• Digital Battlespace

  DARPA HIVE programme continues

  13th November 2017

  The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has selected Northrop Grumman to collaborate on the development of a graph processor chip that aims to enhance …

• Military Logistics

  Kuwait requests C-17 support

  6th November 2017

  The US’s proposed sale to Kuwait for continuation of C-17 Globemaster III logistics support services and equipment will be playing a much wider role in …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Dubai Airshow 2017: Turkish delight at Karayel presence

  13th November 2017

  Turkish company Vestel Defence has ventured to display its Karayel-SU for the first time at an overseas exhibition, one of a number of international manufacturers …

• Digital Battlespace

  Saab to upgrade Norwegian air surveillance radars

  16th October 2017

  Saab has been contracted by the NATO Support and Procurement Agency to upgrade three SINDRE I air surveillance radars in Norway, the company announced on …

• Defence Helicopter

  FAA certifies optionally-piloted UH-1H

  6th November 2017

  The FAA has granted a Special Airworthiness Certificate to Aurora Flight Sciences’ optionally-piloted UH-1H helicopter, the company announced on 1 November. Aurora's UH-1H was initially …

• Digital Battlespace

  Laser communications the solution to SATCOM woes

  15th November 2017

  Laser communications technology is rapidly being developed as a means of enhancing the resilience of satellite communications and providing global, on-demand data to ever-more connected …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  MicroPilot’s autopilot integrates FLARM

  8th November 2017

  MicroPilot has successfully integrated FLARM’s sense and avoid system with its autopilot, providing its customers with an autonomous collision avoidance option for autonomous UAS operations, …

• Defence Helicopter

  Russia to receive new Mi-26s by 2025

  12th October 2017

  The Russian Air Force will receive updated Mi-26 helicopters by 2025 as part of the country's helicopter rearmament programme, the Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) …

• Digital Battlespace

  RAAF trials Honeywell’s JetWave satellite communications hardware

  16th October 2017

  The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) is in the process of testing Honeywell’s JetWave Ka-band satellite communications hardware and Inmarsat’s Global Xpress satellite network, the …

• Military Logistics

  European nations extend logistics support to MINUSMA

  6th November 2017

  Four European countries have agreed to extend their air transport services to the UN’s peacekeeping operation in Mali into 2020. Belgium, Denmark, Norway and Portugal …

• Defence Helicopter

  L3 contracted for Apache MUMT-X

  2nd November 2017

  L3 Technologies has received a production contract worth $97 million for the US Army's Manned/Unmanned Teaming-Expanded Capabilities (MUMT-X) programme for the Apache helicopter, the company …

• Military Logistics

  E-2D completes first aerial refuel

  3rd November 2017

  Northrop Grumman’s E-2D Advanced Hawkeye has completed its first aerial refuelling, the company announced on 31 October. The aircraft received its first in-flight fuel transfer …

• Defence Helicopter

  Dubai Airshow 2017: Russia’s Middle Eastern strides

  6th November 2017

  Russian-made helicopters are not a common sight in the majority of Middle Eastern countries but the situation is changing slowly with the latest sales and …

• Digital Battlespace

  Russian EMD troops exercise with Sopka-2 radar

  31st October 2017

  The Air Defence radar unit of the Russian armed forces’ Eastern Military District (EMD) has practised detection of air targets using the new Sopka-2 radar …

• Military Logistics

  Czech Air Force receives new airport radars

  11th October 2017

  ELDIS Pardubice has delivered the first of four new RPL-2000 radar sets to the Czech Air Force, the Czech Ministry of Defence announced on 6 …

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 ...