• Defence Notes

  US Special Operations Command sets out tech priorities

  1st June 2022

  Senior USSOCOM leaders highlight counter-UAS, tactical mobility and the need for a sophisticated common operating picture as priorities for US special forces.

• Defence Notes

  Deciphering the feasibility of PLA bases in the South Pacific (Opinion)

  12th May 2022

  A secretive security pact has turned Solomon Islands into potentially a first South Pacific location for a Chinese military base. But would such a base be an asset or a liability?

• Naval Warfare

  China launches Fujian, its third aircraft carrier

  20th June 2022

  To surprisingly restrained fanfare, China launched its largest and most-capable aircraft carrier yet.

• Land Warfare

  France steps up support for Ukraine with 155mm artillery

  28th April 2022

  A dozen Caesar 155mm artillery systems will be delivered to Ukraine after France reverses a previous focus on providing defensive weapons.

• Defence Notes

  Something’s got to give (Opinion)

  6th July 2022

  UK defence policy lacks coherence as the gap between rhetoric and reality remains as wide as ever, while the government remains focused on self-preservation instead of giving clear direction.

• Air Warfare

  Work progresses to get Integrator into Australian hands

  14th June 2022

  The Australian Army will receive two dozen Integrator UAVs, with 80% of their systems' content and upkeep to be sourced from Australia.

• Land Warfare

  Jankel receives follow-on order for Toyota LC200 pickup variant

  25th April 2022

  The method of lengthening the chassis and incorporating a modular pickup truck body — as applied to the Toyota Land Cruiser 200 — can be adapted to other commonly armoured light vehicles, according to Jankel.

• Air Warfare

  Australia and Japan concurrently launch new space groups

  24th March 2022

  More and more countries are expressing concern at the vulnerability of their space-based assets.

• Digital Battlespace

  USN picks partner for EW simulator maintenance

  19th April 2022

  Amherst Systems is to maintain and repair Combat Electromagnetic Environment Simulator and Advanced Multiple Emitter Simulator systems and subsystems for the Naval Air Warfare Center and FMS customers.

• Defence Notes

  Challenges and opportunities abound for US in autonomy research

  19th April 2022

  DARPA continues to explore the potential of uncrewed platforms across the air, land and sea domains — although industry, academia and government agree that challenges must still be overcome.

• Land Warfare

  US Army plans deeper experiments with cutting-edge systems in FY2023

  12th May 2022

  The US Army is looking to deepen its experimentation with cutting-edge and innovative solutions by allocating $35 billion for this purpose in its FY2023 budget request and $90.8 million for Project Convergence 22.

• 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.

• Defence Notes

  Strong funding tempo essential to maintain US 'edge' over rivals, says Austin

  4th May 2022

  Lloyd Austin testified before the Senate on 3 May about the FY2023 defence budget request, stressing the need to provide US forces with cutting-edge systems and platforms for the medium term, as well as the short-term value in aiding Ukraine.

• Training

  Pitfalls remain with giving Ukraine modern fighter jets

  11th May 2022

  It seems appealing to fast-track pilot training by conducting most flights on simulators and omitting certain procedures if the West were to give more modern aircraft for Ukraine’s air force, but it might prove challenging in practice.

• Digital Battlespace

  How does the Five Eyes partnership enhance military interoperability?

  11th February 2022

  The Five Eyes arrangement has been a lynchpin of military interoperability but with new threats and emerging technologies, is it still fit for purpose?

Programme Results - Defence Insight

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

  Long-Range Drones [Norway]

  Programme Background Andøya Ambition On 3 April 2023, the Norwegian MoD released a statement confirming its plans for Andøya, the northernmost island in its Vesterålen archipelago. In addition ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  A400M [Türkiye]

  Turkey has become the second country to receive the new-generation A400M airlifter, with the first of ten aircraft handed over by Airbus Defence and Space ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | MAWS/PATMAR [France]

  French Navy is planning to purchase up to 22 MPA aircraft to replace its ATL2 fleet in service. Germany and France agreed to develop a ...

• Data links

  Data links | MAWS/PATMAR [France]

  French Navy is planning to purchase up to 22 MPA aircraft to replace its ATL2 fleet in service. Germany and France agreed to develop a ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | MAWS/PATMAR [France]

  French Navy is planning to purchase up to 22 MPA aircraft to replace its ATL2 fleet in service. Germany and France agreed to develop a ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | MAWS/PATMAR [France]

  French Navy is planning to purchase up to 22 MPA aircraft to replace its ATL2 fleet in service. Germany and France agreed to develop a ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | PAK-DA - Procurement - Russia

  Russian MoD is planning to procure PAK-DA strategic bomber aircraft to replace the existing Tu-95MS Bear-H fleet, about 65 examples of which are in service with ...

