Uncrewed Vehicles

NATO AGS deliveries marked in ceremony

20th January 2020

Delivery of two RQ-4D UAS for NATO’s Alliance Ground Surveillance (AGS) programme has been marked in a ceremony at Sigonella Air Base, Italy, where the …

Uncrewed Vehicles

Falco Xplorer​ UAS takes off

17th January 2020

Leonardo’s Falco Xplorer UAS has undertaken its maiden flight from Trapani Air Force base, the company announced on 17 January. The aircraft flew for around …

Defence Notes

BAE Systems, Renishaw sign MoU

17th January 2020

BAE Systems has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Renishaw to cooperate on the development of additive manufacturing capabilities for the defence and aerospace …

Digital Battlespace

Pony Express 1 mission launched

17th January 2020

Lockheed Martin has launched the Pony Express 1 mission as a hosted payload on Tyvak-0129, a next-generation Tyvak 6U spacecraft, the company announced on 16 …

Defence Helicopter

Sikorsky, Rheinmetall submit German STH bid

16th January 2020

Sikorsky and Rheinmetall have submitted their joint bid for the German Air Force’s new heavy-lift transport helicopter (STH) programme. Based on the Sikorsky CH-53K King …

Defence Helicopter

CIRCM in new US Army testing

16th January 2020

Northrop Grumman's Common Infrared Countermeasure (CIRCM) system for the US Army has undergone new tests at White Sands Missile Range. The free flight missile testing …

Defence Notes

IRST Block II pod flies on F/A-18 Super Hornet

16th January 2020

Boeing and the US Navy have flown an F/A-18 Super Hornet equipped with an Infrared Search & Track (IRST) Block II pod for the first …

Digital Battlespace

Raytheon signs partner for SPY-6 array structures

15th January 2020

Raytheon and Major Tool & Machine have signed an exclusive teaming agreement to develop array structures for the US Navy's SPY-6 radar programme.The agreement will …

Military Logistics

Delta Digital Video converters approved for FRP

15th January 2020

Lockheed Martin has approved full rate production for Delta Digital Video to deliver multiple Model VSC/900 Universal Video Format Converters for use in the Electronic …

Digital Battlespace

Thales and Dassault Aviation to strengthen France's SIGINT capabilities

15th January 2020

Thales and Dassault Aviation have been awarded a contract by the French Armament General Directorate (DGA) to equip the French Army's future strategic intelligence aircraft …

Defence Helicopter

Airbus Helicopters awarded UH-72 support IDIQ contract

14th January 2020

Airbus Helicopters will provide performance-based logistics (PBL) support for US military UH-72 aircraft, the US Department of Defense announced on 13 January. Airbus Helicopters was …

Defence Helicopter

Boeing responds to German heavy-lift helicopter tender

14th January 2020

Boeing is offering the H-47 Chinook for the German armed forces’ New Heavy Lift Helicopter Schwerer Transporthubschrauber (STH) programme, the company announced on 14 January. …

Training

SimActive releases Correlator3D version 8.4

14th January 2020

SimActive has released version 8.4 of its Correlator3D photogrammetry solution, the company announced on 14 January. Version 8.4 includes significant acceleration, with speeds that are …

Military UAS - fixed-wing

Bandit (US)

Programme Background Goal As stated by Alyson Turri, the AFRL Bandit programme manager, the goal is to "develop an unmanned platform that looks like a fifth-generation ...

Fighter - multirole

Rafale - Follow-On (Greece)

Programme Background Referring to the rearmament programme for 2020-2025, Greek defence minister Nikolaos Panagiotopoulos said in parliament on 7 October 2021 that up to 48 new multi-role ...

Naval: Combat Management Systems

Naval: Combat Management Systems | Kalina Class

The Kalina-class conventionally powered submarine is being developed to follow the Lada-class submarines. The new fifth-generation Kalina-class will be used for coastal defence against surface ...

Naval: shipboard communication systems

Naval: shipboard communication systems | Kalina Class

The Kalina-class conventionally powered submarine is being developed to follow the Lada-class submarines. The new fifth-generation Kalina-class will be used for coastal defence against surface ...

Fighter - multirole

F-35A (1-20) [Greece]

Programme Background Timeline In April 2019, Defence Minister Evangelos Apostolakis confirmed the country’s serious interest in purchasing the F-35. He told the press that in ...

Fighter - multirole

Multirole Fighter (UAE)

Programme Background Abu Dhabi has a long-standing interest in two squadrons of F-35, which had been refused until 2017 when it was reported that the ...

Fighter - multirole

Future Combat Air System (FCAS/SCAF) [France]

Programme Background The governments of France and Germany have launched the demonstrator phase for the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) with the issue of an ...

Fighter - multirole

Multirole Fighter (Morocco)

Programme Background In March 2019, the US State Department announced that it has approved a possible FMS of 25 F-16V Block 72 aircraft to Morocco ...

