• Air Warfare

  CH-47 Chinook: why the timeless helicopter design is still a heavy-lift contender on the modern battlefield

  25th September 2023

  From its emergence as a ground-breaking design in the 1950s to its widespread deployment in diverse operations worldwide, the Chinook continues to leave an indelible mark on the aviation landscape. Shephard sums up the latest developments and tells you everything you need to know about the workhorse of many armies and air forces in the 2020s.

• Air Warfare

  General Atomics looks to broaden Mojave UAV role amid FARA cancellation

  22nd February 2024

  The US Army has decided to channel portions of the terminated FARA helicopter funds into uncrewed platforms, while GA-ASI continues its work on broadening the applications of UAVs in attack and reconnaissance roles.

• Naval Warfare

  Frigate building in South America – the fleet renewal challenge

  2nd April 2024

  South America has become something of a retirement village warships where the average age of major surface combatants is 40 years, some of which should probably be in a museum. Peru, however, has joined Brazil and Colombia in a group of three countries that have been attempting to modernise their fleets with new frigates and corvettes built in local shipyards.

• Air Warfare

  Two ready to tango in South Korean helicopter competition

  20th October 2023

  Two US-based OEMs will be vying for supremacy in a forthcoming competition for special forces heavy helicopters for the South Korean military.

• Land Warfare

  Contenders showcase their RCV-Light designs for the US Army

  1st November 2023

  The four competitors of the US Army RCV-Light exhibited their platforms featuring various types of payloads.

• Air Warfare

  US Army cancels FARA helicopter programmes to fund UAS and Black Hawk procurement

  9th February 2024

  The cancellation of the Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) has reflected a shift in focus towards uncrewed systems in response to evolving battlefield dynamics and lessons learned from recent conflicts.

• Air Warfare

  PLA shows off new UCAV, while CH-5 achieves sale to Iraq

  27th September 2023

  China's aerospace industry continues to develop and sell advanced UAVs both at home and on the international market and has displayed UCAVs at the China Helicopter Exhibition in Tianjin.

• Land Warfare

  AUSA 2023: GM Defense shows the flexibility of ISV vehicles with two new variants

  16th October 2023

  The C-UAS and the Mission Power demonstrators were among the most recent additions to the Infantry Squad Vehicle family.

• Defence Helicopter

  Argentina seeks AW109 and CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters

  25th September 2023

  The Argentinian Air Force (FAA) and the Argentinian Naval Aviation Command (COAN) are looking for options to upgrade their helicopter fleets.

• Land Warfare

  India’s MKU unveils new ballistic helmet

  15th November 2023

  MKU has spent the last five years developing a lightweight ballistic helmet to join its line of manufacturing personal protection equipment including combat and fragmentation helmets.

• Defence Notes

  Budgetary uncertainty threatens Argentinian modernisation plans

  29th January 2024

  The new Argentina government has reduced the defence budget request for 2024 and enabled the use of FONDEF for expenses not related to equipment improvement.

• Defence Helicopter

  Boeing receives $22.5 million contract for CH-47 Chinook long lead items

  13th July 2023

  Boeing has received a $22.5 million firm-fixed-price contract from the US DoD for CH-47 Chinook helicopter long lead items.

• Training

  Kratos wins $16 million Australian UH-60M Black Hawk trainer contract

  31st October 2023

  The contract has covered three different UH-60 Black Hawk trainers that will be used by the ADF Rotary Wing Aircraft Maintenance School in Queensland.

• Land Warfare

  AUSA 2023: Honeywell introduces improved engine powerpack for the Abrams tank

  24th October 2023

  The new configuration of the AGT1500 engine powerpack could open up opportunities for engagement on a hybrid Abrams.

• Land Warfare

  US Southern Command seeks industry partners to modernise its ISR inventory

  22nd November 2023

  SOUTHCOM is interested in testing advanced sensors and technologies fitted with artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities, as well as with renewable energy or alternative power sources.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  Heavy-lift Helicopter STH [Germany]

  Programme Background The German government issued a tender in March 2019 for the procurement of heavy-lift helicopters under the Schwerer Transporthubschrauber (STH) program, 60 units are ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  CH-47JA [Japan]

  Programme Background  Kawasaki Heavy Industries received an order from the Japanese government for 12 CH-47JA helicopters for the Japanese Ground Self-Defence Force (JGSDF). The CH-47JA is ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  CH-47J [Japan]

  Programme Background Kawasaki Heavy Industries secured a 71.4 billion yen ($460 million) contract to provide the Japanese Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) with five CH-47J helicopters. ...

• 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 ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  Heavy Lift Helicopter [Philippines]

  Programme Background Procurement from Russia In November 2021, Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana confirmed that a contract had been signed to acquire 16 Mi-171 heavy ...

