• Air Warfare

  Lockheed Martin F-35 deliveries at risk as TR-3 testing delays cause setbacks

  13th June 2023

  Newly produced F-35 fighter jets could be stored while awaiting the completion of a critical avionics upgrade validation by the Pentagon.

• Training

  GNSS simulator software breaks high-capacity barrier

  7th March 2023

  Global navigation satellite system simulation Skydek can generate 500 simulated signals.

• Training

  Core collective training challenges – a British Army view

  4th August 2023

  The fundamental reason for an army’s existence is to be able to fight and win against its country’s enemies, in whatever form these are manifested.

• Digital Battlespace

  Australia confirms SitaWare for critical C2 elements of Land 200 Phase 3 project

  28th July 2023

  The Australian Defence Force has chosen Systematic's SitaWare software for the C2 functions of the Land 200 Phase 3 project, enhancing situational awareness and battlefield management.

• Air Warfare

  Lockheed calls for ‘forward-looking approach’ on F-35 engine at Paris Air Show

  22nd June 2023

  Lockheed Martin emphasises the need for more power and cooling, suggesting a potential requirement for an Adaptive Engine Transition Program (AETP) performance-related improvement, a programme that was recently revived by the House Armed Services Committee.

• Digital Battlespace

  Spain acquires additional Elbit radios to support NATO commitments

  4th January 2023

  Elbit Systems has received an additional contract from the Spanish MoD to supply its E-Lynx tactical software-defined radios.

• Training

  British Army resumes Ajax training as review criticises MoD procurement

  16th June 2023

  British Field Army units have resumed training on the beleaguered Ajax platform as a mammoth review into the procurement of the vehicle is made public.

• Air Warfare

  US Air Force XQ-58A Valkyrie completes AI-powered test flight

  4th August 2023

  Developed by the US Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), the Valkyrie's AI and machine learning agents demonstrated their capability to solve tactically relevant challenges during airborne operations.

• Air Warfare

  Quantum Systems, Airbus, and Spleenlab team up to research artificial intelligence from drone swarms

  3rd July 2023

  The German Armed Forces Planning Office has awarded Airbus Defence and Space, Quantum-Systems and Spleenlab a research contract to demonstrate and analyse the AI building blocks required for swarms of tactical UAS.

• Air Warfare

  Insight: What does the future hold for the Eurofighter Typhoon combat aircraft?

  11th September 2023

  The Eurofighter Typhoon Tranche 3A has been adopted by Middle Eastern air forces as well as the European partner nations. Shephard Defence Insight analyses its next-generation radar, cockpit technology and future upgrade plans.

• Land Warfare

  US military accelerates acquisition and adoption of artificial intelligence

  28th July 2023

  Speeding up the procurement process and increasing the integration of data across the Department of Defense are part of the Pentagon's strategy to increase the use of AI and ML.

• Air Warfare

  BAE Systems future-proofs Typhoon with 'Tranche 5' upgrades and GCAP synergies

  7th July 2023

  BAE Systems is working to enhance the Eurofighter Typhoon multirole fighter with advanced chip technology, delivering significant computational power and improved cyber-resilience for future air combat capabilities.

• Land Warfare

  Rising Anti-Armour Threats in Ukraine Spotlight Need for Active Protection Systems (Studio)

  6th September 2023

  Amid the evolving threats in modern warfare, active protection systems (APS), like Rafael’s Trophy, offer advanced defence for armoured vehicles.

• Air Warfare

  A welcome observer? Workshare wrangles loom as Belgium joins SCAF future fighter effort

  12th September 2023

  Of the three major Western next-generation fighter programmes, the (arguably) French-led SCAF has received the least attention in English-speaking media. As Belgium gains observer status on the programme, what will this mean for the workshare arrangements between France, Germany and Spain?

• Land Warfare

  Elbit to supply surveillance radars to UK armed forces

  23rd May 2023

  The 90 portable Ground-Based Suveillance Radar units will feature capture software to monitor operator performance.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Fighter - multirole

  F-16V Procurement [Slovakia]

  Programme Background Earlier in April 2018, the US State Department announced that it has approved a possible FMS deal of 14 F-16V aircraft for an ...

• Aircraft carriers

  Queen Elizabeth Class

  The contract to begin the construction of the first ship was awarded in 2008, ten years after the programme was announced in the 1998 SDR. ...

• Reconnaissance/patrol vehicles

  Belgium Jaguar Medium Common Armoured Vehicle Platform

  Programme Background In its Strategic Vision for Defence document published in June 2016, the Belgian MoD outlined its aspirations for equipping five motorised manoeuvre battalions ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  6x6 APC (Philippines)

  Programme Background The Philippine Army has identified an urgent need for new wheeled APCs, after the Battle of Marawi exposed shortcomings in its existing fleet ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

  Intercept and Escort Craft (UK)

  Programme BackgroundThe UK MoD launched a programme aimed at developing a class of Intercept and Escort craft intended to replace the existing stock of Avon Sea Rider, Pacific ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

  Intercept and Escort Craft (UK) (Option)

  Programme Background The UK MoD launched a programme aimed at developing a class of Intercept and Escort craft intended to replace the existing stock of Avon Sea ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-15SA Saudi Arabia

  The aircraft deal includes 170 APG-63(v)3 AESA radar sets, 193 F-110-GE-129 Improved Performance Engines, 100 M61 Vulcan Cannons, 338 Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing Systems amongst ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  Belgium Griffon Light Common Armoured Vehicle Platform

  Programme Background In its Strategic Vision for Defence document published in June 2016, the Belgian MoD outlined its aspirations for equipping five motorised manoeuvre battalions ...

