• Defence Notes

  Hypercone projectile advances hypersonic research

  7th April 2022

  A hypersonic projectile reached a distance of 109nmi in recent test firings in the US, as research continues for defensive and offensive applications.

• Land Warfare

  DSA 2022: Australian weapons mount specialist seeks bigger Southeast Asian impact

  30th March 2022

  W&E Platt aims to enhance the STANAG protection rating for its weapons mounts while it attempts to attract business in Southeast Asia.

• Land Warfare

  New AFVs and artillery offer options for Egypt

  23rd December 2021

  European manufacturers displayed a variety of armoured vehicles and self-propelled howitzers at EDEX 2021.

• Naval Warfare

  Sonardyne, MSubs collaborate on autonomous naval capabilities

  9th March 2022

  The two companies have previously worked to demonstrate the Vigilant forward-looking sonar onto MSubs XLUUV.

• Land Warfare

  Russian tank-based combat UGV faces challenges to service entry

  12th April 2022

  UralVagonZavod is set to commence live-fire trials of a family of armed uncrewed ground vehicles based on the T-72 MBT chassis. This design approach has a cheaper development path, but creates an overly heavy platform with operational limitations.

• Land Warfare

  Slovakia advances acquisition of IFVs and AFVs

  22nd December 2021

  The Slovak MoD is on track to receive proposals for the supply of 76 8x8 AFVs and 152 IFVs to replace an ageing fleet of BMP-1, BMP-2 and modernised version of the BMP.

• Digital Battlespace

  Protected Tactical SATCOM Prototype passes critical design review

  18th March 2022

  US-developed protected SATCOM prototype to undergo host vehicle integration and testing in 2023.

• Digital Battlespace

  L3Harris connects UK MoD with US and NATO allies

  9th March 2022

  L3Harris’ new contract announcement increases UK, US and NATO interoperability.

• Training

  Taiwan receives second advanced jet trainer

  23rd December 2021

  More T-5 trainers are set to roll off the production line next year, with the first two handed over in late 2021. The MQ-9B purchase is yet to go through, however.

• Air Warfare

  South Korea to receive training systems for P-8A Poseidon

  23rd March 2022

  Boeing is providing hardware for South Korean aircrew and maintenance personnel training with the P-8A Poseidon MPA.

• Air Warfare

  Remarkable turnaround sees Germany pick F-35 and Eurofighter ECR

  15th March 2022

  Germany has decided it will buy both the F-35 and a Eurofighter electronic combat role aircraft, defying a proposal from the last government.

• Naval Warfare

  Quantum Marine Stabilizers – Introduces Latest 5000S Control System (Sponsored)

  1st April 2022

  The Quantum 5000S truly represents a “Quantum Leap” in control technology as it integrates with the existing control systems as well as future systems. With the modular design, it offers flexibility to customization and is sourced with readily available components.

• Digital Battlespace

  Saab to build X-band digital radar prototype for USN

  1st March 2022

  US Navy will assess X-band all-digital radar performance in a contested maritime environment.

• Defence Notes

  Saudis gain more THAAD support

  21st December 2021

  Lockheed Martin continues support for Saudi-installed ballistic missile defence system.

• Air Warfare

  MQ-28A Ghost Bat emerges into the light

  22nd March 2022

  Australia continues to make progress with its cutting-edge programme to deliver a fighter-type UAV.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Maritime patrol

  P-8 Poseidon [South Korea]

  Programme Background South Korea is facing an imminent submarine threat from North Korea. The Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN) is operating an aging fleet of P-3C ...

• ISR/special mission

  King Air 350ER ISR - Kuwait

  Feb 2018: The US State Department has approved an estimated $259m potential foreign military sale of King Air 350ER intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  C-2 (Japan)

  Programme BackgroundKawasaki Heavy Industries developed the C-2 for the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) to replace its Kawasaki C-1 and Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules fleets. ...

• Special operations vehicles

  Death Adder RTV 2 (Options)

  Programme Background The 2nd Commando Regiment currently operates an RTV designed and manufactured by Australia's Bale Defence. These were delivered between 2014 and 2015. Intended ...

• Military UAS - micro, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Teal 2 (Customs and Border Protection Force) [US]

  Programme Background First Order Global News Wire reported that Red Cat had filled an order for 54 Teal 2 units from the US Customs and ...

• Special operations vehicles

  Death Adder RTV 2

  Programme Background The 2nd Commando Regiment currently operates an RTV designed and manufactured by Australia's Bale Defence. These were delivered between 2014 and 2015. Intended ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  Future Tactical UAS (FTUAS) [USA]

  Programme Background Programme Objective The Future Tactical UAS (FTUAS) will provide a tactical ISTAR capability for US Army Brigade Combat Teams (BCTs). It is intended to ...

• APCs/IFVs - 4x4, Mine-protected vehicles

  Ara 2 (Chad - Options)

  Programme Background The Chadian Armed Forces have a requirement for mine-resistant armoured vehicles to provide protected mobility to troops deployed on operations against hostile forces. ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  Fuchs 2 Local Assembly

  The Fuchs 2 will replace a variety of legacy APCs currently in service with the Algerian Army including the Panhard M3 VTT, the BTR-60 and ...

