• Defence Helicopter

  Combat Rescue Helicopter gains Milestone C

  25th September 2019

  The US Air Force (USAF) has issued a Milestone C decision for the Sikorsky HH-60W Combat Rescue Helicopter (CRH) programme, clearing the way for low …

• Training

  USAF exercises KC-135 training option

  2nd October 2019

  CAE has been awarded a $33 million contract modification that exercises an FY20 option to extend its US Air Force KC‐135 Stratotanker Aircrew Training System …

• Digital Battlespace

  GPS OCX completes development phase

  2nd October 2019

  Raytheon has announced that its GPS Next-Generation Operational Control System (GPS OCX) has completed full software and hardware development and entered into the system integration …

• Land Warfare

  Raytheon high-power microwave system for USAF

  25th September 2019

  Raytheon is to deliver a prototype high-power microwave (HPM) system to the US Air Force under a contract announced on 24 September.The system will be …

• Digital Battlespace

  Chemring’s US business bags countermeasure orders

  13th September 2019

  Chemring’s US-based subsidiary, Chemring Countermeasures USA, has received four contracts to supply countermeasures in support of the US Navy and US Air Force (USAF), the company …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  USAF orders Kratos aerial targets

  19th September 2019

  Kratos Defense & Security Solutions’ Unmanned Systems Division has received a $35 million contract from the US Air Force for Air Force Subscale Aerial Target …

• Defence Notes

  DSEI 2019: SEAD indecision puts pressure on USAF F-16 fleet

  12th September 2019

  The USAF is still unsure of which trade offs it will have to make as part of an overdue F-16 modernisation programme – the basis …

• Digital Battlespace

  Raytheon and FlexRadio to develop HF airborne radio for USAF

  5th September 2019

  Raytheon and FlexRadio will develop and qualify a new high-frequency airborne communications radio under a $36 million contract awarded by the Consortium Management Group (CMG) …

• Digital Battlespace

  USAF launched second GPS III satellite

  27th August 2019

  The US Air Force has launched its second GPS III satellite, part of a constellation of up to 32 satellites that will bolster the US’ …

• Special Operations

  What is AFWERX, the USAF’s new cultivator of innovation?

  6th September 2019

  The US Air Force's new AFWERX technology accelerator is now seeing several of its projects mature into viable prototypes that are being passed over for …

• Military Logistics

  PAE awarded USAF aerial target support contract

  28th August 2019

  PAE Aviation and Technical Services has been awarded a $19.2 million contract modification to support the US Air Force’s aerial targets programme.   This provides for …

• Defence Notes

  MSPO 2019: Patience a virtue for Polish AARGM deal

  3rd September 2019

  Northrop Grumman is confident it can land an order with Poland for the air-to-ground Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile (AARGM), despite developments between the two sides …

• Digital Battlespace

  DSEI 2019: Durabook reveals new rugged laptop

  3rd September 2019

  Twinhead International Corporation will display its new Durabook Z14I rugged laptop for the first time at the DSEI exhibition in London.  The laptop is designed …

• Land Warfare

  First Strykers hit home in Thailand

  30th August 2019

  The US military has delivered the first two M1126 Stryker 8x8 Infantry Carrier Vehicles (ICV) to the Royal Thai Army (RTA), according to US announcements …

• Defence Notes

  Is the US military beginning to put meat on its Asian bones?

  6th September 2019

  US politicians and senior military figures are effusive in affirming their commitment to partners and hangers-on in the Asia-Pacific region, but question marks always surround …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

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

  RQ-20B Puma (USAF)

  Programme Background Requirement According to the AeroVironment Vice President and product line general manager, Trace Stevenson, the USAF Security Forces requires a small UAV to ...

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

  MQ-9A Reaper (USAF)

  Programme Background Procurement & Inventory According to the USAF FY2019 Budget Estimate document, the USAF set aside funds to acquire 433 MQ-9 Reapers by the end of ...

• MPVs - 4x4, Reconnaissance/patrol vehicles

  JLTV Oshkosh Contract [US Air Force]

  As of November 2020, the US DoD had signed 14 contracts with Oshkosh Defense covering the delivery of approximately 17,731 JLTVs to all branches of ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | F-35A Joint Strike Fighter - USAF Future Procurement

  The USAF is planning to order 1137 F-35As between FY2026 and FY2048 under the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program. The purchase will be at a ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  Air: Helmet-mounted displays | F-35A Joint Strike Fighter - USAF Future Procurement

  The USAF is planning to order 1137 F-35As between FY2026 and FY2048 under the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program. The purchase will be at a ...

• Data links

  Data links | F-35A Joint Strike Fighter - USAF Future Procurement

  The USAF is planning to order 1137 F-35As between FY2026 and FY2048 under the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program. The purchase will be at a ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | F-35A Joint Strike Fighter - USAF Future Procurement

  The USAF is planning to order 1137 F-35As between FY2026 and FY2048 under the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program. The purchase will be at a ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | F-35A Joint Strike Fighter - USAF Future Procurement

  The USAF is planning to order 1137 F-35As between FY2026 and FY2048 under the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program. The purchase will be at a ...

