• Air Warfare

  Eurofighter confirms Spain Halcon II contract conclusion and eyes 138 potential Typhoon exports

  6th November 2024

  Current contract negotiations for the Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft come from three of its partner nations: Spain, Germany and Italy, while 73 aircraft are currently in production for Spain, Germany, Kuwait and Qatar.

• Air Warfare

  Brazil’s first Gripen F reaches final assembly line as delivery edges closer

  20th May 2024

  A concrete delivery timeline for the first Saab JAS 39F Gripen two-seater for Brazil has yet to be confirmed, but with the fighter now in the final assembly stage and undergoing testing, delivery could come soon.

• Air Warfare

  BAE Systems to provide technology refresh to US MQ-25 refuelling UAS

  12th February 2024

  Boeing's MQ-25 Stingray, a pivotal asset for the US Navy's future carrier operations, will receive a technological boost by BAE Systems.

• Air Warfare

  BAE Systems to provide technology refresh to US MQ-25 refuelling UAS

  12th February 2024

  Boeing's MQ-25 Stingray, a pivotal asset for the US Navy's future carrier operations, will receive a technological boost by BAE Systems.

• Air Warfare

  Electronic warfare system prototype for US Super Hornets to be built by Raytheon

  20th December 2023

  The new electronic warfare system prototype developed by Raytheon could replace the existing defensive electronic countermeasure and radar warning receiver systems equipped on the US Navy F/A-18 Super Hornets.

• Land Warfare

  Arquus displays Drailer multirole wheeled UGV

  21st June 2024

  Drailer has been launched into a busy marketplace populated by tracked vehicles such as Milrem’s THeMIS and the wheeled General Dynamics’s Multipurpose Unmanned Tactical Transport.

• Air Warfare

  Embraer KC-390 puts on a show for the Mexican Air Force

  6th August 2024

  The KC-390 demonstrator was en route to Brazil after a display at the Farnborough Airshow in the UK.

• Air Warfare

  European next-generation rotorcraft programme moves closer to reality through new MoU

  21st October 2024

  Launched in 2020 and managed by NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA), the Next Generation Rotorcraft Capability (NGRC) programme aims to replace medium multi-role capabilities ending their life cycle in 2035 and beyond.

• Air Warfare

  Canada invests in CF-18 Hornet fighter sustainment

  8th March 2024

  Canada’s decision to sustain its CF-18 fighter fleet reflected its commitment to modernising air defence capabilities amid challenges highlighted by a critical report commissioned by the Department of National Defence and released last year, casting doubt on its ability to fulfil NATO obligations.

• Air Warfare

  Raytheon awarded $345 million for StormBreaker missile

  5th January 2024

  The StormBreaker winged munition autonomously can detect and classify moving targets in poor visibility situations caused by darkness, bad weather, smoke or obscured environmental conditions.

• Digital Battlespace

  Thales combines lightweight sensors on specialist target designator vehicle

  20th June 2024

  The 6x6 Griffon VOA specialist vehicle uses a mix of mast-mounted electro-optics and radar to locate and designate targets primarily for French Army artillery batteries, but can also perform the same role for combat aircraft and helicopters. The Thales mission package is platform-agnostic and could be integrated on other vehicle families for export.

• Land Warfare

  Teledyne FLIR lifts the lid on Black Recon at Eurosatory 2024

  17th June 2024

  Teledyne FLIR has reportedly been developing the system since 2020 with support from the Norwegian Defence Research establishment.

• Naval Warfare

  Super Hornet becomes first US Navy aircraft to carry StormBreaker

  8th November 2023

  Raytheon has announced that the US Navy carried the StormBreaker smart weapon on the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet following the US Air Force’s lead with the F-15E Strike Eagle.

• Air Warfare

  NATO’s Next Generation Rotorcraft Capability moves ahead with development contracts

  26th July 2024

  The Next Generation Rotorcraft Capability (NGRC) programme is a transnational effort across NATO to replace a range of helicopters which are expected to begin retiring from the mid-2030s.

• Land Warfare

  Will future ground fleets finally embrace hybrid electric solutions?

  6th September 2024

  Despite growing interest in hybrid electric capabilities and its obvious advantages, obstacles and common challenges continue to hamper its deployment into military vehicles.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Fighter - naval

  F/A-18E/F Super Hornet (Kuwait)

  The sale of the F/A- l8E/F Super Hornet aircraft will improve Kuwait's capability to meet current and future warfare threats. The jets will supplement and ...

• Fighter - naval

  Multi-Role Carrier Borne Fighters (MRCBF) [India]

  Programme Background RFI / Requirments In January 2017, India issued an RFI for the procurement of 57 multirole naval fighters. The RFI for the Indian Navy ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Multi-Role Combat Aircraft [Malaysia]

  Programme Background Requirement Malaysia has long had a requirement known as the Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MRCA) designed to replace the MiG-29 fleet. The MRCA programme ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Future Fighter Capability Project [Canada]

  Programme Background Canada’s defence policy estimates the acquisition of the aircraft, associated equipment and setup to enable entry into service will cost C$15-19 billion ($12.9-14.5 billion). In ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Project Air 6000 Phase 7 (Australia)

  Programme Background Responding to a query from Shephard at the Classic Hornet farewell ceremony, Air Cdre Tim Alsop, Commander Air Combat Group, said, ‘At the ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Swiss Air 2030 - Combat Aircraft

  Programme Background Switzerland began the latest phase of flight and ground tests on 8 April 2019. In June 2019, Saab announced that the company’s in-development ...

