• Defence Notes

  Defence business booms and order books build on the back of Russia–Ukraine war

  9th August 2024

  The half yearly and second quarter results of defence companies show mostly substantial increases in order books and sales, as supplying Ukraine, buying new equipment and replenishing stocks boosts contracts.

• Air Warfare

  US Air Force F-15 EW kit completes operational testing

  3rd April 2024

  Designed to offer full-spectrum electronic warfare capabilities for the F-15E and F-15EX fighters, the Eagle Passive Active Warning Survivability System (EPAWSS) will enable freedom of manoeuvre and deeper penetration into battlespaces.

• Land Warfare

  Brazil gets go-ahead for 12 Black Hawk helicopters

  28th May 2024

  The Brazilian Army announced in 2023 that it was aiming to replace the eight HM-3 Cougar (Airbus Helicopters AS532 UE) and four HM-2 Black Hawk helicopters (Sikorsky S-70A) that have been in service with Army Aviation Command, with the aircraft beginning to be decommissioned in December 2023.

• Defence Notes

  CUAS platforms, security systems and MBTs steal the spotlight as the curtain falls on Eurosatory 2024

  21st June 2024

  Eurosatory 2024 is done, the boxes are mostly put away, vehicles sent home to bed, stalls torn down, ripped carpet rolled up and weary business directors and their engineers have, for the last time for this edition, hung their MKU lanyards around their necks. But what, if anything, have we learned from this show in suburban Paris?

• Land Warfare

  US Army looks to composite components to reduce weight of ground vehicles

  22nd August 2024

  The army has requested nearly US$1 billion to fund initiatives related to increasing mobility and payloads of in-service platforms in FY2025.

• Naval Warfare

  C-Worker 15 large USV displayed at Oceanology International 2024

  13th March 2024

  L3 Harris has a list of USVs, including C-Worker 4, 5 and 6, which range in weight from 1,000kg to 4,500kg. Its latest system, C-Worker 15, weighs in at 14,500kg.

• Naval Warfare

  L3Harris to provide communications for new Canadian ships

  31st May 2024

  The Canadian Surface Combatant (CSC) project, part of the National Shipbuilding Strategy, will see the replacement of Iroquois-class destroyers and Halifax-class multi-role patrol frigates under a design contract awarded to Lockheed Martin and BAE Systems in February 2019.

• Land Warfare

  Challenger 3 programme promises capability upgrade as first delivery milestone approaches

  23rd August 2024

  The British Army’s Challenger 3 main battle tank (MBT) will replace existing Challenger 2s with a smaller but more capable fleet of vehicles with improved protection and notably a 120mm L55A1 smoothbore gun firing an Enhanced Kinetic Energy round. The programme is advancing rapidly with several hurdles cleared in the past year.

• Air Warfare

  Airbus enters race for unmanned Wingman support fighters

  4th June 2024

  Designs for unmanned support aircraft for fighter jets are advanced with Boeing’s MQ-28A Ghost Bat beginning development in 2013 and making its first flight in February 2021 and Airbus’s effort will need to advance quickly to keep up.

• Defence Notes

  Russia is evading sanctions and purchasing US components for its arsenal, warns US Senate

  13th September 2024

  Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal has claimed that Russian bombs, missiles and drones “supported by American technologies” have been fatally used on Ukrainians soldiers and civilians.

• Land Warfare

  BAE Systems displays new AMPV and is awarded second production contract

  29th March 2024

  In January 2024, BAE Systems delivered the first Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV) fitted with External Mission Equipment Package (ExMEP) and displayed the system at AUSA Global Force Symposium on 26–28 March.

• Air Warfare

  GA-ASI to develop new ABAD pod for MQ-9A

  15th May 2024

  A collaboration between General Atomics and US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) will seek to equip the MQ-9A Reaper with enhanced threat detection and protection against Radio Frequency and Infrared threats.

• Training

  Australia’s ‘Top Gun’ exercise in Top End reaches unprecedented scale in face of Chinese military build up

  24th July 2024

  Fast-jet exercise focuses on interoperability and cooperation between allies amid growing regional security concerns in the Asia-Pacific region.

• Naval Warfare

  UK and Australian defence deal agreed as BAE wins nuclear submarine contract

  21st March 2024

  Deal signed in Canberra will see Australia and the UK bolster their defence partnership via operational agreements, security consultancy and further deals for their primary defence firms.

• Training

  US Marine Corps defines lines-of-action to improve military training

  14th June 2024

  The service issued its Training and Education Annual Report with the intention of better preparing marines for future warfare.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Fighter - multirole

  MiG-35 (Russia)

  The MiG-35 is a new-generation derivative of the twin-engine MiG-29 (NATO code-name ‘Fulcrum’) featuring multi-role combat capabilities, significantly reworked airframe and a vastly expanded arsenal ...

• OPVs

  Offshore Patrol Vessels [Thailand]

  Programme Background Timeline It was reported in April 2021 that the Royal Thai Navy (RTN) is considering procuring an additional OPV in the fiscal year ...

• Landing platform docks/dock landing ships

  Modified Ivan Green Class (Project 11711)

  Programme Background The modified Ivan Gren class (Project 11711) large amphibious assault ships (LST) have been designed by Nevskoe Design Bureau for the Russian Navy. Two ships ...

• Trainer

  Hawk 127 Replacement (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 ...

