• Naval Warfare

  How the Canadian Surface Combatant programme can recover from COVID-19 delays

  23rd August 2023

  The Canadian Department of National Defence (DND) is working with Irving Shipyard to manage the lingering impact of COVID-19 on the Canadian Surface Combatant (CSC) project.

• Defence Notes

  DSEI 2023 in review: Ukraine, AI and the real world

  20th September 2023

  DSEI 2023 took place in the shadow of the largest European land war in more than seven decades and a growth in conversations about artificial intelligence (AI) with limited UK immediate defence programme opportunities; many of the new products and exhibitors' announcements reflected this.

• Naval Warfare

  Indian Navy tries again to procure minehunters, but this time it goes futuristic

  4th September 2023

  The Indian Navy is looking to the future with MCMVs that integrate a lot of autonomous technology. Meanwhile, other construction projects, such as ASWSWCs and survey vessels, are proceeding.

• Naval Warfare

  Insight: How rising tensions have fuelled the Type 26 frigate's development

  12th September 2023

  Slated to enter service in the late 2020s, the Type 26 frigate addresses the pressing need for enhanced ASW capabilities, particularly in light of heightened tensions with Russia. Shephard Defence Insight analyses the design and its equipment fit.

• Naval Warfare

  How serious a threat is North Korea's nuclear-armed navy?

  8th September 2023

  As well as splurging on ballistic weapons, North Korea has been developing submarines and surface combatants capable of firing nuclear-tipped missiles. Largely based on outdated designs, do they nonetheless pose a serious regional threat?

• Land Warfare

  Hanwha's Redback selected as preferred solution for Land 400 Phase 3 IFV

  27th July 2023

  Hanwha Defense Australia has been chosen as the preferred bidder for the Land 400 Phase 3 programme, providing 129 Redback IFVs to the Australian Army. The vehicles will be delivered at an accelerated rate with the first in 2027 and last expected before the end of 2028.

• Naval Warfare

  Bangladesh inaugurates new naval base and commissions eight vessels

  13th July 2023

  The Bangladesh Navy, equipped with mostly smaller boats, continues modernising with indigenously constructed vessels.

• Defence Helicopter

  Paris Air Show: Airbus aims to qualify new Nexter gun pod on H225M helicopter

  21st June 2023

  Since April 2023, Airbus Helicopters has been carrying out flight qualification firing of Nexter's NC 621 gun pod on an H225M Caracal helicopter. The pod …

• Land Warfare

  UK seeks rear camera system for Warrior armoured vehicles

  13th July 2023

  The British Army is seeking to procure a rear camera system for its Warrior Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFVs) to meet a safety critical modification.

• Land Warfare

  German Army to field Australian-made Boxer vehicles in export reversal

  12th July 2023

  Germany, the designer and builder of the Boxer, will turn to Australia for new 8x8 vehicles. Meanwhile, Hanwha continues to march forward with Australia's AS9 155mm SPHs.

• Naval Warfare

  IMDEX 2023: Two more Shaldag Mk V interceptors arrive in the Philippines

  2nd May 2023

  In April, two more Israel Shipyards-built Shaldag Mk V fast attack interdiction craft (FAIC) arrived in the Philippines.

• Land Warfare

  Leonardo launches new turrets for land and naval platforms

  7th June 2023

  At SeaFuture 2023 in La Spezia, Italy, Leonardo launched two new turrets for land and naval applications.

• Naval Warfare

  Contenders for Malaysia’s LMS Batch 2 tender emerge at LIMA 2023

  6th June 2023

  Apart from making progress with its troubled LCS programme, the priority for Malaysia's navy right now is the next three Littoral Mission Ships.

• Naval Warfare

  Fincantieri delivers fourth and final Qatari corvette

  17th May 2023

  Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri has delivered the fourth and final Al Zubarah-class corvette, Semaisma, built for Qatar.

• Land Warfare

  TenCate gets to work on armour system for Spain's Dragon VCR combat vehicle

  19th May 2023

  TenCate Advanced Armour, in partnership with TESS Defence, has commenced full production of the composite armour elements for Spain's 8x8 Dragon VCR combat vehicle programme.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  ACV-30 (Batch 3) [USA]

  Programme Background The ACV is a family of vehicles intended to modernise the USMC's vehicle fleet, particularly the Corps' ageing AAV7 vehicles. Development of the ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  ACV-30 (Batch 2) [USA]

  Programme Background The ACV is a family of vehicles intended to modernise the USMC's vehicle fleet, particularly the Corps' ageing AAV7 vehicles. Development of the ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  AH-64E Apache (May 2019 FMS)

  Also included are 28 M230 30mm automatic chain guns, AN/AVR-2B laser detecting sets, AN/APR-39 radar signal detecting sets, AN/AVS-6 night vision goggles, M299 Hellfire missile ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  ACV-30 (Batch 1) [USA]

  Programme Background The ACV is a family of vehicles intended to modernise the USMC's vehicle fleet, particularly the Corps' ageing AAV7 vehicles.  Development of the ACV ...

