• Digital Battlespace

  Northrop to upgrade E-8C central computers

  8th October 2018

  Northrop Grumman has received a $17.5 million contract for a fifth generation upgrade to the central computers on 16 aircraft in the US Air Force's …

• Defence Helicopter

  Kongsberg opens helicopter MRO facility

  2nd November 2018

  Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace has opened a new helicopter maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility in Kongsberg, Norway, the company announced on 31 October. A …

• Military Logistics

  ORBCOMM, Savi to track, monitor DoD assets

  6th November 2018

  Savi and ORBCOMM have secured a multi-million dollar order to deliver telematics products and services that will track and monitor around 24,000 military assets for …

• Naval Warfare

  Work begins on NSSMS upgrade

  5th November 2018

  Work has begun on the refurbishment and modification of the NATO Seasparrow missile system (NSSMS) platform and MK 132 guided missile launching system at US …

• Training

  BAE Systems to begin final RAAF Hawk upgrade

  30th October 2018

  BAE Systems Australia has inducted the Royal Australian Air Force’s (RAAF's) final Hawk Mk127 aircraft into its Williamtown maintenance facility ahead of upgrade work, the …

• Defence Notes

  NATO flexes muscles in show of strength to Russia

  9th October 2018

  NATO's largest exercise since the end of the Cold War will see 50,000 troops deploy into the first snows of a Norwegian winter to show …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Alpha Unmanned Systems to demo Alpha 800

  29th October 2018

  Alpha Unmanned Systems will present its gasoline-powered VTOL UAS, the Alpha 800, at NATO’s Exercise Trident Juncture in Trondheim, Norway. Trident Juncture 2018 is a …

• Digital Battlespace

  Leonardo steps up Miysis DIRCM testing, eyes more exports

  15th October 2018

  Leonardo’s Miysis directional infrared countermeasures (DIRCM) system has undergone testing by the UK Ministry of Defence in collaboration with Thales UK, demonstrating that a capability …

• Military Logistics

  Trident Juncture tests NATO’s logistics model

  30th October 2018

  NATO’s Trident Juncture 18 in Norway marks the first use of the alliance’s Joint Logistics Support Group (JLSG) in a live exercise, bringing a range …

• Training

  Airbus operational as MFTS aircraft service provider

  5th October 2018

  Airbus Helicopters has completed its service provision build-up for the UK’s Military Flying Training System (MFTS), the company announced on 2 October. Airbus Helicopters is …

• Defence Helicopter

  Indo Defence 2018: Delivering the goods (Insight)

  31st October 2018

  Six years after placing an order for eight Boeing AH-64E Apaches in September 2012, the Indonesian Army received its final aircraft this year. The first …

• Training

  CAE USA receives C-130H ATS contract

  1st October 2018

  CAE USA has received a US Air Force contract to provide comprehensive C-130H aircrew training services (ATS), CAE announced on 26 September. The eight-year, $200 …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Indo Defence 2018: Turkey looks east for first Anka export

  9th November 2018

  Turkish Aerospace made a statement at this year’s Indo Defence with a full scale model of its Anka UAV on display. The company is pursuing …

• Defence Helicopter

  Insight: On safari for a Puma or on the hunt for a Rooivalk?

  26th October 2018

  Defence spending in South Africa has increased by 14% in the last couple of years. Will this growth stabilisation be reflected in the upgrading of …

• Digital Battlespace

  Russian CMD receives Nebo-U radar

  25th October 2018

  The Russian military's Central Military District (CMD) air defence division in the Samara region has received a new Nebo-U three-dimensional radar station, the Russian Ministry …

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 ...