• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Australian Army invests in UGVs with new contracts

  11th August 2020

  Australia has announced significant investment of A$12.2 million ($8.7 million) in industry contracts for autonomous vehicles and emerging technologies. The money will go on experimentation, …

• Air Warfare

  OFTs for RAF Poseidons land in Lossiemouth

  20th August 2020

  The RAF has received its first pair of high-fidelity flight training simulators from Boeing for the P-8A Poseidon (pictured - designated Poseidon MRA Mk1 in UK …

• Defence Notes

  Rolls-Royce invests in hypersonic engine developer

  21st August 2020

  Reaction Engines and Rolls-Royce have formed a strategic partnership to develop hypersonic propulsion systems for the commercial and military sectors. Rolls-Royce will invest £20 million …

• Digital Battlespace

  EDA turns its thoughts to cognitive radio and radar

  1st September 2020

  The steering board of the European Defence Agency (EDA) has approved the launch of a new AI-focused research project to harden military communication and radar …

• Defence Helicopter

  Alligator variant makes progress with contract in the offing

  2nd September 2020

  Progress Arsenyev Aviation Company (a Russian Helicopters subsidiary) conducted the maiden flight of the latest Ka-52M attack helicopter prototype last month, according to the Russian …

• Training

  4GD delivers to US SOF

  2nd September 2020

  UK-based immersive dismounted close combat training specialists 4GD recently delivered another major project to the SOF community in the US. This US system is a …

• Air Warfare

  CEVS to provide night-vision cueing displays for USN and FMS customers

  18th August 2020

  Collins Elbit Vision Systems (CEVS), which is a JV between Raytheon Technologies subsidiary Collins Aerospace and Elbit Systems of America, is to produce 60 Joint …

• Defence Notes

  Necessity binds Syria to Iran for air defence equipment

  22nd July 2020

  News that Iran and Syria concluded a pact on 10 July to enhance the latter’s air defences has raised questions regarding the nature of this …

• Digital Battlespace

  BAE Systems continues instrumentation support

  24th August 2020

  The USAF has awarded BAE Systems a $495 million contract to continue providing instrumentation support and sustainment services for military and government agencies in the US …

• Defence Notes

  US commanders seek integrated approach to space and missile threats

  5th August 2020

  Moves in China and Russia to develop hypersonic missiles, anti-satellite (ASAT) weaponry and other strategic capabilities require an integrated response from the US armed forces, …

• Air Warfare

  US snaps up would-be Turkish F-35As

  21st July 2020

  Eight F-35A fighter aircraft that were originally destined for Turkey have been ‘repositioned’ for the USAF, under a 20 July DoD contract award to Lockheed …

• Digital Battlespace

  Ofek 16 takes its first pictures

  26th August 2020

  The Israeli MoD and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) have released the first images from the Ofek 16 EO reconnaissance satellite that was launched in early …

• Military Logistics

  Lockheed receives major Super Hercules contract from DoD

  20th July 2020

  Lockheed Martin has been awarded a $15 billion contract by the USAF Force to develop, integrate, retrofit and produce variants of its C-130J Super Hercules transport aircraft. The …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  RN declares 700X NAS ready for action

  17th August 2020

  A new UK RN unit to operate shipborne RPAS is ready for deployment. Three flights in 700X Naval Air Squadron (NAS) have been established (Phantom …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Camcopter zooms in on Australia, as Sea 129 tender process begins

  6th August 2020

  Schiebel Pacific announced on 27 July that it had teamed up with Raytheon Australia for the Australian Army’s Project Land 129 Phase 3 requirement for a new …

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 ...