• Uncrewed Vehicles

  China becoming global centre for consumer UAV production

  14th May 2015

  Start-up firms in China are looking to tap into the success of established in-country UAV firms such as DJI, whose products account for 70% of …

• Defence Helicopter

  USAF Ospreys to deploy to Japan in 2017

  13th May 2015

  The Pentagon has announced it will begin deploying its first squadron of Bell Boeing CV-22 Ospreys to Japan in 2017. The specially modified tiltrotor aircraft …

• Military Logistics

  US Navy christens new Joint High Speed Vessel

  12th May 2015

  The US Navy christened the Joint High Speed Vessel 6 (JHSV 6) USNS Brunswick in a ceremony at Austal's shipyard in Mobile, Alabama on 9 …

• Naval Warfare

  OCCAR orders seven vessels for Italian Navy

  12th May 2015

  The Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR) has signed an order for the construction of seven vessels for the Italian Navy with Fincantieri and Finmeccanica. …

• Military Logistics

  Airbus team to help A400M crash investigation

  11th May 2015

  Following the crash of a test A400M aircraft near Seville in Spain on 9 May, manufacturer Airbus Defence and Security has flown in an investigation …

• Digital Battlespace

  Northrop Grumman introduces SABR-GS radar

  11th May 2015

  Northrop Grumman has introduced its Scalable Agile Beam Radar – Global Strike (SABR-GS) developed for the US Air Force B-1B Lancer. The development of the …

• Defence Helicopter

  Japanese Osprey buy moves a step closer

  7th May 2015

  The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notified the US Congress on 5 May that it had cleared a sale of 17 Bell Boeing V-22B Osprey …

• Military Logistics

  RAF shakes-up transport aircraft training

  1st May 2015

  The RAF’s transport and tanker aircraft fleet training programme will see significant developments in coming years as the C130J Super Hercules makes room for the …

• Defence Helicopter

  First Bell 407GX delivered to Mexican Air Force

  1st May 2015

  The Mexican Air Force (Fuerza Aérea Mexicana - FAM) has received its first Bell Helicopter 407GX aircraft, a company spokesperson confirmed to Shephard. It is …

• Naval Warfare

  Sweden and Finland to establish joint naval force

  29th April 2015

  The Royal Swedish Navy (RSwN) and the Finnish Navy will establish a joint naval task force in 2017. According to RAdm Jan Thomqvist, chief of …

• Land Warfare

  Rheinmetall's LGST, DST systems complete acceptance tests

  28th April 2015

  Rheinmetall's Leopard Gunnery Skills Trainer (LGST) and Driver Training Simulator (DTS) systems have completed factory acceptance tests with the Indonesian Army, the company announced on …

• Military Logistics

  Babcock awarded RNZN support contract

  28th April 2015

  The Babcock International Group has renewed an agreement to deliver through-life engineering support services to the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN). Under the contract, which …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  X-47B demonstrates autonomous aerial refuelling

  24th April 2015

  The X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System Demonstration (UCAS-D) aircraft successfully demonstrated fully autonomous aerial refuelling (AAR), as announced on 22 April. The demonstration was conducted …

• Defence Helicopter

  AAR to provide logistics services for T64 engine upgrade

  24th April 2015

  AAR Defense Systems & Logistics (DS&L) has been awarded a logistics contract from Bell Helicopter Textron in support of upgrading T64 engines for the Bell …

• Digital Battlespace

  Marvin Test Solutions releases two MTS-916 simulator variants

  24th April 2015

  Marvin Test Solutions has released two new variants of its MTS-916 modular target simulators line: MTS-916-6 and MTS-916-7. The release was announced on 22 April. …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Tiltrotors

  V-22 Osprey [Japan]

  Programme Background Procurement Contracts The Japanese government is the first export customer of the Bell-Boeing V-22 Osprey, having ordered 17 helicopters from the US across ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | MAWS/PATMAR [France]

  French Navy is planning to purchase up to 22 MPA aircraft to replace its ATL2 fleet in service. Germany and France agreed to develop a ...

• Data links

  Data links | MAWS/PATMAR [France]

  French Navy is planning to purchase up to 22 MPA aircraft to replace its ATL2 fleet in service. Germany and France agreed to develop a ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | MAWS/PATMAR [France]

  French Navy is planning to purchase up to 22 MPA aircraft to replace its ATL2 fleet in service. Germany and France agreed to develop a ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | MAWS/PATMAR [France]

  French Navy is planning to purchase up to 22 MPA aircraft to replace its ATL2 fleet in service. Germany and France agreed to develop a ...

• Loitering munitions

  Harop [Morocco]

  Programme Background In November 2021, Haaretz reported that a $22 million drone sale between Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and Morocco had occurred. That publication and ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  Light Armed Helicopter (LAH) Forecast (South Korea)

  Programme Background The LAH is the first time that the South Korean OEM has developed an armed helicopter. The project kicked off in June 2015, ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - HALE

  MQ-4 Triton (Announced/Contracted) [USA]

  Programme Background Requirement The MQ-4C Triton programme, developed under the Broad Area Maritime Surveillance (BAMS) programme, required an uncrewed system to provide persistent real-time intelligence, surveillance ...

