• Air Warfare

  US Air Force fighter unit transitions to aggressor squadron

  17th May 2023

  The 926th Wing's 706th Fighter Squadron has been redesignated as the 706th Aggressor Squadron, enhancing Nellis Air Force Base's air combat training capabilities.

• Land Warfare

  NZ Army to more closely align with Australian Army via Plan ANZAC

  14th June 2023

  The New Zealand Army has decided to closely align itself and cooperate far more closely with its Australian counterpart.

• Air Warfare

  Turkish Air Force F-16 fighter upgrade moves ahead with first deliveries

  23rd May 2023

  The Ozgur upgrade to Turkish Air Force F-16 jets, carried out by Turkish Aerospace industries, claims to bring the aircraft up to a standard equivalent to the latest Block 70/72 model, using domestically developed avionics and subsystems.

• Training

  Saab details Finnish and Dutch combat training solutions at IT2EC 2023

  26th April 2023

  Saab has revealed more details about its Ground Combat Indoor Trainer delivered to the Finnish Armed Forces and showcased its van-based Mobile Combat Training Centre.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Trillium brings artificial intelligence capability to UAV imaging sensors

  1st May 2023

  Trillium Engineering has announced a partnership with AI developer SightX to bring the latter's processing capabilities into the company's range of ISR payloads for UAS.

• Air Warfare

  Lockheed Martin receives order for nearly 130 new F-35s

  3rd May 2023

  Lockheed Martin has secured a $7.7 million modification contract from the US Air Force for the production and delivery of 126 F-35 fighter.

• Land Warfare

  Delivering advanced C4I at the tip of the spear (Sponsored)

  22nd March 2023

  Digitalising your dismounted troops comes with some key capability requirements for mission success.

• Digital Battlespace

  IHSE’s mission-critical KVM solutions - When uncompromising security is required (Sponsored)

  27th April 2023

  In defense, government and other restricted information applications, security is imperative. Leakage of confidential information quickly becomes a serious threat and managers must ensure that their systems provide the highest level of protection against external and internal threats. IHSE’s Common Criteria certified KVM extenders offer a new level of security that helps to maintain complete data integrity and to prevent unauthorized access.

• Air Warfare

  AW149: Designed to Survive the Modern Battlefield (Sponsored)

  3rd July 2023

  Built for the most demanding operations on the modern battlefield, survivability is at the heart of Leonardo’s AW149 multi-role helicopter.

• Naval Warfare

  Anglo-French uncrewed minehunting project moves forward with assurance trials

  14th June 2023

  The joint Maritime Mine Counter Measures (MMCM) effort is delivering an autonomous minehunting capability to the Royal Navy and Marine Nationale.

• Air Warfare

  US Air Force completes latest AMRAAM missile configuration audit

  20th April 2023

  The AIM-120D-3 advanced medium range air-to-air missile features modernised hardware, including 15 upgraded circuit cards developed with model-based systems engineering initiatives.

• Air Warfare

  2023 F-35 deliveries take hit due to engine problem and Tech Refresh delays

  20th April 2023

  Lockheed Martin is expected to fall short of its target for delivering 156 F-35 fighter jets in 2023 due to a three-month pause in engine deliveries and delays with the Tech Refresh 3 update.

• Training

  British Army's training capabilities reach new heights with VBS4

  4th April 2023

  Elbit Systems UK has integrated Bohemia Interactive Simulation's DVS2 into the British Army's Combined Arms Virtual Simulation system for advanced military training. IFTech has also integrated BISim's VBS4 into its smart battle suit.

• Defence Notes

  Australia selects preferred bidder for JP9102 SATCOM tender

  3rd April 2023

  A contract has not been awarded yet, but Lockheed Martin has been declared the preferred bidder for JP9102 MILSATCOM in Australia.

• Training

  Dutch Army takes control of new chemical threat simulator

  25th April 2023

  The Royal Netherlands Army has taken control of a new chemical threat simulator from Bagira Systems.

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 ...