• Digital Battlespace

  Australia gives second pass approval for satellite terminals

  1st April 2015

  The Australian Government has given second pass approval for acquiring satellite terminals for land forces under the Joint Project 2008 Phase 5B1, the defence ministry …

• Defence Helicopter

  LIMA 2015: Honeywell poised to expand Malaysian market

  13th March 2015

  Honeywell has one of the broadest product portfolios in the aerospace industry, including mechanical and avionics components on Royal Malaysian Air Force BAE Hawk, Airbus …

• Digital Battlespace

  Exelis on-the-move mission systems for US Army

  24th February 2015

  ADS has subcontracted Exelis to provide mission command on-the-move systems to the US military, as announced by Exelis on 23 February. The subcontract was valued …

• Land Warfare

  Thales to supply French DGA with VENUS terminals

  22nd February 2015

  Thales will supply 20 VENUS ground terminals to the French Defence Procurement Agency (DGA) as part of the French armed forces’ Syracuse III satellite programme. …

• Digital Battlespace

  IDEX 2015: L-3 Linkabit delivers NCW modem to Canada

  21st February 2015

  Following tests last year L-3 Linkabit has started deliveries of its Network Centric Waveform (NCW) modem to Canada. L-3 Linkabit tested a Canadian Army-Navy multi-terminal, …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  UAV Navigation completes BLOS flight test

  20th February 2015

  UAV Navigation has successfully completed a Beyond Line of Sight (BLOS) flight test of a UAS weighing over 25kg, the company announced on 19 February. …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Predator XP UAS validates endurance capabilities

  17th February 2015

  The Predator XP UAS has completed its first endurance flight, as announced by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) on 12 February. The Predator XP is …

• Digital Battlespace

  NZDF looks to renew communications network

  17th February 2015

  The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) is looking at a comprehensive communications upgrade to replace its current obsolete equipment. New Zealand’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) …

• Naval Warfare

  IAI introduces business-jet based MPA

  10th February 2015

  Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) introduced its ELI-3360 Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) based on a Bombardier Global 5000 business-jet platform, the company announced on 9 February. …

• Digital Battlespace

  US budget: Key space programmes overhauled

  5th February 2015

  As the space domain becomes increasingly contested and adversaries beef up their space capabilities, the US military wants to accelerate space-based surveillance programmes and also …

• Digital Battlespace

  L-3 completes Miteq acquisition

  28th January 2015

  L-3 Communications completed its acquisition of Miteq for $41 million on 21 January, subject to customary adjustments. Its Narda Microwave-East business will be combined with …

• Digital Battlespace

  Inmarsat and Spectra launch SlingShot VHF

  6th November 2014

  Together Spectra and Inmarsat launched the SlingShot VHF version of the L-band Tactical Satellite (L-TAC) service in London on 4 November.  The two companies developed …

• Digital Battlespace

  Boeing’s anti-jamming technology completes testing

  5th November 2014

  Boeing’s anti-jamming communications technology has proven its ability to operate as a ground-based user terminal and satellite-based networking hub, providing a potential alternative to existing …

• Digital Battlespace

  Thales bags Qatar military SATCOM contract

  20th October 2014

  Thales will supply the armed forces of Qatar with a military satellite communications system under a contract announced on 20 October. The contract will see …

• Digital Battlespace

  MUOS-Manpack PRC-155 connects C-17 with operations centre

  13th October 2014

  A Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) satellite communications (SATCOM) demonstration has been conducted to connect an in-flight US Air Force (USAF) C-17 aircraft with a …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

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

  Dominator XP [Thailand]

  Programme Background Purchase As reported by Shephard, in September 2023, the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) inducted three Dominator XPs. The RTAF purchased the trio ...

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

  MALE Combat Drones [Thailand]

  Programme Background Roadmap In February 2024, the RTAF unveiled its White Paper 2024. Incorporating lessons from the Russo-Ukrainian War, the Israel-Hamas War, and other events ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  CH-47F Chinook (Singapore)

  Programme Background In July 2020, photos have emerged on the internet of the first Boeing CH-47F Chinook destined for the Republic of Singapore Air Force ...

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

  Anka-S (Second Batch) [Turkey]

  Programme Background First Batch Based on comments by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) and Turkish media in 2018, Shephard believes that Türkiye acquired 26 Anka-S drones ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

  New Water Jet Fast Attack Craft (NWJFAC) (India)

  Programme Background Requirements The Indian Navy is seeking replacements for a large proportion of its 19 46-49m-long waterjet-powered fast attack craft, several of which are approaching ...

• Military UAS - small

  Mini RPAS (High Altitude)

  Programme Background The Indian Army has initiated several tenders aiming to procure micro UAVs, but there has been little progress in following through with these ...

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

  AdvaNced airCraft Infrastructure-Less Launch And RecoverY (ANCILLARY) [US]

  Programme Background Aims & Timeline As stated by DARPA, the ANCILLARY programme aims to develop and fly an X-plane that will provide a "leap-ahead" in long-endurance, ...

