• Defence Notes

  Russia starts production of a new-generation strategic bomber

  17th January 2019

  The first production works on the Russian PAK-DA new-generation strategic bomber programme are set to be given a go-ahead this year. According to the Russian military …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  GA-ASI forms Team SkyGuardian Belgium

  17th January 2019

  General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) has teamed with five Belgium companies to form Team SkyGuardian Belgium, the company announced on 15 January. Shephard reported in …

• Military Logistics

  USAF introduces BRICE app

  9th January 2019

  The US Air Force has introduced an iOS modern mobile app called Battle Record Information Core Environment (BRICE) that will offer time and efficiency improvements …

• Digital Battlespace

  Northrop receives LAIRCM contract

  7th January 2019

  Northrop Grumman announced on 3 January that it has received a $3.6 billion IDIQ contract from the US Air Force for Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasure …

• Land Warfare

  Israel, US test ballistic missile interceptor

  22nd January 2019

  The Israeli and US defence ministries said Tuesday they had successfully tested ballistic missile interceptors deployed at Israeli airbases. The tests came a day after …

• Defence Helicopter

  Indonesia orders 17 new helicopters

  10th January 2019

  The Indonesian military has signed up for 17 new helicopters with PTDI, according to an announcement by the Indonesian aerospace company delivered on 9 January. …

• Naval Warfare

  Construction begins on DDG 120

  6th February 2019

  General Dynamics has begun construction of the US Navy’s future Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, USS Carl M Levin (DDG 120), at its Bath Iron Works …

• Military Logistics

  Tel-Instrument test sets for German military

  12th February 2019

  Tel-Instrument Electronics Corp has received an initial order totalling $520,000 from Muirhead Avionics to provide Mode 5 test sets for the German military, the company …

• Military Logistics

  Honeywell to support Kunsan AB modernisation

  8th January 2019

  Honeywell is to support a $28 million infrastructure modernisation project at US Air Force Kunsan Air Base (AB) in South Korea. As part of the …

• Digital Battlespace

  India requests LAIRCM SPS

  12th February 2019

  The US State Department has made a determination approving a potential foreign military sale of Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures (LAIRCM) Self-Protection Suites (SPS) to India, …

• Special Operations

  Malaysia centralizes Special Forces Command

  8th January 2019

  Special operations forces from across the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) will be organized under a centralized Special Forces Command, the Chief of the Defense Forces …

• Military Logistics

  RAF Marham goes green

  6th February 2019

  The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has officially opened a new biogas processing site in Swaffham, Norfolk, which will provide green energy to the Royal …

• Digital Battlespace

  Germany to let NATO use its cyber skills

  14th February 2019

  Germany is to join the ranks of NATO countries making its cyber warfare skills available to the alliance to help fight hacking and electronic warfare, …

• Digital Battlespace

  Spectra Group to demo SlingShot at AEWE

  22nd January 2019

  Spectra Group will demonstrate its SlingShot communication system at the US Army Expeditionary Warrior Experiments (AEWE) 2019 in Fort Benning, Georgia, the company announced on …

• Defence Helicopter

  GE told to freeze all EMD activity on ITEP contract (Updated)

  22nd February 2019

  The US Army has directed General Electric to indefinitely stop all work associated with its recently awarded $517 million EMD contract issued as part of …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Fighter - multirole

  JAS 39E/F Gripen (Brazil)

  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 development ...

• 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

  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 ...

• 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 ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Army Aviation Project [Brazil]

  Programme Background Brazilian Investment As reported by Shephard, in August 2023, the Brazilian government disclosed its plans to invest BRL 52.8 billion ($10.6 billion) in new military ...

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

  Hermes 900 [Brazil]

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

• Sealift/replenishment vessels

  Polar Support Vessel [Brazil]

  Programme Background Requirements In June 2020, the Brazilian Navy released a Request for Proposal (RfP) to procure a new Antarctic vessel to be manufactured in Brazil. The ...

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

  Hermes 900 [Undisclosed European Country]

  Background Various Contracts On 18 November 2024, Elbit Systems announced it had awarded various contacts with a combined $335 million to an undisclosed European country. ...

• Military helicopters - attack, Military helicopters - multirole

  Mi-35M Replacement [Brazil]

  Programme Background The Brazilian Air Force (FAB) High Command sprung a surprise on 10 February 2022 when it issued a document stating that its fleet ...

• Light attack

  M-346 FA [Brazil]

  Programme Background Requirement Brazil operates several A-1 (AMX) light attack aircraft, which were produced by Embraer in partnership with Leonardo in the 1980s. Similarly, the ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  VBC Cav-MSR [Brazil]

  Programme Background Purpose The Brazilian Army's mechanised cavalry regiments are believed to operate approximately 400 EE-9 Cascavel 6x6 fire support vehicles manufactured by the now-defunct ...

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 ...

• 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 ...

• Air-to-air missiles

  Python-4

  The Python-4 is fitted with an 11kg high-explosive warhead and IR homing system as well as a double-base solid propellant rocket. The missile can fly at ...

• 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 ...

• Military helicopters - scout/light attack

  H125M

  The H125M (formerly the AS550 B3e Fennec) is a military version of the civil H125. The helicopter has a reduced radar signature due to the use ...

• 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 ...

• Air: Electronic Attack - Jamming, Air: Electronic Attack - Pod

  Sky Shield

  The Sky Shield RF pod  jammer can perform simultaneous jamming against multiple, diverse threats and can equip both small and large platforms. Simultaneous jamming is ...

• 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 ...

• 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.

• 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 ...