• Data links

  Data links | PAK-DA - Procurement - Russia

  Russian MoD is planning to procure PAK-DA strategic bomber aircraft to replace the existing Tu-95MS Bear-H fleet, about 65 examples of which are in service with ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | PAK-DA - Procurement - Russia

  Russian MoD is planning to procure PAK-DA strategic bomber aircraft to replace the existing Tu-95MS Bear-H fleet, about 65 examples of which are in service with ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | PAK-DA - Procurement - Russia

  Russian MoD is planning to procure PAK-DA strategic bomber aircraft to replace the existing Tu-95MS Bear-H fleet, about 65 examples of which are in service with ...

• Trainer

  PC-21 (France)

  Programme  Background The French Air and Space Force has chosen Dassault Aviation and Babcock to provide between nine and 13 Pilatus PC-21 aircraft for Phase ...

• Destroyers

  Arleigh Burke Flight III (DDG 140 - DDG 149) [USN]

  Programme Background Timeline Flight III is the last of the four flights being built for the USN, with the first ship beginning construction in 2018 ...

• Transport

  A400M (Kazakhstan)

  Programme Background In September 2021, it was announced that Kazakhstan ordered two Airbus A400M aircraft. According to Michael Schoellhorn, CEO of Airbus Defence and Space, ‘The A400M ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  HH-60W - Combat Rescue Helicopter (CRH)

  According to the FY2021 Base funding, the HH-60W helicopter unit cost is $43.2 million. The HH-60W will be capable of employment day or night, in ...

• Transport

  C295W (Philippines)

  Programme Background The Philippines Air Force (PAF) has ordered three C295W in addition to the four C295M already in service. All the aircraft will be ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Data links

  MIDS JTRS

  The ViaSat Multifunctional Information Distribution System (MIDS) Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS) terminal combines the network-centric communications capability with a real-time operating picture. The four-channel ...

• 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. ...

• Data links

  MIDS-LVT(2)

  ViaSat provides MIDS-LVT(2) terminals for Link 16 communications to ground-based platforms. MIDS-LVT(2) is designed to simplify installation in ground stations. This includes US Army PATRIOT ...

• Major networking projects

  Mobile SATCOM System

  ViaSat airborne broadband services provide beyond-line-of-sight mobile communications support to capacity-driven applications worldwide: over 2,500MHz of bandwidth, global Ku band with Ka overlays, DoD Gateway ...

• Data links

  MIDS-LVT(1) (ViaSat)

  MIDS-LVT(1) adds Link 16 communications to airborne and maritime platforms. It provides all operational modes of the Link 16 waveform, and implements the required MIDS ...

• Data links

  Space CDL

  The Space Common Data Link (CDL) system provides a wideband data link capability adaptable to a variety of space-based applications. It consists of separate transmitter ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  KG-255 X

  The NSA-certified ViaSat KG-255X combines Type 1 High Assurance Internet Protocol Encryptor (HAIPE) with the latest cyber defence technologies and visualisation software to allow secure ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  MD-1366 EBEM

  The US government selected the MD-1366 Enhanced Bandwidth Efficient Modem (EBEM) from ViaSat to set the DoD standard for high-speed, high-performance,flexibility and compatibility in a ...

• Naval: Radio and SATCOM

  RT-1829

  RT-1829(P)/S is a shipboard UHF SATCOM terminal. The equipment is Joint Interoperability Test Command (JITC) and NSA certified, and it has a ready Integrated Waveform ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  GAT-5518 Global Aero Terminal

  The GAT-5518 enables broadband in-flight connectivity services for commercial and government users on Viasat’s high-capacity satellite network. Capable of operating on the full ITU Ka-band ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  KG-250XS

  Delivering 20Mb/s (aggregate) speeds, the ViaSat KG-250XS is a Type 1 inline network encryptor (INE) designed for telecommuting, flyaway kits, small UAVs and other dismounted ...

• Air: mission management systems

  SISP

  The Single Integrated Space Picture (SISP) provides net-centric C2 capabilities for space, says Lockheed Martin. It is a suite of applications and data designed to ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  Hawkeye III Lite

  L3Harris' Hawkeye III Lite is a Tri-band VSAT terminal that provides high-speed data communications for Internet, VPN and video transmission. Compatible with multiple modems and ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  GAT-5530 Global Aero Terminal

  The Viasat Global Aero Terminal 5530 is a second-generation hybrid Ka- and Ku-band SATCOM terminal that enables global broadband connectivity services for commercial and government ...

• Data links

  STT KOR-24

  The STT KOR-24 is a dual-channel radio with Link 16 support. Dismounted warfighters and disadvantaged nodes can use the Small Tactical Terminal (STT) for merged air ...