• Land Warfare

  Elbit receives $600 million contract for Australian Redback IFV subsystems

  26th February 2024

  Hanwha Defense Australia was chosen as the preferred bidder for the Land 400 Phase 3 programme in July 2023 with contract signature for 129 Redback IFVs in November last year and includes major Elbit subsystems.

• Air Warfare

  Staying power: The importance of mid-life upgrades (opinion)

  9th July 2024

  The rapid integration of advanced Western weapons with Soviet-era Ukrainian aircraft and the adaptability shown in makeshift solutions has highlighted the essential role of mid-life upgrades in maintaining effective military forces amid evolving combat and technological challenges.

• Air Warfare

  Slovenia secures second C-27J Spartan tactical transport aircraft

  23rd November 2023

  A new agreement between Leonardo, the Italian government and Slovenia has marked the procurement of a second C-27J Spartan medium tactical transport aircraft for Slovenia, following an earlier deal signed in March 2022.

• Air Warfare

  US Air Force plan to retire 1,000 aircraft leads Congress to raise national security concerns

  16th April 2024

  The US Air Force has planned to retire more than 1,000 helicopters and AEW&C, combat, ISR, transport and training aircraft that have been in service for more than 30 years.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Cubic joins DARPA’s Air Combat Evolution programme for AI air combat

  29th July 2024

  The company has added its SLATE technology to the manoeuvring routine of the X-62A modified F-16 aircraft.

• Land Warfare

  Australia announces programme developments on eve of land warfare conference

  10th September 2024

  Australia’s Land Forces 2024 International Land Defence Exposition takes place in Melbourne this week with the government making announcements on land programmes and Supacat unveiling a new vehicle.

• Air Warfare

  US State Department approves $1.9 billion Black Hawk sales for Sweden and Austria

  30th May 2024

  Foreign Military Sales (FMS) have been approved for 12 UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters to both Sweden and Austria. The announcements follow the approval of 12 to Brazil on 24 May, Greece signing for the procurement 35 of the helicopters in April and FMS approval to Croatia for eight aircraft in January.

• Air Warfare

  Lockheed Martin bags $3.2 billion US Air Force contract for JASSM and LRASM

  1st October 2024

  Lockheed Martin will supply the missile systems to the militaries of Japan, Finland, Poland and the Netherlands, with work carried out at Lockheed Martin’s facilities in Orlando until mid-2032.

• Training

  Turkey completes Romania air policing mission

  16th April 2024

  Turkish F-16 experience was praised by Romanian fighter pilots as Turkey completes first participation in NATO southern mission.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Japan signs new SeaGuardian UAS deal for coastal monitoring

  20th August 2024

  The purchase deal completes a shift away from Chinese technology, and adds to an existing SeaGuardian fleet.

• Land Warfare

  World Defense Show 2024: L3Harris MissionOps set for first deployment by mid-year

  8th February 2024

  L3Harris’s MissionOps is a tactical network management suite which is designed to consolidate core capabilities and deliver them in a single software package.

• Air Warfare

  Belgian F-35A completes first flight

  17th May 2024

  The Belgian Air Force’s first F-35A Lightning II has taken flight, showcasing the national flag, with the first force’s first four F-35As set to head to Luke AFB for initial training amid software upgrade delays.

• Air Warfare

  Why the F-16 fighter jet remains a force to be reckoned with (updated 2024)

  3rd January 2024

  The Lockheed Martin F-16 fighter jet is still in the limelight over 40 years after its first flight. Shephard sums up the latest developments and tells you everything you need to know about the aircraft in the 2020s.

• Naval Warfare

  Poland signs $1.5 billion contract for coastal defence missiles

  7th September 2023

  Kongsberg has been awarded a contract worth NOK16 billion ($1.49 billion) from the Polish Ministry of National Defence for delivery of four Naval Strike Missile (NSM) Coastal Defence System (CDS) squadrons.

• Naval Warfare

  US doubles its presence in the Middle East to de-escalate tensions in the region

  28th August 2024

  The Pentagon has increased its naval and aerial assets in the area due to Houthi and Hezbollah attacks.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - fixed-wing

  Bandit (US)

  Programme Background Goal As stated by Alyson Turri, the AFRL Bandit programme manager, the goal is to "develop an unmanned platform that looks like a fifth-generation ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Rafale - Follow-On (Greece)

  Programme Background Referring to the rearmament programme for 2020-2025, Greek defence minister Nikolaos Panagiotopoulos said in parliament on 7 October 2021 that up to 48 new multi-role ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Kalina Class

  The Kalina-class conventionally powered submarine is being developed to follow the Lada-class submarines. The new fifth-generation Kalina-class will be used for coastal defence against surface ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Kalina Class

  The Kalina-class conventionally powered submarine is being developed to follow the Lada-class submarines. The new fifth-generation Kalina-class will be used for coastal defence against surface ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-35A (1-20) [Greece]

  Programme Background Timeline In April 2019, Defence Minister Evangelos Apostolakis confirmed the country’s serious interest in purchasing the F-35. He told the press that in ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Multirole Fighter (UAE)

  Programme Background Abu Dhabi has a long-standing interest in two squadrons of F-35, which had been refused until 2017 when it was reported that the ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Future Combat Air System (FCAS/SCAF) [France]