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

  CH-5 [Iraq]

  Programme Background CH-4 Troubles According to a Combined Joint Task Force - Operation Inherent Resolve report, Iraq acquired 20 CH-4 platforms from China. However, eight ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  CH-53K - Options (Israel)

  Programme Background The Israeli Air Force (IAF) plans to buy around 18 heavy-lift helicopters to form a squadron that replaces its current CH-53 Yasur helicopters that ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  CH-53K (Israel)

  Programme Background The Israeli Air Force (IAF) plans to buy around 18 heavy-lift helicopters to form a squadron that replaces its current CH-53 Yasur helicopters that ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  CH-47F Chinook

  As the Army's only heavy-lift helicopter, the CH-47F Improved Cargo helicopter is an essential component of the Army's Multi-Domain Battle framework. The CH-47F and MH-47G ...

• Military helicopters - maritime, Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  CH-53K - US Navy

  Programme Background The Marine Corps is replacing its aging CH-53E helicopters with the CH-53K heavy-lift helicopter. Designed as an evolution of the CH-53E, the CH-53K ...

• Special operations vehicles

  UAE Presidential Guard Special Operations Vehicles

  The new platform selected by the UAE Presidential Guard must be capable of operating in the UAE's desert terrain and should be able to fit ...

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

  CH-4 [Saudi Arabia]

  Background 2014 Order According to the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), in 2014, Saudi Arabia ordered two CH-4 aircraft from China. However, information from the Stockholm International Peace ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  CH-53K - US Navy Follow-On

  Programme Background The Marine Corps is replacing its ageing CH-53E helicopters with the CH-53K heavy-lift helicopter. Designed as an evolution of the CH-53E, the CH-53K ...

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

  CH-5 (Algeria)

  Programme Background Chinese UAV Purchases In recent years, Algeria has purchased several UAVs from China. It operates the CH-3, CH-4 and has also ordered the Wing ...

• 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 ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• MPVs - 4x4

  Mungo

  KMW developed the Mungo family to meet a requirement from the German Army for a protected multipurpose air-portable vehicle that could be carried by a ...

• Air: Defensive Systems - MLDS, Air: Defensive Systems - Laser Warning Receivers

  AN/AAR-47B(V)2

  The AN/AAR-47B Missile Warning System (MWS) is an EW system designed to protect low/slow-flying aircraft against surface-to-air and air-to-air missiles. The MWS will detect a ...

• EO/IR systems

  AN/ZSQ-2

  The AN/ZSQ-2 is a multi-sensor EO/IR turreted system that contains three imaging sensors. A day colour TV, IR camera with 3-5µm, InSb, 480x640px and staring ...

• Reconnaissance/patrol vehicles

  ATTV

  The ATTV (Air Transportable Tactical Vehicle) is a 4x4 patrol vehicle designed and developed by Defenture, optimized for transport in CH-47 helicopters and other comparable ...

• Air: helicopter flight simulators

  Door Gunner Simulator

  The Door Gunner Simulator (DGS), used by the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF), provides a unique approach to training door and ramp gunners on aircraft such as ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  CH-47F/MH-47G Chinook

  The CH-47F is the current production model of Boeing's CH-47. Initially fielded in 2007, the F model provides increased situational awareness through the Common Avionics ...

• Self-propelled rocket launchers

  C-Lynx

  Unveiled in May 2017, the C-Lynx is a light weight multiple rocket launcher developed for use with the 122mm ACCULAR rocket, the latest member of ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  Wiesel 2

  The Wiesel 2 is an advanced version of the Wiesel 1 tracked vehicle family developed by Rheinmetall to equip German Army airborne units. The company ...

• Air: air combat simulators

  DACTS

  The DRS Air Combat Training System (DACTS) has been delivered to military customers worldwide. Customised versions have supported coalition training for the US government and ...

• Helicopter engines

  T55

  The T55-GA-714A is a turboshaft in the 13kg/s airflow size class. Honeywell has produced more than 6,000 T55-series engines for military and civil use, and ...

• Air: helicopter flight simulators

  LSMP

  US Army Simulation, Training and Instrumentation Command selected Rockwell Collins to perform the LIFT Simulator Modernization Program (LSMP) delivery order under the STRI Omnibus Contract. ...

• Helicopter engines

  AE 1107C-Liberty

  The AE 1107C-Liberty is a new-generation 7,000shp-class turboshaft engine developed as the T406 to power the Bell-Boeing V-22 Osprey tiltrotor in service with the USMC ...

• Air: Integrated Defensive Systems

  AMPS

  The Airborne Missile Protection System (AMPS) is a modular EW suite for helicopter and transport aircraft and consists of radar, laser and missile warners, a ...

• Air: Integrated Defensive Systems

  All-in-Small

  All-in-Small is an SPS designed for use in military and commercial fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters. The integrated EW suite comprises an EW controller, a digital ...

• 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 ...