• Defence Notes

  US military expand kinetic energy efforts

  9th May 2016

  The US Marine Corps (USMC) is joining the US Army in an expanded vision for kinetic human-generated energy designs, also known as kinetic energy harvesting. …

• Digital Battlespace

  Terma launches upgraded ACMDS

  2nd May 2016

  Terma has released a re-engineered and upgraded version of its Advanced Countermeasures Dispenser System (ACMDS), it announced on 29 April. Some of the features of …

• Land Warfare

  French Scorpion testing gathers pace

  27th April 2016

  As the French Army prepares for the first delivery of the Scorpion programme's first Jaguar vehicle in 2018 the Direction générale de l'armement (DGA) is …

• Digital Battlespace

  PacTec develops SPIN prototype

  21st April 2016

  PacTec has developed a prototype personal radio-locator system called Squad Positioning Intelligence Network (SPIN) for dismounted soldiers, the UK Ministry of Defence announced on 19 …

• Military Logistics

  USN exercise airfield damage repair

  2nd May 2016

  The US Navy's Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 5 (NMCB 5) has successfully completed the Airfield Damage Repair (ADR) portion of their Field Training Exercise (FTX), …

• Training

  SimCentric joins SE Tower

  28th April 2016

  SimCentric has become part of the UK’s Synthetic Environment Tower of Excellence Community Of Practice (COP). The aim of the SE Tower is to develop …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  AUVSI 2016: Sikorsky eyes K-MAX technology

  5th May 2016

  Lockheed Martin and Sikorsky are set to leverage each other’s autonomous technologies following their merger last year, potentially creating a powerhouse in the industry for …

• Defence Helicopter

  Switching to BrightNite

  3rd May 2016

  Elbit Systems believes it has made a significant breakthrough in night vision technology, following a series of demonstration flight tests of its BrightNite system in …

• Training

  UK MoD to streamline CATT support

  26th April 2016

  The British Army is currently undertaking a Collective Training Sustainment (CTS) review that is designed to amalgamate the support systems of the Combined Arms Tactical …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  UDT 2016: Irish navy poised for MCM AUV capability

  3rd May 2016

  Ireland's Department of Defence is preparing to issue a request for tenders for an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) capable of hunting for sea mines. Officials …

• Training

  Australia, Japan conclude bilateral exercise

  26th April 2016

  Aircraft and ships from the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force (JMSDF) have completed the bilateral Exercise Nichi Gou Trident off …

• Defence Helicopter

  Quad A 2016: FVL needed for Pacific theatre

  30th April 2016

  The US Army’s initiative to introduce a new generation of helicopters as part of Future Vertical Lift (FVL) will be vital for addressing growing threats …

• Defence Helicopter

  Quad A 2016: DVE solution goes in-house

  30th April 2016

  The US Army has decided to pursue existing technology being developed by the government for its Brownout Rotorcraft Enhancement System (BORES) requirement, ruling out any …

• Training

  ASTi to enhance RAF Ch-47 trainers

  20th April 2016

  Advanced Simulation Technology (ASTi) equipment will be fitted on a suite of CH-47 Mk6 Chinook helicopter weapons system trainers for the British Royal Air Force …

• Digital Battlespace

  Textron receives A2PATS contract

  22nd April 2016

  Textron Systems’ Electronic Systems has received a five-year, $49 million IDIQ contract from the US Navy for its Advanced Architecture Phase Amplitude and Time Simulator …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Surface-to-surface missiles, Loitering munitions

  Project Brakestop [UK]

  Programme Background Information Notice On 25 September 2024, the UK MoD published a prior information notice on Project Brakestop, which informed the industry about the upcoming ...

• Loitering munitions

  Medium Range Precision Strike (MRPS) [UK]

  Programme Background Prior Information Notice (PIN) On 21 October 2024, the MoD published a PIN in collaboration with the Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S;). The notice ...

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

  Dominator XP [Thailand]

  Programme Background Purchase As reported by Shephard, in September 2023, the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) inducted three Dominator XPs. The RTAF purchased the trio ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  CH-47F Chinook (Singapore)

  Programme Background In July 2020, photos have emerged on the internet of the first Boeing CH-47F Chinook destined for the Republic of Singapore Air Force ...

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

  MQ-9B SkyGuardian (US)

  Programme Background On 6 March 2023, GA-ASI announced that the Air Force Special Operations Command (ASFOC) had contracted three MQ-9B SkyGaurdians, making it the first US customer of the ...

• Transport

  VC-25B - USAF

  The modifications to the 747-8 aircraft will include an electrical power upgrade with dual Auxiliary Power Units that are usable in flight, a mission communication ...

