capabilities of IOC aircraft, the FOC variant additionally comes with an air-to-air refuelling capability, close-combat ...

• Fighter - multirole

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

  Programme Background Requirements The Czech Republic Air Force operates 14 Gripens (12 JAS 39C and two JAS 39D variants) under a lease agreement that runs ...

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

  MQ-9 Reaper [France]

  Programme Background Total Procurement In June 2013, Northrop Grumman announced that France had requested the purchase of 16 Reapers plus associated systems from the US ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  KC-46A (Follow-On) [Japan]

  Programme Background Requirement In May 2024, Australian Defence Magazine reported that the Japan Self-Defence Forces (JSDF) has been planning to increase its airborne refuelling and strategic transport ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors, Patrol boats

  Gun Boats (Pakistan)

  Programme Background Timeline The first steel cutting for these boats occurred on 6 October 2022. The PN is seeking 20 vessels; the first one should ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  HF SDR

  Bharat Electronics Limited's High-Frequency Software-Defined Radio (HF SDR) was unveiled at the Aero India 2023 exhibition. The transceiver operates in the HF band and features ...

• Naval: Radio and SATCOM

  SDR-NC

  Developed by DRDO and produced by Bharat Electronics, the SDR-NC is a multi-mode, multi-band radio system designed for the Indian Armed Forces. Offered in at least ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  Bittium Tough SDR Handheld

  Bittium Tough SDR Handheld is a part of Bittium's Tough software-defined radio family. The transceiver supports Bittium's proprietary waveforms as well as ESSOR, and national ...

• UAS: communication systems

  NDR374

  The NDR374 is a 4-Channel Software-Defined Radio developed by the U.S. based manufacturer Epiq Solutions that can be used during rapid deployment and reliant support ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  BNET-AR

  BNET-AR Airborne SDR is a member of Rafael's BNET Family of IP Software Defined Radios. The modular, multiband system utilises an open architecture and provides ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  PR9560

  The PR9560 is designed for use by land forces, including infantry, forward observers, snipers, special forces, and anti-terror units, and can be utilized at either ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  SDR-Tac

  The SDR-Tac is a four-channel software-defined radio for naval vessels, developed by India's Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) and Bharat Electronics. It is in service with ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  AN/PRC-162

  The AN/PRC-162 is a two-channel software-defined radio that has been selected for the US Army’s Handheld, Manpack and Small Form Fit programme. The SDR is ...

• UAS: communication systems

  RX410

  The RX410 by Pixus Technologies is a rugged Software-Defined Radio (SDR) based on the National Instruments Ettus Research X410 model, designed to handle frequencies from ...

• Data links, Land: Radio and SATCOM, UAS: communication systems

  QNT-200

  The Collins QNT-200 is a dual-channel software-defined radio (SDR) designed for size, weight and power-constrained platforms. Using IP-based mesh networks, it offers high-bandwidth mobile networking ...

• UAS: communication systems

  Sidekiq VPX410

  The Sidekiq VPX410 is a high-performance, SOSA-aligned 3U VPX SDR, first unveiled in 2022. It facilitates access to critical frequency bands up to 18GHz by ...

• UAS: communication systems

  BNET NANO

  The newest member of Rafael's BNET family of Software-Defined Radios, BNET NANO was unveiled in 2021. BNET Nano provides capabilities similar to larger BNET radios ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  SDR-H Special Role Radio

  In February 2018, Domo Tactical Communications (DTC) announced the development of the SDR-H Special Role Radio (SRR), designed for tactical and special operations. The SRR ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  SDR Family

  Designed to provide high-speed data and voice communications to support land, maritime and air platform applications on the digital battlefield. The family of SDRs consists ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  SpiderNet-SDR

  The SpiderNet-SDR is a family of tactical software defined radios that provides warfighters with optimised situational awareness of the battlefield. Its multiband, multirole feature enables ...