• OPVs

  Specialised Southern Ocean Patrol Vessel [New Zealand]

  Programme Background Requirements Plans for a new OPV for the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) first came about in April 2016. The RNZN wants to ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  M-345 (1-18) [Italy]

  Programme Background Requirement Italy operated the MB-339 trainer platform since 1982, procuring 137 aircraft in total. These older airframes required replacement, with the Italian Air ...

• Trainer

  M-345 Italy Future Procurement

  Programme Background On 29 Decemeber 2017, Aermacchi's M-345 High Efficiency Trainer (HET) prototype aircraft successfully completed its first flight from Venegono Superiore airfield in Varese, ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | M-346 FA [Brazil]

  Brazil is evaluating the procurement of up to 30 Leonardo M-346 light attack aircraft under a potential agreement with Italy, aimed at modernising its aerial ...

• Data links

  Data links | M-346 FA [Brazil]

  Brazil is evaluating the procurement of up to 30 Leonardo M-346 light attack aircraft under a potential agreement with Italy, aimed at modernising its aerial ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  Air: Helmet-mounted displays | M-346 FA [Brazil]

  Brazil is evaluating the procurement of up to 30 Leonardo M-346 light attack aircraft under a potential agreement with Italy, aimed at modernising its aerial ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | M-346 FA [Brazil]

  Brazil is evaluating the procurement of up to 30 Leonardo M-346 light attack aircraft under a potential agreement with Italy, aimed at modernising its aerial ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | M-346 FA [Brazil]

  Brazil is evaluating the procurement of up to 30 Leonardo M-346 light attack aircraft under a potential agreement with Italy, aimed at modernising its aerial ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  M-346FA [Austria]

  Programme Background  The Italian Government issued a a Determinazione a Contrarre (DaC) to officialise a Government-to-Government contract on 5 May 2025, with the Direzione degli Armamenti Aeronautici ...

• Trainer

  M-346 [Italy]

  Programme Background Requirement The M-346 procurement replaces the legacy MB-339A aircraft used by Italy’s Pattuglia Acrobatica Nazionale (PAN) and strengthens pilot training through the International ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  Next Generation Trainer/Light Combat Aircraft [Austria]

  Programme Background Requirements Austria plans to replace its Saab 105 training fleet, which was retired from service in 2020. Austria's 2019 White paper calls for replacing ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• UAS: Integrated systems - uncrewed

  NavStorm-M

  BAE Systems' NavStorm-M is a gun-hardened, integrated anti-jamming and Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver for artillery rounds, bombs, missiles, and uncrewed systems. It was revealed ...

• UAS: Integrated systems - uncrewed

  LN-251

  Northrop Grumman's LN-251 is an Inertial Navigation System/Global Positioning System (INS/GPS) solution. It is an integrated navigation system with an embedded 12/24 channel, All-In-View, Selective Availability/Anti-Spoofing Module ...

• Air: Integrated Defensive Systems

  ADA - IAI

  The ADA system, named after the system's adaptive antenna, is designed to protect avionics systems from GPS jamming. The system, that has won a tender ...

• Military - UUVs

  Talisman M

  The Talisman UUV family is designed by BAE to provide flexibility for inshore MCM and harbour surveillance. The Talisman M is a demonstrator system used ...

• UAS: Integrated systems - uncrewed

  KN-4074ED SAASM P(Y) Code INS/GPS

  The KN-4074EB SAASM P(Y) Code INS/GPS has an enhanced capability for the KN4074E with P(Y) code equivalent DGPS corrections.

• UAS: communication systems

  N-100-6 GPS Antenna

  The N100-6 GPS antenna offers a polarimetric solution for multiple element outputs, and has been designed to provide a significantly reduced size aperture for anti-jam ...

• Air: Integrated cockpit systems

  Common Open Reuse Environment

  The Lockheed Martin Common Open Reuse Environment (CORE) is an integrated glass cockpit and avionics solution that can interact with both civilian and military systems. ...

• Military - UUVs

  Talisman L

  The Talisman Littoral (L) is a UUV designed by BAE. It is derived from the larger Talisman M and repackages it into a two-man portable system for ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  PRC-434G/CS

  The PRC-434G/CS personal survival radio is a handheld, lightweight transceiver that is capable of responding to interrogations transmitted by the airborne location system. Short-burst transmissions ...

• Subsystems: visual

  EuroSim

  EuroSim is a configurable simulator tool used to support all phases of space and non-space programmes through real-time simulations with a person and/or hardware-in-the-loop, and ...

• UAS: Integrated systems - uncrewed

  KN-4074E

  Produced by Kearfott, the KN-4074E SAASM P(Y) Code INS/GPS is a lightweight navigation system that can be used on various uncrewed or crewed applications, including fixed- and rotary-wing ...

• UAS: Integrated systems - uncrewed

  KN-4075 High Performance INS/GPS

  Kearfott’s KN-4075 High Performance INS/GPS system offers a low weight and small-size navigation system for a variety of rotary- and fixed-wing unmanned and manned aircraft ...

• Land: Integrated Defensive Systems

  ADS

  Rheinmetall’s ADS is an Active Vehicle Self-Protection System (AVSPS) which has also been marketed internationally as Shark and AAC. Although the system is believed to ...

• Air: Electronic Attack - Jamming, Air: chaff, flare and decoy systems

  RTM Chaff and Flare Magazines

  Kanfit builds an array of chaff and flare magazines. According to the firm’s official literature these magazines are remarkable as they are produced as a ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

  Fast Interceptor Craft

  The Fast Interceptor Craft (FIC) is a high-speed insertion craft developed and built by VT Halmatic, now part of BAE Systems Maritime. According to BAE ...