• Defence Helicopter

  Podcast: Revolutions in Vertical Flight S2 E5 - Providing Disaster Relief

  7th September 2021

  Helicopters provide vital assistance during disaster relief operations such as firefighting and earthquake response. But how do pilots prepare for these toughest of missions?

• Air Warfare

  Australia receives latest pair of new Chinooks

  8th July 2021

  Australia has a quartet of CH-47F Chinooks on order, and the first pair has just flown in from the US.

• Defence Notes

  Afghanistan descends into chaos after Western forces withdraw

  10th August 2021

  The Taliban is securing enormous swathes of territory in Afghanistan, as the West pulls out and says enough is enough.

• Training

  Turkmenistan receives Super Tucano?

  7th June 2021

  Images hint at delivery of two Super Tucanos to Turkmenistan.

• Digital Battlespace

  USMC orders more AESA radars for Hornets

  7th May 2021

  AN/APG-79(V)4 radar shares 90% parts commonality with the baseline AN/APG-79.

• Naval Warfare

  US Navy pushes for reform in FY2022 budget

  3rd June 2021

  The USN component of the FY2022 budget request is an attempt to balance the competing requirements of sustaining a credible force and developing capabilities for the future.

• Military Logistics

  Leonardo to build UK helicopter logistics hub

  16th June 2021

  New facility will support the global fleet of Leonardo-made helicopters.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  France sets its sights on hundreds more small UAVs

  18th May 2021

  An RfP from the French military calls for 500 nanodrones and microdrones, as part of a broader vision to strengthen its UAV fleet. Responses are due by 25 May.

• Land Warfare

  Singapore introduces new mortar carrier and weapon locating radar

  30th June 2021

  In pursuit of its overarching 'next-gen' modernisation philosophy, the Singapore Army has inducted the AN/TPQ-53 radar and Belrex 120mm SRAM

• Air Warfare

  Finland’s HX contest heats up as final offers arrive

  30th April 2021

  Finnish decision-makers get ready to select a manufacturer to replace the country's F/A-18C/D fighter fleet.

• Training

  USN shakes up aggressor squadrons

  10th May 2021

  The USN is looking to enhance its aggressor training capabilities by adding new aircraft and making improvements to in-service platforms.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  US Army shows continued appetite for Black Hornet 3

  5th May 2021

  The latest order for FLIR Systems means the US Army has bought more than $85 million worth of Black Hornet 3 nano-UAV technology since 2018.

• Training

  Lockheed Martin awards training subcontract for Franco-German Super Hercules squadron

  17th May 2021

  Lockheed Martin has awarded a training services subcontract for the Franco-German C-130J squadron to Rheinmetall and Thales.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  MQ-25 engine inlet analysis pays dividends, says Boeing

  23rd April 2021

  Boeing's MQ-25 unmanned aerial refueller has benefitted from engine inlet analysis as the manufacturer looks ahead to low-rate production.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  MQ-25 engine inlet analysis pays dividends, says Boeing

  23rd April 2021

  Boeing's MQ-25 unmanned aerial refueller has benefitted from engine inlet analysis as the manufacturer looks ahead to low-rate production.

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

  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

  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

  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 ...