• Defence Helicopter

  PTDI answers the Bell for Indonesian Army

  12th January 2021

  PTDI continues to serve the Indonesian military with helicopter production of models like the Bell 412EPI, Super Puma and Panther.

• Air Warfare

  AARGM-ER to be integrated with F-35A

  24th November 2020

  USAF believes the missile has an advanced SEAD capability

• Defence Notes

  Kim Jong-un reigns supreme as king of parades

  19th January 2021

  Submarine-launched ballistic missiles and short-range ballistic missiles debuted in North Korea's latest military extravaganza in the heart of Pyongyang.

• Military Logistics

  Danes and Norwegians pick Marshall for C-130J-30 maintenance

  22nd December 2020

  Seven-year MRO deal covers combined fleet of eight Super Hercules aircraft.

• Defence Notes

  Myanmar military pleads ‘major cabinet reshuffle’ in coup

  4th February 2021

  Myanmar's military proves it cannot loosen its grip on the country, but it will still have no trouble obtaining equipment from non-Western sources.

• Naval Warfare

  In focus — the IRGC(N) and its strategic effect

  11th January 2021

  Formed after the 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps has developed a unique approach to maritime force projection, and represents the force of choice for Tehran when it wants to bring about a strategic effect in the Gulf region and beyond

• Land Warfare

  France analyses ethical implications of creating ‘super soldiers’

  16th December 2020

  The Defence Ethics Committee of the French MoD has published a report on the ‘enhanced soldier'. This document analysed ethical issues around improving physical, perceptual, cognitive and psychological capabilities for French warfighters.

• Air Warfare

  Swiss officially receive Eurofighter offer

  19th November 2020

  Airbus and Germany propose Typhoon to meet Air2030 modernisation requirement

• Air Warfare

  Japan postpones its F-15J upgrade programme

  15th December 2020

  The JASDF's plans to upgrade its fleet of F-15J fighters has hit a snag - money - as estimated programme costs soar.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Norwegian Home Guard to use Black Hornet 3

  5th November 2020

  Deliveries of the tiny UAV are due in the next few weeks

• Training

  Franco-German C-130J squadron to gain new training centre

  23rd November 2020

  Facility to open for business in 2024

• Defence Helicopter

  Romeo finally finds Seoul mate

  16th December 2020

  After much deliberation and delay, the Republic of Korea Navy has finally settled on its follow-on naval helicopter platform.

• Naval Warfare

  COVID impact delays delivery of Chilean icebreaker until 2024

  30th November 2020

  Vessel to be delivered 12 months later than originally intended

• Defence Notes

  US approves F-35 and F/A-18 for Finland’s HX tender

  9th October 2020

  The F-35 and F/A-18 have both been cleared for sale to Finland dependent on the outcome of a fighter aircraft tender.

• Military Logistics

  Dyncorp provides aircraft maintenance support for Naval Test Wing Pacific Command

  2nd November 2020

  ​Contract covers six fixed-wing aircraft types and one helicopter type

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 ...