• Air Warfare

  Aero Vodochody and Saab sign deal to develop commonality between L-39NG and Gripen

  30th May 2024

  In April 2022, the Hungarian government’s commissioner for defence development, Gáspár Maróth, announced the procurement of 12 L-39NGs. The contracts have reportedly been signed and the first aircraft were expected be delivered in 2024.

• Land Warfare

  South Korean defence industry demonstrates its tech prowess

  6th November 2024

  Shephard takes a deep dive into the latest developments in the South Korean defence sector as the country arms itself to deal with current and future threats.

• Air Warfare

  Poland secures mega missile order for $3.5 billion on 25th NATO anniversary

  13th March 2024

  Poland's military modernisation agenda has continued with the approval of multibillion-dollar missile agreements, as the country attempts to demonstrate its commitment to defence amid regional tensions.

• Air Warfare

  Indonesia receives latest C-130J Super Hercules

  25th January 2024

  The Indonesian Air Force has officially received the fourth of five Lockheed Martin C-130J-30 Super Hercules transport aircraft.

• Air Warfare

  South Korea’s KF-21 fighter fires guided IRIS-T missile

  20th May 2024

  Manufactured by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), the KF-21 Boramae is a fighter aircraft that resembles the design of the F-35A. South Korea has investing nearly US$8 billion in the fighter development programme which is set to be completed by 2028.

• Air Warfare

  Reiser secures new NH90 Sea Tiger maintenance training contract

  26th November 2024

  The training and simulation company’s new contract for the German Navy will replicate its NH90 Sea Tiger helicopter, which is set to join the fleet in 2025.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  British Army looks to ‘kamikaze drones’ for future operations

  2nd September 2024

  Inspired by the Ukrainian Armed Forces, the British Army has one eye on the future as it develops its ability to operate FPV UAS.

• Digital Battlespace

  AUSA 2024: General Micro Systems adds four new products to the X9 Spider family

  14th October 2024

  The airborne three-domain, the two ground-based and the ¼ ATR OpenVPX-based cross-domain systems were engineered to provide real-time security across multi-domain operations.

• Air Warfare

  Is Turkey’s potential return to the F-35 programme aligned with evolving defence priorities?

  7th February 2024

  While the US remained open to Turkey’s potential reintegration into the F-35 programme, recent developments suggest the possibility that Turkey’s evolving strategic priorities and indigenous defence initiatives may question the necessity of the F-35.

• Air Warfare

  Boeing to begin manufacturing Canadian and German P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft

  4th March 2024

  The Boeing-made P-8 Poseidon MPAs will replace outdated CP-140 Aurora planes in Canada and P-3C Orion aircraft in Germany.

• Air Warfare

  Preparing for mass deployments and improving aircraft fleet among US Air Force priorities for FY2025

  5th February 2024

  The branch’s main concerns for FY2025 will include integrating systems and equipment, improving software, cyber capabilities and aircraft fleet, and preparing for mass deployments.

• Training

  US Air Force awards HII $197 million synthetic environment training contract

  19th January 2024

  The contract will maintain, support and provide joint training in a synthetic environment across combatant commands.

• Defence Notes

  US Pentagon to reduce investments in main acquisition programmes over FY2025

  12th March 2024

  The DoD requested nearly US$850 billion to fund operations over the next fiscal year. Despite the amount being 1% higher than the FY2024 budget request, it has not covered the 3% inflation rate, which could impact the DoD’s main programmes in the medium and long term.

• Land Warfare

  Norway to provide more NASAMs to Ukraine

  9th February 2024

  If approved by the Norwegian Parliament, a proposal to supply additional National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) units to Ukraine would represent Norway’s fourth such donation of the systems.

• Naval Warfare

  Indian Navy purchases anti-submarine sonobuoys to counter Chinese incursions

  5th September 2024

  The US approved the deal despite supply chain delays to other equipment ordered by India.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Light attack, Trainer

  Light Attack/Trainer Aircraft - Ghana

  In 2013, the Chief of Ghana Air Force stated that A-29 is their preferred platform and this position was also submitted to the Government. In ...

• Transport

  C-130J - USAF

  Programme Background The C-130J Super Hercules is a four-engine turboprop transport aircraft developed by Lockheed Martin to replace aging C-130 variants. The US and FMS ...

• Bomber

  B-21 Raider (USA)

  Programme Background The US DoD is developing a new long-range bomber called the B-21 Raider, previously known as LRS-B. At least 100 units are expected ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  T-2E Replacement - Greece

  The average unit cost is estimated to be around $12 million based on the Czech Republic's $48.5 million deal for the purchase of four L-39NG ...

• Trainer

  Trainer Aircraft (1-12) [Vietnam]

  Programme Background After years of operating Russian-built military equipment, Vietnam is more willing to procure US-supplied equipment following the lifting of the arms embargo in ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  UH-60M Black Hawks [Greece]

  Programme Background In October 2023, Greece submitted a formal request to acquire 49 Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters as replacements for the Army's Bell UH-1s after launching ...

