• Naval Warfare

  Japan orders first upgraded Mogami-class frigates for the JMSDF

  26th May 2025

  The JMSDF has commissioned the seventh Mogami-class ship as Mitsubishi Heavy Industries advances upgraded frigates and supply vessels.

• Naval Warfare

  Canada commits to $15 billion River-class destroyers and infrastructure

  17th March 2025

  The new destroyer programme aims to build 15 new vessels over at least the next 25 years, the first of which should launch in the early 2030s.

• Land Warfare

  South Korean companies turning necessity into export opportunity

  14th November 2025

  South Korea’s particular geopolitical situation and threat environment has created a defence industry ecosystem of substantial size and breadth.

• Naval Warfare

  Royal New Zealand Navy outlines modernisation goals

  2nd September 2025

  The Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) has a crunch time coming up as it looks to refresh its fleet before 2040, and prepares to begin operating Sikorsky MH-60R helicopters, although it is at the back of a long ordering queue. A key part of any solution is looking at what neighbouring Australia is buying.

• Land Warfare

  Energy evolution: How laser defence systems are powering the next phase of air defence (podcast)

  9th December 2025

  Laser-based air defence is moving from promise to deployment as global threats evolve. In this special podcast, we explore how high-energy laser systems are reshaping interception strategies.

• Naval Warfare

  TKMS joins forces with Norwegian shipbuilder for Fridtjof Nansen frigate replacement bid

  28th March 2025

  Four shipbuilders have been downselected to build the frigate replacement programme, and TKMS hopes the new deal will give it a geographical advantage.

• Air Warfare

  US approves deal for $1.7 billion upgrade of Indian Navy MH-60R helicopters

  4th December 2024

  The equipment sale for the helicopters includes 30 Multifunctional Information Distribution System Joint Tactical Radio System Terminals (MIDS JTRS) for the Indian Navy.

• Naval Warfare

  Indian naval crew awaits delayed Russian-built frigates

  28th November 2024

  India has been re-evaluating its naval capabilities as its maritime objectives continue to expand beyond the Indian Ocean.

• Naval Warfare

  Keel laid for Royal Navy’s next-generation nuclear submarine

  25th March 2025

  HMS Dreadnought will be the first of the four Dreadnought class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs) scheduled to enter service in the early 2030s. Following its keel-laying ceremony last week, Shephard takes a deeper dive into the class which will eventually replace the Royal Navy's long-standing Vanguard class of boats.

• Air Warfare

  New UAVs: is the right capability being procured for the British Army?

  26th May 2025

  Following the retirement of Watchkeeper from the UK Armed Forces, what drone capabilities will be next sought as a replacement?

• Naval Warfare

  New Talwar-class frigate enters service with the Indian Navy

  13th December 2024

  The INS Tushil has been in production and testing for over a decade, with three more vessels following behind to complete the class.

• Air Warfare

  Swarm drones and CCAs take flight in India

  14th March 2025

  India reaches new milestones as it pushes it unmanned combat and surveillance strategy forward.

• Naval Warfare

  Israel Shipyards begins steel-cutting on new Reshef-class corvettes

  20th February 2025

  The new indigenously-built corvettes will replace Israel's Sa'ar 4.5 class which has been in service for four decades.

• Land Warfare

  IDEX 2025: NTGS ALAKRAN passes 300 sales with major Saudi Arabian order

  17th February 2025

  NTGS has integrated its ALAKRAN mortar carrier onto multiple platforms worldwide, with Saudi Arabia as its largest customer. The UK is exploring options for a 120mm system, while new ammunition developments enhance the platform’s effectiveness on the battlefield.

• Air Warfare

  Will the Eurofighter Typhoon’s fight for new markets prevail?

  25th August 2025

  Poland and Turkey are often cited as potential fresh export opportunities for the Eurofighter Typhoon. But are the sales prospects realistic and what factors could tip the balance?

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Main battle tanks

  T-90S Licensed Production

  The HVF is expected to be able to produce 120 T-90S each year, suggesting deliveries under this contract will be completed by 2023. Due to ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  Ka-226T- Air Force [India]

  Programme Background India had operated a diverse and antiquated fleet of helicopters to support its high-altitude operations along contested borders with China and Pakistan. Reducing ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  MQ-9B (Tri-Service) [India]

  Background Inception & The Indian Navy In 2016, reports suggested India was looking to acquire the MQ-9A Reaper. The two parties developed this requirement, and in June 2017, ...

• Military helicopters - maritime

  MH-60R Seahawk (India)

  Programme Background On 25 February 2020, a letter of acceptance for 24 MH-60Rs, worth approximately $2.12 billion, was signed by India and the US in Delhi. ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  Ka-226T - Army [India]

  Programme Background India had operated a diverse and antiquated fleet of helicopters to support its high-altitude operations along contested borders with China and Pakistan. Reducing ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  Eurodrone (Forecast) [India]

  Programme Background India's Application As announced by a joint statement around the 7th India-Germany Inter-Governmental Consultations (IGC) on 25 October 2024, Germany accepted India's application to join ...

