• Air Warfare

  IDEX 2025: L3Harris Viper Shield “on timeline” as first upgrade customer launch targeted for mid-2025

  18th February 2025

  L3Harris’ Viper Shield, an all-digital, fully integrated electronic warfare system for the F-16, is aiming for deliveries by late-2025, as the company explores a variety of upgrade options to further futureproof the system.

• Air Warfare

  L3Harris’ Viper Shield for F-16s completes safety tests

  12th November 2024

  Viper Shield is L3Harris Technologies’ latest digital electronic warfare suite designed for F-16 fighter jets. L3Harris is reportedly providing this EW capability to F-16 fleets in six countries.

• Air Warfare

  Poland “pushing hard” to bring loyal wingman for F-35 fleet

  7th November 2024

  The loyal wingman platform would work alongside the Polish Air Force’s newly acquired F-35A aircraft in a manned-unmanned teaming concept.

• Air Warfare

  More AMRAAMs approved for Denmark under $744 million deal

  30th October 2024

  There has been a spike in demand for Raytheon’s Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAMs), including a US$1.2 billion Pentagon order for 12 countries as well as US Navy and US Air Force. There have also been approvals this year for sales to Israel, Norway, Romania and Singapore.

• Air Warfare

  US Air Force needs to “rebuild to win”, says deputy chief of staff of operations

  21st March 2025

  Aging aircraft, fewer platforms and a lack of replacements for retired systems has impacted the US Air Force’s lethality and training capabilities, according to the force’s deputy chief of staff for operations.

• Air Warfare

  France to buy more Rafale jets and invest €1.5 billion in upgrading air base

  20th March 2025

  The Luxeuil Saint-Sauveur air base will be modernised to ensure it can host nuclear weapons as France continues efforts to boost its nuclear deterrence.

• Air Warfare

  Indian defence budget boosted by 9% as MoD heralds a “year of reforms”

  7th February 2025

  This new budget announcement, which has an increased focus on domestic procurement, comes as international countries arrive ahead of Aero India 2025.

• Air Warfare

  Lockheed Martin and DoD move closer to agreement on F-35 Lots 18 and 19

  25th November 2024

  The formal contract is expected before the end of 2024. Lockheed Martin stated in October 2024 that negotiations surrounding the Lots 18 and 19 were still underway.

• Air Warfare

  Germany looks to upgrade KEPD 350 missiles and Sweden begins purchase process

  4th March 2025

  The Taurus KEPD 350 is an air-launched cruise missile developed by Taurus Systems, a joint venture between MBDA Deutschland and Saab Dynamics. The German contract is for maintenance and modernisation of German Air Force missiles.

• Air Warfare

  Kongsberg’s Joint Strike Missile USAF contract expanded to $208 million

  27th January 2025

  The US$70 million modification to the existing joint strike missile contract has definitised it, covering support, containers and test hardware for the missiles’ use on the USAF’s F-35 aircraft.

• Air Warfare

  F-16 not dead yet in Thailand despite RTAF’s selection of Gripen

  26th September 2024

  Lockheed Martin and Saab have both delivered updated offset proposals to Thailand’s air force with contracts yet to be signed on any deal.

• Air Warfare

  CF-18 Hornet Extension Project achieves initial operational capability

  7th October 2024

  The project extension continues to address the capability gap in the Canadian Armed Forces to meet its fighter aircraft commitments for both NORAD and NATO.

• Training

  I/ITSEC 2024: US military to deploy Cubic SPEAR in Indo-Pacific

  4th December 2024

  Cubic Defense’s Simplified Planning Execution Analysis and Reconstruction (SPEAR) capability will be used in five multi-domain exercises in the region in FY2025.

• Air Warfare

  Taurus KEPD 350E missile sees upgrade for German armed forces

  4th April 2025

  Taurus Systems, a joint venture between MBDA Germany and Saab, was awarded a $161 million 10-year contract in January 2025 to modernise the Taurus 350 missile.

• Naval Warfare

  Lockheed Martin wins three new DoD naval contracts including on Littoral Combat Ships

  28th February 2025

  Lockheed Martin has won contracts and contract modifications on systems and platforms ranging from missile systems and naval helicopters to Littoral Combat Ships.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Fighter - multirole

  F-16V [Philippines]

  Programme Background The U.S. announced that a potential FMS to the Philippines for 20 F-16V fighters has received approval; a spokesperson for the Department of National ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-16V [Taiwan]

  Programme Background On 28 April 2020, US DoD announced that General Electric has been awarded $707 million contract for four undefinitized contract actions under an ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Multirole Fighter (Morocco)

  Programme Background In March 2019, the US State Department announced that it has approved a possible FMS of 25 F-16V Block 72 aircraft to Morocco ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  Next-Generation Trainer Aircraft - UAE

  The UAE has a requirement for a next-generation fighter aircraft and possible platforms include F-35, F-16V, F/A-18, Rafale and Su-35. The UAE has historically sought ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-16V (Jordan)

  Programme Background On 3 February 2022, the US State Department announced that it has approved a potential sale of 12 F-16 C Block 70 aircraft,  four ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | Multirole Fighter (Austria)

  Austria is looking for 18 multirole fighter aircraft (15 single-seat, three twin-seat) to replace its Typhoon Tranche 1 Block 5 fleet in service. There is ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  Air: Helmet-mounted displays | Multirole Fighter (Austria)

  Austria is looking for 18 multirole fighter aircraft (15 single-seat, three twin-seat) to replace its Typhoon Tranche 1 Block 5 fleet in service. There is ...

