• Defence Notes

  US tests Minuteman III as Sentinel successor ICBM programme struggles

  7th June 2024

  In service for nearly 60 years, the Minuteman intercontinental ballistic missile is due to be replaced by the Sentinel, but cost overruns and delays continue to plague this successor programme.

• Air Warfare

  Northrop Grumman selected to develop hypersonic missile interceptor

  26th September 2024

  Northrop Grumman beat out Raytheon for next stage of the Glide Phase Interceptor (GPI) weapon with the deal described as marking “a turning point for hypersonic glide phase defence”.

• Training

  How the US Space Force is training personnel for operations in contested scenarios

  19th February 2024

  The service has been developing and updating doctrine and policies, improving facilities and acquiring training and simulation capabilities.

• Air Warfare

  NGAD’s demise ‘grossly exaggerated’ as US Air Force continues to re-evaluate programme

  6th November 2024

  The Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) programme has been on pause since July 2024 following a re-evaluation of the technology and concept by the US Air Force.

• Land Warfare

  The future of the UGV market: A battlefield revolution in the making (opinion)

  22nd October 2024

  The market for uncrewed ground vehicles (UGVs) is rapidly evolving, with profound implications for future military operations. As we look to the coming decade, the potential for these autonomous platforms to redefine the battlefield is immense.

• Naval Warfare

  Royal Navy looks to OPV dry dock activities in Asia-Pacific

  15th August 2024

  The UK Royal Navy is expanding its Indo-Pacific logistics network, with HMS Spey and HMS Tamar set to undergo dry dock servicing in the region, while the force continues its long-term deployment for operations and defence engagement in the region.

• Air Warfare

  AUSA 2024: Leonardo unveils BriteStorm stand-in jammer payload

  14th October 2024

  Leonardo’s BriteStorm payload has been designed to be flown forward of aircraft to deceive ground forces.

• Defence Notes

  Irish defence budget increased by just €100 million despite €25 billion surplus

  3rd October 2024

  The budget of more than €1.3 billion is a record figure for the Irish Defence Forces but almost a quarter is to meet to meet the pensions costs of Defence Forces Veterans and their dependents.

• Land Warfare

  Thales expanded rocket factory provides five-fold increase in manufacturing capability

  1st July 2024

  Huge increase in capability has been supported by the Belgian government and the European Union’s Act in Support of Ammunition Production (ASAP) plan.

• Digital Battlespace

  Leonardo to develop a digital twin of a space cloud-based supercomputer

  19th February 2024

  Military Space Cloud Architecture (MILSCA) will be able to store more than 100 Terabytes of data generated on Earth and in space on board each constellation satellite with a processing power exceeding 250 TFLOPS (250,000 billion operations per second).

• Land Warfare

  Paramount develops new Mbombe 6 infantry combat vehicle

  27th June 2024

  The Mbombe 6, the 6x6 version of the Mbombe family of armoured vehicles developed by South Africa’s Paramount Group, has been built around commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) equipment. The vehicle’s low silhouette offers a reduced target, while its armoured hull protects against ballistic attack up to STANAG 4569 Level 4.

• Land Warfare

  Contract signed for delayed US Air Force E-7A deal

  14th August 2024

  The UK and US have ordered the Boeing 737 Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) system which is already operated by Australia (E-7 Wedgetail), South Korea (Peace Eye) and Turkey (Peace Eagle).

• Air Warfare

  Kongsberg to invest $110 million to increase production capacities in the US

  19th September 2024

  Expected contracts from the US Armed Forces will see the company build a new facility in Virginia, as well as improving and expanding its manufacturing capabilities in Pennsylvania.

• Land Warfare

  Arquus displays Drailer multirole wheeled UGV

  21st June 2024

  Drailer has been launched into a busy marketplace populated by tracked vehicles such as Milrem’s THeMIS and the wheeled General Dynamics’s Multipurpose Unmanned Tactical Transport.

• Digital Battlespace

  Contract awarded for development of future UK space control system

  15th February 2024

  Project Beroe will underpin government control of future satellite constellations, further enhancing the UK’s multi-domain integration efforts.

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 ...