• Fighter - multirole

  MRCA - Multi Role Combat Aircraft (Fighter)

  Launched years ago, the Medium Multirole Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) programme is notorious internationally of the serpentine nature of Indian military procurements. Under the MMRCA, the ...

• Fighter - multirole, Trainer

  MRCA - Multi Role Combat Aircraft (Trainer)

  Launched years ago, the Medium Multirole Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) programme is notorious internationally of the serpentine nature of Indian military procurements. Under the MMRCA, the ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F/A-18C/D (Secondhand) [Malaysia]

  Programme Background Requirement Malaysia has required new multirole aircraft since the early 2010s, for which the country's Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MRCA) programme was launched in ...

• Military UAS - micro, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  DEF129 Nano UAS [Australia]

  Programme Background DEF129 The Australian Ground Service has combined various army procurement efforts under the DEF129 programme to increase the abundance and proliferation of UAVs ...

• Military UAS - small

  Black Hornet 3 PRS (UK)

  Programme Background The British Army operated approximately 160 first-generation Black Hornet PD-100 nano UAS between 2013 and 2017, when the decision was made to retire ...

• Military UAS - micro, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Soldier Borne Sensor (SBS) (Phase I) [USA]

  Programme Background Requirement The Soldier Borne Sensor (SBS) provides short-range day and night ISR to US Army units at the squad, platoon and other small ...

• UAS: communication systems

  UAS: communication systems | Soldier Borne Sensor (SBS) (Phase II) [USA]

  In 2018, the US Army selected the FLIR Systems Black Hornet Personal Reconnaissance System (PRS) for Phase I of its Soldier Borne Sensor (SBS) programme. ...

• UAS: flight control systems

  UAS: flight control systems | Soldier Borne Sensor (SBS) (Phase II) [USA]

  In 2018, the US Army selected the FLIR Systems Black Hornet Personal Reconnaissance System (PRS) for Phase I of its Soldier Borne Sensor (SBS) programme. ...

• Military UAS - micro, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  French Operational Pocket Drone / DrOP (France)

  Programme Background French UAV Procurment / DrOP Under its 2019-2025 Military Programming Law (LPM), France aims to introduce 1,200 new UAVs into service with the ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Fighter - multirole

  F/A-18C/D

  The F/A-18 C/D ('KAF-18' in Kuwait) Hornet replaced the original A and B Hornet models, seeking to correct problems with range and acceleration. After success ...

• Air: air combat simulators

  USN F/A-18E/F TOFT

  L3Harris Technologies' F/A-18 simulation capability extends to the Super Hornet E/F configuration. These Tactical Operational Flight Trainers (TOFTs) – based on L3Harris Technologies' F/A-18 simulator ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F/A-18E/F Super Hornet

  The F/A-18E/F Super Hornet was developed to perform naval strike missions for the USN. The primary mission for the F/A-18E/F is a strike fighter that ...

• Guided munitions

  GBU-53/B StormBreaker

  GBU-53/B StormBreaker is a precision-guided glide bomb developed by Raytheon to equip F-15, F/A-18 and F-35. It is also known as the Small Diameter Bomb II. The StormBreaker includes a ...

• 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: aerial targets

  BQM-34 Firebee

  The BQM-34 Firebee is an uncrewed aerial target system that the USAF and USN have used for more than 50 years. The primary mission of ...

• Airborne rockets - guided

  Laser Guided Zuni

  The Laser Guided Zuni has a 40lb warhead that is deployable against both fixed and moving targets. It is designed to attack fixed and fleeting ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F/A-18A/B

  The F/A-18 Hornet A and B aircraft, or F-18A/B ('CF-18' in Canada and 'EF-18' in Spain), were the first models in the USN’s line of ...

• Land: RWS

  Hornet T1/T2/T3

  The Hornet is an RWS designed to be fitted to the French Army's armoured fighting vehicles. It is available in four versions – the Hornet, ...

• Fighter - electronic warfare

  EA-18G Growler

  The EA-18G Growler is a variant in the F/A-18 family of aircraft that combines the F/A-18F Super Hornet platform with a sophisticated electronic warfare suite. It ...

• Fixed wing aircraft engines

  F414-GE-400

  The F414-GE-400 is a turbofan engine manufactured by GE Aviation and has various advanced technology features such as a Full Authority Digital Electronic Control (FADEC), ...

• Air: Displays

  GH-4200

  L3Harris GH-4200 Electronic Standby Instrument System (ESIS) is a repeater display designed for F-15 and F/A-18 aircraft.

• Military UAS - micro, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Black Hornet 3

  The Black Hornet 3 is the next generation of the PD-100 Black Hornet, the world's smallest nano-UAS. This new model of the Black Hornet provides ...

• Air: air combat simulators

  F/A-18E/F and EA-18G TOFT

  In support of the USN Super Hornet programme, Boeing has delivered and declared ready for training four F/A-18E/F Tactical Operational Flight Trainers (TOFTs) at NAS ...

• Military UAS - mini, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  TETTRON Hornet

  The TETTRON Hornet, or T450 Hornet, is a mini rotary wing platform designed for cargo-carrying missions. Manufactured by Thunder Tiger Group, the Taiwanese drone is ...