• Defence Notes

  Taiwan: Are Chinese invasion plans viable?

  3rd October 2017

  What would it take for China to invade Taiwan in terms of materiel, logistics, firepower and men? Finally, one new study extracts Chinese-language government papers, …

• Military Logistics

  Indian C-130J fleet almost complete

  1st September 2017

  The Indian Air Force (IAF) received four more C-130J-30 Hercules last month, as Lockheed Martin fulfils a contract for 12 of the transport aircraft. The …

• Defence Helicopter

  ACS expands to meet growing demand

  3rd October 2017

  Advanced Composite Structures (ACS) has expanded its facility in Sanford, Florida, to accommodate growth in its helicopter blade repair work for military and European operators. …

• Digital Battlespace

  General Dynamics secures CAC2S contract

  4th September 2017

  General Dynamics Mission Systems has won a full-rate production contract from the US Marine Corps (USMC) for the Common Aviation Command and Control System (CAC2S) …

• Defence Notes

  PLAAF restructures its Airborne Corps

  6th September 2017

  Greater clarity has begun to emerge about the radical restructuring of China’s airborne force – what was once referred to as the 15th Airborne Corps …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  DSEI 2017: BAE's Ironclad shows its strength

  11th September 2017

  BAE Systems will showcase its new Ironclad UGV at DSEI 2017, a UGV designed to provide ground support capability to the armed forces. The company …

• Naval Warfare

  RAN commissions HMAS Hobart

  26th September 2017

  The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) has commissioned its first Air Warfare Destroyer (AWD), HMAS Hobart, the Australian Department of Defence announced on 23 September. HMAS …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  ECA’s AUVs for Asian navy

  13th September 2017

  ECA Group has delivered unmanned mine disposal systems to the navy of an unnamed Asian country, the company announced on 8 September.The naval force is …

• Special Operations

  North Korean SOF show of force fails to impress

  2nd September 2017

  The latest public ‘show of force’ from the Korean People’s Army (KPA) SOF has provided a further glimpse into their capabilities as tensions continue to …

• Naval Warfare

  US Navy at full stretch

  20th September 2017

  US Navy readiness has once again come under scrutiny and action is needed to address challenges including persistent maintenance and training, according to a report. …

• Defence Helicopter

  AUSA 2017: Lakota readies for training takeover

  11th October 2017

  As another UH-72A Lakota is delivered to the US Army, the platform is now entering the final stages of fully replacing the TH-67 Creek as the service's principal …

• Land Warfare

  Brazilian Army receives first 30mm Guarani

  9th August 2017

  The Brazilian Army has received its first VBTP-MR Guarani 6x6 amphibious armoured vehicle equipped with a 30mm remote-controlled weapon station (RCWS). On 14 July, the Brazilian …

• Defence Helicopter

  Patria to support Norwegian Bell 412s

  29th September 2017

  Patria Helicopters has signed a contract with the Norwegian Defense Logistics Organisation (NDLO) for the maintenance of the Norwegian armed forces’ Bell 412 helicopters, the …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Aerosonde SUAS achieves milestone with Volz Servos

  25th September 2017

  Textron Systems’ Aerosonde Mk4.7 small UAS has achieved over 200,000 flight hours using Volz Servos’ DA 15-N actuators, it was announced on 20 September. Textron …

• Digital Battlespace

  Saab receives Giraffe 1X order

  25th September 2017

  Saab has been contracted to deliver the Giraffe 1X surface radar system to an undisclosed customer, the company announced on 20 September. Giraffe 1X is …

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 ...

• 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 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 ...

• 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 ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  A-29 Philippines

  Programme Background The aircraft will be deployed for close air support (CAS), light attack, surveillance, air-to-air interception and counterinsurgency (COIN) missions. On three previous occasions ...

• APCs/IFVs - 4x4

  JLTV (Brazil - 1st Batch)

  Programme Background Under its PROADSUMUS programme, the Brazilian Marine Corps is procuring new equipment to support its deployment in expeditionary operations. One of the new ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  VBTP-MR Guarani

  Programme Background Part of the Brazilian Army's New Armoured Wheeled Vehicle Family (NFBR), the VBTP-MR platform is to be manufactured in several versions including standard ...

• UAS: communication systems

  UAS: communication systems | QX-2 (Forecast) [Brazilian Marine Corps]

  In August 2023, EDGE Group announced that it hosted a four-day Brazilian Marine Corps delegation. The tour was focused on, among other things, autonomous systems and ...

• UAS: flight control systems

  UAS: flight control systems | QX-2 (Forecast) [Brazilian Marine Corps]

  In August 2023, EDGE Group announced that it hosted a four-day Brazilian Marine Corps delegation. The tour was focused on, among other things, autonomous systems and ...

• Submarines: conventional, attack

  Submarines Procurement Programme [Romania]

  Programme Background Requirements Since 2014, Romania has seen a significant increase in its defence budget, which has allowed for more room to procure modern platforms. One ...

• Frigates

  Tamandaré Class Programme (1-4) [Brazil]

  Programme Background Timeline The Brazilian defence ministry is in the process of procuring four multi-role corvettes based on the German MEKO A100 design for the ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• Air: AEW/fire control radar

  Grifo-346

  The Grifo-346 is a combat aircraft X-band radar covering +/-60° in azimuth and elevation and a weight under one kilogram. It can track up to ...

• 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 - 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 ...

• 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 - multirole

  JAS 39E/F Gripen

  The Saab JAS 39E/F Gripen is a multirole fighter aircraft developed from earlier Gripen models and the Gripen NG. The latest version was selected by Brazil ...

• 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 ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  EMB-314 Super Tucano

  The EMB-314 (also designated A-29) Super Tucano turboprop aircraft includes single- and two-seat variants. The former is designed for light attack and COIN missions, while ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• Guided munitions

  SMKB

  The Smart-MK-Bomb, or the SMKB, is a precision guidance kit designed to turn Mk 82 and Mk 83 bombs into guided munitions.

• Simulator Support Services

  Elbit Systems provides simulator support services such as contractor logistics support, training, manuals and spare parts. The latest integrated data environment is employed for visibility ...