• Defence Notes

  Why the US military needs an “innovation intervention”

  11th July 2024

  Several issues in the Pentagon’s structure and the defence industrial base have been hampering the country's efforts to produce cutting-edge solutions.

• Naval Warfare

  USCG commissions cutter Florence Finch

  25th October 2024

  Bollinger Shipyards has been contracted to produce 67 Sentinel-class Fast Response Cutters (FRCs) with the 57th, which was delivered in June, now commissioned.

• Training

  Sogitec combines Sword, Genius and HORUS for virtual/constructive demonstrator

  2nd July 2024

  The French company has integrated its Genius UAS and HORUS helicopter simulators with MASA’s Sword constructive simulation as it aims to achieve operational orders by the end of 2025.

• Naval Warfare

  Thales and FEBUS Optics unite to protect critical undersea infrastructure

  8th November 2024

  The marriage of two branches of undersea technical expertise is expected to bring saleable results for both companies.

• Air Warfare

  OCCAR contracts MBDA for hypersonic interceptor phase

  15th May 2024

  The objective of HYDIS² will be to study various interceptor concepts and bring to maturity the associated critical technologies to deliver the counter-hypersonic and anti-ballistic interception solutions.

• Air Warfare

  US Navy carrier ground control station conducts ‘first live control of a UAV’

  8th November 2024

  The US Navy (USN) used its MD-5 Ground Control Station (GCS) with Lockheed Martin’s MDCX autonomy platform to control a General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) MQ-20 Avenger UAS.

• Land Warfare

  The integration issue: how is Avon Protection overcoming challenges in CBRN protective equipment?

  20th June 2024

  Military forces around the globe are redoubling efforts to replace their chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) protective equipment as the threat of personnel facing chemical threats on the battlefield re-emerges.

• Land Warfare

  Northrop Grumman adds AI to air defence controller for improved CUAS capability

  8th October 2024

  Northrop Grumman’s Forward Area Air Defence (FAAD) Advanced Battle Manager (ABM) system continuously monitors the battlespace, replans engagements as necessary and supports multiple weapon types.

• Air Warfare

  Eurofighter confirms Spain Halcon II contract conclusion and eyes 138 potential Typhoon exports

  6th November 2024

  Current contract negotiations for the Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft come from three of its partner nations: Spain, Germany and Italy, while 73 aircraft are currently in production for Spain, Germany, Kuwait and Qatar.

• Naval Warfare

  How bad management could put the US Navy’s cruiser fleet far behind Chinese capabilities

  27th December 2024

  While China has been rapidly advancing with the development of the Type 055 class, the US Navy has been struggling to progress with the modernisation of its cruiser fleet.

• Land Warfare

  Major call for shift towards defence-focused advanced manufacturing practices made at DVD 2024

  19th September 2024

  Defence leaders called on the industry to be more proactive in supply chain design, but noted that while the use of modern technological solutions to streamline the supply chain was vital, it could have significant downstream societal consequences.

• Air Warfare

  Ireland signs $93 million deal for new utility helicopters

  30th December 2024

  Ireland is replacing its ageing EC135 aircraft but is boosting the capability provided with the addition of new sensors which is planned to even provide a light attack role.

• Air Warfare

  Poland boosts its Bayraktar TB2 operability with three-year support contract

  18th October 2024

  The contract will work to enhance Poland’s military capability with logistical and service support for its 24-strong Bayraktar TB2 Uncrewed Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV) fleet.

• Training

  VRAI wins UK MoD Pathfinder contract for MLRS simulator

  30th April 2024

  Newcastle-based training tech firm has secured a contract to create a cutting-edge simulator for the M270 Multi Launch Rocket System.

• Naval Warfare

  Saab Sea Giraffe to protect Swedish Navy

  20th December 2024

  The Swedish manufacturer will supply its Sea Giraffe 1X naval radar in a range of configurations.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Maritime patrol

  P-8 Poseidon [South Korea]

  Programme Background South Korea is facing an imminent submarine threat from North Korea. The Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN) is operating an aging fleet of P-3C ...

• ISR/special mission

  King Air 350ER ISR - Kuwait

  Feb 2018: The US State Department has approved an estimated $259m potential foreign military sale of King Air 350ER intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  C-2 (Japan)

  Programme BackgroundKawasaki Heavy Industries developed the C-2 for the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) to replace its Kawasaki C-1 and Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules fleets. ...

• Special operations vehicles

  Death Adder RTV 2 (Options)

  Programme Background The 2nd Commando Regiment currently operates an RTV designed and manufactured by Australia's Bale Defence. These were delivered between 2014 and 2015. Intended ...

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

  Teal 2 (Customs and Border Protection Force) [US]

  Programme Background First Order Global News Wire reported that Red Cat had filled an order for 54 Teal 2 units from the US Customs and ...

• Special operations vehicles

  Death Adder RTV 2

  Programme Background The 2nd Commando Regiment currently operates an RTV designed and manufactured by Australia's Bale Defence. These were delivered between 2014 and 2015. Intended ...

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

  Future Tactical UAS (FTUAS) [USA]

  Programme Background Programme Objective The Future Tactical UAS (FTUAS) will provide a tactical ISTAR capability for US Army Brigade Combat Teams (BCTs). It is intended to ...

