• Land Warfare

  Tests almost completed on German Army Wolf vehicles with deliveries soon

  12th August 2025

  The Germany Army (Bundeswehr) signed for 1,500 Mercedes-Benz Defence Vehicles Wolf 2 all-purpose 4×4 light utility vehicle in July last year, a deal which ultimately be for 5,800 units. Testing is ongoing and first production vehicles are expected to be delivered in November.

• Land Warfare

  Rheinmetall signs $3.2 billion framework agreement for platoon systems

  7th February 2025

  As part of the agreement, Rheinmetall has received an initial contract for 92 platoon systems, consisting of 68 refurbished platoon systems and 24 new systems, worth approximately €417 million (US$432 million).

• Land Warfare

  RAFAEL and Israel MOD: IRON BEAM 450 Development Completed, Delivery to IDF Soon

  5th September 2025

  IRON BEAM is the world’s only fully mature and operational high-power laser interception system, capable of intercepting missiles and UAVs.

• Air Warfare

  Lockheed Martin emphasises self-funding efforts for “big bet” next-gen prototypes

  23rd October 2025

  A significant effort is now being made to focus on showcasing prototypes directly to demonstrate various capabilities to the US government.

• Land Warfare

  DSEI 2025: Polaris displays new all-terrain vehicle with Alakran mortar system

  18th September 2025

  The Polaris Government and Defense’s Military RZR (MRZR) Alpha 1KW was displayed at the Modern Day Marine exposition in the US earlier this year and with the Alakran mobile mortar weapon system at DSEI. The company outlined recent firing trials with the Alakran mobile mortar weapon system (MMWS) which was weeks after the company announced a major NATO deal.

• Air Warfare

  Germany approved for possible $1.23 billion AMRAAM acquisition

  26th September 2025

  The potential foreign military sale for up to 400 missiles could be used to enhance Germany’s F-35 programme.

• Air Warfare

  Poland confirms US$3.8 billion F-16V upgrade

  14th August 2025

  The Mid-Life Upgrade agreement comes as Poland makes significant increases in its defence spend as its plans to increase it to 5% of GDP by 2026.

• Land Warfare

  DSEI 2025: Elbit Systems set to field joint fires systems as it looks to large UK requirements

  15th September 2025

  Elbit Systems UK was awarded the Dismounted Joint Fires Integrators (D-JFI) programme in January 2021, which will integrate with the UK’s army, marines and air force. The parent company has decades of heritage in the UK and is looking to compete for the Watchkeeper drone replacement.

• Land Warfare

  DSEI 2025: DroneShield sets sights on Europe thanks to surge in CUAS demand

  9th September 2025

  The Australian-based CUAS technology specialist is responding to a marked shift in global appetite as it looks to branch out to an unspecified western European country early next year.

• Air Warfare

  Peru cleared for possible $3.42 billion F-16 Block 70 buy

  16th September 2025

  The potential foreign military sale covers 12 F-16 aircraft as well as related training and equipment support, the DSCA notice said.

• Air Warfare

  Thailand approves the purchase of four Saab Gripen E/F aircraft

  6th August 2025

  The Royal Thai Air Force will replace its ageing Lockheed Martin F-16 fighter aircraft with Saab Gripen E/F, with the first procurement phase due to be delivered by 2029.

• Air Warfare

  Why tactical UAVs are winning on the future battlefield (Podcast)

  9th May 2025

  In Conversation: In this special edition of the Shephard Defence Podcast, Tony Skinner sits down with Dan Slasky, President and CEO of Aeronautics, to explore how cutting-edge tactical unmanned aerial systems are reshaping today’s battlefields.

• Air Warfare

  Helsing targets European market with new CA-1 combat drone

  26th September 2025

  The UCAV, designed by Helsing’s subsidiary Grob Aircraft, will start ground tests in the coming months and is aiming to have a production-ready version by 2029.

• Air Warfare

  Czech Republic confirms new Sweden offer on Gripen aircraft lease

  8th April 2025

  The current lease period for the 14 Gripen C/D aircraft flown by the Czech Air Force will come to an end in 2027. This new offer proposes that 12 Gripen aircraft will be leased after 2027.

• Air Warfare

  Sweden signs contract for $552 million Gripen E/F sale to Thailand

  26th August 2025

  The confirmed order now makes Thailand the third country to operate the Gripen E/F aircraft, after sales to Sweden and Brazil.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  Korsak Reconnaissance Vehicle [Germany]

  Programme Background According to the BAAINBw, the Korsak must at a minimum meet these criteria: - Platform: Piranha V 6×6 with improved off-road capability and amphibious ...

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

  D-Eyes 04 [Thailand]

  Programme Background Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) According to a 29 June 2021 announcement, the RTA signed an MoU with Thailand's DTI to develop a MALE ...

• Loitering munitions

  Loitering Munitions [Thailand]

  Programme Background Roadmap In February 2024, the RTAF unveiled its White Paper 2024. Incorporating lessons from the Russo-Ukrainian War, the Israel-Hamas War, and other events such ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Next Generation Submarines [Japan]

  Japan is undertaking development studies for its Next Generation Submarine design. The project aims to develop a new platform that is expected to start replacing ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Next Generation Submarines [Japan]

  Japan is undertaking development studies for its Next Generation Submarine design. The project aims to develop a new platform that is expected to start replacing ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing

  MUM-T Drone [Thailand]

  Programme Background Roadmap In February 2024, the RTAF unveiled its White Paper 2024. Incorporating lessons from the Russo-Ukrainian War, the Israel-Hamas War, and other events ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  A400M [Türkiye]

  Turkey has become the second country to receive the new-generation A400M airlifter, with the first of ten aircraft handed over by Airbus Defence and Space ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  C-390 [Hungary]

  Programme Background The aircraft for Hungary will be specially configured for tactical transport operations, air-to-air refuelling of the service's Saab Gripen C/D fighters, and medical ...

