• Defence Notes

  Paris Air Show: Poland to enhance its airlift capability

  15th June 2019

  The Polish Armaments Inspectorate has recently announced the start of its technical dialogue in preparation for the future acquisition of a new fleet of transport …

• Digital Battlespace

  Viasat delivering Link 16-capable LEO to USAF

  4th June 2019

  Viasat announced that it will develop a new Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite to for the US armed forces as part of a new military …

• Digital Battlespace

  ASU delivers helmet prototypes to USAF

  28th May 2019

  Aviation Specialties Unlimited (ASU) has delivered four prototype helmets to the US Air Force, the company announced on 22 May. ASU is one of thee …

• Military Logistics

  Boeing lists KC-46A success, defends programme

  19th May 2019

  Boeing is pushing ahead despite hiccups in its KC-46A multirole tanker aircraft contract with the USAF and has just delivered another three on top of …

• Training

  US Air Force orders more JTE units

  16th May 2019

  Northrop Grumman has received a $46 million order from the US Air Force (USAF) for eight Joint Threat Emitter (JTE) units, the company announced on …

• Digital Battlespace

  Raytheon to start global installation of GPS OCX

  16th May 2019

  Raytheon’s GPS Next-Generation Operational Control System (GPS OCX) programme has completed final qualification testing of the system’s modernised monitor station receivers, the company announced on …

• Military Logistics

  USAF to receive new munitions research complex

  10th May 2019

  The US Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) has broken ground on a new $75 million Advanced Munitions Technology Complex (AMTC) at Eglin Air Force Base …

• Defence Notes

  USAF tests Minuteman III missile

  9th May 2019

  The US Air Force has launched an unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) equipped with a test re-entry vehicle from Vandenberg AFB, California, the …

• Digital Battlespace

  USAF develops AERONet prototype

  14th May 2019

  A team at US Air Force Base Hanscom is developing a prototype combat system capable of providing video, voice, chat and C2 to partner nations, …

• Training

  Boeing T-X jet trainer aircraft set to return to the air

  16th May 2019

  Boeing’s T-X jet trainer aircraft will return to test flights ‘imminently’ following changes as part of the engineering and manufacturing development phase, according to T-X …

• Training

  ITEC 2019: Bluedrop receives HMTS contract

  3rd May 2019

  Bluedrop Training & Simulation has announced that it has received contracts of over $1.5 million to supply a Hoist Mission Training System (HMTS) to Florida-based …

• Training

  ITEC 2019: Boeing wins RSAF F-15SA visual sim work

  1st May 2019

  Boeing has been awarded a $8.57 million FMS contract by the USAF Life Cycle Management Center at Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio to develop a new visual …

• Special Operations

  Air Force explores lighter and faster TACPs

  15th May 2019

  The US Air Force is preparing to work with industry to modernize the capabilities of the Tactical Air Control Party (TACP). Specifics of the modernization …

• Training

  ITEC 2019: USN’s TACT falls to ATAC

  8th May 2019

  The US Navy’s Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) has selected a team led by Airborne Tactical Advantage Company (ATAC), part of Textron Airborne Solutions, to …

• Digital Battlespace

  EW Europe 2019: US Army selects cyber EW support

  10th May 2019

  Perspecta has been selected to provide cyber electronic warfare support to the US Army Program Executive Office for Intelligence, Electronic Warfare, and Sensors (PEO IEW&S;) …

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 ...

• 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, ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...