• OPVs

  Viana do Castelo-class (Batch II - NPO3S) (5-10) [Portugal]

  Programme Background Requirements The Viana do Castelo class offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) are used for maritime patrol and surveillance, fisheries protection, SAR, anti-drug and anti-arms trafficking, illegal ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  R600A (RTMC)

  Programme Background The Royal Thai Marine Corps (RTMC) has a requirement for new amphibious APCs that have higher capacity and offer greater protection than its ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Iron Cavalry Project [Taiwan]

  Programme Background The Taiwan MND has identified the need for a new 4x4 armoured reconnaissance vehicle to replace HMMWVs and M113s utilised by reconnaissance units ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  AH-64E Apache (Indian Air Force)

  Programme Background The Indian Army was originally granted co-ownership of the 22 Apaches by the Indian MoD. However, the IAF refused to cede them to ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors, Patrol boats

  Gun Boats (Pakistan)

  Programme Background Timeline The first steel cutting for these boats occurred on 6 October 2022. The PN is seeking 20 vessels; the first one should ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Boxer IFV (Schakal) [Netherlands]

  Programme Background The Boxer is currently in service with both Germany and the Netherlands, having entered service in 2009 and 2013, respectively.  In October 2025, ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Boxer IFV (Schakal) [Germany]

  Programme Background The Boxer is currently in service with both Germany and the Netherlands, having entered service in 2009 and 2013, respectively.  In October 2025, ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Boxer IFV (Schakal) [Netherlands]

  Programme Background The Boxer is currently in service with both Germany and the Netherlands, having entered service in 2009 and 2013, respectively.  In October 2025, ...

• Patrol boats

  Fast Patrol Vessels Procurement (1-14) [India]

  Programme Background Requirements In January 2023, the Indian MoD issued a Request For Proposals (RFP) entailing the acquisition of 14 Fast Patrol Vessels (FPVs) for ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Type 25 Reconnaissance and Surveillance Vehicle (CTWV) [Japan]

  Programme Background The CTWV was developed from the Mitsubishi Armoured Vehicle (MAV) that Mitsubishi developed in the early 2010s. In October 2022, the Japanese MoD ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Boxer IFV (Schakal) [Germany]

  Programme Background The Boxer is currently in service with both Germany and the Netherlands, having entered service in 2009 and 2013, respectively.  In October 2025, ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Unguided Medium Calibre Ammunition

  Mk310 PABM-T

  US-based Northrop Grumman's Mk310 PABM-T is a 30mm x 173mm Programmable Airburst Munition with Tracer, designed to offer improved lethality to Infantry Fighting Vehicles.

• Unguided Medium Calibre Ammunition

  XM1182 High Explosive Airburst with Trace (HEAB-T)

  The XM1182 High Explosive Airburst with Trace (HEAB-T) is a high explosive round developed by Northrop Grumman for the US Army.

• Unguided Medium Calibre Ammunition

  XM1173 Target Practice with Trace (TP-T)

  The XM1173 Target Practice with Trace (TP-T) is a target practice round manufactured by Northrup Grumman for the US Army.

• Unguided Medium Calibre Ammunition

  40mm x 53 HEDP-AB

  Nammo's 40mm x 53 high-explosive dual-purpose airburst (HEDP-AB) provides highly accurate airburst abilities. The round is designed for use in the Mk47 gun, and is ...

• Naval guns

  RapidFire T40AA

  The RapidFire T40AA is a 40mm naval gun system developed jointly by Nexter and Thales. The system was unveiled for the first time at Euronaval ...

• Individual grenade launchers

  MFGL

  According to Rheinmetall, the Magazine-Fed Grenade Launcher (MFGL), previously known as Hydra, is the world’s first self-loading 40mm shoulder-fired GL. It is being developed for ...

• Land: manned turrets

  Teber-30 Two-Man Turret

  The Teber-30 is a medium-calibre two-man turret designed for armoured combat vehicles. It is day/night capable with an onboard fire control computer and a two-axis ...

• Crew-served grenade launchers

  LG3A

  The LG3A is an improved variant of the LG3, with an added muzzle-setting device to fire Norinco’s BGL3A airburst ammunition and similar rounds produced by ...

• Cannons

  40 CTAS

  CTA International has developed the 40 mm Cased Telescoped Armament System (40 CTAS) for integration into armoured vehicles for either new build or systems upgrades. ...

• Unguided Medium Calibre Ammunition, Unguided Tank Ammunition

  CTA-I 40mm KE-AB

  CTA-International's 40mm Kinetic Energy - Airburst (KE-AB) round is designed to defeat UAVs, helicopters, missiles, and low-speed aircraft as well as other land domain targets.

• Unguided Medium Calibre Ammunition

  NM 264

  The NM 264 is a 40mm x 53 high-explosive dual-purpose airburst radio-frequency medium calibre round manufactured by Nammo. It is designed for any 40 mm AGL ...

• Cannons

  Venom 30mm

  The AEI Systems Venom 30mm gun is a derivative of the Aden 30mm and is a gas operated, electrically primed revolver gun. The configuration is ...

• Unguided Mortar Ammunition

  THOR 120mm

  The THOR 120mm, manufactured by Saab Bofors Dynamics Switzerland, is a traditional airburst mortar round. The ammunition is fitted with a proximity fuse, and is uniquely ...

• Self-propelled guns

  RapidFire

  Thales unveiled the RapidFire, intended to protect both mobile forces and key assets/fixed points, at the Eurosatory 2012 exhibition. The system is designed to exploit ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  KF31 Lynx

  Rheinmetall unveiled the KF31, the first member of its Lynx modular tracked IFV family, at Eurosatory 2016. The 38t KF31 (KF stands for Kettenfahrzeug, the ...