• APCs/IFVs - 4x4, Mine-protected vehicles

  Ara 2 (Chad - Options)

  Programme Background The Chadian Armed Forces have a requirement for mine-resistant armoured vehicles to provide protected mobility to troops deployed on operations against hostile forces. ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  Fuchs 2 Local Assembly

  The Fuchs 2 will replace a variety of legacy APCs currently in service with the Algerian Army including the Panhard M3 VTT, the BTR-60 and ...

• APCs/IFVs - 4x4

  VTLM 2 (2021 Contract)

  Programme Background Requirements The Italian Army's current fleet of VTLMs based on the original Iveco Defence Vehicles LMV-1 is suffering from technological obsolescence and the ...

• OPVs

  River Class Batch 2

  Programme Background BAE Systems developed an improved version at the River class Batch 1 ships (which first entered service in 2003), to be dubbed the ...

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

  Short Range Reconnaissance (SRR) (Tranche 2) / Rucksack Portable UAS (RPUAS) [USA]

  Programme Background The Rucksack Portable UAS (RPUAS) Programme The RPUAS programme will provide the battalion and below-ground manoeuvre elements within the US Army with an ...

• ISR/special mission

  RC-2 - Japan

  Programme Background Japan has decided to develop its own EW aircraft to oppose China and Russia, countries that are already reinforcing their own EW capabilities. ...

• APCs/IFVs - 4x4

  VTLM 2 Phase 1 (Funded)

  Programme Background Requirements The Italian Army's current fleet of VTLMs based on the original Iveco Defence Vehicles LMV-1 is suffering from technological obsolescence and the ...

• APCs/IFVs - 4x4

  VTLM 2 Phase 2 (Funded)

  Programme Background Requirements The Italian Army's current fleet of VTLMs based on the original Iveco Defence Vehicles LMV-1 is suffering from technological obsolescence and the ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• EO/IR systems

  AN/AAQ-27A

  In production for USMC MV-22 Osprey tiltrotors, the AAQ-27A allows pilots to see through darkness, smoke, haze and adverse weather. The third-generation medium-wave IR system ...

• Air: Electronic Attack - Jamming

  AN/AAQ-45

  Leonardo’s AN/AAQ-45 Distributed Aperture Infrared Countermeasures is designed to equip rotorcraft. The system is being installed on Sikorsky HH-60G Pave Hawk medium-lift utility helicopters used ...

• EO/IR systems

  AN/AAQ-13

  The AN/AAQ-13 is a navigation pod that provides a high-speed precision attack on tactical targets at night and in adverse weather conditions. The AN/AAQ-13 is ...

• EO/IR systems

  AN/AAQ-14

  The AN/AAQ-14 is a targeting pod that provides a high-speed precision attack on tactical targets at night and in adverse weather conditions. The AN/AAQ-14 is ...

• Air: Electronic Attack - Jamming

  AN/AAQ-24(V)

  Northrop Grumman’s AN/AAQ-24(V) is a Directional Infrared Countermeasure (DIRCM) designed to protect large aircraft. The system has been used to protect both military aircraft and ...

• Air: Defensive Systems - MLDS, EO/IR systems

  AN/AAQ-37 DAS

  The AN/AAQ-37 Distributed Aperture System (DAS) comprises six high-resolution infrared sensors mounted around the aircraft's airframe to provide seamless, spherical coverage (4π steradians).  The DAS ...

• EO/IR systems

  AN/AAQ-29A

  In production for USMC CH-53E and USAF HH-60G platforms, the medium-wave IR AAQ-29A is similar to the AN/AAQ-27A, the difference being its incorporation of an ...

• Air: Electronic Attack - Jamming

  Guardian

  Northrop Grumman’s Guardian Directional Infrared Countermeasure (DIRCM) is intended to product airliners and large aircraft against IR-guided missiles, principally surface-to-air missiles fired from Man-Portable Air ...

• EO/IR systems

  LITENING

  The LITENING Advanced Targeting Pod is an electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) system designed to detect, acquire, identify, and track targets over extended ranges.  It supports diverse mission ...

• EO/IR systems

  LANTIRN

  The Low-Altitude Navigation and Targeting Infrared for Night (LANTIRN) system increases the combat effectiveness of fighter aircraft, allowing them to fly at low altitudes, at night ...

• Combat Search and Rescue

  Saab 340B+ / SAR-200

  The Saab 340B+, known also as SAR-200, is a search and rescue aircraft based on the Saab 340 regional airliner.  It is powered by two CT7-9B turboprop ...

• Air: Defensive Systems - MLDS

  AN/AAR-54(V)

  Northrop Grumman’s AN/AAR-54(V) is a Missile Approach Warning System (MAWS) designed for fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft. The MAWS employs ultraviolet sensing to detect the hot ...

• EW test systems

  Meon v3

  Developed as an end-to-end confidence flight-line test set for stimulation and radiometric measurement of MWS/IRCM systems. It is compatible with ALQ-144, ALQ-157, ALQ-204 Matador, AAQ-24 ...

• Air: Integrated Defensive Systems

  SISCM

  The Suite of Integrated Sensors and Countermeasures (SISCM) is designed to provide an integrated, multi-sensor threat warning and countermeasures capability using off-the-shelf technology for helicopters ...

• Combat Search and Rescue

  HC-130P/N

  HC-130P/N is a SAR aircraft developed as extended-range version of C-130 Hercules transport airframe to execute all weather personnel recovery operations from austere airfields and ...