• Defence Helicopter

  Kuwait probes alleged graft in French helicopter deal

  21st December 2017

  Kuwait has ordered an investigation into a $1.1 billion deal to buy 30 military helicopters from France, a minister said on Wednesday, after reports of …

• Defence Notes

  Analysis: China’s AI revolution threatens US

  12th December 2017

  A new report from the Washington-based Center for a New American Security raised the alert level of the US defence community over China’s rise as …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Heron 1 completes one year in Mali

  12th December 2017

  The Heron 1 UAS has completed one year of flight operations for the German Bundeswehr in Mali. The UAS, which is stationed at the Gao …

• Training

  I/ITSEC 2017: New Commander for USAF AETC

  26th November 2017

  At a ceremony at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas, Lt Gen Steven Kwast took over the command of USAF’s Air Education and Training Command (AETC) …

• Training

  Elbit, Babcock partner for ASDOT

  12th December 2017

  Babcock International and Elbit Systems have entered into a partnership to pursue the UK Ministry of Defence’s (MoD) next generation ‘aggressor air’ capability under the …

• Training

  French Navy receives new simulators

  27th November 2017

  Naval Group has delivered Simdav visual defence simulators to the French Navy in Brest, the company announced on 22 November. Brest is the second base …

• Land Warfare

  Patriots came at too high of a price for Poland

  13th December 2017

  The cost of the first phase of the Wisla medium range air and missile defence programme seemingly came as a bitter surprise to government officials …

• Military Logistics

  Dry dock reopens at Portsmouth

  20th December 2017

  The arrival of a new caisson at the Royal Navy’s Portsmouth Naval Base has enabled the reopening of a former dry dock for the first …

• Defence Helicopter

  Russia receives five Ansat-U helicopters

  23rd November 2017

  Five new Ansat-U training helicopters have been delivered to Russian aerospace forces at the Zhukovsky - Gagarin Air Force Academy in the Saratov region, the …

• Military Logistics

  HMS Montrose returns to front-line service

  29th November 2017

  Royal Navy Type 23 frigate, HMS Montrose, has returned to front-line service at HM Naval Base (HNB) Devonport, Plymouth, after undergoing upgrades, it was announced …

• Training

  I/ITSEC 2017: Rockwell brings displays to F-16 training

  27th November 2017

  Rockwell Collins has been selected by Lockheed Martin to provide display systems to two undisclosed international F-16 training programme customers. The F-16 solution will include …

• Naval Warfare

  Analysis: Will China establish an ADIZ in South China Sea?

  24th November 2017

  A Chinese air defence identification zone (ADIZ) in the South China Sea would be arduous, but not an impossible task to enforce, according to a RAND …

• Naval Warfare

  Little let-up in South China Sea facility construction

  15th December 2017

  While tensions in the South China Sea were at a reduced level throughout 2017, China has not been sitting idle on its military outposts.  In …

• Training

  I/ITSEC 2017: MetaVR expands its terrain

  26th November 2017

  MetaVR is set to showcase new features in its terrain and visualisation simulation technology at I/ITSEC 2017 in Oralndo.  The company will demonstrate Its Virtual Reality …

• Digital Battlespace

  GA-EMS receives ARGOS contract

  13th December 2017

  General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) has received a contract from Advanced Technology International for the Army Resilient Global on-the-move SATCOM (ARGOS), the company announced on …

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 ...