• Digital Battlespace

  M-Code advances for GPS satellites

  10th August 2020

  The fourth Lockheed Martin-built GPS III Space Vehicle (GPS III SV04) has been shipped to Cape Canaveral in preparation for a September 2020 launch, US …

• Land Warfare

  Brazilian Army units receive 81mm mortar

  8th July 2020

  The Industrial Division of the Rio de Janeiro War Arsenal (AGR) has delivered indigenously manufactured 81mm mortars to Brazilian Army units. One mortar apiece was provided to …

• Air Warfare

  DoD picks Alliant Techsystems to enhance AARGM capabilities

  1st September 2020

  Orbital ATK is to develop new technology to increase the capability of the AGM-88E  Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile (AARGM) family of air-to-surface missiles, the US …

• Air Warfare

  US State Department clears AMRAAM FMS to Spain

  4th September 2020

  Spain is one step closer to receiving 100 AIM-120C-7/8 AMRAAM from Raytheon under an FMS deal after the US State Department approved the proposal, the …

• Air Warfare

  USAF orders more Martin-Baker ejection seats

  5th August 2020

  Martin-Baker has been awarded a five-year contract worth up to $150 million from the US Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, to provide spare Mk16 …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Russia tries to close MALE UAV gap

  9th September 2020

  Russian manufacturer Kronstadt Group unveiled important developments in domestic UAV technology in late August, during the Army 2020 exhibition near Moscow. In particular, three platforms …

• Training

  Kavkaz-2020 exercise will involve Belarus

  11th September 2020

  Belarusian troops will join a major Russian military exercise to be held in late September. Russian Deputy Defence Minister Col Gen Alexander Fomin (pictured) told …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Hermes takes flight off the UK coast

  11th September 2020

  Elbit Systems announced on 11 September that its Hermes 900 MALE UAV has successfully completed a series of flight demonstrations for the UK Maritime and Coastguard …

• Land Warfare

  Flyer Defense delivers AGMVs for TEWL integration

  11th September 2020

  Flyer Defense has delivered Army Ground Mobility Vehicles (AGMVs) to General Dynamics Mission Systems for integration with the Tactical Electronic Warfare Light (TEWL) system. TEWL …

• Land Warfare

  Raytheon gains Qatar NASAMS contract modification

  4th August 2020

  Raytheon on 3 August received a $33.74 million contract modification from the US Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, for National Advanced Surface to Air …

• Training

  Reliance to support Atlantic test ranges

  3rd September 2020

  Reliance Test and Technology has received a $78.08 million contract for research, development, test and evaluation (RDT&E;), engineering, fleet support and management support services for …

• Military Logistics

  German Dornier 228s to undergo mission systems modernisation

  10th September 2020

  German defence procurement agency BAAINBw has awarded Braunschweig-based Aerodata a contract to upgrade mission equipment aboard two Dornier 228NG aircraft, which are operated by the German …

• Air Warfare

  Chinese KJ-600 AEW may have performed maiden flight

  4th September 2020

  The KJ-600, a carrier-borne airborne early warning (AEW) aircraft destined for the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), may have performed its maiden flight on 29 …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Four down, one to go for NATO AGS Force

  27th July 2020

  The fourth and penultimate RQ-4D UAV in the NATO Alliance Ground Surveillance (AGS) Force arrived at Sigonella Air Base in Italy on 26 July after a …

• Air Warfare

  FAB receives third Embraer KC-390 Millennium

  29th June 2020

  Embraer has delivered its third KC-390 Millennium multi-mission medium airlift aircraft to the Brazilian Air Force (FAB), the company confirmed on 29 June. The aircraft …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | M-346 FA [Brazil]

  Brazil is evaluating the procurement of up to 30 Leonardo M-346 light attack aircraft under a potential agreement with Italy, aimed at modernising its aerial ...

• Data links

  Data links | M-346 FA [Brazil]

  Brazil is evaluating the procurement of up to 30 Leonardo M-346 light attack aircraft under a potential agreement with Italy, aimed at modernising its aerial ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  Air: Helmet-mounted displays | M-346 FA [Brazil]

  Brazil is evaluating the procurement of up to 30 Leonardo M-346 light attack aircraft under a potential agreement with Italy, aimed at modernising its aerial ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | M-346 FA [Brazil]

  Brazil is evaluating the procurement of up to 30 Leonardo M-346 light attack aircraft under a potential agreement with Italy, aimed at modernising its aerial ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | M-346 FA [Brazil]

  Brazil is evaluating the procurement of up to 30 Leonardo M-346 light attack aircraft under a potential agreement with Italy, aimed at modernising its aerial ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  KC-390 [Brazil]

  Programme Background Requirement The aircraft deliveries were scheduled to start by the end of 2016 and continue over a period of ten years. However,  the first ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  C-130H Replacement [Sweden]

  Programme Background Requirements Sweden has five C-130H aircraft (designated Tp-84) and one KC-130H. Two C-130Es bought in the 1960s have retired, but the six H ...

