• Defence Helicopter

  High hopes for Hughes BLOS technology

  27th June 2019

  Based on a unique through-the-rotor waveform that enables full motion video transmission, Hughes has recently demonstrated BLoS technology on-board Spanish NH90 TTH aircraft, with a collection of …

• Defence Notes

  Podcast: Paris Air Show special - mocked up fighters, flying in the Embraer KC-390 and the future of air combat training

  21st June 2019

  Welcome to Episode 22 of The Weekly Defence Podcast. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify and more. Sign up to an early email alert of future podcasts here.

• Military Logistics

  Airbus expands SmartForce to military customers

  24th June 2019

  Airbus has launched new digital support services under its SmartForce product range for military customers.The new additions are designed to enable customers to select the …

• Military Logistics

  Saudi Arabia requests aircraft support services

  30th May 2019

  The US State Department has made a determination approving a potential foreign military sale of aircraft follow-on support and services to Saudi Arabia, the Defense …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Thales introduces Spy Ranger 550

  24th June 2019

  Thales has expanded its mini UAS range with the introduction of the Spy Ranger 550. Designed to boost the intelligence gathering capabilities of units deployed …

• Naval Warfare

  Paris Air Show: Carry on Poseidon (video insight)

  20th June 2019

  Following AAR's recent overhaul completion of the US Navy's first P-8A Poseidon MPA, company officials are to push on with the seven-year ID/IQ contract and …

• Defence Notes

  Raytheon's missile business continues to boom (Studio)

  19th June 2019

  This video is brought to you in partnership with Raytheon. Beth Maundrill, Deputy Editor, Shephard Media, speaks to Wes Kramer, recently-appointed president of Raytheon Missile Systems, about …

• 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

  Lockheed Martin enhances C2BMC system

  24th June 2019

  Lockheed Martin has modernised the command, control, battle management and communications (C2BMC) system, enhancing the US Missile Defense Agency's Ballistic Missile Defense System. C2BMC enables …

• Defence Notes

  Paris Air Show: Future fighter hard sell undermined by soft detail

  18th June 2019

  Two fighter jet mock-ups unveiled in a matter of minutes at Le Bourget, emboldened by the presence of political figures including French President Emmanuel Macron, left many …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Thai navy fields new small UAV

  2nd July 2019

  Thailand’s Naval Research and Development Office (NRDO) has developed a small UAV called the Narai 3.0. So far, than 80 units have been produced for …

• Digital Battlespace

  Raytheon highlights cloud-based Cyber Academy (Studio)

  21st June 2019

  This video is brought to you in partnership with Raytheon. Beth Maundrill, Deputy Editor, Shephard Media, speaks to Ryan Bagby, Program Manager, Cyber Academies, at Raytheon, about …

• Defence Notes

  Paris Air Show: Fighting talk (video)

  19th June 2019

  Two days into the 53rd edition of Paris Air Show and the Shephard editorial team takes a look back at the fast-jet highlights, conceptual models …

• Naval Warfare

  Admiral Nakhimov upgrade faces additional delay

  4th July 2019

  The protracted deep upgrade of Russian Navy’s nuclear-powered guided missile heavy cruiser Admiral Nakhimov is set to incur another delay. The vessel is the third …

• Digital Battlespace

  Thailand to upgrade T-50TH trainers

  29th May 2019

  The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) is upgrading its T-50TH Golden Eagle trainer jet fleet. Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) won a contract to upgrade 12 …

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 ...