• APCs/IFVs - 4x4

  Portugal VTLB

  Programme Background The Portuguese Army planned to allocate funds for the procurement of 167 VTLBs during the Military Programming Law running from 2015 until 2026. ...

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

  Akinci [Turkey]

  Programme Background Unveiling & Testing Unveiled at TEKOFEST Istanbul Aviation, Space and Technology Festival in September 2019, the Akinci completed its first flight in December 2019. In June 2021, ...

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

  RQ-4 Global Hawk (Japan)

  Programme Background Selection & Contract AwardIn 2015, Northrop Grumman's RQ-4 Global Hawk UAS and E-2D Advanced Hawkeye airborne early warning aircraft were selected by Japan to ...

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

  DTIF GUARD (Ireland)

  Programme Background The Problem As stated by the project's website, Ireland is the "softest target in EU for smugglers" due to its 3171km of coastline, ...

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

  MQ-9B SkyGuardian - Forecasted Units (Belgium)

  Programme Background Strategic Vision 2030  In 2016, the Belgian MoD published its Strategic Vision 2030 report. In this, it highlighted the need for MALE reconnaissance drones ...

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

  MQ-9B SkyGuardian (Belgium)

  Programme Background Contract On 26 March 2019, the US State Department announced that it had approved a possible FMS of four MQ-9B SkyGuardians for an estimated cost ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Boxer MIV [UK]

  Programme Background History The UK MoD announced in March 2018 that it would re-join the Boxer programme and pursue a sole-source acquisition of the 8x8 ...

• Military UAS - small

  Heavy Lift Capability (UASHLC) [UK]

  Programme Background Requirement & Objective The RN identified a requirement to acquire an RPAS to transport cargo and supplies between ships and personnel. When mature, it ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• UAS: communication systems

  Aviator UAV 200

  Cobham’s UAV 200 is a satcom solution designed to enhance a tactical UAV’s performance, range and payload flexibility in a number of applications.This including SAR, ...

• USV-450

  The SeaRobotics USV-450 is a lightweight USV designed for survey/surveillance, hydrographic data-gathering and general-purpose sensor transport. 

• Military - USVs

  USV-550

  The USV-550 can be used for shallow-water survey/surveillance, hydrographic data-gathering, general-purpose sensor transport and small ROV deployment. 

• UAS: communication systems

  BlackRay 1000

  The BlackRay 1000 is a ruggedised two-way SATCOM terminal for the UAV market with built-in modem and ACU. It is customisable to meet most UAS ...

• Military - USVs

  USV-11000

  The SeaRobotics USV-11000 is a long-endurance USV that can be used for military and civil missions. This includes coastal/offshore survey, hydrographic data-gathering, harbour security/surveillance, ROV ...

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

  Shadow M2

  The Shadow M2 builds on the Shadow 200, but has greater endurance and payload capability, quieter and more reliable propulsion and an optional SATCOM capability ...

• UAS: communication systems

  LAISR ULW

  Developed by Inmarsat Government, the Lightweight Airborne ISR System - Ultra Lightweight (LAISR ULW) is an L-Band SATCOM terminal providing beyond-line-of-sight (BLOS) connectivity for SWaP-constrained ...

• Maritime patrol, Trainer

  DA42 MPP Pandion

  The DA42 MultiPurpose Platform (MPP) Pandion is a lightweight MPA, designed to carry out various missions, including coastal surveillance, training, anti-piracy, oil spill detection and ...

• UAS: communication systems

  Airborne Broadband SATCOM

  ViaSat’s airborne SATCOM services offer worldwide access and a range of service levels, providing connectivity and performance options tailored to meet a variety of needs. ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  ELK-1882T NC2

  Produced by Elta Systems (a subsidiary of IAI), ELK-1882T NC2 SATCOM terminals provide secure BLOS communications for fighter and special mission aircraft. The terminals utilise software-defined ...

• Land: battle management systems

  SCC Titan

  The server-based Situational Command and Control (SCC) Titan system is broken down into an HQ and a field-ready tactical satellite package, both designed to offer ...

• Military - USVs

  USV-5700

  The USV-5700, which is also designated USV 5.7, is a catamaran that can be used for military and civil missions. This includes coastal/offshore survey, hydrographic ...

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

  Integrator ER

  The Integrator Extended Range (ER) is a multi-mission modular small-UAV manufactured by Insitu. A variant of the Integrator, the ER is differentiated by its SATCOM BLOS communications ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  RF-7800B-VU104

  This land mobile broadband global area network (BGAN) SATCOM terminal provides a tactical radio network capability within the Falcon III multi-band radio family. The RF-7800B-VU104 ...

• Military - USVs

  USV-Collapsible

  The USV-Collapsible can be used for surveying, hydrographic data-gathering, harbour security/surveillance and general-purpose sensor transport. It can also be collapsed into a small shipping crate ...