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

  Hermes 900 [Chile]

  Methodology Unit cost In 2024, the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) acquired one Hermes 900 for 50 million reais ($9.14 million), giving each drone an estimated ...

• Fighter - multirole

  JAS 39E/F Gripen [Brazil]

  Background In 2016, Gripen’s Project and Development Center was opened in Sao Paulo to allow Sweedish and Brazillian engineers to work together in the Gripen ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  H145M [Brazil]

  Background  Brazilian leadership announced in February 2022 that the Sabre Mil Mi-35M Hind-E attack helicopters were being retired from active service. This decision came as a ...

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

  Hermes 900 [Colombia]

  Methodology Unit cost In 2024, the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) acquired one Hermes 900 for 50 million reais ($9.14 million), giving each drone an estimated gross ...

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

  Hermes 900 (5) [Brazil]

  Background First three batches (2014-2024) Across three purchases, Defence Insight estimates that Brazil has acquired five Hermes 900 UAVs. In 2014, Elbit reported supplying one ...

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

  Hermes 900 (1-4) [Brazil]

  Background First batch (2014) In 2014, Elbit reported supplying one Hermes 900 UAV to the Brazilian Air Force (FAB). The drone is called the RQ-900 in Brazilian ...

• Maritime patrol

  C295 add-on [Brazil]

  Programme Background  In 2014 Brazil signed a contracted for two additional C-295 SAR platforms with the option to acquire one additional platform. In 2018, reports ...

• Transport

  C-130 Replacement [Greece]

  Programme Background Requirement The existing C-130 fleet of the Hellenic Air Force has faced operational readiness issues, with only one or two airframes in service at ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Air-to-surface missiles

  MAR-1

  The MAR-1 is a Brazilian air-to-surface anti-radiation missile (ARM) developed by Mectron in collaboration with the Aerospace Technology and Science Department (DCTA) of the Brazilian ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - small

  Harpia

  Described as the UAV with the most onboard technology in Latin America, Harpia is a multifunctional fixed-wing Brazilian drone developed by Advanced Technologies Security & Defence.  The Uruguayan ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  EMB-312 Tucano

  The EMB-312 Tucano (Brazilian designation T-27) is a trainer and light attack aircraft developed by Embraer to meet the training requirements of the Brazilian Air ...

• Air: air combat simulators

  TPTS

  Tactical Procedures Training Simulators (TPTS), operating with SWARM software, can be used to provide most core training elements to pilots or offload training tasks from ...

• Guided munitions

  SMKB (Smart-MK-Bomb)

  The Smart-MK-Bomb, or the SMKB, is a precision guidance kit developed by Mectron and designed to turn Mk 82 and Mk 83 bombs into guided munitions.

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

  Condor

  The Condor, or Atobá XR, is an in-development MALE-class UAV from Stella Technologia.  The development of the multi-role is tied to the Brazilian Air Force (FAB), which has ...

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

  Albatroz Vortex

  The Albatroz Vortex from Stella Tecnologia is a development of the company's Albatroz UAV.  The key differentiator is that the Vortex is fitted with an ATJR ...

• Trainer, Transport

  EMB-121 Xingu

  The EMB-121 Xingu is a twin-turboprop light transport and advanced multi-engine trainer aircraft developed by Embraer based on the EMB-110 Bandeirante. Its maiden flight was ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  H225M

  The medium-weight, 11t-class H225M (formerly known as the EC725) is the latest military Super Puma/Cougar family member.  Technical features include a modular design of mechanical ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  KC-390/C-390 Millennium

  The KC-390 is a high-wing, twin-turbofan, T-tail design intended to meet the needs of the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) for a tanker/transport aircraft. Developed and ...

• Land: battle management systems

  Arkhe Mission & Combat

  Launched in 2017, Atech's Arkhe Mission & Combat solutions offer a variety of solutions enabling operator to conduct missions from planning to execution and debriefing. It ...

• 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 ...

• EO/IR systems, Land: unattended sensor/surveillance systems, Sea: ship surveillance and fire control systems

  SHAPO

  SHAPO is a multi-sensor, gyro-stabilised observation payload. It is intended for UAVs, helicopters, light aircraft, patrol boats, aerostats, airships, armoured vehicles and masts. Sensors include a ...

• Land: air defence radar

  Saber M60

  The Saber M60 is a low-altitude air-defence radar developed by the Brazilian Army's CTEx (Army Technology Centre) in collaboration with Bradar, part of Embraer Defence ...

• EO/IR systems

  Skyward

  The SkyWard system is an advanced Infrared Search and Track (IRST) solution developed for next-generation airborne platforms, including 5th-generation fighter aircraft.  Designed with modularity in ...