• Military helicopters - maritime

  Spain HT-29 Caiman MSPT (NH90 NFH) - Navy

  The deliveries of seven NH-90 NFHs to the Spanish Navy are expected to between 2022 and 2025, following the completion of 22-helicopters program for the ...

• Patrol boats

  Evolved Cape Class (1-6) [Australia]

  Programme Background Austal was awarded a contract to build six 'Evolved' Cape-class patrol boats for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) on 1 May 2020. The contract ...

• Tiltrotors

  V-22 Osprey (USN)

  Programme Background Requirement According to USN FY2023 Budget Estimate documentation, the V-22 programme provides an aircraft to meet the amphibious and vertical assault needs of ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  AAV7A1 RAM/RS (Japan - 2nd Batch)

  Programme Background The Japan Ground Self Defense Force (JGSDF) has procured the AAV7A1 RAM/RS to equip its Amphibious Assault Brigade formed in 2018. Tasked with ...

• Frigates

  30FFM Multi-Mission Frigates [Japan]

  Programme Background Timeline The Japanese Ministry of Defense (MoD) was expected to place orders for all eight multirole frigates by fiscal year (FY) 2021, with ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift, Tiltrotors

  V-22 Osprey [Indonesia]

  Programme Background Announcement Indonesia issued a letter of request for pricing, which eventually triggered the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) to announce on 6 June 2020, ...

• Loitering munitions, Military UAS - fixed-wing

  Phoenix Ghost (Ukraine Aid) [US]

  Programme Background Presidential Drawdown (21 April 2022) Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022, on 21 April 2022, President Biden announced an $800 ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - HALE

  MD-22

  The Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) unveiled the near-space hypersonic technology testbed MD-22 at the Zhuhai Airshow in 2022. Capable of speeds of Mach 7, the ...

• Air: air combat simulators

  Air Combat Training

  Boeing has experience in delivering training for fixed-wing air combat platforms including F-15C/E, F-16, F/A-18E/F, EA-18G, F-22 and MV/CV-22.

• Data links

  MDM-2X02N

  The MDM-2X02N is a tactical data link modem that combines the functionalities of a Link 11 DTS and Link 22 signal processor controller (SPC) into ...

• Data links

  MLT 2920

  The MLT 2920 Multi Link Terminal is a Link 11/22 compatible data link solution. Supplied by Elbit Systems Deutschland, it comprises one Link 11 modem ...

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

  Kaman-22

  Unveiled in February 2021, the Kaman-22 is the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Forces (IRIAF) flagship UAV. With a payload capacity of 300kg and seven hardpoints, ...

• Transport

  An-22

  The largest transport aircraft of the time, the An-22 Antei (NATO reporting name Cock) is a heavy military transport aircraft developed by Antonov in the ...

• Air: AEW/fire control radar

  RP-22 Sapfir 21

  The RP-22 Sapfir 21 is an upgraded Sapfir for late-1960s MiG-21 fighters. 

• Data links

  Maritime Tactical Data Link

  The Maritime Tactical Data Link (MTDL) is a developmental tactical data link by Hanwha Systems. Offered in 16 configurations, the system is based on the ...

• Anti-ship missiles

  P-270 Moskit

  The P-270 Moskit is a Soviet anti-ship missile designated as SS-N-22 (Sunburn) by NATO. It was not till after the end of the Cold War ...

• Sea: naval fire control radar

  Type 911

  The Type 911 is a lightweight, I-bad fire control system developed by Marconi, which is now part of BAE Systems. These radars were originally developed ...

• Data links

  LinkPro

  LinkPro is a standards-based, high fidelity, software-only, multi-link Tactical Data Link (TDL) processing engine that improves tactical communications, reduces the time, risk and expense of ...

• Corvettes

  Shahid Soleimani class

  At the beginning of September 2022, Iran unveiled the new Shahid Soleimani-class warship. The vessel features a catamaran design with a stealthy superstructure. Two other units are reportedly ...

• ISR/special mission

  IL-22

  The IL-22 Bison (NATO reporting name Coot-B), also known as IL-18D-36, is a special mission aircraft designed as an airborne command post for the Soviet Air Force.  ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - small

  Air Wolf

  The Air Wolf, or Airwolf, is a catapult-launched developmental UAS manufactured by Kratos Defense & Security Solutions.  On 25 August 2021, Kratos announced the platform had completed its ...

• Helicopter guns

  RGS (AWG-35)

  The RGS (AWG-35) fulfils the USMC requirement for an Interim Defensive Weapon System for the MV-22 tiltrotor. Armed with a three-barrel 7.62mm GAU-7 minigun, the ...