• Land Warfare

  DefExpo 2020: M777 is going great guns in India

  7th February 2020

  A total of 29 M777A2 towed howitzers have been delivered to India to date, with the weapons being delivered according to schedule. Interestingly, India might also have an option …

• Defence Notes

  DoD plays it safe on air power spending

  12th February 2020

  The proposed US DoD FY2021 defence budget runs at a shortfall of $800 million for aircraft and associated systems compared to last year’s figures. In total, …

• Defence Helicopter

  Sikorsky, Rheinmetall submit German STH bid

  16th January 2020

  Sikorsky and Rheinmetall have submitted their joint bid for the German Air Force’s new heavy-lift transport helicopter (STH) programme. Based on the Sikorsky CH-53K King …

• Training

  Kratos receives Australian DoD trainer update order

  8th January 2020

  Kratos Defense & Security Solutions has received a contract from the Australia Department of Defence to deliver hardware, software and technical data package upgrades for …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Innovative Chinese UAVs appear, including a triple-engine platform

  22nd January 2020

  A large UAV from the Tengden Technology Company in China performed its maiden flight on 16 January, the platform being notable for the three turbocharged …

• Training

  Kratos to upgrade Aussie Chinook training systems

  24th December 2019

  Kratos Defense & Security Solutions has received a Chinook training system upgrade contract from the Australian Department of Defence, the company announced on 19 December. …

• Defence Helicopter

  Piaggio Aerospace receives Italian MoD contract

  23rd December 2019

  Piaggio Aerospace will support Italian Army CH-47F helicopter engines under a €50 million contract awarded by the Italian Ministry of Defence announced on 18 December. …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Indonesia rolls out indigenous MALE UAV

  3rd January 2020

  On 30 December, PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI) rolled out the first prototype of an indigenously developed MALE UAV that has been christened the Elang Hitam …

• Defence Helicopter

  NAVAIR and Sikorsky put engine issues to bed (updated)

  18th December 2019

  A joint collaboration between NAVAIR and Sikorsky has led to the pair solving CH-53K King Stallion engine problems that have long been troubling the programme. …

• Defence Helicopter

  Boeing Defence Australia to continue Chinook support

  13th December 2019

  The Australian government is extending Boeing Defence Australia’s contract to support its CH-47F Chinook fleet until 2024 following a performance review. The 12-month extension increases …

• Training

  Striling Dynamics delivers CH-53K active controls

  6th December 2019

  Stirling Dynamics announced on 5 December that it has delivered its first set of CH-53K active controls to Naval Air Systems Command in Patuxent River, …

• Training

  I/ITSEC 2019: CH-53K MFTA flight simulator up-close (video)

  6th December 2019

  Amongst the plethora of flight training devices at I/ITSEC 2019 was Lockheed Martin's CH-53K Multi-Function Training Aid (MFTA), which sat centre stage on its booth. …

• Defence Helicopter

  Sikorsky awarded CH-53K​ configuration change work

  26th November 2019

  Lockheed Martin’s Sikorsky will carry out CH-53K configuration changes required for initial operational test and evaluation for lot 1 low rate initial production aircraft. The …

• Defence Notes

  Podcast: Revolutions in Vertical Flight S1 E3 - The Tiltrotor

  20th December 2019

  Welcome to Shephard Studio’s podcast series on Revolutions in Vertical Flight, sponsored by our partner Bell. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify and more. The Revolutions in Vertical Flight …

• Defence Notes

  Germany's latest industry developments (video)

  21st November 2019

  Watch a summary of the latest developments in the German Defence Industry. Land On land KMW has begun deliveries to Denmark and Germany of the …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  Heavy-lift Helicopter STH [Germany]

  Programme Background The German government issued a tender in March 2019 for the procurement of heavy-lift helicopters under the Schwerer Transporthubschrauber (STH) program, 60 units are ...

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

  CH-5 [Iraq]

  Programme Background CH-4 Troubles According to a Combined Joint Task Force - Operation Inherent Resolve report, Iraq acquired 20 CH-4 platforms from China. However, eight ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  CH-53K - Options (Israel)

  Programme Background The Israeli Air Force (IAF) plans to buy around 18 heavy-lift helicopters to form a squadron that replaces its current CH-53 Yasur helicopters that ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  CH-53K (Israel)

  Programme Background The Israeli Air Force (IAF) plans to buy around 18 heavy-lift helicopters to form a squadron that replaces its current CH-53 Yasur helicopters that ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  CH-47F Chinook [U.S Army]

  As the Army's only heavy-lift helicopter, the CH-47F Improved Cargo helicopter is an essential component of the Army's Multi-Domain Battle framework. The CH-47F and MH-47G ...

• Military helicopters - maritime, Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  CH-53K - US Navy

  Programme Background The Marine Corps is replacing its aging CH-53E helicopters with the CH-53K heavy-lift helicopter. Designed as an evolution of the CH-53E, the CH-53K ...

