• Military Logistics

  LIMA 2017: Malaysia receives final A400M

  22nd March 2017

  Airbus Defence and Space formally handed over the fourth and final A400M Atlas transport aircraft to the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) on the second …

• Defence Notes

  Typhoon trials Brimstone

  15th March 2017

  The Royal Air Force's (RAF) Eurofighter Typhoon has successfully completed a new series of flight trials with MBDA's Brimstone air-to-surface weapon at BAE Systems' site …

• Defence Helicopter

  Heli-Expo 2017: Cobham launches UK training academy

  6th March 2017

  As exhibitors undergo final preparations for Heli-Expo 2017, Cobham announced the launch of its helicopter training academy in Basingstoke, UK. The company has been delivering …

• Military Logistics

  IDEX 2017: Rubb seeks shelter opportunities

  16th February 2017

  With nations in the Middle East increasing their air power many will now be looking at where to store new aircraft. Hangar systems are an …

• Defence Notes

  Japan faces headwinds in aircraft exports

  15th February 2017

  The Japanese government wishes to reduce development and production costs by exporting defence equipment to foreign nations. While this would boost Japan's domestic defence industry, …

• Digital Battlespace

  F-35 and Typhoon share data

  1st February 2017

  Interoperability trials between the UK RAF’s F-35 Lightning II and Typhoon jets have been successful. According to Air Cdre Harv Smyth, the UK's Lightning Force …

• Military Logistics

  Airbus to support UK’s Atlas A400M

  6th January 2017

  The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has negotiated a £410 million contract with Airbus Defence and Space to provide in-service support for the Royal Air …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Spain nears Predator B club membership

  10th January 2017

  Spain has moved a step closer to joining the Predator B club following an announcement by the US Department of Defense (DoD) of a more …

• Defence Helicopter

  RAF Kabul crash cause revealed

  19th December 2016

  An investigation into the crash of a Royal Air Force Puma HC2 in Afghanistan last year has found that the crew lost situational awareness while …

• Training

  Affinity delivers first UK aircraft

  24th November 2016

  Affinity Flying Training Services has delivered the first two training aircraft to the Royal Air Force, Elbit Systems announced on 23 November. Affinity is an …

• Training

  I/ITSEC 2016: UK sees bright future for mixed-reality

  28th November 2016

  Whether it’s in the air, on the ground, or at sea, the use of simulators has become the norm for militaries across the world, but …

• Defence Notes

  Analysis: UK naval shipbuilding

  30th November 2016

  Too little too late There are some great recommendations from Sir John Parker in his independent report about the UK naval shipbuilding industry, all of …

• Digital Battlespace

  RAF Red Arrows tap Airbus Skynet

  10th November 2016

  The British Royal Air Force's (RAF) Red Arrows aerobatics display team is using Airbus Defence and Space satellite communications during its Asia Pacific and Middle …

• Digital Battlespace

  Sentinel radar upgrade due

  11th November 2016

  The urgency to upgrade the radar fitted on the UK RAF Sentinel R Mk1 ground surveillance aircraft is building. UK MoD funding for the Integrated …

• Training

  RAF receives A400M cargo hold trainer

  7th November 2016

  The British Royal Air Force (RAF) has taken delivery of an A400M Cargo Hold Trainer – Enhanced (CHT-E) from Rheinmetall and Airbus Defence and Space, Rheinmetall …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Fighter - multirole

  Global Combat Air Programme [UK]

  Programme Background The next-generation platform concept is part of the 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review, which sought to deliver a Future Combat Air System ...

• Fighter - naval

  F-35B UK

  The total cost of the currently funded programme as reported through the UK Major Projects Report is expected to be £10.5 billion ($13.5 billion), covering ...

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

  FCAS Loyal Wingman [UK]

  Programme Background FCAS Loyal Wingman Tim Martin reported for Shephard in December 2021 that the international partners involved in the sixth-generation Future Combat Air System (FCAS)/Tempest programme ...

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

  Low-Cost Uncrewed Air Systems (LANCA) Follow-On Project [UK]

  Programme Background Project Mosquito Beginning in 2019, the UK's Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), in collaboration with the Royal Air Force (RAF), began the ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Global Combat Air Programme [Italy]

  Programme Background Shephard notes that the Italian, British and Japanese components of GCAP are tracked in separate entries. Programme Timeline 2019: In September 2019, the UK and Italian ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing

  Project Mosquito [UK]

  Programme Background Inception and Capabilities In 2019, in collaboration with the RAF, the UK's Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) released details of its new UAS ...

• ISR/special mission

  Shadow R1 (UK)

  Programme Background The RAF is moving forward with an ambitious plan to transform its intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance (ISTAR) force to enable greater ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  A400M (UK)

  RAF base at Brize Norton built a new training facility for A400M pilots and crew. The aircraft will look to reach full operation capability by 2022 when ...

