• Training

  NFTE builds up a head of steam

  30th March 2021

  As Leonardo and CAE join forces in a JV to operate their International Flight Training School, NATO's Flight Training Europe programme gains traction and is on target to open in 2022.

• Land Warfare

  COVID-19 crisis reduced Arquus' exports by 50% in 2020

  11th March 2021

  Although the COVID-19 crisis reduced Arquus’ exports by 50% in 2020, the company managed to balance the books by increasing its services by 40%. Additionally, the French manufacturer plans to deliver around 150 Griffons and Jaguars to the French Army in 2021.

• Defence Helicopter

  New Sky Viper ready to disrupt FARA

  11th March 2021

  Northrop Grumman has revealed a 20mm chain gun named Sky Viper — will it be considered as an alternative to the General Dynamics XM915 cannon?

• Defence Notes

  Finland calls for HX best and final offers

  29th January 2021

  Competitors involved in the Finnish HX fighter acquisition programme have been issued with best and final offer requests, ahead of a contract award for one lucky manufacturer before the end of 2021.

• Military Logistics

  Rolls-Royce sustains US Super Hercules engines

  2nd February 2021

  Work on new delivery order to be completed by end of January 2022.

• Air Warfare

  Boeing receives FMS modification for Kuwaiti Super Hornets

  6th January 2021

  ​Latest contract covers integrated logistics support for fleet of single-seat and twin-seat aircraft.

• Air Warfare

  Lockheed Martin to supply A-kits for Super Hercules missile warning system

  1st February 2021

  LAIRCM advanced missile warning system improves aircraft capability and survivability by countering advanced infrared missile system threats.

• Naval Warfare

  Australia to arm warships with ‘sharper’ weapons

  26th January 2021

  Australia will add much more capable missiles to its warships, in response to the growing threat posed by more belligerent state actors such as China and, to a lesser extent, North Korea.

• Defence Helicopter

  Brazilian naval helicopter upgrade reaches halfway mark

  4th February 2021

  Brazilian Navy aims to deploy upgraded Super Lynx helicopters on its Tamandaré-class corvettes.

• Defence Helicopter

  Leonardo confident of securing new Wildcat orders

  5th February 2021

  Leonardo hopes to build on a modest AW159 Wildcat export order record as it pursues 'multiple opportunities' across Europe, the Middle East and the Asia-Pacific region.

• Defence Notes

  Sweden offers Finland Gripen development partnership for HX

  16th February 2021

  The Swedish MoD has revealed a new offer to Finland, which it hopes will help to land a lucrative HX fighter contract.

• Naval Warfare

  Singapore creates new flotilla of tugs and rejuvenated warships

  26th January 2021

  Singapore can free up its more capable naval vessels by fielding its new flotilla of tugs and old warships to monitor Singapore waters.

• Air Warfare

  F-35s for Australia reach IOC milestone

  4th January 2021

  Almost half of the 72 aircraft on order have been delivered.

• Defence Notes

  Suspension of investment plan could hit Slovenian procurement

  26th January 2021

  Temporary suspension of a €780 million scheme to improve and modernise the armed forces may affect and delay Slovenian long-term procurement programmes.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Type-X makes progress in mobility tests

  7th January 2021

  Robotic combat vehicle is designed to support mechanised units equipped with IFVs.

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 ...