• APCs/IFVs - 4x4

  VTLM 2 (2021 Contract)

  Programme Background Requirements The Italian Army's current fleet of VTLMs based on the original Iveco Defence Vehicles LMV-1 is suffering from technological obsolescence and the ...

• OPVs

  River Class Batch 2

  Programme Background BAE Systems developed an improved version at the River class Batch 1 ships (which first entered service in 2003), to be dubbed the ...

• Military UAS - micro, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Short Range Reconnaissance (SRR) (Tranche 2) / Rucksack Portable UAS (RPUAS) [USA]

  Programme Background The Rucksack Portable UAS (RPUAS) Programme The RPUAS programme will provide the battalion and below-ground manoeuvre elements within the US Army with an ...

• ISR/special mission

  RC-2 - Japan

  Programme Background Japan has decided to develop its own EW aircraft to oppose China and Russia, countries that are already reinforcing their own EW capabilities. ...

• Military UAS - HALE

  MQ-4C Triton - Germany (Cancelled)

  Programme Background Germany requested to buy four MQ-4C Triton HALE UAVs from Northrop Grumman. On 5 April 2018, the US State Department announced that it ...

• APCs/IFVs - 4x4

  VTLM 2 (2021 Contract - Options)

  Programme Background Requirements The Italian Army's current fleet of VTLMs based on the original Iveco Defence Vehicles LMV-1 is suffering from technological obsolescence and the ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• EO/IR systems

  AN/AAQ-14

  The AN/AAQ-14 LANTIRN (Low Altitude Navigation and Targeting Infrared for Night) targeting pod is a crucial component of the LANTIRN system, developed by Martin Marietta ...

• EO/IR systems

  AN/AAQ-27A

  In production for USMC MV-22 Osprey tiltrotors, the AAQ-27A allows pilots to see through darkness, smoke, haze and adverse weather. The third-generation medium-wave IR system ...

• Air: Electronic Attack - Jamming

  AN/AAQ-45

  Leonardo’s AN/AAQ-45 Distributed Aperture Infrared Countermeasures is designed to equip rotorcraft. The system is being installed on Sikorsky HH-60G Pave Hawk medium-lift utility helicopters used ...

• EO/IR systems

  AN/AAQ-13

  The AN/AAQ-13 is a navigation pod developed by Martin Marietta (now part of Lockheed Martin) for the U.S. Air Force. It is a key component ...

• Air: Electronic Attack - Jamming

  AN/AAQ-24(V)

  Northrop Grumman’s AN/AAQ-24(V) is a Directional Infrared Countermeasure (DIRCM) designed to protect large aircraft. The system has been used to protect both military aircraft and ...

• Air: Defensive Systems - MLDS, EO/IR systems

  AN/AAQ-37 DAS

  The AN/AAQ-37 Distributed Aperture System (DAS) comprises six high-resolution infrared sensors mounted around the aircraft's airframe to provide seamless, spherical coverage (4π steradians).  The DAS ...

• EO/IR systems

  AN/AAQ-29A

  In production for USMC CH-53E and USAF HH-60G platforms, the medium-wave IR AAQ-29A is similar to the AN/AAQ-27A, the difference being its incorporation of an ...

• Air: Electronic Attack - Jamming

  Guardian

  Northrop Grumman’s Guardian Directional Infrared Countermeasure (DIRCM) is intended to product airliners and large aircraft against IR-guided missiles, principally surface-to-air missiles fired from Man-Portable Air ...

• EO/IR systems

  LITENING

  The LITENING Advanced Targeting Pod is an electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) system designed to detect, acquire, identify, and track targets over extended ranges.  It supports diverse mission ...

• EO/IR systems

  LANTIRN

  The Low-Altitude Navigation and Targeting Infrared for Night (LANTIRN) system increases the combat effectiveness of fighter aircraft, allowing them to fly at low altitudes, at night ...

• Combat Search and Rescue

  Saab 340B+ / SAR-200

  The Saab 340B+, known also as SAR-200, is a search and rescue aircraft based on the Saab 340 regional airliner.  It is powered by two CT7-9B turboprop ...

• Air: Defensive Systems - MLDS

  AN/AAR-54(V)

  Northrop Grumman’s AN/AAR-54(V) is a Missile Approach Warning System (MAWS) designed for fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft. The MAWS employs ultraviolet sensing to detect the hot ...

• EW test systems

  Meon v3

  Developed as an end-to-end confidence flight-line test set for stimulation and radiometric measurement of MWS/IRCM systems. It is compatible with ALQ-144, ALQ-157, ALQ-204 Matador, AAQ-24 ...

• Air: Integrated Defensive Systems

  SISCM

  The Suite of Integrated Sensors and Countermeasures (SISCM) is designed to provide an integrated, multi-sensor threat warning and countermeasures capability using off-the-shelf technology for helicopters ...

• Combat Search and Rescue

  HC-130P/N

  HC-130P/N is a SAR aircraft developed as extended-range version of C-130 Hercules transport airframe to execute all weather personnel recovery operations from austere airfields and ...