• Air Warfare

  Spain orders 20 Eurofighter Typhoon jets under Project Halcon

  23rd June 2022

  Spain has finally ordered 20 Eurofighter Typhoon combat jets under Project Halcon, intended to replace Spanish Air Force F-18s based in the Canary Islands.

• Digital Battlespace

  US Navy orders support for Advanced Hawkeye radar avionics

  24th May 2022

  Operational test sets of modules for the AN/APY-9 radar will be used at the depot level to provide test and repair capabilities.

• Naval Warfare

  Photos show new sensors and defensive weapons on Turkish Gabya-class frigates

  24th August 2022

  Images have emerged of Aselsan Ahtapot electro-optic sensor suites and STAMP-2 remote-controlled weapon stations (RCWS) installed on Gabya-class frigates of the Turkish Navy.

• Naval Warfare

  South Korea launches first KDX-III Batch 2 destroyer

  29th July 2022

  A new batch of Aegis-equipped destroyers is on the way for the ROKN, with the first launched by HHI.

• Training

  Top Aces aggressor F-16 achieves US Air Force certificate

  25th August 2022

  Military Flight Release status will allow Top Aces to begin using its aggressor F-16 jets to support US Air Force training programmes.

• Air Warfare

  Turbojet loitering munition seeks to close capability gap

  25th May 2022

  Jackal is a turbojet loitering munition that provides a 100km range and 15min loiter time. It features an open architecture that provides the capability to support multiple-warhead types as well as EW and ISR packages.

• Air Warfare

  US Air Force assesses EPAWSS data after F-15EX missile firings

  8th August 2022

  EPAWSS provides both the F-15E and F-15EX with fully integrated radar warning as well as advanced jamming and countermeasure employment capability in highly contested environments.

• Land Warfare

  Army-2022: New Russian recon vehicles displayed, but capability gap remains

  25th August 2022

  VPK displayed a new variant of its developmental BRM reconnaissance vehicle, while UVZ exhibited an upgraded version of the BRM-1K. Neither seem viable candidates for filling situational awareness capability gaps for Russian mechanised infantry units.

• Training

  RUAG and Tactical Air to revamp US Navy aggressor F-5 fleet

  5th August 2022

  RUAG and Tactical Air will work to improve safety and readiness of US Navy Red Air adversary training aircraft under the modernisation programme.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Fire Scout has a role to play in Indo-Pacific

  24th May 2022

  The MQ-8C Fire Scout rotary-wing UAV has been deployed to the Indo-Pacific region for the first time.

• Defence Notes

  UK lines up ECRS Mk2 flight test campaign for ‘back end’ of 2023

  27th May 2022

  Eurofighter Typhoon European Common Radar System Mark 2 (ECRS Mk2) flight tests are soon to go ahead, after years of research and development.

• Training

  VR Group provides ground sims for Hungarian L-39NG

  9th September 2022

  Aero Vodochody and VR Group will supply the Hungarian Air Force with a full training system for the L-39NG jets.

• Air Warfare

  Farnborough 2022: Leonardo, Mitsubishi take JAGUAR radar demonstrator to next level

  19th July 2022

  Leonardo UK and Mitsubishi Electric have defined the concept of the JAGUAR radar technology demonstrator, which will feed into design work on subsystems for the F-X/FCAS next-generation fighter jet design.

• Defence Helicopter

  Egypt looks to bolster heavy-lift helo capability with Chinook

  27th May 2022

  Egypt has lodged a $2.6 billion FMS request with the US for 23 heavy-lift CH-47F helicopters.

• Land Warfare

  Germany introduces ASUL C-UAS system for field protection

  25th August 2022

  Germany has introduced ASUL, a stationary C-UAS capability which can locate, classify, identify and engage small UAS weighing up to 25kg.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

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

  RQ-4 Global Hawk (Japan)

  Programme Background Selection & Contract AwardIn 2015, Northrop Grumman's RQ-4 Global Hawk UAS and E-2D Advanced Hawkeye airborne early warning aircraft were selected by Japan to ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  IAR-99 Replacement (Romania)

  On 29 August 2017, Leonardo announced that the IAR-99 trainer technology demonstrator (TD) will be fitted with company's Vixen 500E AESA radar. The Vixen 500E AESA ...

• 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 ...

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

  MQ-4C Triton (Contracted) [Australia]

  Programme Background Three Contracted Units In June 2018, the Government provided Second Pass (Tranche 1) Approval to procure the first of six air vehicles, supporting ...

• AEW&C

  E-2D (France)

  Programme Background In July 2020, France revealed its intention of buying a fleet of three E-2D Advanced Hawkeye Aircraft with a $2 billion potential FMS deal, ...

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

  MQ-4C Triton (Option) [Australia]

  Programme Background Four Contracted Units In the summer of 2020, Northrop Grumman announced that the Australian Government provided $333 million for three MQ-4C Tritons and associated ...

