• Defence Helicopter

  First CH-53K prototype prepares for ground tests

  5th December 2012

  The first prototype aircraft of the CH-53K heavy lift helicopter being developed by Sikorsky for the US Marine Corps (USMC) has been delivered to the …

• Defence Notes

  Saab extends UK defence presence

  15th November 2012

  Saab plans to extend its presence in the UK by heading its European and Middle Eastern business in London as of 1 January 2013. This …

• Naval Warfare

  Boeing advances F/A-18E, F-15E training simulation

  15th November 2012

  Boeing is working on a three-year contract with the US Air Force Research Laboratory to adapt innovative training technologies for the F-15E Eagle and the …

• Defence Helicopter

  DoD increases contracted helicopter services in Afghanistan

  5th November 2012

  The US Department of Defense (DoD) has renewed 12-month contract options with six companies for helicopter services in Afghanistan, at a significantly greater cost than …

• Military Logistics

  C-130J Super Hercules variants gain certification

  2nd November 2012

  Lockheed Martin has announced that in October its HC-130J Combat King II and MC-130J Commando II aircraft have been certified as ‘effective, suitable and mission …

• Defence Helicopter

  AUSA 2012: APKWS is prepared for life at sea

  22nd October 2012

  The US Navy is preparing to send the BAE Systems-made Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) to sea, it has emerged. A Rapid Deployment Capability …

• Defence Helicopter

  Ecuador MoD receives AS550 C3A Fennec helicopters

  17th October 2012

  Eurocopter has announced that it delivered two AS550 C3 Fennec helicopters to the Ecuadorian Ministry of Defence (MoD) in September. The aircraft are the first …

• Military Logistics

  Elbit Systems, Northrop Grumman team for TF/TA system

  10th October 2012

  Elbit Systems has announced that it is developing an innovative Terrain Following and Terrain Avoidance (TF/TA) system in cooperation with Northrop Grumman. The system will …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Autonomous aerial refuelling inches closer

  8th October 2012

  Northrop Grumman has announced that it has recently completed a series of flight demonstrations with DARPA and NASA Dryden Flight Research Center, marking an important …

• Defence Helicopter

  Helibras and Lider sign MoU for Brazilian EC225 production

  3rd October 2012

  Oil and gas helicopter operator Lider Aviacao has signed an MoU with Helibras to become the first operator of Brazilian-built Eurocopter EC225s. The deal, announced …

• Digital Battlespace

  New HC-130J aircraft for US Coast Guard

  2nd October 2012

  Lockheed Martin has announced that it has received a contract worth $218 million for three additional HC-130Js for the US Coast Guard. This order will …

• Military Logistics

  Norway accepts new Super Hercules

  1st October 2012

  Lockheed Martin announced on 28 September that the Royal Norwegian Air Force has formally accepted a C-130J Super Hercules to replace the aircraft that was …

• Defence Helicopter

  AgustaWestland strengthens ROK relationships

  11th September 2012

  AgustaWestland has announced that it has signed partnership agreements with two companies in the Republic of Korea (RoK) as an initial step to providing dedicated …

• Military Logistics

  Oman accepts first C-130J Super Hercules

  6th September 2012

  Lockheed Martin has announced that the Sultanate of Oman has formally accepted the first of three C-130J Super Hercules on order for Oman. The formal …

• Military Logistics

  Iraq's C-130J programme moves forward

  5th September 2012

  The first C-130J Super Hercules for the Iraq Air Force has completed its first flight at the Lockheed Martin facility in Marietta, Georgia. The company …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Fighter - naval

  F/A-18E/F Super Hornet (Kuwait)

  The sale of the F/A- l8E/F Super Hornet aircraft will improve Kuwait's capability to meet current and future warfare threats. The jets will supplement and ...

• Fighter - naval

  Multi-Role Carrier Borne Fighters (MRCBF) [India]

  Programme Background RFI / Requirments In January 2017, India issued an RFI for the procurement of 57 multirole naval fighters. The RFI for the Indian Navy ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Multi-Role Combat Aircraft [Malaysia]

  Programme Background Requirement Malaysia has long had a requirement known as the Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MRCA) designed to replace the MiG-29 fleet. The MRCA programme ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Project Air 6000 Phase 7 (Australia)

  Programme Background Responding to a query from Shephard at the Classic Hornet farewell ceremony, Air Cdre Tim Alsop, Commander Air Combat Group, said, ‘At the ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Future Fighter Capability Project [Canada]

  Programme Background Canada’s defence policy estimates the acquisition of the aircraft, associated equipment and setup to enable entry into service will cost C$15-19 billion ($12.9-14.5 billion). In ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Swiss Air 2030 - Combat Aircraft

  Programme Background Switzerland began the latest phase of flight and ground tests on 8 April 2019. In June 2019, Saab announced that the company’s in-development ...

• Fighter - multirole

  MRCA - Multi Role Combat Aircraft (Fighter)

  Launched years ago, the Medium Multirole Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) programme is notorious internationally of the serpentine nature of Indian military procurements. Under the MMRCA, the ...

