• Defence Notes

  SOFINS 2019: Certification continues for A400M special mission capabilities

  4th April 2019

  Airbus Defence and Space continues to certify a series of mission capabilities for the A400M tactical transport aircraft designed to further enhance the platform’s support …

• Digital Battlespace

  Leonardo DRS receives MFOCS II order

  8th April 2019

  Leonardo DRS has received its first production delivery order from the US Army for the Mounted Family of Computer Systems (MFoCS) II, the company announced …

• Training

  LIMA 2019: Malaysian Hawks soldier on but await upgrade decision

  28th March 2019

  Hawk trainer jets of the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) will continue to play an important role in the RMAF as they are expected to …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Ocean Business 2019: Teledyne shows off the SeaRaptor

  9th April 2019

  Teledyne Technologies was out in force at Ocean Business, displaying its range of sensors and unmanned vehicles, including the SeaRaptor autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV). With one …

• Defence Notes

  Russia beefing up its Su-25SM3 fleet

  4th April 2019

  The Russian MoD has released a tender with a selected supplier to upgrade Su-25 attack aircraft to the significantly enhanced Su-25SM3 standard for day/night operations, …

• Training

  ITEC 2019: A-ha moments for warfighter solutions

  1st May 2019

  Modelling and simulation research is determining that one major challenge, facing technological developments in this arena, is the relationship between human communication and interaction with …

• Digital Battlespace

  Raytheon developing ASARS-2B for U-2

  27th March 2019

  Raytheon is developing a new version of the Advanced Synthetic Aperture Radar System (ASARS) for the US Air Force’s U-2 Dragon Lady surveillance aircraft, the …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  UK invests in UAS swarm technology

  3rd April 2019

  The UK’s Defence and Security Accelerator has awarded a £2.5 million contract to a Blue Bear Systems Research-led consortium to develop UAS swarm technology. Acting …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Cubic to support MQ-25 programme

  24th April 2019

  Cubic Mission Solutions has been selected by Boeing to supply its wideband satellite communications modem system and line-of-sight common data link system for the MQ-25 …

• Digital Battlespace

  Hensoldt to deliver IFF interrogator to France

  18th April 2019

  Hensoldt has received a contract to deliver 134 MSR1000I identification-friend-or-foe (IFF) interrogators for very short range and short range air defence applications to the French …

• Naval Warfare

  USCG transfers third HC-130J to Kodiak

  22nd April 2019

  The US Coast Guard transferred an HC-130J Super Hercules long range surveillance aircraft to Air Station Kodiak, Alaska at the end of March 2019. The …

• Naval Warfare

  Indian Navy launches guided missile destroyer

  25th April 2019

  The Indian Navy launched the third ship of Project 15B, guided missile destroyer Imphal, at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders' facility in Mumbai on 20 April 2019. …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Insight: UAS – in the wrong hands

  22nd April 2019

  The growing supply of low-cost UAS has increased concerns around the potential threat of the systems in the hands of terrorists, with a range of …

• Naval Warfare

  IDEF 2019: Contracts close for Aselsan's new naval weapon system

  30th April 2019

  A contract could be just around the corner for a new short-range naval air defence system as Aselsan unveiled  its Close In Weapon System (CIWS) …

• Digital Battlespace

  IAI launches Opal system

  19th April 2019

  Israel Aerospace Industries has launched its new Opal system for establishing real time connectivity and data sharing between different platforms - including manned and unmanned …

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 ...