• Transport

  C295 [India]

  Programme Background India's Defence Acquisition Council has approved the Indian Air Force bid for the supply and production of 56 C295 transport aircraft to replace ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  Indian-Made MALE UAV [India]

  Background Requirements As of late 2023, the Indian tri-service plan was reportedly to acquire 155 indigenously produced MALE UAVs alongside 31 MQ-9B drones from General Atomics (GA-ASI), covered ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Next Generation Destroyers [India]

  India has begun developing its Next Generation Destroyers programme, also known as Project 18. The project for the Indian Navy is expected to replace the ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Next Generation Destroyers [India]

  India has begun developing its Next Generation Destroyers programme, also known as Project 18. The project for the Indian Navy is expected to replace the ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | C295 MPAs [India]

  In February 2024, India's Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) cleared the Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) to purchase 15 maritime patrol aircraft for about $3.5 billion. The Indian ...

• Data links

  Data links | C295 MPAs [India]

  In February 2024, India's Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) cleared the Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) to purchase 15 maritime patrol aircraft for about $3.5 billion. The Indian ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | C295 MPAs [India]

  In February 2024, India's Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) cleared the Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) to purchase 15 maritime patrol aircraft for about $3.5 billion. The Indian ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | C295 MPAs [India]

  In February 2024, India's Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) cleared the Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) to purchase 15 maritime patrol aircraft for about $3.5 billion. The Indian ...

• Fighter - multirole, Trainer

  MRCA - Multi Role Combat Aircraft (Trainer) [India]

  Programme Background Launched years ago, the Medium Multirole Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) programme is notorious internationally of the serpentine nature of Indian military procurements. Under the ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  SPOT V3

  The SPOT V3 is a fixed-wing UAV developed by the Indian firm CDSpace Robotics. Designed for ISR tasks, the platform is VTOL capable and meets ...

• Aircraft carriers

  Vikramaditya Class

  INS Vikramaditya is India’s only functional aircraft carriers following the retirement of INS Viraat in 2016. India bought the ex-Russian carrier and upgraded it to ...

• Military UAS - mini, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Netra 5

  Launched at Aero India 2025, the Netra 5 is a rotary-wing UAV manufactured by ideaForge. It can host a 900g EO/IR camera and drop a ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing

  Abhimanyu

  The Abhimanyu is a concept UAV from NewSpace Research and Technologies (NRT). Its development has been partly funded by the Indian MoD's Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) initiative. ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing

  Yeti

  Unveiled at Aero India 2025, the Yeti is a concept cargo-carrying UAV take-off from small areas at up to 6.5km altitudes. Its payload can be configured ...

• AEW&C, ISR/special mission, Maritime patrol

  EMB-145 (R-99)

  The Embraer EMB-145 is a modified version of the ERJ-145 regional jet. The aircraft, available in both AEW&C; and Maritime Patrol configurations is in service ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

  Super Dvora Mk 1/Mk 2

  The Israeli Navy has operated the Super Dvora-class fast attack craft since 1989. Vessels are also in service with Eritrea (four boats), India (three boats), ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - small

  Zolt

  The Zolt is a concept UAV showcased by ideaForge at Aero India 2025 in Bengaluru. The UAV, intended for ISR missions, has anti-jamming communications, AI-enabled ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  CMS (Vikrant-Class)

  The Combat Management System abroad INS Vikrant is developed by TATA Power's Strategic Engineering Division, the Indian MoD's Weapon and Electonic System Engineering Establishment and ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  HF SDR

  Bharat Electronics Limited's High-Frequency Software-Defined Radio (HF SDR) was unveiled at the Aero India 2023 exhibition. The transceiver operates in the HF band and features ...

• Sonobuoys

  AN/SSQ-53G DIFAR

  The AN/SSQ-53G DIFAR is made by Ultra Maritime in the USA, it is marketed at international users of the MH-60 and P-8A.

• Air: surveillance and maritime patrol radar

  Kopyo-21I

  The Kopyo-21I is a multi-mode radar manufactured by Phazotron NIIR in Russia. It is described by the manufacturer as a fourth-plus generation radar, designed to ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - mini

  Switch V2

  The Switch V2 was commercially launched at Aero India 2025; it is a fixed-wing, VTOL-capable ISR and mapping drone from ideaForge.  Compared to the original ...

• Frigates

  Talwar Class (Project 11356)

  India’s Talwar-class (Project 11356) frigates for the Indian Navy have been built in Russia based on the old Soviet Navy’s Krivak-class frigates and delivered to ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  FWD-200B1

  Unveiled in May 2024, the FWD-200B is an Indian fixed-wing, MALE drone developed by Flying Wedge Defence & Aerospace. In 2025, an updated configuration of ...