• AEW&C

  E-7 Wedgetail (737) - UK

  Programme Background Seeking to replace its six ageing Boeing E-3 Sentry AEW&C;, the British Royal Air Force awarded Boeing a £1.89 billion contract in 2019 covering the ...

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

  Tier 1 Disposable [UK]

  Programme Background Autonomous Collaboration Platform (ACP) Strategy Reflecting on lessons learned from the cancellation of the Mosquito programme, the Royal Air Force (RAF) redefined the role of ...

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

  Protector RG1 [UK]

  Programme Background Programme Goal The programme aims to replace the MQ-9As in the RAF's inventory with the new, improved MQ-9Bs. With MQ-9B delivering a UK Sovereign capability for ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  H-47ER Chinook [UK]

  Programme Background 2021 FMS Announcement In October 2018, the US State Department approved a $3.5 billion FMS of 16 CH-47 Chinooks fitted with extended-range fuel tanks ...

• Maritime patrol

  P-8A Poseidon [UK]

  Programme Background In July 2016, the UK government announced that it had ordered nine aircraft for service with the RAF. Under this frame, in January ...

• AEW&C

  E-7 Wedgetail - UK (Second Order)

  Programme Background Seeking to replace its six ageing Boeing E-3 Sentry AEW&C;, the British Royal Air Force awarded Boeing a £1.89 billion contract in 2019 ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Typhoon Tranche 3A - Qatar

  As a part of the agreement to sell Typhoon, the UK is establishing a ‘Joint Operations Squadron’ (to be known as 12 Squadron) with the ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Air: Integrated Defensive Systems

  Praetorian DASS

  The Praetorian Defensive Aids Sub-System (DASS) for the Eurofighter Typhoon combat aircraft provides protection against air-to-air and surface-to-air threats. It integrates an Electronic Support Measure ...

• Data links

  Pioneer Express (GRRIP, AN/PSC-15)

  The Pioneer Express (GRRIP, AN/PSC-15) is a small, lightweight flyaway communications system that allows access to secure and non-secure networks and can be used in ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  AN/VRC-99A

  The AN/VRC-99A is a programmable, wideband, secure, open-architecture tactical communications system providing virtual circuit and datagram service. These services are designed for reliable, simultaneous, multichannel ...

• EO/IR systems

  DJRP

  The Digital Joint Reconnaissance Pod (DJRP) is a tactical EO/IR reconnaissance system. It provides simultaneous high resolution and wide field-of-view EO imagery and horizon-to-horizon day/night ...

• EO/IR systems

  RAPTOR

  The Reconnaissance Airborne Pod for Tornado (RAPTOR), based on Raytheon's DB-110, was developed for the UK RAF Tornado GR4s. RAF specifications required target recognition with ...

• 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.

• Air: air combat simulators

  Tornado GR4 Synthetic Training Service

  Thales provides its Tornado GR4 Synthetic Training Service (TSTS) through its 100%-owned subsidiary, Ace. The service is a complete suite of synthetic training for Tornado ...

• Air: fixed-wing flight simulators

  FIASTS

  Thales, through 100%-owned subsidiary Merlin, is delivering a ‘packaged’ training and maintenance system for RAF aircrew through the FsAST Integrated Aircrew Synthetic Training Service (FIASTS). ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Tornado (IDS/ADV)

  The Tornado is a family of two-seat, twin-engine, variable-sweep wing multirole fighters manufactured by Panavia, a trans-European consortium of BAE Systems, Airbus Space and Defence ...

• Air: Displays

  Tornado Advanced Radar Dsiplay & Information System (TARDIS)

  The Tornado Advanced Radar Display & Information System (TARDIS) is developed by BAE Systems, UK, specifically for the UK's Royal Air Force's (RAF) fleet of ...

• Air: transport/tanker simulators

  A400M Training

  Thales is the principal training provider for the Airbus A400M with a contract to provide FFSs and flat-panel trainers. Four A400M FFS and two flat-panel ...

• Air: maintenance simulators

  Engineering and Maintenance Training

  BAE Systems designs and delivers engineering and maintenance training, with the ability to provide a package to address the needs of all personnel ranging from ...

• ISR/special mission, Trainer

  TC-135S/W

  The TC-135S and TC-135W are training aircraft developed by Boeing based on the EC-135 to provide crew training for RC-135S Cobra Ball optical and electronic ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing

  LANCA / Mosquito

  The Lightweight Affordable Novel Combat Aircraft (LANCA) is a developmental 'Loyal Wingman' UAS that the RAF and Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) hoped would support its crewed ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  Eurofighter HMSS

  Eurofighter Typhoon’s Helmet Mounted Symbology System (HMSS) provides pilots with enhanced situational awareness, data display and sensor/effector cueing. Developed by BAE Systems, it is in ...