• Data links

  Data links | Multirole Fighter (Austria)

  Austria is looking for 18 multirole fighter aircraft (15 single-seat, three twin-seat) to replace its Typhoon Tranche 1 Block 5 fleet in service. There is ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | Multirole Fighter (Austria)

  Austria is looking for 18 multirole fighter aircraft (15 single-seat, three twin-seat) to replace its Typhoon Tranche 1 Block 5 fleet in service. There is ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | Multirole Fighter (Austria)

  Austria is looking for 18 multirole fighter aircraft (15 single-seat, three twin-seat) to replace its Typhoon Tranche 1 Block 5 fleet in service. There is ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | F-16V [Philippines]

  The U.S. State Department confirmed the approval of a potential Foreign Military Sale worth $5.58 billion for 20 F-16V Block 70/72 aircraft. The Defence Security ...

• Data links

  Data links | F-16V [Philippines]

  The U.S. State Department confirmed the approval of a potential Foreign Military Sale worth $5.58 billion for 20 F-16V Block 70/72 aircraft. The Defence Security ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  Air: Helmet-mounted displays | F-16V [Philippines]

  The U.S. State Department confirmed the approval of a potential Foreign Military Sale worth $5.58 billion for 20 F-16V Block 70/72 aircraft. The Defence Security ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | F-16V [Philippines]

  The U.S. State Department confirmed the approval of a potential Foreign Military Sale worth $5.58 billion for 20 F-16V Block 70/72 aircraft. The Defence Security ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | F-16V [Philippines]

  The U.S. State Department confirmed the approval of a potential Foreign Military Sale worth $5.58 billion for 20 F-16V Block 70/72 aircraft. The Defence Security ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Fighter - multirole

  F-16V Block 70/72

  The F-16 Block 70/72, also referred to as the F-16V, is a fourth-generation multirole fighter aircraft. It is the latest version of Lockheed Martin's F-16 ...

• Fixed wing aircraft engines

  F110-GE-129

  The F110-GE-129, manufactured by GE Aviation, is a derivative of the F110-GE-100 engine. It powers the F-16V Block 70, the F-16C/D Block 50 and Japan's ...

• Air: Displays

  F-16 Center Pedestal Display

  Produced by Elbit Systems of America, the F-16 Center Pedestal Display (CPD) provides a high-resolution colour display that replaces several legacy instruments on F-16 aircraft. 

• Data links

  AN/APX-126

  The AN/APX-126 is a combined IFF interrogator and transponder developed by BAE Systems. Designed specifically for F-16 aircraft, it is in service with the US ...

• Marine engines

  MTU 595 series

  The MTU 595 series, manufactured by Rolls-Royce UK, consists of 12V and 16V versions of engines. The engines have a rated speed between 1500 to ...

• Air: Integrated Defensive Systems

  AN/ALQ-213(V) DAC

  Terma’s AN/ALQ-213(V) electronic warfare management unit is used extensively on General Dynamics/Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon series combat aircraft around the world. The AN/ALQ-213(V) is ...

• Fighter - multirole

  KF-16

  The KF-16 is a third-generation multirole fighter aircraft domestically produced by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) based on the F-16C/D Block 52 to meet the local ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  JHMCS II

  The Joint Helmet-Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS) is a joint USAF/USN programme that has fielded over 5,000 systems. The JHMCS is qualified on F-15, F-16 and ...

• Marine engines

  16V 1163 TB 93

  The 16V 1163 TB 93 is manufactured by Rolls-Royce UK and is a part of the 16V 1163 family of engines. The engine measures 4668mm ...

• Marine engines

  MTU 16V 2000 M94

  Manufactured by Rolls-Royce subsidiary MTU, the MTU 16V 2000 M94 delivers power up to 1939 kw at a maximum speed of 2450 rpm. The engine ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-16C/D Block 50/52/52+

  A member of the F-16 Fighting Falcon family, the F-16C/D Block 50/52 ('C' single-seat, 'D' dual-seat) is a third-generation multirole fighter that was rolled out ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-16C/D Block 25, 30/32, 40/42

  The F-16C/D ('C' one-seat, 'D' two-seat designation) is the second generation of the F-16 Fighting Falcon family. The production of the F-16C/D began in 1983 with ...

• Marine engines

  MTU 4000

  The MTU Series 4000 is manufactured by Rolls-Royce UK. The engine consists of a 90° V cylinder configuration and has a displacement/cylinder capacity of 4.77 ...

• EO/IR systems

  DB/MS-110

  The DB-110 is a long-range oblique photography (LOROP) EO/IR dual-band sensor that combines visible and IR imaging. MS-110 represents the next generation of the widely deployed ...

• Fighter - air superiority

  F-5E/F Tiger II

  The F-5E (single-seat)/F (twin-seat) Tiger II is an air superiority fighter developed by Northrop Grumman based on the original F-5 Freedom Fighter. Production of the ...