• Defence Notes

  US F-35 fighters fly first ever combat mission

  28th September 2018

  American F-35 stealth fighters have been used in a combat operation for the first time, a defence official said, marking a major milestone for the …

• Digital Battlespace

  UK looks to US again as Wedgetail leads AWACS race

  3rd October 2018

  Recent speculation that the UK could procure the E-7 Wedgetail aircraft to replace its ageing E-3D Sentry’s looks to have been on the mark after it …

• Land Warfare

  MSPO 2018: Polish ammo under precision testing

  5th September 2018

  Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems (NGIS) is in the early stages of integrating its Precision Guided Kit (PGK) onto a Polish-made 155mm round. To date the …

• Naval Warfare

  ADAS 2018: Philippines launches amphibious aircraft tender

  27th September 2018

  The Philippines is on the lookout for a single multipurpose amphibious aircraft for use by the Naval Air Group of the Philippine Navy (PN). The …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  AUDS unveils latest version of C-UAS system

  23rd September 2018

  The UK consortium behind the Anti-Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Defence System (AUDS) has launched the latest variant in its family of products. Comprising Chess Dynamics, Blighter …

• Digital Battlespace

  Indra to supply Lanza 3D radar to Thailand

  14th September 2018

  Indra has received a contract to deliver its Lanza 3D Long-Range Radar to the Royal Thai Air Force, the company announced on 11 September. The …

• Digital Battlespace

  Northrop, DARPA set new wireless transmission standard

  28th August 2018

  Northrop Grumman and DARPA have set a new standard for wireless transmission by operating a data link at 100 gigabits per second (Gbps) over a …

• Naval Warfare

  US Navy NSWC selects Sonardyne’s Ranger 2

  24th September 2018

  Sonardyne’s underwater target tracking technology has been selected by the US Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC), Carderock Division for use at its South Florida Ocean …

• Digital Battlespace

  BAE Systems signs GaN agreement

  21st September 2018

  BAE Systems and the US Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) have signed a cooperative agreement for Phase 1 of a technical effort to transition gallium …

• Naval Warfare

  Third Anzac frigate arrives for AMCAP upgrade

  13th September 2018

  BAE Systems Australia has received the Royal Australian Navy's third Anzac-class frigate at its Henderson facility as part of a fleet upgrade, the company announced …

• Training

  Leonardo opens new cyber-training facility

  19th September 2018

  Leonardo has opened a new academy in Lincoln, UK, to train technical specialists within the cyber and electromagnetic activities (CEMA) domain. Leonardo has invested more …

• Defence Notes

  ADAS 2018: Rafael solutions for ground and air

  27th September 2018

  While air defence is critical for any nation, the Philippines currently has no ground-based missile system. However, at ADAS, Rafael is highlighting its Air Defence …

• Special Operations

  Supacat unveils HMT 600 in C-UAS configuration

  18th September 2018

  Supacat has introduced its HMT 600 Coyote tactical support vehicle configured for an anti-UAS defence role. The vehicle will be installed with the Anti-UAV Defence …

• Naval Warfare

  ADAS 2018: Corvettes and OPVs attract attention

  28th September 2018

  The Philippine Navy (PN) has great ambitions, listing six OPVs, two corvettes and even submarines under its Horizon 2 modernisation plan covering the 2018-22 timeframe. …

• Naval Warfare

  ROK requests P-8A aircraft

  18th September 2018

  The US State Department has made a determination approving a potential foreign military sale of P-8A maritime patrol aircraft to the Republic of Korea, the …

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]

  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 to ...

• 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 ...

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

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

  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, VTOL-capable ...

• 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 ...

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

  AN/ASQ-236

  The AN/ASQ-236 (Dragon's Eye) is an AESA radar pod manufactured by Northrop Grumman. It is intended as a surveillance radar, capable of all-weather precision geo-location ...

• 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 ...

• 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: 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. 

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• Military - UUVs

  Manta Ray

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

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

  AN/ZPY-5 VADER

  The Vehicle and Dismount Exploitation Radar (VADER) is an airborne radar system manufactured by Northrop Grumman. It is designed to track vehicles and foot traffic ...

• Air: Integrated cockpit systems

  H-1 Family of Avionics

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

• 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 ...

• AEW&C, Maritime patrol

  E-2 Hawkeye

  The E-2 Hawkeye AEW&C; aircraft has gone through several iterations and can be operated from land, as with Egypt and Mexico, or from a carrier, ...