  Programme Background The governments of France and Germany have launched the demonstrator phase for the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) with the issue of an ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Multirole Fighter (Morocco)

  Programme Background In March 2019, the US State Department announced that it has approved a possible FMS of 25 F-16V Block 72 aircraft to Morocco ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Future Combat Air System (FCAS/SCAF) [Germany]

  Background Requirement The FCAS programme is based on the system-of-systems design, envisioning a "command fighter" aircraft that has stand-alone combat capability as well as controlling ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | JAS-39C/D Gripen Replacement [Czech Republic]

  The Czech Republic Air Force operates 14 Gripens (12 JAS 39C and two JAS 39D variants) under a lease agreement that runs until 2027 with an option ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  Air: Helmet-mounted displays | JAS-39C/D Gripen Replacement [Czech Republic]

  The Czech Republic Air Force operates 14 Gripens (12 JAS 39C and two JAS 39D variants) under a lease agreement that runs until 2027 with an option ...

• Data links

  Data links | JAS-39C/D Gripen Replacement [Czech Republic]

  The Czech Republic Air Force operates 14 Gripens (12 JAS 39C and two JAS 39D variants) under a lease agreement that runs until 2027 with an option ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | JAS-39C/D Gripen Replacement [Czech Republic]

  The Czech Republic Air Force operates 14 Gripens (12 JAS 39C and two JAS 39D variants) under a lease agreement that runs until 2027 with an option ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | JAS-39C/D Gripen Replacement [Czech Republic]

  The Czech Republic Air Force operates 14 Gripens (12 JAS 39C and two JAS 39D variants) under a lease agreement that runs until 2027 with an option ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Future Combat Air System (FCAS/SCAF) [Spain]

  Programme Background Programme Timeline The Future Combat Air System (FCAS) was publicly announced in July 2017, followed by a Franco-German agreement in 2018. At the ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  Zero-G HMDS+

  The Zero-G HMDS+ is a developmental helmet-mounted display system being developed by Collins Aerospace and Elbit Systems for sixth-generation higher aircraft. According to the company, ...

• Data links

  Multifunction Advanced Data Link

  Multifunction Advanced Data Link (MADL) is a Ku-band data link designed for fifth-generation aircraft. The directional, interflight system is integrated into all F-35 variants, allowing ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Su-75 Checkmate

  Checkmate is a fifth-generation light tactical aircraft being developed by Sukhoi. Its prototype was unveiled at MAKS 2021. Checkmate's first flight is scheduled in 2023, ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Low Profile Head-Up Display (LPHUD)

  The Low profile Head-up Display (LPHUD) series is designed developed by Elbit Systems' ISTAR division, for fourth and fifth generation advanced fighter aircraft jets. Notalby, ...

• Fighter - multirole, Fighter - naval

  F-35C

  The F-35C Lightning II, also known as the F-35 carrier variant (CV), is a fifth-generation multirole combat aircraft in carrier configuration. It has larger wings and ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-35A

  The F-35A Lightning II is a fifth-generation multirole combat aircraft with CTOL capabilities. It is a multinational programme led by the US DoD, bringing together ...

• Fixed wing aircraft engines

  AL-41F-1S

  Manufactured by Saturn, the AL-41F-1S aircraft engine is a modular two-shaft turbofan engine with thrust vector control and integrated digital control. The engine is used ...

• Fixed wing aircraft engines

  PD-14M

  PD Family of Engines comprises of bypass two-shaft turbojet engines with a light shroudless fan. The PD family of engines are designed for short- and ...

• Air-to-air missiles, Surface-to-air missiles

  Python-5

  The Python-5 is an Israeli beyond-visual-range anti-air missile developed by Rafael. The newest member of the Python family, the Python-5 is described as a fifth-generation air-to-air ...

• Air-to-surface missiles, Anti-ship missiles

  JSM

  The Joint Strike Missile (JSM) is a multirole version of the Naval Strike Missile. Norway funded the programme to develop and produce the JSM for the ...

• Fighter - multirole, Fighter - naval

  F-35B

  The F-35B Lightning II is a fifth-generation multirole combat aircraft with short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) capability. The USMC is the main customer for the F-35B, ...

• Land: air defence radar

  ELM-2026B VSHORAD

  The ELM-2026B Very Short Range Air Defence Radar (VSHORAD) is designed for detection and tracking of airborne targets, including a variety of low-RCS and low-flying ...

• Reconnaissance/patrol vehicles

  Eagle V 4x4

  GDELS unveiled the fifth generation of its Eagle light tactical vehicle at Eurosatory 2012. The platform has replaced earlier-generation vehicles in production. More than 1,250 ...

• Fighter - multirole

  J-31/FC-31

  The J-31 (also known as the 'Falcon Eagle' in Chinese) is a fifth-generation multirole stealth fighter domestically developed by China. Its export variant is designated as ...

• ISR/special mission

  AC-130J

  The AC-130J 'Ghostrider' is a fifth-generation gunship manufactured by Lockheed Martin to replace the AC-130U/W gunships for the USAF deployed in 2019. The Ghostrider is a highly modified C-130J ...