• Defence Notes

  Hybrid Adaptive Networks to securely connect the warfighter (sponsored)

  2nd September 2019

  This video is brought to you by Viasat The battlefield of the future will require a resilient communications architecture for Multi-Domain Command and Control (MDC2) …

• Digital Battlespace

  Kilgore receives US DoD flares order

  31st July 2019

  The US Air Force has ordered MJU-53/B countermeasure flares from Kilgore Flares under a $90 million IDIQ contract announced on 29 July.The MJU-53/B infrared decoy …

• Digital Battlespace

  Indian Air Force gets desperate for software-defined radios

  5th August 2019

  Amidst a pressing necessity for software-defined radios (SDR) to fill glaring gaps in its legacy systems for secure information sharing and situation awareness, the Indian Air …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  DSEI 2019: General Robotics showcases next generation Pitbull-3

  11th September 2019

  General Robotics revealed the new anti-drone remote controlled weapon station (RCWS) with its latest features, known as the Pitbull-3 at DSEI 2019. The Pitbull-3 is …

• Naval Warfare

  Analysis: China seeks to dominate the seas

  12th August 2019

  The Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) focus as stated by China’s latest Defence White Paper is to build a strong and modernised naval force …

• Land Warfare

  THAAD carries out missile intercept test

  2nd September 2019

  Lockheed Martin's Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system demonstrated its ability to intercept a medium-range ballistic missile target during a test led by the …

• Land Warfare

  Australia begins distributing new 81mm mortars

  20th August 2019

  In August, new US-manufactured 81mm mortars began rolling out to the Australian Army, replacing F2 81mm mortars that have been in service since the 1960s …

• Defence Notes

  US Navy orders AARGM

  31st July 2019

  Northrop Grumman has been awarded Lot 8 Full Rate Production of the AGM-88E Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile (AARGM) by the US Navy. The awarded, announced …

• Naval Warfare

  New Asian-built LPDs for Thailand and Myanmar

  11th September 2019

  Two neighbouring Southeast Asian countries are adding LPDs to their naval fleets and both are procuring them from Asian shipbuilders in different countries. There is …

• Digital Battlespace

  DSEI 2019: Rohde & Schwarz equip Type 26 with integrated communications system

  10th September 2019

  Rohde & Schwarz has announced that it will equip the Royal Navy’s new Type 26 frigates with integrated communications systems (ICS) built around NAVICS under contract …

• Digital Battlespace

  DSEI 2019: Commercial space innovation presents military challenges

  11th September 2019

  The most innovative communications and military computing equipment now comes from the commercial sector, rather than military R&D; labs, Dr Stuart Eves, Consultant and Director at …

• Digital Battlespace

  DSEI 2019: Spectra ventures into the Troposphere

  12th September 2019

  Spectra Group has agreed to partner with US company Comtech to provide a Troposcatter communications capability for end users demanding high capability and resilient connectivity …

• Special Operations

  SOF seeks expanded SUAS payloads

  29th August 2019

  The US Special Operations Command's (USSOCOM) SOFWERX collaboration enterprise is preparing to conduct a Capability Assessment Event focused on expanded mission payloads for small UAS (SUAS). …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Puma slinks quietly into Australia

  13th August 2019

  An RQ-20B Puma AE took part in a live-fire demonstration of the US-operated High Mobility Artillery Rocket System in the recently conducted Exercise Talisman Sabre 2019.  This …

• Naval Warfare

  Trinidad & Tobago orders two Cape-class patrol boats

  20th August 2019

  Austal has signed a contract worth some A$126 million to construct two Cape-class patrol boats (CCPB) for the Republic of Trinidad & Tobago, which will …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | M-346 FA [Brazil]

  Brazil is evaluating the procurement of up to 30 Leonardo M-346 light attack aircraft under a potential agreement with Italy, aimed at modernising its aerial ...

• Data links

  Data links | M-346 FA [Brazil]

  Brazil is evaluating the procurement of up to 30 Leonardo M-346 light attack aircraft under a potential agreement with Italy, aimed at modernising its aerial ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  Air: Helmet-mounted displays | M-346 FA [Brazil]

  Brazil is evaluating the procurement of up to 30 Leonardo M-346 light attack aircraft under a potential agreement with Italy, aimed at modernising its aerial ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | M-346 FA [Brazil]

  Brazil is evaluating the procurement of up to 30 Leonardo M-346 light attack aircraft under a potential agreement with Italy, aimed at modernising its aerial ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | M-346 FA [Brazil]

  Brazil is evaluating the procurement of up to 30 Leonardo M-346 light attack aircraft under a potential agreement with Italy, aimed at modernising its aerial ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  KC-390 [Brazil]

  Programme Background Requirement The aircraft deliveries were scheduled to start by the end of 2016 and continue over a period of ten years. However,  the first ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  C-130H Replacement [Sweden]

  Programme Background Requirements Sweden has five C-130H aircraft (designated Tp-84) and one KC-130H. Two C-130Es bought in the 1960s have retired, but the six H ...