Fighter - multirole

Future Combat Air System (FCAS/SCAF) [Germany]

Background Requirement The FCAS programme is based on the system-of-systems design, envisioning a "command fighter" aircraft that has stand-alone combat capability as well as controlling ...

Air: Radio and SATCOM

Air: Radio and SATCOM | JAS-39C/D Gripen Replacement [Czech Republic]

The Czech Republic Air Force operates 14 Gripens (12 JAS 39C and two JAS 39D variants) under a lease agreement that runs until 2027 with an option ...

Air: Helmet-mounted displays

Air: Helmet-mounted displays | JAS-39C/D Gripen Replacement [Czech Republic]

The Czech Republic Air Force operates 14 Gripens (12 JAS 39C and two JAS 39D variants) under a lease agreement that runs until 2027 with an option ...

Data links

Data links | JAS-39C/D Gripen Replacement [Czech Republic]

The Czech Republic Air Force operates 14 Gripens (12 JAS 39C and two JAS 39D variants) under a lease agreement that runs until 2027 with an option ...

Air: Head-up displays

Air: Head-up displays | JAS-39C/D Gripen Replacement [Czech Republic]

The Czech Republic Air Force operates 14 Gripens (12 JAS 39C and two JAS 39D variants) under a lease agreement that runs until 2027 with an option ...

Transponders and IFF

Transponders and IFF | JAS-39C/D Gripen Replacement [Czech Republic]

The Czech Republic Air Force operates 14 Gripens (12 JAS 39C and two JAS 39D variants) under a lease agreement that runs until 2027 with an option ...

Fighter - multirole

Rafale (Iraq)

Programme Background Lt Gen Juma Anad Saadoun, the Iraqi Minister of Defence, said in a 10 November statement that the Iraqi Air Force (IQAF) aims ...

Air: Helmet-mounted displays

Zero-G HMDS+

The Zero-G HMDS+ is a developmental helmet-mounted display system being developed by Collins Aerospace and Elbit Systems for sixth-generation higher aircraft. According to the company, ...

Data links

Multifunction Advanced Data Link

Multifunction Advanced Data Link (MADL) is a Ku-band data link designed for fifth-generation aircraft. The directional, interflight system is integrated into all F-35 variants, allowing ...

Fighter - multirole

Su-75 Checkmate

Checkmate is a fifth-generation light tactical aircraft being developed by Sukhoi. Its prototype was unveiled at MAKS 2021. Checkmate's first flight is scheduled in 2023, ...

Air: Head-up displays

Low Profile Head-Up Display (LPHUD)

The Low profile Head-up Display (LPHUD) series is designed developed by Elbit Systems' ISTAR division, for fourth and fifth generation advanced fighter aircraft jets. Notalby, ...

Fighter - multirole, Fighter - naval

F-35C

The F-35C Lightning II, also known as the F-35 carrier variant (CV), is a fifth-generation multirole combat aircraft in carrier configuration. It has larger wings and ...

Fighter - multirole

F-35A

The F-35A Lightning II is a fifth-generation multirole combat aircraft with CTOL capabilities. It is a multinational programme led by the US DoD, bringing together ...

Fixed wing aircraft engines

AL-41F-1S

Manufactured by Saturn, the AL-41F-1S aircraft engine is a modular two-shaft turbofan engine with thrust vector control and integrated digital control. The engine is used ...

Fixed wing aircraft engines

PD-14M

PD Family of Engines comprises of bypass two-shaft turbojet engines with a light shroudless fan. The PD family of engines are designed for short- and ...

Air-to-air missiles, Surface-to-air missiles

Python-5

The Python-5 is an Israeli beyond-visual-range anti-air missile developed by Rafael. The newest member of the Python family, the Python-5 is described as a fifth-generation air-to-air ...

Air-to-surface missiles, Anti-ship missiles

JSM

The Joint Strike Missile (JSM) is a multirole version of the Naval Strike Missile. Norway funded the programme to develop and produce the JSM for the ...

Fighter - multirole, Fighter - naval

F-35B

The F-35B Lightning II is a fifth-generation multirole combat aircraft with short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) capability. The USMC is the main customer for the F-35B, ...

Land: air defence radar

ELM-2026B VSHORAD

The ELM-2026B Very Short Range Air Defence Radar (VSHORAD) is designed for detection and tracking of airborne targets, including a variety of low-RCS and low-flying ...

Reconnaissance/patrol vehicles

Eagle V 4x4

GDELS unveiled the fifth generation of its Eagle light tactical vehicle at Eurosatory 2012. The platform has replaced earlier-generation vehicles in production. More than 1,250 ...

Fighter - multirole

J-31/FC-31

The J-31 (also known as the 'Falcon Eagle' in Chinese) is a fifth-generation multirole stealth fighter domestically developed by China. Its export variant is designated as ...

ISR/special mission

AC-130J

The AC-130J 'Ghostrider' is a fifth-generation gunship manufactured by Lockheed Martin to replace the AC-130U/W gunships for the USAF deployed in 2019. The Ghostrider is a highly modified C-130J ...