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

  DP18A [Thailand]

  Background 2023 According to Aero Technology Industry Company Limited (ATIL) officials, speaking to Janes at Defence & Security (D&S;) 2023 in Bangkok, at the time of ...

• Minehunters

  Mine Sweeping Hunter II (MSH-II) [South Korea]

  Programme Background Requirements Under the Mine Sweeping Hunter II (MSH-II) programme, South Korea is seeking a replacement for the Ganggyeong-class minehunters, which are due to leave service ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F/A-18C/D (Secondhand) [Malaysia]

  Programme Background Requirement Malaysia has required new multirole aircraft since the early 2010s, for which the country's Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MRCA) programme was launched in ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | F/A-18C/D (Secondhand) [Malaysia]

  Seeking to complement its existing F-18 fleet with secondhand aircraft, Malaysia is set to acquire Kuwait’s retiring F/A-18C/D Hornets. Negotiations began around 2020, with plans to buy ...

• Data links

  Data links | F/A-18C/D (Secondhand) [Malaysia]

  Seeking to complement its existing F-18 fleet with secondhand aircraft, Malaysia is set to acquire Kuwait’s retiring F/A-18C/D Hornets. Negotiations began around 2020, with plans to buy ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  Air: Helmet-mounted displays | F/A-18C/D (Secondhand) [Malaysia]

  Seeking to complement its existing F-18 fleet with secondhand aircraft, Malaysia is set to acquire Kuwait’s retiring F/A-18C/D Hornets. Negotiations began around 2020, with plans to buy ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | F/A-18C/D (Secondhand) [Malaysia]

  Seeking to complement its existing F-18 fleet with secondhand aircraft, Malaysia is set to acquire Kuwait’s retiring F/A-18C/D Hornets. Negotiations began around 2020, with plans to buy ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Sea: naval fire control radar

  AKR-D

  The AKR-D family comprises fire control radar systems designed by Aselsan for naval platforms. They include the Ku-band AKR-D Block-A1 with an instrumented range of ...

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

  AVE-C/D

  The AVE-C/D is a flight control system UAV demonstrator (AVE-C) and stealth UAV demonstrator (AVE-D), forming part of the R&D; programme initiated by the French ...

• Towed guns

  D-30

  Developed for the Soviet Army the D-30 (military designation 2A18) 122mm towed howitzer entered Soviet service in 1963. Artillery Plant 9 estimates that there are ...

• Air: Integrated cockpit systems

  FN Airborne Digital Suite

  The FN Airborne Digital Suite is an integrated weapons system designed to provide high levels of operational capability to airborne platforms and reduce pilot workload. ...

• Air: Defensive Systems - Radar Warning Receivers

  SG200-D

  Leonardo's SG200-D radar warning receiver is a UK-specific variant of the Leonardo SEER family. SG200-D is self-protection equipmentwhich detects and identifies emitters in high-density and ...

• Land: long-range observation/surveillance/targeting systems

  Long View CR-D

  Launched at Eurosatory 2014, the Long View CR-D (LVCR-D) is based on the combat-proven LVCR. The upgraded LVCR-D adds a diode-pumped laser designator to the ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  D-Tiger

  Thai Defense Industry (TDI) unveiled its D-Tiger 4x4 armoured tactical vehicle at Defense & Security 2022 in Bangkok. The D-Tiger is aimed at export sales, with ...

• Land: RWS

  D-RWS

  The Dual-RWS (D-RWS) is designed to be installed on the Republic of Korea Marine Corps' Korean Amphibious Assault Vehicle fleet. Weighing approximately 350kg, it is ...

• Helicopter guns

  FN D-HMP 250

  The FN D-HMP (Digital Heavy Machine Gun Pod) 250 is a self-contained airborne weapon system armed with a .50 cal FN M3P heavy machine gun, ...

• Helicopter guns

  FN D-HMP 400 LCC

  The FN D-HMP (Digital Heavy Machine Gun Pod) is a self-contained airborne weapon system armed with a .50 cal FN M3P heavy machine gun, compatible ...

• Helicopter engines

  D-136/D-136 Series 1

  The D-136 and D-136 series 1 turboshaft engines are used to power the Mi-26 and Mi-26T Halo twin-engine transport helicopters, the world’s largest rotorcraft. The engine's main ...

• Data links

  MIDS LVT-3 FDL

  For the MIDS LVT-3 Fighter Data Link (FDL) the USAF sought lower volume and cost than Class 1 and 2 JTIDS. The contract was awarded ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  FN D-HUD

  The FN Digital Head-Up Display (D-HUD) is a sighting system designed to improve the accuracy of axial-mounted rockets and machine guns on rotary-wing aircraft. It incorporates ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-16C/D Block 25, 30/32, 40/42

  The F-16C/D ('C' one-seat, 'D' two-seat designation) is the second generation of the F-16 Fighting Falcon family. The production of the F-16C/D began in 1983 with ...

• Self-propelled guns

  SOKO SP RR 122mm

  Yugoimport unveiled the prototype of the SOKO SP RR (Self-Propelled Rapid Response) 122mm SPH in 2010. It mounts the D-30J, a locally built version of ...