• Training

  Avalon 2019: Australian Hawk support contract extended

  1st March 2019

  The Australian Government and BAE Systems have signed a contract extension for in-service support for the Royal Australian Air Force’s (RAAF) Hawk Mk 127 lead-in-fighter …

• Naval Warfare

  USCG receives new missionised aircraft

  19th March 2019

  The US Coast Guard (USCG) received its ninth HC-130J Super Hercules long range surveillance aircraft equipped with the Minotaur mission system suite on 8 March. …

• Defence Notes

  NATO takes Huawei security concerns seriously: Stoltenberg

  15th March 2019

  Security concerns about the role of Huawei in Western 5G telecom infrastructure are to be taken seriously, the head of NATO said on 14 March …

• Defence Notes

  Avalon 2019: F-35 makes lightning start in Australia

  26th February 2019

  Two F-35A Joint Strike Fighters (JSF) of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) are attending the Avalon Air Show. This pair of fighters is now …

• Defence Helicopter

  Sikorsky to tie up new CH-53K LRIP lots

  19th March 2019

  The US DoD and Sikorsky are currently engaged in negotiations for a second/third low rate initial production contract for the CH-53K King Stallion heavy-lift aircraft, with an …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  USMC looks to buy Reaper UAVs

  14th March 2019

  The USMC wants to begin buying a handful of MQ-9A Reaper UAVs in FY2020 to meet an ‘urgent operational need,’ according to a US Navy …

• Special Operations

  CANSOFCOM explores reserve element

  14th March 2019

  The Canadian Special Operations Forces Command (CANSOFCOM) is considering the “accelerated recruitment” of civilians in order to diversify specialists skill sets across the organization. The …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  UK MoD opts for high-risk robot acquisition strategy

  5th March 2019

  Autonomous kit will be deployed by the UK MoD in Iraq, Afghanistan and during Operation Cabrit in Estonia before the end of 2019, heralding a …

• Military Logistics

  Collins to support Portugal’s C-130H modernisation effort

  4th March 2019

  Collins Aerospace has been selected to provide support to the Portuguese Air Force’s C-130H Hercules military transport aircraft modernisation effort, the company announced on 27 …

• Defence Helicopter

  Avalon 2019: Rafael wants to Spike Australian helicopters and add SPICE

  1st March 2019

  Last August the Australian Army selected the Spike LR2 multipurpose missile for the Boxer 8x8 armoured vehicle under Land 400 Phase 2, and it has …

• Military Logistics

  Avalon 2019: Malaysian A400M makes Avalon debut

  1st March 2019

  An Airbus A400M transport aircraft of the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) debuted at the Avalon Air Show near Melbourne, even though the type has …

• Military Logistics

  C-5 Super Galaxy gets 3D printed parts

  13th February 2019

  The US Air Force has had 17 3D printed parts in both polymer and metal installed on a C-5 Super Galaxy transport aircraft, the air …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Marine West 2019: USMC seeks SUAS expansion

  11th February 2019

  The USMC is exploring the possible expansion of its fleet of its Group 1 Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (SUAS). The marines has three SUAS programmes of …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Avalon 2019: Australia launches Shadow replacement

  26th February 2019

  Coinciding with the Avalon Air Show, the Australian Army released an industry engagement paper covering Project Land 129 Phase 3, the planned replacement of the …

• Naval Warfare

  USCG receives eighth Minotaur missionised HC-130J

  18th February 2019

  The US Coast Guard (USCG) has received its eighth HC-130J Super Hercules long range surveillance aircraft equipped with the Minotaur mission system suite. Integration work …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Fighter - naval

  F/A-18E/F Super Hornet (Kuwait)

  The sale of the F/A- l8E/F Super Hornet aircraft will improve Kuwait's capability to meet current and future warfare threats. The jets will supplement and ...

• Fighter - naval

  Multi-Role Carrier Borne Fighters (MRCBF) [India]

  Programme Background RFI / Requirments In January 2017, India issued an RFI for the procurement of 57 multirole naval fighters. The RFI for the Indian Navy ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Multi-Role Combat Aircraft [Malaysia]

  Programme Background Requirement Malaysia has long had a requirement known as the Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MRCA) designed to replace the MiG-29 fleet. The MRCA programme ...

• Data links

  Data links | Hawk 127 Replacement (Future Lead-In Fighter Training System- Project Air 6002 PH1) [Australia]

  In June 2020, Australia issued a Request for Information (RfI) for a Future Lead-In Fighter Training System (LIFTS) in a requirement called Project Air 6002 Phase ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  Air: Helmet-mounted displays | Hawk 127 Replacement (Future Lead-In Fighter Training System- Project Air 6002 PH1) [Australia]

  In June 2020, Australia issued a Request for Information (RfI) for a Future Lead-In Fighter Training System (LIFTS) in a requirement called Project Air 6002 Phase ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | Hawk 127 Replacement (Future Lead-In Fighter Training System- Project Air 6002 PH1) [Australia]

  In June 2020, Australia issued a Request for Information (RfI) for a Future Lead-In Fighter Training System (LIFTS) in a requirement called Project Air 6002 Phase ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | Hawk 127 Replacement (Future Lead-In Fighter Training System- Project Air 6002 PH1) [Australia]