• Military helicopters - light/training

  Bell 505 (Jordan)

  Programme Background Requirement The Jordanian Air Force has a requirement for training helicopters that are to be used in the King Hussein Air College. The country ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | Penetrating Counter Air (PCA)

  USAF is working on Penetrating Counter Air (PCA) aircraft concept which may replace F-15C/Ds and F-22s in service and complement F-35s. Boeing, Lockheed Martin and ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  Air: Helmet-mounted displays | Penetrating Counter Air (PCA)

  USAF is working on Penetrating Counter Air (PCA) aircraft concept which may replace F-15C/Ds and F-22s in service and complement F-35s. Boeing, Lockheed Martin and ...

• Data links

  Data links | Penetrating Counter Air (PCA)

  USAF is working on Penetrating Counter Air (PCA) aircraft concept which may replace F-15C/Ds and F-22s in service and complement F-35s. Boeing, Lockheed Martin and ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | Penetrating Counter Air (PCA)

  USAF is working on Penetrating Counter Air (PCA) aircraft concept which may replace F-15C/Ds and F-22s in service and complement F-35s. Boeing, Lockheed Martin and ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | Penetrating Counter Air (PCA)

  USAF is working on Penetrating Counter Air (PCA) aircraft concept which may replace F-15C/Ds and F-22s in service and complement F-35s. Boeing, Lockheed Martin and ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | Penetrating Counter Air (PCA) [USA]

  USAF is working on Penetrating Counter Air (PCA) aircraft concept which may replace F-15C/Ds and F-22s in service and complement F-35s. Boeing, Lockheed Martin and ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  Air: Helmet-mounted displays | Penetrating Counter Air (PCA) [USA]

  USAF is working on Penetrating Counter Air (PCA) aircraft concept which may replace F-15C/Ds and F-22s in service and complement F-35s. Boeing, Lockheed Martin and ...

• Data links

  Data links | Penetrating Counter Air (PCA) [USA]

  USAF is working on Penetrating Counter Air (PCA) aircraft concept which may replace F-15C/Ds and F-22s in service and complement F-35s. Boeing, Lockheed Martin and ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Air: Electronic Attack - Pod, Air: chaff, flare and decoy systems

  Comet

  Mystery surrounds Raytheon’s Comet infrared (IR) countermeasures pod. The system appears to have been designed to answer a 2003 US Air Force requirement for an ...

• Air: Electronic Attack - Jamming

  J/ALQ-8

  Like Israel, Japan elected to outfit its McDonnell Douglas/Boeing F-15J/DJ combat aircraft with an indigenous self-protection system. This takes the form of Mitsubishi Electric’s J/ALQ-8 ...

• Air: surveillance and maritime patrol radar

  Lynx

  Lynx is a high-resolution synthetic aperture radar with ground moving target indication (GMTI), dismount MTI (DMTI) and maritime capability. Operating in the Ku-band, it produces ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  FAB-T Force Element Terminal

  The Family of Advanced Beyond Line-of-Sight Terminals - Force Element Terminal (FAB-T FET) is a nuclear-hardened SATCOM solution designed for airborne applications. Produced by Raytheon, ...

• Land: air defence radar

  AN/FPS-132

  AN/FPS-132 is a solid-state, phased-array, all-weather long-range radar developed by Raytheon. It is also known as Upgraded Early Warning Radar (UEWR). The AN/FPS-132 provides early ...

• Fighter - air superiority

  F-5E/F Tiger II

  The F-5E (single-seat)/F (twin-seat) Tiger II is an air superiority fighter developed by Northrop Grumman based on the original F-5 Freedom Fighter. Production of the ...

• Air-to-air missiles

  AIM-9 Sidewinder

  The AIM-9 Sidewinder is a short-range air-to-air missile (AAM) that entered US military service in 1956, with variants and upgrades remaining active to the present day. The ...

• Land: soldier modernisation systems - industry programmes

  Warrior Systems

  General Dynamics Mission Systems is prime contractor and system integrator for the US Army’s Warrior soldier systems, which include Air Warrior, Future Force Warrior, Land Warrior ...

• Air: mission management systems

  TBMCS

  Theater Battle Management Core Systems (TBMCS) is a US joint C2 integrated BMS used to plan and execute air campaigns in theatres of operations worldwide. ...

• Trainer

  King Air trainer

  Textron / Beechcraft King Air trainers are a family twin-engine aircraft based on King Air 90, 100, 200 and 350 utility aircraft. The King Air ...

• Trainer

  T-6A/B Texan II

  The T-6 Texan II is a single-engine trainer aircraft, which was developed from the Pilatus PC-9 to meet the training requirements of USAF and USN ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  EMB-312 Tucano

  The EMB-312 Tucano (Brazilian designation T-27) is a trainer and light attack aircraft developed by Embraer to meet the training requirements of the Brazilian Air ...

• Air: Integrated Defensive Systems

  AN/ALQ-213(V) DAC

  Terma’s AN/ALQ-213(V) electronic warfare management unit is used extensively on General Dynamics/Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon series combat aircraft around the world. The AN/ALQ-213(V) is ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-4 Phantom II family

  The F-4 Phantom II is a two-seat multirole fighter developed originally by McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) to meet USN interceptor requirements. It soon became a unified ...

• Air: Electronic Attack - Jamming, Air: chaff, flare and decoy systems

  ADM-141A/B/C TALD/ITALD

  Israel Military Industries’ ADM-141A/B/C Tactical Air Launched Decoy (TALD) and Improved TALD is in service with the US Navy, and possibly with the Israeli Air ...