• Defence Notes

  Moscow beefs up its strategic bomber force

  23rd April 2019

  The Russian Air and Space Force’s (RuASF’s) Long-Range Aviation arm upped its numerical strength by taking two freshly-overhauled and upgraded Tu-95MS Bear-H turboprop-powered subsonic bombers …

• Defence Helicopter

  Sea-Air-Space 2019: New US presidential helicopter nears production

  7th May 2019

  The USMC’s VH-92A presidential helicopter replacement could soon receive the go-ahead to enter production, according to a key official. USMC Brig Gen Greg Masiello, the navy’s …

• Digital Battlespace

  Harris to support USAF EW systems

  11th April 2019

  Harris Corporation has been selected by the US Air Force to continue supporting its ground-based EW systems and infrastructure, the company announced on 8 April. …

• Digital Battlespace

  Thales technology for Jamaican coastal surveillance

  11th April 2019

  Thales has been selected by the Jamaican Defense Force to provide a coastal surveillance system based around its Coast Watcher 100 radar, the company announced …

• Digital Battlespace

  Harris’ MDU for GPS IIIF satellites

  15th April 2019

  Harris Corporation has been selected by Lockheed Martin to provide its fully digital navigation signals for the US Air Force’s (USAF's) first two GPS III …

• Defence Helicopter

  Boeing pushes forward with Defiant

  20th May 2019

  Boeing plans to operate the push propulsor on its Defiant SB>1 coaxial helicopter this year after completing the first flight into hover in Q1 2019. …

• Naval Warfare

  Rugged Computers for Maritime and Minotaur Mission Success (sponsored)

  7th May 2019

  Systel will showcase its next-generation rugged computing solutions at the Sea-Air-Space conference booth #2147 in National Harbor, MD May 6-8, 2019. Systel’s rugged, high-density computing …

• Military Logistics

  Jacobs to renovate AFMC headquarters

  9th April 2019

  Jacobs has received an IDIQ contract for architect and engineering services to renovate the US Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC) headquarters buildings at Wright-Patterson Air …

• Digital Battlespace

  EW Europe 2019: SPREOS IR countermeasure production configuration showcased

  7th May 2019

  Bird Aerosystems will present its Self Protection Radar Electro-Optic System (SPREOS) Compact Directional IR Counter Measure (DIRCM) at EW Europe 2019, Stockholm. SPREOS will be showcased …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Sea-Air-Space 2019: High Eye scales up unmanned operations

  9th May 2019

  High Eye, manufacturer of the small UAS two blade helicopter system HEF32, is preparing to significantly expand its operations by way of relocating to premises …

• Training

  Upgrades to US Army's CDTF complete

  16th April 2019

  A range of improvements to the US Army’s Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) School, Chemical Defense Training Facility (CDTF) at Fort Leonard Wood Army …

• Naval Warfare

  IMDEX 2019: C-Flex Patrol mission system for MATV

  15th May 2019

  In April 2019, Terma confirmed an update to the C-Flex mission system on MV Sycamore to the newest member of the C-Series family, C-Flex Patrol, …

• Digital Battlespace

  Datron adds services to current FMS contract

  14th May 2019

  Datron World Communications has announced the addition of training, support and other critical services to its existing $495 million foreign military sales (FMS) IDIQ contract …

• Naval Warfare

  First Philippine frigate launched

  28th May 2019

  The Philippine Navy’s (PN) most modern warship, the future BRP Jose Rizal, was launched in Ulsan by Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) before a high-ranking PN …

• Defence Notes

  Risks rise as US warns Iran with aircraft carrier

  7th May 2019

  Fears of conflict rose on 6 May as the US vowed to send a message to Iran by deploying an aircraft carrier strike group, amid …

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 ...