• Digital Battlespace

  RAF trials BriteCloud decoy from Typhoons

  27th May 2019

  Leonardo has been contracted by the UK Ministry of Defence to support trials of the BriteCloud 55 expendable active decoy (EAD) on the Royal Air …

• Defence Helicopter

  Sea-Air-Space 2019: USN faces balancing act over Sea Hawk's life

  7th May 2019

  The US Navy (USN) is currently assessing the benefits of formally introducing a service life extension programme (SLEP) for its fleet of MH-60R/S Sea Hawks, …

• Defence Notes

  Japan finds parts of crashed F-35 fighter jet

  7th May 2019

  Japan said on 7 May that it had recovered some debris from a stealth fighter jet that crashed in April, but was still looking for …

• Military Logistics

  Northrop Grumman to support RAAF SPA fleet

  3rd May 2019

  Northrop Grumman has been awarded a contact by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) to continue providing through-life support to the special purpose aircraft (SPA) …

• Naval Warfare

  Sea-Air-Space 2019: Chinese naval threat on the rise

  8th May 2019

  The US Navy is continuing to address the increased growth of China’s naval capabilities, with the country considered to pose the leading threat to American …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  AUVSI 2019: Less talk, more action from drone task force (video)

  2nd May 2019

  As AUVSI's 2019 edition of Xponential draws to a close, the Shephard Media team comprising of Richard Thomas, Editor-in-Chief, Helen Haxell, Air Editor and Senior …

• Land Warfare

  German Army trains with Spike

  5th June 2019

  The German Army has wrapped its annual firing training of the Rafael Spike LR anti-tank guided missile as of 3 June. Carried out in Germany …

• Defence Helicopter

  Insight: ITEP thaw heats US Army engines

  4th June 2019

  Complications and delays to the US Army’s Improved Turbine Engine Programme (ITEP) are over for the time being; rare relief for a service that was, …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Dutch army receives two THeMIS UGVs

  31st May 2019

  Milrem Robotics has delivered two THeMIS UGVs to the Robot and Autonomous Systems (RAS) Unit of the 13th Light Brigade of the Royal Netherlands Army, …

• Digital Battlespace

  FDF to extend camera surveillance system

  29th May 2019

  The Finnish Ministry of Defence (MoD) has opted to extend the Finnish Defence Forces’ (FDF's) centralised camera surveillance system, the MoD announced on 24 May. …

• Land Warfare

  Rostec technology increases service life of firearms

  31st May 2019

  Rostec’s TSNIITOCHMASH has developed a new technology that increases the service life of automatic firearms and increases their reliability. The new technology has been tested …

• Naval Warfare

  USMC to get Naval Strike Missile

  10th May 2019

  Raytheon will integrate the Naval Strike Missile (NSM) into the US Marine Corps' existing force structure, the company announced on 7 May. The work will …

• Defence Helicopter

  Optionally piloted Black Hawk begins flight tests

  7th June 2019

  Sikorsky has begun flight testing a UH-60 Black Hawk equipped with a new retrofit kit designed to turn the helicopter into an optionally piloted vehicle …

• Military Logistics

  Rheinmetall, FRAEN to establish JV in US

  30th May 2019

  Rheinmetall has partnered with FRAEN to establish a joint venture (JV) in the US, the company announced on 27 May. The JV called Rheinmetall Fraen …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  GA-ASI integrates L3 Wescam’s MX-20 onto multiple platforms

  31st May 2019

  L3 Wescam and General Atomics Aeronautical Systems are integrating Wescam’s MX-20 electro-optical and infrared (EO/IR) imaging system into the SkyGuardian RPAS, as well as the …

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 ...