• Defence Notes

  Podcast: The air power exercise over the Arctic and the future of the military satellite business

  31st May 2019

  Welcome to Episode 19 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.

• Digital Battlespace

  Telephonics to support Saudi AWACS programme

  8th May 2019

  Telephonics has received a $12.6 million contract from the US Air Force to support the Royal Saudi Air Force’s E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Control …

• Defence Helicopter

  Raytheon to produce more AMNS

  5th June 2019

  The US Department of Defense has elected to exercise an option under a previously awarded contract with Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems for the Airborne Mine …

• Military Logistics

  Keel laid for future USNS John Lewis

  16th May 2019

  General Dynamics-National Steel and Shipbuilding has laid the keel for the US Navy's first John Lewis-class fleet replenishment oiler, the future USNS John Lewis, NAVSEA …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Boeing invests in Robotic Skies

  6th June 2019

  Boeing has invested in Robotic Skies, a services provider that connects manufacturers and operators of commercial UAS with a global network of more than 170 …

• Military Logistics

  USMC seek squad water purification

  12th June 2019

  The USMC is conducting market research directed toward moving capabilities for water purification to the squad level. Service interest in a Squad Water Purification System (SWPS) was …

• Naval Warfare

  Ford-class integrated combat system tested

  6th June 2019

  The integrated combat system for the USS Gerald R Ford has undergone final developmental testing off the coast of California.Carried out by Raytheon and the …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  US allocates ScanEagles for Southeast Asian nations

  4th June 2019

  The US, via its FMS scheme, is supplying a total of 34 Insitu ScanEagle systems to four partner countries in Southeast Asia. In an announcement …

• Naval Warfare

  NZ navy’s hydrographic vessel arrives home

  17th May 2019

  The Royal New Zealand Navy’s (RNZN) new hydrographic and diving support vessel, HMNZS Manawanui, arrived in Wellington on 13 May after its 11,570nm delivery voyage …

• Defence Helicopter

  Karem set to embark on new JMR-TD test phase

  6th June 2019

  Manufacturer Karem Aircraft is preparing to carry out ‘record tests’ later this year to verify a host of development-based items associated with the US Army’s …

• Special Operations

  SOF looks to Gesture Control Technology

  13th June 2019

  US special operations forces could soon benefit from Gesture Control Technology (GCT), allowing personnel to interact with connected platforms, devices and sensors with simple hand …

• Digital Battlespace

  Saudi Arabia requests tactical air surveillance system

  28th May 2019

  The US State Department has made a determination approving a potential foreign military sale of continued tactical air surveillance system aircraft support to Saudi Arabia, …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Leonardo to supply PicoSAR for Canada’s Skeldar

  3rd June 2019

  Leonardo has signed a multi-million euro contract with QinetiQ to provide a number of PicoSAR active electronically scanned array radars, the company announced on 29 …

• Special Operations

  SOFIC 2019: NSW receives first new combat submersible

  22nd May 2019

  US Naval Special Warfare (NSW) elements in Hawaii have received the first Mk11 Shallow Water Combat Submersible (SWCS). Manufactured by Teledyne Brown Engineering, the SWCS …

• Training

  ITEC 2019: Valiant wins USMC training support contract

  12th May 2019

  Valiant Global Defense Services, part of Valiant Integrated Services, has been awarded a $15.9 million firm-fixed-price contract to provide support services for the US Marine …

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 ...