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

  Anka-S (Second Batch) [Turkey]

  Programme Background First Batch Based on comments by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) and Turkish media in 2018, Shephard believes that Türkiye acquired 26 Anka-S drones ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | SSN(X) Programme [USN]

  The US Navy may be far from reaching the end of procuring the current Virginia-class nuclear attack submarines (SSNs), but that does not mean planning for ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | SSN(X) Programme [USN]

  The US Navy may be far from reaching the end of procuring the current Virginia-class nuclear attack submarines (SSNs), but that does not mean planning for ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

  New Water Jet Fast Attack Craft (NWJFAC) (India)

  Programme Background Requirements The Indian Navy is seeking replacements for a large proportion of its 19 46-49m-long waterjet-powered fast attack craft, several of which are approaching ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  Mi-28NE Night Hunter

  Algerian military's follow-up order suggests that the country is satisfied with the Mi-28NE Night Hunters' performance in operational conditions in the desert environment featuring sandstorms ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  F-5E/F Adversary Trainer US Navy

  The F-5N is a single seat, dual engine supersonic land based fighter. It is designed to a service life of 9000 flight hours. The aircraft ...

• Loitering munitions

  ZT-180 [Russia]

  Programme Background Claims On 23 February 2023, DER SPIEGEL reported that, according to information it had gathered, China and Russia were negotiating the purchase of 100 ZT-180 ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  HH-60W - Combat Rescue Helicopter (CRH)

  According to the FY2021 Base funding, the HH-60W helicopter unit cost is $43.2 million. The HH-60W will be capable of employment day or night, in ...

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

  Joint Tactical Autonomous Aerial Resupply System (JTAARS) / Medium ULS-A [USMC]

  Programme Background US Marine ULS-A programmes The US Marines are seeking a family of Unmanned Logistics Systems-Air (ULS-A), which will provide logistics and ground units with ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• 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 ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  CreoLand HP

  CreoLand HP is a 10W MANET radio designed for command centres, long-range applications, artillery and special forces units. Notably, it offers a data throughput of 100Mbps ...

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

  H10 Poseidon

  The H10 Poseidon is a fixed-wing VTOL-capable UAV manufactured by Swamrly. Due to the UAV's electric propulsion system, small-radar cross-section, lack of detachable thermal signature and ability to operate ...

• Air: UAS radar

  ANKA SATCOM Radome

  The ANKA SATCOM Radome is a structural component developed by the Turkish defence manufacturer Meteksan Savunma Sanayi. It is designed for the protection of Ku-band ...

• Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - small

  Khronos

  The Khronos is a tethered, fully automated UAV for ISR missions in GPS/GNSS-denied and RF-denied environments. The drone's manufacturer, Elistair, stated that it could be deployed from a ...

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

  DT-101

  The DT-101 is a small fixed-wing UAV from Deftech. The VTOL-capable platform features SATCOM with up to 10Mbs bandwidth capability. DefTech lists various payloads for ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  ARX

  Unveiled at Xponential 2024, the ARX is a fixed-wing drone developed by Tekever.  It features common electronics and software with other Tekever drones. Unlike those ...

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

  DT-001

  The DT-001 is a tandem wing UCAV from Deftech. It can host a range of non-offensive payloads, such as IO/EO cameras and an airborne LIDAR. ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - mini

  Spider VTOL

  The Spider VTOL is a mini electrical fixed-wing UAV. Unlike traditional VTOL UAVs with dedicated motors, propellors and structural parts for performing take-off and landing, the Spider ...

• Data links

  MAQA Terminal 3.8m Flyaway Variant

  The Modular Aperture Quad-Band Antenna (MAQA) Terminal is designed to provide a ruggedised, mobile, quad-band SATCOM terminal that supports operations with the WGS constellation, legacy ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  AN/VRC-118(V)1

  The AN/VRC-118(V)1 is a Mid-tier Networking Vehicular Radio (MNVR) which provides warfighters with the ability to share situational awareness. The MNVR utilises two joint tactical ...

• Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - small

  BLADE-55

  The Ballistic Loitering Attack Drone (BLADE, or BLADE-55) is a multi-role, weaponised rotary-wing UAV from Alare Technologies.  The drone can notably host two NAMMO M72 LAW weapons. Additionally, the ...

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

  Disruptor

  Publically unveiled at AUSA 2024, the Disruptor is a loitering munition and UAV manufactured by AEVEX Aerospace. The Group III aircraft utilises a pneumatic launcher or Rocket Assisted ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  AN/ARC-231 Skyfire

  The AN/ARC-231 Skyfire is an airborne VHF/UHF/LOS and DAMA SATCOM system. This system supports US DoD requirements for airborne, multi-band, multi-mission, secure anti-jam voice, data ...

• Air-to-surface missiles

  Viper-E

  In November 2011, MBDA bought the Viper-E (previously called Viper Strike) precision munition from Northrop Grumman. Viper-E allows aircraft, helicopters and UAVs to precisely engage ...