• Defence Helicopter

  Avalon 2017: Orbital ATK promotes C-27J palletised ISR

  6th March 2017

  Orbital ATK is in discussions with the Royal Australian Air Force about ISR mission pallets that could enhance capabilities. The company already supplies roll-on/roll-off modules …

• Training

  Avalon 2017: Lockheed Martin Australia to open demo centre

  2nd March 2017

  The Australian Defence Force (ADF) is currently undertaking a number of projects to network and integrate capabilities throughout defence. These include initiatives contained within Plan …

• Training

  Avalon 2017: RAAF opts for CAE Hawk support

  28th February 2017

  The Australian Department of Defence has selected CAE to provide support and training for the Royal Australian Air Force's (RAAF) BAE Systems Hawk MK127 training …

• Naval Warfare

  Avalon 2017: Saab tries to hook NZ on Swordfish

  2nd March 2017

  New Zealand's future requirement for a maritime patrol aircraft to replace the in-service Lockheed Martin P-3K2 Orion is attracting a number of contenders, including Saab's …

• Training

  Avalon 2017: JP 9711 moves forward

  28th February 2017

  The Australian Department of Defence's Joint Project 9711 Defence Core Simulation Capability Project has taken a step forward with submissions from industry in response to …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Avalon 2017: Australian civil UAV usage surges

  26th February 2017

  Australian UAV operators expect substantial growth in the areas of agriculture and architecture/building operations before the end of the decade, according to a survey conducted …

• Digital Battlespace

  Australia boosts EW capabilities

  14th September 2016

  The electronic warfare (EW) capabilities of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) will receive a shot in the arm, with AU$500 million ($386.3 million) being allocated …

• Military Logistics

  Australia orders two extra MRTTs

  2nd July 2015

  Australia will acquire two additional Airbus KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transports (MRTT), bringing its fleet to seven aircraft, as Canberra begins to put the KC-30A’s troubled …

• Land Warfare

  Industry teams bid for Aussie CRV

  12th June 2015

  Australia's Request for Tender (RfT) for the Land 400 Phase 2 programme will close in August as contenders have struggled to respond. The initial date of …

• Military Logistics

  Avalon 2015: RAAF to trial tanker with allied aircraft

  27th February 2015

  Following a successful remediation program, the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) expects to conduct boom refuelling trials with its Airbus KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transports (MRTT) …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Avalon 2015: Lockheed Martin goes shark hunting

  26th February 2015

  Trials are planned in the use of Lockheed Martin’s small Indago quad-rotor UAV for shark-spotting, it has emerged. The platform has an endurance of 45 …

• Defence Notes

  Avalon 2015: USAF confident F-35 will meet targets

  25th February 2015

  The re-baselining of the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter programme has been successful and ongoing improvements in areas such as support and …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Avalon 2015: IAI suggests new roles for Australian Herons

  25th February 2015

  Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) believes the expanded capabilities of the Heron 1 UAV operated by the Royal Australian Air Force can provide a way for …

• Digital Battlespace

  Avalon 2015: Australian Wedgetail fully operational by mid-year

  25th February 2015

  Full operating capability (FOC) is expected to be declared for the Royal Australian Air Force’s (RAAF) Wedgetail E-7A airborne early warning and control aircraft before …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Avalon 2015: Rocket firings planned for Fire Scout

  24th February 2015

  Northrop Grumman plans to do a test firing of an Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) from the new version of its Fire Scout rotary …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

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

  Loyal Wingman [Australia]

  Background Older Efforts On 23 April 2021, the US State Department's Foreign Military Sales (FMS) approval announcement revealed that Australia had requested to buy up ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  Project Land 4503 [Australia]

  Programme Background The Australian Army has begun its search for a successor to the Tiger Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter (ARH), with an RfI issued by the ...

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

  MQ-28 Ghost Bat [Australia]

  Programme Background Goal As stated by the Head of Air Force Capability, Air Vice-Marshal Robert Denney, in March 2022, the Ghost Bat will be an "operational ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

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

  Skylark II

  The Skylark II is a fixed-wing UAV that can be used for various military and security applications, including tactical covert surveillance and reconnaissance, perimeter security ...

• EO/IR systems

  CM234

  The CM234, sometimes called the CM234 Spitfire, combines seven sensors in a compact payload with four-axis active stabilisation. It is fitted to the STRIX and the Integrator ...

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

  STRIX

  The STRIX is a prototype tandem-wing UAV that BAE Systems Australia is developing in collaboration with Innovaero. It is slated to begin operational service in 2026 and can be ...

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

  Fury

  The Fury Autonomous Air Vehicle (AAV), or YFQ-44A, is a fixed-wing drone designed by Anduril to accelerate autonomous drone development, testing, and fielding.  Anduril acquired the jet-powered drone design when it ...

• Land: manned turrets, Land: RWS

  T2000

  The T2000 is a medium-calibre turret that will be produced in Australia for export and potential applications with the Australian Defence Force. Available in both ...

• Air: helicopter radar, Air: surveillance and maritime patrol radar, Air: UAS radar

  PicoSAR

  The PicoSAR is a compact multi-mode Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) surveillance radar weighing 10 kg, suitable for UAS, fixed-wing, and helicopter platforms.

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

  Gambit (Series)

  The Gambit Series are five UAV variants based around the Gambit Core, a common system containing the platform's hardware: landing gear, baseline avionics, chassis, and other essential functions.  ...

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

  MQ-28A Ghost Bat

  Initially, as a multirole system to escort crewed aircraft, the MQ-28A Ghost Bat has been reimagined as a proving platform. Its development began in 2013 and ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  AH-64E Apache Guardian

  The AH-64E is the current configuration of Boeing's Apache attack helicopter. It is the backbone of the US Army attack helicopter fleet and is fielded by several ...