  In June 2020, Australia issued a Request for Information (RfI) for a Future Lead-In Fighter Training System (LIFTS) in a requirement called Project Air 6002 Phase ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Project Air 6000 Phase 7 [Australia]

  Programme Background Responding to a query from Shephard at the Classic Hornet farewell ceremony, Air Cdre Tim Alsop, Commander Air Combat Group, said, ‘At the ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Swiss Air 2030 - Combat Aircraft

  Programme Background Switzerland began the latest phase of flight and ground tests on 8 April 2019. In June 2019, Saab announced that the company’s in-development ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Future Fighter Capability Project [Canada]

  Programme Background Canada’s defence policy estimates the acquisition of the aircraft, associated equipment and setup to enable entry into service will cost C$15-19 billion ($12.9-14.5 billion). In ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F/A-18C/D (Secondhand) [Malaysia]

  Programme Background Requirement Malaysia has required new multirole aircraft since the early 2010s, for which the country's Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MRCA) programme was launched in ...

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

  DEF129 (Nano UAS) [Australia]

  Programme Background DEF129 The Australian Ground Service has combined various army procurement efforts under the DEF129 programme to increase the abundance and proliferation of UAVs ...

• Military UAS - small

  Black Hornet 3 PRS (UK)

  Programme Background The British Army operated approximately 160 first-generation Black Hornet PD-100 nano UAS between 2013 and 2017, when the decision was made to retire ...

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

  Soldier Borne Sensor (SBS) (Phase I) [USA]

  Programme Background Requirement The Soldier Borne Sensor (SBS) provides short-range day and night ISR to US Army units at the squad, platoon and other small ...

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

  French Operational Pocket Drone / DrOP (France)

  Programme Background French UAV Procurment / DrOP Under its 2019-2025 Military Programming Law (LPM), France aims to introduce 1,200 new UAVs into service with the ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Fighter - multirole

  F/A-18C/D

  The F/A-18 C/D ('KAF-18' in Kuwait) Hornet replaced the original A and B Hornet models, seeking to correct problems with range and acceleration. After success ...

• Air: air combat simulators

  USN F/A-18E/F TOFT

  L3Harris Technologies' F/A-18 simulation capability extends to the Super Hornet E/F configuration. These Tactical Operational Flight Trainers (TOFTs) – based on L3Harris Technologies' F/A-18 simulator ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F/A-18E/F Super Hornet

  The F/A-18E/F Super Hornet was developed to perform naval strike missions for the USN. The primary mission for the F/A-18E/F is a strike fighter that ...

• Air: aerial targets

  BQM-34 Firebee

  The BQM-34 Firebee is an uncrewed aerial target system that the USAF and USN have used for more than 50 years. The primary mission of ...

• Airborne rockets - guided

  Laser Guided Zuni

  The Laser Guided Zuni has a 40lb warhead that is deployable against both fixed and moving targets. It is designed to attack fixed and fleeting ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F/A-18A/B

  The F/A-18 Hornet A and B aircraft, or F-18A/B ('CF-18' in Canada and 'EF-18' in Spain), were the first models in the USN’s line of ...

• Land: RWS

  Hornet T1/T2/T3

  The Hornet is an RWS designed to be fitted to the French Army's armoured fighting vehicles. It is available in four versions – the Hornet, ...

• Fighter - electronic warfare

  EA-18G Growler

  The EA-18G Growler is a variant in the F/A-18 family of aircraft that combines the F/A-18F Super Hornet platform with a sophisticated electronic warfare suite. It ...

• Fixed wing aircraft engines

  F414-GE-400

  The F414-GE-400 is a turbofan engine manufactured by GE Aviation and has various advanced technology features such as a Full Authority Digital Electronic Control (FADEC), ...

• Air: Displays

  GH-4200

  L3Harris GH-4200 Electronic Standby Instrument System (ESIS) is a repeater display designed for F-15 and F/A-18 aircraft.

• Air: AEW/fire control radar

  AN/APG-79

  The AN/APG-79 is an agile beam radar with a solid-state digital array that scans at nearly the speed of light, enabling detection and tracking of ...

• Guided munitions

  GBU-53/B StormBreaker

  GBU-53/B StormBreaker is a precision-guided glide bomb developed by Raytheon to equip F-15, F/A-18 and F-35. It is also known as the Small Diameter Bomb II. The StormBreaker includes a ...

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

  Black Hornet 3

  The Black Hornet 3 is the next generation of the PD-100 Black Hornet, the world's smallest nano-UAS. This new model of the Black Hornet provides ...

• Air: air combat simulators

  F/A-18E/F and EA-18G TOFT

  In support of the USN Super Hornet programme, Boeing has delivered and declared ready for training four F/A-18E/F Tactical Operational Flight Trainers (TOFTs) at NAS ...

• Air: Electronic Attack - Jamming

  AN/ALQ-214 IDECM RFCM

  The ALQ-214 Integrated Defensive Electronic Countermeasures RF Countermeasures (IDECM RFCM) subsystem comprises an onboard technique generator developed by Harris integrated with an offboard fibre-optic towed ...