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

  Hermes 900 [Chile]

  Methodology Unit cost In 2024, the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) acquired one Hermes 900 for 50 million reais ($9.14 million), giving each drone an estimated ...

• Fighter - multirole

  JAS 39E/F Gripen [Brazil]

  Background In 2016, Gripen’s Project and Development Center was opened in Sao Paulo to allow Sweedish and Brazillian engineers to work together in the Gripen ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  H145M [Brazil]

  Background  Brazilian leadership announced in February 2022 that the Sabre Mil Mi-35M Hind-E attack helicopters were being retired from active service. This decision came as a ...

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

  Hermes 900 [Colombia]

  Methodology Unit cost In 2024, the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) acquired one Hermes 900 for 50 million reais ($9.14 million), giving each drone an estimated gross ...

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

  Hermes 900 (5) [Brazil]

  Background First three batches (2014-2024) Across three purchases, Defence Insight estimates that Brazil has acquired five Hermes 900 UAVs. In 2014, Elbit reported supplying one ...

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

  Hermes 900 (1-4) [Brazil]

  Background First batch (2014) In 2014, Elbit reported supplying one Hermes 900 UAV to the Brazilian Air Force (FAB). The drone is called the RQ-900 in Brazilian ...

• Maritime patrol

  C295 add-on [Brazil]

  Programme Background  In 2014 Brazil signed a contracted for two additional C-295 SAR platforms with the option to acquire one additional platform. In 2018, reports ...

• Transport

  C-130 Replacement [Greece]

  Programme Background Requirement The existing C-130 fleet of the Hellenic Air Force has faced operational readiness issues, with only one or two airframes in service at ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Air-to-surface missiles

  MAR-1

  The MAR-1 is a Brazilian air-to-surface anti-radiation missile (ARM) developed by Mectron in collaboration with the Aerospace Technology and Science Department (DCTA) of the Brazilian ...

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

  Harpia

  Described as the UAV with the most onboard technology in Latin America, Harpia is a multifunctional fixed-wing Brazilian drone developed by Advanced Technologies Security & Defence.  The Uruguayan ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  EMB-312 Tucano

  The EMB-312 Tucano (Brazilian designation T-27) is a trainer and light attack aircraft developed by Embraer to meet the training requirements of the Brazilian Air ...

• Air: air combat simulators

  TPTS

  Tactical Procedures Training Simulators (TPTS), operating with SWARM software, can be used to provide most core training elements to pilots or offload training tasks from ...

• Guided munitions

  SMKB (Smart-MK-Bomb)

  The Smart-MK-Bomb, or the SMKB, is a precision guidance kit developed by Mectron and designed to turn Mk 82 and Mk 83 bombs into guided munitions.

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

  Condor

  The Condor, or Atobá XR, is an in-development MALE-class UAV from Stella Technologia.  The development of the multi-role is tied to the Brazilian Air Force (FAB), which has ...

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

  Albatroz Vortex

  The Albatroz Vortex from Stella Tecnologia is a development of the company's Albatroz UAV.  The key differentiator is that the Vortex is fitted with an ATJR ...

• Trainer, Transport

  EMB-121 Xingu

  The EMB-121 Xingu is a twin-turboprop light transport and advanced multi-engine trainer aircraft developed by Embraer based on the EMB-110 Bandeirante. Its maiden flight was ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  H225M

  The medium-weight, 11t-class H225M (formerly known as the EC725) is the latest military Super Puma/Cougar family member.  Technical features include a modular design of mechanical ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  KC-390/C-390 Millennium

  The KC-390 is a high-wing, twin-turbofan, T-tail design intended to meet the needs of the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) for a tanker/transport aircraft. Developed and ...

• Land: battle management systems

  Arkhe Mission & Combat

  Launched in 2017, Atech's Arkhe Mission & Combat solutions offer a variety of solutions enabling operator to conduct missions from planning to execution and debriefing. It ...

• Fighter - air superiority

  F-5E/F Tiger II

  The F-5E (single-seat)/F (twin-seat) Tiger II is an air superiority fighter developed by Northrop Grumman based on the original F-5 Freedom Fighter. Production of the ...

• EO/IR systems, Land: unattended sensor/surveillance systems, Sea: ship surveillance and fire control systems

  SHAPO

  SHAPO is a multi-sensor, gyro-stabilised observation payload. It is intended for UAVs, helicopters, light aircraft, patrol boats, aerostats, airships, armoured vehicles and masts. Sensors include a ...

• Land: air defence radar

  Saber M60

  The Saber M60 is a low-altitude air-defence radar developed by the Brazilian Army's CTEx (Army Technology Centre) in collaboration with Bradar, part of Embraer Defence ...

• EO/IR systems

  Skyward

  The SkyWard system is an advanced Infrared Search and Track (IRST) solution developed for next-generation airborne platforms, including 5th-generation fighter aircraft.  Designed with modularity in ...