• Defence Notes

  Raytheon makes out like a bandit in Taiwan

  3rd July 2017

  There was nothing new in the first arms package released by the Trump administration that Taiwan did not already have in its inventory, beyond some …

• Defence Helicopter

  Paris Air Show: Test pilot talks CH-53K (video)

  26th June 2017

  While the CH-53K was not present at this year's Paris Air Show, Shephard had the opportunity to speak with Lt Col Jonathan Morel, CH-53K government chief …

• Naval Warfare

  Saab to upgrade Swedish corvettes

  5th July 2017

  The Swedish Defence Material Administration has awarded Saab a contract worth $147.93 million to modify and upgrade the Swedish Marine’s Gävle class corvettes, the company announced …

• Military Logistics

  USMC receives final JPADS

  5th July 2017

  The Marine Corps Systems Command has delivered the last of 162 Joint Precision Airdrop Systems (JPADS) to the US Marine Corps (USMC). JPADS is used to deliver …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  ISDEF 2017: Controp expands portfolio

  10th June 2017

  Israel-based Controp has in recent months been showcasing the latest additions to its STAMP family of aircraft payloads at overseas shows, such as AUVSI’s Xponential …

• Land Warfare

  Portugal clears way for small arms refresh

  12th June 2017

  The Portuguese Ministry of National Defense has authorised the country’s army to acquire small arms and associated sights, equipment and services, through the NATO Support …

• Digital Battlespace

  Hensoldt to acquire Kelvin Hughes

  5th July 2017

  German sensor house Hensoldt is set to acquire UK radar company Kelvin Hughes from UK private equity firm ECI and management, Hensoldt announced on 30 June. …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  USAF orders Dronebuster

  6th June 2017

  Radio Hill Technologies (RHT) has received a $2.5 million contract to deliver 100 Block 3 Dronebuster counter-UAS detection and jamming systems to the US Air …

• Defence Helicopter

  Apache Helicopter fires high-energy laser

  29th June 2017

  A high-energy laser mounted on an Apache AH-64 attack helicopter acquired and hit an unmanned target during a recent firing test conducted at White Sands …

• Defence Helicopter

  MANPADS threat pushes AMPS development

  4th July 2017

  BIRD Aerosystems has further developed its Airborne Missile Protection System (AMPS) and Aeroshield Pod due to the increased proliferation of MANPADS, the company told Shephard at the Paris …

• Training

  EAATTC 17-3 begins in Zaragoza, Spain

  5th June 2017

  The third European Advanced Airlift Tactics Training Course for 2017 (EAATTC 17-3) has begun in Zaragoza, Spain, the European Defence Agency (EDA) announced on 30 …

• Naval Warfare

  RCAF examines C295W cockpit

  6th June 2017

  The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) has conducted a preliminary anthropometric examination of the Airbus C295W cockpit that has been selected for Canada's Fixed-Wing Search …

• Military Logistics

  Dry dock brings strategic succour to Indian Navy

  22nd June 2017

  A $71 million floating dock (FDNavy-2) built by Larsen and Toubro (L&T;) at its Kattupalli yard near Chennai will considerably improve dry dock slot constraints …

• Defence Helicopter

  Paris Air Show: Striker II from testbed to head

  28th June 2017

  BAE Systems showcased for the first time a new modified version of its Striker II Helmet Mounted Display (HMD) at Paris Air Show last week. …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Chinese Rainbow goes stratospheric

  15th June 2017

  China's first solar-powered Caihong (Rainbow) UAS successfully flew at an altitude of 20,000m on 13 June, an altitude that is well within the stratosphere, the country’s …

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 ...