• Defence Helicopter

  Merlins go Commando at Benson

  2nd October 2014

  The first of the Royal Air Force’s Merlin HC3/3A transport helicopters have been handed over to the Royal Navy’s Commando Helicopter Force (CHF).  In a …

• Military Logistics

  RAF advances AAR capability (video)

  29th September 2014

  The Royal Air Force's air-to-air refuelling capability has taken significant steps forward, with the tenth Voyager multi-role tanker transport delivered in August. Contractor AirTanker Services invited …

• Military Logistics

  Royal Air Force’s first A400M takes flight

  1st September 2014

  The Royal Air Force’s (RAF’s) first A400M airlifter has moved closer to delivery, with the completion of its first flight on 30 August. The flight …

• Military Logistics

  A400M airlifter refuels F/A-18 Hornet in flight

  28th August 2014

  Airbus Defence and Space has reported that the A400M airlifter has performed successful air-to-air refuelling (AAR) tests with an F/A-18 Hornet jet. The test campaign …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Northrop keeps faith in Euro Hawk

  21st August 2014

  Germany’s Euro Hawk high altitude long endurance (HALE) UAS programme is still very much alive, senior officials at Northrop Grumman continue to insist. Speaking to …

• Military Logistics

  RAF C-130J aircraft deliver aid to northern Iraq

  13th August 2014

  The Royal Air Force’s (RAF’s) C-130J Super Hercules aircraft have been used to deliver aid to Mount Sinjar in northern Iraq, with a total of …

• Digital Battlespace

  QinetiQ to continue UK MoD synthetic mission training

  11th August 2014

  QinetiQ will continue to provide synthetic air and land mission training for the UK military for the next five years under a £33 million contract …

• Defence Helicopter

  First overseas deployment for Puma 2

  5th August 2014

  The UK MoD’s Puma HC.2 helicopter has successfully completed hot and high flight trials during exercise ‘Hot Blade’ in Portugal, marking the first overseas deployment …

• Digital Battlespace

  Selex awarded RAF RF jamming contract

  21st July 2014

  Selex ES will design, develop and deliver a Common Jamming Pod (CJP) for the Royal Air Force (RAF) under a new contract that will see …

• Military Logistics

  Farnborough: A400M refuelled in flight by RAF A330 MRTT

  16th July 2014

  Airbus Defence & Space has completed its first refuelling operation between a company-owned A400M and a UK RAF Voyager variant of the A330 Multi-Role Tanker …

• Defence Notes

  Farnborough: Tornado will go out in style

  16th July 2014

  UK RAF Tornado aircraft will receive further upgrade packages to provide additional capabilities up until their scheduled retirement in 2019, it has been confirmed. Speaking …

• Digital Battlespace

  Farnborough: Sentinel advances to 2018

  15th July 2014

  Raytheon has outlined its planned investment in the UK RAF’s Sentinel R1 long-range surveillance aircraft following Prime Minister David Cameron’s announcement yesterday to extend its …

• Defence Notes

  Farnborough: F-35 international debut ‘uncertain’

  10th July 2014

  The international debut of Lockheed Martin’s F-35 Lightning II remains uncertain as the deadline to cross the Atlantic Ocean in time for the Farnborough International …

• Defence Helicopter

  Farnborough: Pave Hawk crash caused by bird strikes

  9th July 2014

  A US HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter that crashed off the coast of Norfolk, UK on 7 January killing four crew members was brought down by …

• Digital Battlespace

  Farnborough: Scorpion makes international debut (video)

  9th July 2014

  Textron AirLand's Scorpion multi-role ISR/Strike aircraft is set to make its debut at the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) and Farnborough International Airshow (FIA) in …

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 ...