• Defence Notes

  Bulgaria places faith in Programme 2032

  24th February 2021

  The draft of Programme 2032 was submitted to the National Assembly for approval this month. It foresees that 20% of the defence spending will be allocated to the acquisition of new equipment.

• Naval Warfare

  In focus – composition, aims and future of UK carrier strike

  17th February 2021

  ​Deployment of the UK’s Carrier Strike Group (CSG) to the Indo-Pacific in a few months is intended to be its defining military operation of the year, during which its armed forces are likely to face cuts amid a significant downturn in spending.

• Air Warfare

  Ukraine aims high with aviation modernisation plan

  22nd December 2020

  Ukraine's Soviet-era combat aircraft fleet is overdue for modernisation, as Kiev seeks to spend big on buying from Western suppliers.

• Air Warfare

  New systems add functionality to the F-35

  13th January 2021

  AN/ASQ-239 and AN/ASQ-242 systems will be installed on the multi-role F-35 fighter.

• Air Warfare

  Israel to aim Spice 250 at Lebanese and Syrian targets

  29th January 2021

  Standoff glide bomb is being rolled out by Israeli Air Force to complement Spice 1000 and Spice 2000.

• Naval Warfare

  Taiwan showcases indigenous M109 assault boat

  1st February 2021

  Special forces of Taiwan's marines have received a new assault boat that will greatly expand the unit's mission envelope.

• Defence Notes

  IAI optimistic over third IAF F-35 squadron buy

  8th January 2021

  The prospect of Israel buying more F-35 aircraft could lead to business growth for IAI – but political uncertainty could scupper this and other plans.

• Air Warfare

  Lockheed supports Italian and Norwegian F-35s

  8th January 2021

  Work will be performed at Eglin Air Force Base for completion by December 2022.

• Military Logistics

  Lockheed Martin and industry partners support F-35s worldwide

  7th January 2021

  Short-term deal covers support for F-35 global fleet until end of June 2021, while negotiations continue on a long-term arrangement.

• Naval Warfare

  Australia to arm warships with ‘sharper’ weapons

  26th January 2021

  Australia will add much more capable missiles to its warships, in response to the growing threat posed by more belligerent state actors such as China and, to a lesser extent, North Korea.

• Air Warfare

  Boeing receives new support contract for Saudi F-15 conversion programme

  5th January 2021

  Work is scheduled for completion by December 2022.

• Air Warfare

  Boeing receives FMS modification for Kuwaiti Super Hornets

  6th January 2021

  ​Latest contract covers integrated logistics support for fleet of single-seat and twin-seat aircraft.

• Naval Warfare

  US and UK set final seal on Carrier Strike Group deployment

  20th January 2021

  UK aircraft carrier Queen Elizabeth to embark with USMC aircraft on board.

• Air Warfare

  F-35s for Australia reach IOC milestone

  4th January 2021

  Almost half of the 72 aircraft on order have been delivered.

• Land Warfare

  Test on Sabre showcases MMP fire and forget capability

  6th January 2021

  MBDA missile achieved direct hit on target without operator intervention.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Fighter - multirole

  F-16V Taiwan

  On 28 April 2020, US DoD announced that General Electric has been awarded $707 million contract for four undefinitized contract actions under an existing F110-GE-129 ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Multirole Fighter (Morocco)

  Programme Background In March 2019, the US State Department announced that it has approved a possible FMS of 25 F-16V Block 72 aircraft to Morocco ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-16V (Jordan)

  Programme Background On 3 February 2022, the US State Department announced that it has approved a potential sale of 12 F-16 C Block 70 aircraft,  four ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  Next-Generation Trainer Aircraft - UAE

  The UAE has a requirement for a next-generation fighter aircraft and possible platforms include F-35, F-16V, F/A-18, Rafale and Su-35. The UAE has historically sought ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | Multirole Fighter (Austria)

  Austria is looking for 18 multirole fighter aircraft (15 single-seat, three twin-seat) to replace its Typhoon Tranche 1 Block 5 fleet in service. There is ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  Air: Helmet-mounted displays | Multirole Fighter (Austria)

  Austria is looking for 18 multirole fighter aircraft (15 single-seat, three twin-seat) to replace its Typhoon Tranche 1 Block 5 fleet in service. There is ...