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

  CH-4 [Saudi Arabia]

  Background 2014 Order According to the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), in 2014, Saudi Arabia ordered two CH-4 aircraft from China. However, information from the Stockholm International Peace ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  CH-53K - US Navy Follow-On

  Programme Background The Marine Corps is replacing its ageing CH-53E helicopters with the CH-53K heavy-lift helicopter. Designed as an evolution of the CH-53E, the CH-53K ...

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

  CH-5 (Algeria)

  Programme Background Chinese UAV Purchases In recent years, Algeria has purchased several UAVs from China. It operates the CH-3, CH-4 and has also ordered the Wing ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  CH-47 [United Arab Emirates]

  Programme Background Ahead of Trump's 2025 Middle East tour, the State Department approved a possible FMS to the UAE for six CH-47 Block II Chinook ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  CH-47JA [Japan]

  Programme Background  Kawasaki Heavy Industries received an order from the Japanese government for 12 CH-47JA helicopters for the Japanese Ground Self-Defence Force (JGSDF). The CH-47JA is ...

• 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 helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  CH-47F [U.S. Army]

  Programme Background Amidst ongoing support for the CH-47F Block II development, the U.S. Army placed another order in December 2024 for three more helicopters. According ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  CH-47J [Japan]

  Programme Background Kawasaki Heavy Industries secured a 71.4 billion yen ($460 million) contract to provide the Japanese Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) with five CH-47J helicopters. ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  MH-47 Chinook

  The US DoD report, Enhancing Security and Stability In Afghanistan, published in December 2019 doesn't disclose the number of Chinook platforms but media sources suggest ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Military helicopters - maritime, Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  CH-53D Sea Stallion

  The twin-engine CH-53A (S-65) Sea Stallion was developed from 1960 to meet a USMC requirement for a heavy-lift helicopter. It entered service in 1966 and ...

• Air: Integrated cockpit systems

  Flight2

  The Flight2 integrated flight and mission management system provides increased situation awareness that enables reduced pilot workload, while enhancing flight safety and improving mission effectiveness. ...

• Self-propelled mortars

  Wiesel 2 120mm

  The Wiesel 2 120mm mortar system is based on Rheinmetall’s tracked Wiesel 2 airborne armoured vehicle. Two prototypes were delivered to Germany’s BWB defence procurement ...

• Helicopter engines

  T64

  The T64 is a turboshaft/turboprop engine that has now accumulated over 11 million flight hours of operation. The T64 engine was designed to power rotary- ...

• Air: helicopter flight simulators

  German Army Aviation School

  CAE is the prime contractor for the German Army’s Night-Time Low-Level Flight Training Facility, commonly known as the German Army Aviation School, at Bückeburg. This ...

• Sonobuoys

  AN/SSQ-53G DIFAR

  The AN/SSQ-53G DIFAR is made by Ultra Maritime in the USA, it is marketed at international users of the MH-60 and P-8A.

• Sonobuoys

  AN/SSQ-53G(GPS) DIFAR Sonobuoy

  The AN/SSQ-53G(GPS) DIFAR Sonobuoy produced by Ultra Maritime is an A-sized passive sonobuoy that is marketed at international customers who require a GPS transmitter.

• Sonobuoys

  AN/SSQ-62E

  The AN/SSQ-62E is produced by Ultra Maritime and Sparton. It is an active sonobuoy which can be launched from rotary and fixed-wing aircraft as well ...

• Loitering munitions

  CM-501 (series)

  The CM-501 series is a family of Chinese loitering munition systems. Munitions in the series can be attached and launched from helicopters, ground vehicles or ships. The ...

• Military helicopters - maritime, Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  CH-53K King Stallion

  The CH-53K King Stallion is the USMC's new-build, heavy-lift replacement for the CH-53E. The platform will transport marines, heavy equipment and supplies during ship-to-shore movement ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Mungo

  KMW developed the Mungo family to meet a requirement from the German Army for a protected multipurpose air-portable vehicle that could be carried by a ...

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

  CH-2

  Intended for surveillance and reconnaissance missions, the CH-2 is the second member of the Rainbow series of UAVs and develops on the design of the CH-1. 

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  CH-47D

  The CH-47D Chinook is a twin-engine, tandem-rotor, heavy-lift transport helicopter that emerged from a US Army contract placed in 1976 to remanufacture the CH-47A/B/C. The ...

• Air: helicopter flight simulators

  Canadian CH-147F Training Services

  CAE delivered a comprehensive suite of CH-47F Chinook simulators and training devices to the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) during 2015. Following on-site acceptance testing ...

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

  CH-5

  The CH-5 is a medium-altitude long-endurance UAS designed by China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation to carry out various military missions. Applications of the CH-5 include ...