• Fighter - multirole

  JAS 39E/F Gripen (Brazil)

  In 2016, Gripen’s Project and Development Center was opened in Sao Paulo to allow Sweedish and Brazillian engineers to work together in the Gripen development ...

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

  Bayraktar TB2 (Qatar)

  Programme Background In 2018 at DIMDEX, it was revealed that Qatar had bought six Bayraktar TB2 UAVs from Turkey. The deal also included three ground control stations, ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  Tejas LCA - India Follow-On

  According to the HAL's chairman R Madhavan, 'apart from all the capabilities of IOC aircraft, the FOC variant additionally comes with an air-to-air refuelling capability, close-combat ...

• Fighter - multirole

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

  Programme Background Requirements The Czech Republic Air Force operates 14 Gripens (12 JAS 39C and two JAS 39D variants) under a lease agreement that runs ...

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

  MQ-9 Reaper [France]

  Programme Background Total Procurement In June 2013, Northrop Grumman announced that France had requested the purchase of 16 Reapers plus associated systems from the US ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  KC-46A (Follow-On) [Japan]

  Programme Background Requirement In May 2024, Australian Defence Magazine reported that the Japan Self-Defence Forces (JSDF) has been planning to increase its airborne refuelling and strategic transport ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors, Patrol boats

  Gun Boats (Pakistan)

  Programme Background Timeline The first steel cutting for these boats occurred on 6 October 2022. The PN is seeking 20 vessels; the first one should ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  HF SDR

  Bharat Electronics Limited's High-Frequency Software-Defined Radio (HF SDR) was unveiled at the Aero India 2023 exhibition. The transceiver operates in the HF band and features ...

• Naval: Radio and SATCOM

  SDR-NC

  Developed by DRDO and produced by Bharat Electronics, the SDR-NC is a multi-mode, multi-band radio system designed for the Indian Armed Forces. Offered in at least ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  Bittium Tough SDR Handheld

  Bittium Tough SDR Handheld is a part of Bittium's Tough software-defined radio family. The transceiver supports Bittium's proprietary waveforms as well as ESSOR, and national ...

• UAS: communication systems

  NDR374

  The NDR374 is a 4-Channel Software-Defined Radio developed by the U.S. based manufacturer Epiq Solutions that can be used during rapid deployment and reliant support ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  BNET-AR

  BNET-AR Airborne SDR is a member of Rafael's BNET Family of IP Software Defined Radios. The modular, multiband system utilises an open architecture and provides ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  PR9560

  The PR9560 is designed for use by land forces, including infantry, forward observers, snipers, special forces, and anti-terror units, and can be utilized at either ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  SDR-Tac

  The SDR-Tac is a four-channel software-defined radio for naval vessels, developed by India's Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) and Bharat Electronics. It is in service with ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  AN/PRC-162

  The AN/PRC-162 is a two-channel software-defined radio that has been selected for the US Army’s Handheld, Manpack and Small Form Fit programme. The SDR is ...

• UAS: communication systems

  RX410

  The RX410 by Pixus Technologies is a rugged Software-Defined Radio (SDR) based on the National Instruments Ettus Research X410 model, designed to handle frequencies from ...

• UAS: communication systems

  Sidekiq VPX410

  The Sidekiq VPX410 is a high-performance, SOSA-aligned 3U VPX SDR, first unveiled in 2022. It facilitates access to critical frequency bands up to 18GHz by ...

• Data links, Land: Radio and SATCOM, UAS: communication systems

  QNT-200

  The Collins QNT-200 is a dual-channel software-defined radio (SDR) designed for size, weight and power-constrained platforms. Using IP-based mesh networks, it offers high-bandwidth mobile networking ...

• UAS: communication systems

  BNET NANO

  The newest member of Rafael's BNET family of Software-Defined Radios, BNET NANO was unveiled in 2021. BNET Nano provides capabilities similar to larger BNET radios ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  SDR-H Special Role Radio

  In February 2018, Domo Tactical Communications (DTC) announced the development of the SDR-H Special Role Radio (SRR), designed for tactical and special operations. The SRR ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  SDR Family

  Designed to provide high-speed data and voice communications to support land, maritime and air platform applications on the digital battlefield. The family of SDRs consists ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  SpiderNet-SDR

  The SpiderNet-SDR is a family of tactical software defined radios that provides warfighters with optimised situational awareness of the battlefield. Its multiband, multirole feature enables ...