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

  Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) [USAF]

  Programme Background Requirements The programme's requirements are based on the USAF's belief that it requires mass to compete effectively with an adversary in symmetrical warfare. However, ...

• AEW&C

  E-7A Wedgetail (1-2) [USA]

  Programme Background Shephard notes that this entry covers the two rapid-prototype E-7 aircraft, whose contract was signed in August 2024. A second programme entry covers the ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  KC-Y Tanker Aircraft (USA)

  Programme Background The USAF is replacing its fleet of 396 KC-135 Stratotanker refuelling aircraft, built in the 1950s and 60s, and 59 KC-10 Extenders, which entered service ...

• AEW&C

  E-7A Wedgetail (USA - Forecast)

  Programme Background Speaking on 21 September 2021 during the annual Air Force Association (AFA) Meeting in Washington DC, USAF Chief of Staff Gen Charles Brown ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  KC-46A (USA)

  Programme Background The first four Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) KC-46A aircraft were delivered to McConnell AFB in Kansas in January 2019. As of December 2020, a ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-15EX - USAF (Contracted)

  Programme Background USAF is looking to procure 144 F-15EX fighter aircraft, including two RDTE configurations and six low-rate initial production aircraft. F-15EX will replace ageing ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-15EX - USAF (Announced)

  Programme Background The F-15EX will be based on the 2-seat F-15QA (Qatar) configuration upgraded with USAF-only capabilities, including the Eagle Passive Active Warning and Survivability ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - HALE

  EX-3 Revenant

  The EX-3 Revenant is a developmental fixed-wing aircraft being developed by Exosonic. It is a Mach 1.2 supersonic UAV designed to be a 5th-generation representative, modular, autonomous ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  Next Generation Survivor Radio

  The Next Generation Survivor Radio (NGSR) is a software-defined radio being developed by General Dynamics Mission Systems. It is expected to enter into service after June 2026.

• Air: transport/tanker simulators

  USAF KC-135 ATS

  The KC-135 Aircrew Training System (ATS) programme delivers initial qualification, requalification, continuation and upgrades training for USAF KC-135 aircrews, including pilots, co-pilots and boom operators. ...

• Major networking projects

  C2 ConstellationNet

  According to David Tillotson, director of C4ISR architecture AF/XI, in a report to Congress: 'The ConstellationNet is the communications network – air, space and terrestrial ...

• Air: aerial targets

  QF-16 FSAT

  The QF-16 Full Scale Aerial Target (FSAT) is an optionally piloted supersonic aerial target developed to replace the QF-4 in USAF service. Retired F-16 fighters are ...

• Major networking projects

  DCGS 10.2 Upgrade

  Raytheon’s Distributed Common Ground System (DCGS) Block 10.2 upgrade allows intelligence data to be posted to the network for immediate use by analysts and warfighters, ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing

  SPX

  The SPX drone is a fixed-wing UAV manufactured by RapidFlight. It features a modular payload bay and is fitted with RapidFlight's Common Avionics 2.0 modular interface. ...

• Combat Search and Rescue

  HC-130P/N

  HC-130P/N is a SAR aircraft developed as extended-range version of C-130 Hercules transport airframe to execute all weather personnel recovery operations from austere airfields and ...

• Military helicopters - multirole, Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  Hexa

  The Hexa, or LIFT Hexa, is a rotary-wing aircraft developed by LIFT Aircraft for military and commercial markets. Due to its configuration and triple redundant autopilot ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  KC-10 Extender

  The KC-10 Extender is a tanker/transport aircraft developed for the USAF by McDonnell Douglas (now part of Boeing). It was derived from the company’s three-engine ...

• EW test systems

  JTE

  The Joint Threat Emitter (JTE) is a multi-threat, high-fidelity simulator with realistic ERP levels, which simulates single- and double-digit surface-to-air and anti-aircraft artillery radar systems. ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - HALE

  RQ-4 Global Hawk

  The Global Hawk is a HALE UAV manufactured by General Atomics (GA-ASI).  Primarily designed to carry ISTAR payloads, the platform has accumulated more than 200,000 ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  R-HUD

  The Replacement Heads-Up Display (R-HUD) is a Primary Flight Reference system designed to replace legacy HUD units on C-17 aircraft. Manufactured by Elbit Systems of ...

• Air: mission management systems

  Flat Panel Control Indicator

  BAE Systems Flat Panel Control Indicator (FPCI) is designed to replace legacy Navigation Control Indicators in F-15C/D aircraft. It features a new AMLCD display and ...

• Bomber

  B-2 Spirit

  The B-2 Spirit is a multirole stealth bomber manufactured by Northrop Grumman for the USAF. The Spirit is a flying wing aircraft, meaning that it ...