• Data links

  Data links | E-6 TACAMO Recapitalisation Programme (E-130J) [USN]

  The TACAMO Recapitalisation Programme (E-130J) will replace the ageing E-6B Mercury and transition the US Airborne Strategic NC3 capability between aircraft. E-130J mission equipment will ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | E-6 TACAMO Recapitalisation Programme (E-130J) [USN]

  The TACAMO Recapitalisation Programme (E-130J) will replace the ageing E-6B Mercury and transition the US Airborne Strategic NC3 capability between aircraft. E-130J mission equipment will ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | E-6 TACAMO Recapitalisation Programme (E-130J) [USN]

  The TACAMO Recapitalisation Programme (E-130J) will replace the ageing E-6B Mercury and transition the US Airborne Strategic NC3 capability between aircraft. E-130J mission equipment will ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | E-6 TACAMO Recapitalisation Programme (E-130J) [USN]

  The TACAMO Recapitalisation Programme (E-130J) will replace the ageing E-6B Mercury and transition the US Airborne Strategic NC3 capability between aircraft. E-130J mission equipment will ...

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

  Embarked VTOL UAV [South Korea]

  Programme Background VTOL Development In January 2024, South Korea's Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) announced that it would commence development of a VTOL-capable rotary-wing UAV that ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  AW101-Norway

  AgustaWestland is also providing initial support and training services, including spares at each of the operating bases and aircrew training. It will then provide performance ...

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

  AdvaNced airCraft Infrastructure-Less Launch And RecoverY (ANCILLARY) [US]

  Programme Background Aims & Timeline As stated by DARPA, the ANCILLARY programme aims to develop and fly an X-plane that will provide a "leap-ahead" in long-endurance, ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | Penetrating Counter Air (PCA)

  USAF is working on Penetrating Counter Air (PCA) aircraft concept which may replace F-15C/Ds and F-22s in service and complement F-35s. Boeing, Lockheed Martin and ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  Air: Helmet-mounted displays | Penetrating Counter Air (PCA)

  USAF is working on Penetrating Counter Air (PCA) aircraft concept which may replace F-15C/Ds and F-22s in service and complement F-35s. Boeing, Lockheed Martin and ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Air: AEW/fire control radar

  AN/APG-81

  AN/APG-81 is operating in the X-band active electronically scanned array (AESA) fire control radar designed by Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems for the F-35 “Lightning” all-weather ...

• Air: AEW/fire control radar

  AN/APG-83 SABR

  The AN/APG-83 Scalable Agile Beam Radar (SABR) is an active electronically scanned array (AESA) fire control radar being developed by Northrop Grumman using its own ...

• Air: surveillance and maritime patrol radar

  AN/APQ-181

  The AN/APQ-181 is a low-probability-of-intercept radar fitted to USAF Northrop Grumman B-2 stealth bombers. During the B-2 Radar Modernization Program – completed in 2012 – the ...

• Air: UAS radar

  AN/ZPQ-1 TESAR

  The Tactical Endurance Synthetic Aperture Radar (TESAR), developed by Northrop Grumman, is primarily designed for use on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) such as the Predator. 

• Major networking projects

  IBCS

  The Integrated Air and Missile Defense Battle Command System (IBCS) is a C2 system designed to integrate current and future sensors. The system also improves ...

• Air-to-surface missiles

  Stand-in Attack Weapon (SiAW)

  The Stand-in Attack Weapon (SiAW) is an air-to-ground weapon that will provide strike capability to defeat rapidly relocatable targets as part of an enemy’s anti-access/area denial ...

• Land: air defence radar

  AN/TPS-80 G/ATOR

  AN/TPS-80 Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar (G/ATOR) is a multi-mission system designed to support worldwide expeditionary requirements. It provides detection and tracking capabilities and offers traffic ...

• Air: Integrated Defensive Systems

  Defensive Management System-Modernisation

  The Defensive Management System-Modernisation (DMS-M) is the overarching effort to substantially enhance the Northrop Grumman B-2A Spirit strategic bomber’s Integrated Self-Protection System (ISPS) which includes ...

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

  AN/ZPY-5 VADER

  The Vehicle and Dismount Exploitation Radar (VADER) is an airborne radar system designed primarily for military applications. It is designed to track vehicles and foot traffic ...

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

  MQ-8C Fire Scout

  The MQ-8C is a newer version of the Fire Scout and is based on a Bell 407 commercial helicopter. It offers a greater range, endurance and ...

• Air: Integrated cockpit systems

  H-1 Family of Avionics

  Northrop Grumman produces a family of avionics for Bell H-1-series helicopters.

• Military - UUVs

  Manta Ray

  Manta Ray is an uncrewed underwater vessel (UUV) developed by Northrop Grumman.

• Loitering munitions

  Jackal

  The Jackal is a turbojet loitering munition designed by Northrop Grumman in partnership with AeroVironment.  It features an open architecture that provides the capability to support ...

• Air: AEW/fire control radar

  AN/APG-79

  The AN/APG-79 is an agile beam radar with a solid-state digital array that scans at nearly the speed of light, enabling detection and tracking of ...

• Air: Defensive Systems - Radar Warning Receivers

  AN/ALR-67B(V)2

  The AN/ALR-67 series Radar Warning Receiver (RWR) has been produced both by Northrop Grumman and Raytheon. It is one of the most widely used RWRs ...