• Fighter - multirole, Trainer

  MRCA - Multi Role Combat Aircraft (Trainer)

  Launched years ago, the Medium Multirole Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) programme is notorious internationally of the serpentine nature of Indian military procurements. Under the MMRCA, the ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F/A-18C/D (Secondhand) [Malaysia]

  Programme Background Requirement Malaysia has required new multirole aircraft since the early 2010s, for which the country's Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MRCA) programme was launched in ...

• Military UAS - micro, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  DEF129 Nano UAS [Australia]

  Programme Background DEF129 The Australian Ground Service has combined various army procurement efforts under the DEF129 programme to increase the abundance and proliferation of UAVs ...

• Military UAS - small

  Black Hornet 3 PRS (UK)

  Programme Background The British Army operated approximately 160 first-generation Black Hornet PD-100 nano UAS between 2013 and 2017, when the decision was made to retire ...

• Military UAS - micro, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Soldier Borne Sensor (SBS) (Phase I) [USA]

  Programme Background Requirement The Soldier Borne Sensor (SBS) provides short-range day and night ISR to US Army units at the squad, platoon and other small ...

• UAS: communication systems

  UAS: communication systems | Soldier Borne Sensor (SBS) (Phase II) [USA]

  In 2018, the US Army selected the FLIR Systems Black Hornet Personal Reconnaissance System (PRS) for Phase I of its Soldier Borne Sensor (SBS) programme. ...

• UAS: flight control systems

  UAS: flight control systems | Soldier Borne Sensor (SBS) (Phase II) [USA]

  In 2018, the US Army selected the FLIR Systems Black Hornet Personal Reconnaissance System (PRS) for Phase I of its Soldier Borne Sensor (SBS) programme. ...

• Military UAS - micro, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  French Operational Pocket Drone / DrOP (France)

  Programme Background French UAV Procurment / DrOP Under its 2019-2025 Military Programming Law (LPM), France aims to introduce 1,200 new UAVs into service with the ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Fighter - multirole

  F/A-18C/D

  The F/A-18 C/D ('KAF-18' in Kuwait) Hornet replaced the original A and B Hornet models, seeking to correct problems with range and acceleration. After success ...

• Air: air combat simulators

  USN F/A-18E/F TOFT

  L3Harris Technologies' F/A-18 simulation capability extends to the Super Hornet E/F configuration. These Tactical Operational Flight Trainers (TOFTs) – based on L3Harris Technologies' F/A-18 simulator ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F/A-18E/F Super Hornet

  The F/A-18E/F Super Hornet was developed to perform naval strike missions for the USN. The primary mission for the F/A-18E/F is a strike fighter that ...

• Guided munitions

  GBU-53/B StormBreaker

  GBU-53/B StormBreaker is a precision-guided glide bomb developed by Raytheon to equip F-15, F/A-18 and F-35. It is also known as the Small Diameter Bomb II. The StormBreaker includes a ...

• 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: aerial targets

  BQM-34 Firebee

  The BQM-34 Firebee is an uncrewed aerial target system that the USAF and USN have used for more than 50 years. The primary mission of ...

• Airborne rockets - guided

  Laser Guided Zuni

  The Laser Guided Zuni has a 40lb warhead that is deployable against both fixed and moving targets. It is designed to attack fixed and fleeting ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F/A-18A/B

  The F/A-18 Hornet A and B aircraft, or F-18A/B ('CF-18' in Canada and 'EF-18' in Spain), were the first models in the USN’s line of ...

• Land: RWS

  Hornet T1/T2/T3

  The Hornet is an RWS designed to be fitted to the French Army's armoured fighting vehicles. It is available in four versions – the Hornet, ...

• Fighter - electronic warfare

  EA-18G Growler

  The EA-18G Growler is a variant in the F/A-18 family of aircraft that combines the F/A-18F Super Hornet platform with a sophisticated electronic warfare suite. It ...

• Fixed wing aircraft engines

  F414-GE-400

  The F414-GE-400 is a turbofan engine manufactured by GE Aviation and has various advanced technology features such as a Full Authority Digital Electronic Control (FADEC), ...

• Air: Displays

  GH-4200

  L3Harris GH-4200 Electronic Standby Instrument System (ESIS) is a repeater display designed for F-15 and F/A-18 aircraft.

• Military UAS - micro, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Black Hornet 3

  The Black Hornet 3 is the next generation of the PD-100 Black Hornet, the world's smallest nano-UAS. This new model of the Black Hornet provides ...

• Air: air combat simulators

  F/A-18E/F and EA-18G TOFT

  In support of the USN Super Hornet programme, Boeing has delivered and declared ready for training four F/A-18E/F Tactical Operational Flight Trainers (TOFTs) at NAS ...

• Military UAS - mini, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  TETTRON Hornet

  The TETTRON Hornet, or T450 Hornet, is a mini rotary wing platform designed for cargo-carrying missions. Manufactured by Thunder Tiger Group, the Taiwanese drone is ...