• Data links

  Data links | Multirole Fighter (Austria)

  Austria is looking for 18 multirole fighter aircraft (15 single-seat, three twin-seat) to replace its Typhoon Tranche 1 Block 5 fleet in service. There is ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | Multirole Fighter (Austria)

  Austria is looking for 18 multirole fighter aircraft (15 single-seat, three twin-seat) to replace its Typhoon Tranche 1 Block 5 fleet in service. There is ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | Multirole Fighter (Austria)

  Austria is looking for 18 multirole fighter aircraft (15 single-seat, three twin-seat) to replace its Typhoon Tranche 1 Block 5 fleet in service. There is ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Kfir Replacement (Colombia)

  Programme Background In May 2021, budget constraints prompted new Colombian finance minister José Manuel Restrepo (in post since 3 May) to place on indefinite hold ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-16V Procurement [Slovakia]

  Programme Background Earlier in April 2018, the US State Department announced that it has approved a possible FMS deal of 14 F-16V aircraft for an ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Rafale (Greece)

  Programme Background Greece is mounting a procurement surge amid renewed tension with Turkey in the Eastern Mediterranean. In announcing the Rafale deal, Greek Prime Minister ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-16V (9-16) [Bulgaria]

  Programme Background In April 2022, the US State Department approved a potential FMS worth $1.673 million to procure eight F-16Vs to Bulgaria. The aircraft are ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Rafale (Tranche I - III) [Indonesia]

  Programme Background First Tranche On 29 October 2019, the Indonesian Air Force (TNI-AU) announced plans to procure two squadrons of F-16V Block 72s through its 2020-24 ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Next Generation Fighter Aircraft (Vietnam)

  Programme Background Requirement The Vietnam People's Air Force (VPAF) operates an ageing fleet of Su-22 aircraft as well as Su-27s and Su-30s. According to expert commentary, ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Fighter - multirole

  F-16V Block 70/72

  The F-16 Block 70/72, also referred to as the F-16V, is a fourth-generation multirole fighter aircraft. It is the latest version of Lockheed Martin's F-16 ...

• Fixed wing aircraft engines

  F110-GE-129

  The F110-GE-129, manufactured by GE Aviation, is a derivative of the F110-GE-100 engine. It powers the F-16V Block 70, the F-16C/D Block 50 and Japan's ...

• Air: Displays

  F-16 Center Pedestal Display

  Produced by Elbit Systems of America, the F-16 Center Pedestal Display (CPD) provides a high-resolution colour display that replaces several legacy instruments on F-16 aircraft. 

• Data links

  AN/APX-126

  The AN/APX-126 is a combined IFF interrogator and transponder developed by BAE Systems. Designed specifically for F-16 aircraft, it is in service with the US ...

• Marine engines

  MTU 595 series

  The MTU 595 series, manufactured by Rolls-Royce UK, consists of 12V and 16V versions of engines. The engines have a rated speed between 1500 to ...

• Air: Integrated Defensive Systems

  AN/ALQ-213(V) DAC

  Terma’s AN/ALQ-213(V) electronic warfare management unit is used extensively on General Dynamics/Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon series combat aircraft around the world. The AN/ALQ-213(V) is ...

• Fighter - multirole

  KF-16

  The KF-16 is a third-generation multirole fighter aircraft domestically produced by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) based on the F-16C/D Block 52 to meet the local ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  JHMCS II

  The Joint Helmet-Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS) is a joint USAF/USN programme that has fielded over 5,000 systems. The JHMCS is qualified on F-15, F-16 and ...

• Marine engines

  16V 1163 TB 93

  The 16V 1163 TB 93 is manufactured by Rolls-Royce UK and is a part of the 16V 1163 family of engines. The engine measures 4668mm ...

• Marine engines

  MTU 16V 2000 M94

  Manufactured by Rolls-Royce subsidiary MTU, the MTU 16V 2000 M94 delivers power up to 1939 kw at a maximum speed of 2450 rpm. The engine ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-16C/D Block 25, 30/32, 40/42

  The F-16C/D ('C' one-seat, 'D' two-seat designation) is the second generation of the F-16 Fighting Falcon family. The production of the F-16C/D began in 1983 with ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-16C/D Block 50/52/52+

  A member of the F-16 Fighting Falcon family, the F-16C/D Block 50/52 ('C' single-seat, 'D' dual-seat) is a third-generation multirole fighter that was rolled out ...

• Marine engines

  MTU 4000

  The MTU Series 4000 is manufactured by Rolls-Royce UK. The engine consists of a 90° V cylinder configuration and has a displacement/cylinder capacity of 4.77 ...

• 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 ...

• Marine engines

  MTU 8000

  The MTU Series 8000 engines are available in versions including the 16V 8000 and the 20V 8000. The engine is manufactured by Rolls-Royce UK. The ...