• Defence Notes

  D&S 2017: ASEAN state of defence

  3rd November 2017

  The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), comprises ten countries. Ahead of Defence and Security 2017 Shephard takes a look at some of the key defence programmes …

• Defence Helicopter

  D&S 2017: Turkey promotes attack helos and UAVs

  8th November 2017

  Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) showcased its T129 Atak multirole combat helicopter and its fixed-wing Anka medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) UAV for the Thai and regional market …

• Military Logistics

  Marines targeting ‘boot gaps’

  16th November 2017

  The United States Marine Corps is preparing to close what some see as a tropical weather ‘boot gap,’ following fourth and final field user evaluation …

• Defence Notes

  D&S 2017: Thailand's top five defence programmes (video)

  2nd November 2017

  Ahead of Defense and Security 2017, hosted in Bangkok Thailand, Shephard takes a look at some of the host nation's top five ongoing defence programmes. 

• Land Warfare

  D&S 2017: Ukraine showcases amphibious APC (video)

  7th November 2017

  The Ukrainian defence holding group, Ukroboronprom, showcased its amphibious APC at Defense and Security 2017 as it targets the Thai marine requirement. Speaking to Shephard, Yuriy …

• Land Warfare

  Rwanda fields Chinese SH3 self-propelled howitzer

  15th November 2017

  New photos have revealed that the Rwandan Army operates the Chinese-made Norinco SH3 122mm self-propelled howitzer (SPH), in the first confirmed export of the platform. …

• Defence Notes

  Defence industry faces a blockchain revolution

  1st November 2017

  A quiet revolution may be underway in the defence industry as some of the largest players are beginning to adopt blockchain technology.

• Land Warfare

  D&S 2017: DTI presents new marine vehicle (video)

  6th November 2017

  Thailand's Defence Technology Institute (DTI) presented its new 8v8 amphibious vehicle for the Thai Marine Corps at Defense and Security in Bangkok.  Shephard spoke with Col. …

• Training

  DA Defence awarded CATS contract

  2nd November 2017

  Discovery Air (DA) Defence Services has been awarded a Contracted Airborne Training Services (CATS) contract from the Canadian government, the company announced on 31 October. …

• Defence Helicopter

  Indian MoD moves naval heli programme forward

  7th November 2017

  Heralding one of the biggest helicopter programmes in South Asia, the Indian Defence Acquisition Council headed by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman accorded 'acceptance of necessity' …

• Defence Notes

  Opinion: Fallon down – the challenges facing the UK’s new defence secretary

  3rd November 2017

  Gavin Who? That’s the likely first reaction from many seasoned Whitehall warriors on the news that Gavin Williamson, the 41-year-old MP for South Staffordshire and …

• Defence Helicopter

  ACS expands to meet growing demand

  3rd October 2017

  Advanced Composite Structures (ACS) has expanded its facility in Sanford, Florida, to accommodate growth in its helicopter blade repair work for military and European operators. …

• Defence Helicopter

  Dubai Airshow 2017: Bell 505 military trainer ready for Middle East

  12th November 2017

  Bell Helicopter is optimistic that the recently EASA-certified Bell 505 Jet Ranger X will make its mark as a military training helicopter in the Middle …

• Land Warfare

  D&S 2017: Thailand rains down rockets and artillery

  9th November 2017

  The Thai Ministry of Defence (MoD) displayed its newest artillery project at the Defense & Security 2017 expo in Bangkok, this being an effort to …

• Defence Helicopter

  Russia’s WMD receives Mi-35 helicopters

  3rd November 2017

  A helicopter regiment of the Russian armed forces’ Western Military District in the Pskov region has taken delivery of new Mi-35 multi-role assault helicopters, the …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  A330 MRTT (1-9) [NATO]

  Programme Background Following operations in Libya and extensive analyses by the European Defence Agency (EDA), it was agreed at the NATO Summit in 2012 that ...

• Military helicopters - maritime

  MH-60R Seahawks [Norway]

  Programme Background NH90 NFH cancellation  The Norwegian government announced the termination of the NH90 NFH helicopter contract for 14 NH90s with NHIndustries in June 2022. Seahawk Acquisition ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  A330 MRTT Follow-On [NATO]

  Programme Background Following operations in Libya and extensive analyses by the European Defence Agency (EDA), it was agreed at the NATO Summit in 2012 that ...

• Main battle tanks

  New MBT [Romania]

  Programme Background Requirement The Romanian Army's MBT fleet is composed of T-55 variants that are due to be retired in the mid-2020s. Although Romania's TR-85 ...

• Main battle tanks

  M1A2 Abrams SEPv3 [Romania]

  Programme Background Requirement The Romanian Army's MBT fleet is composed of T-55 variants that are due to be retired in the mid-2020s. Although Romania's TR-85 ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  EU Next Generation Rotorcraft Technologies Project (ENGRT) - (Greece)

  Programme Background EU Next Generation Rotorcraft Technologies Project (ENGRT) EU Next Generation Rotorcraft Technologies Project (ENGRT) was announced in early 2022 and the project contract was awarded ...

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

  Penguin C VTOL [Croatia]

  Background Announcment Redwire Corporation announced on 12 November 2025 that its wholly owned subsidiary, Edge Autonomy, had been contracted to deliver the Penguin C VTOL ...

• Maritime patrol

  MAWS/PATMAR [France]

  Programme Background In 2017, Germany and France announced that they would be working towards developing an MPA to replace their current fleets in service. The ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  EU Next Generation Rotorcraft Technologies Project (ENGRT) - (Italy)

  Programme Background EU Next Generation Rotorcraft Technologies Project (ENGRT) EU Next Generation Rotorcraft Technologies Project (ENGRT) was announced in early 2022 and the project contract was awarded ...

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

  Bayraktar TB2 [Kuwait]

  Background Contract Award On 18 January 2023, Baykar announced signing a $370 million export contract with Kuwait for the Bayraktar TB2. According to the announcement, ...

• Military UAS - HALE

  MQ-4C Triton - Germany (Cancelled)

  Programme Background Germany requested to buy four MQ-4C Triton HALE UAVs from Northrop Grumman. On 5 April 2018, the US State Department announced that it ...

• Main battle tanks

  Leopard 2A8 [Netherlands]

  Programme Background Bidders and Suppliers The Leopard 2A8, the latest in the Leopard family, was selected by the Royal Dutch Army as per announcements in ...

• Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  UAV Tactical Level [Norway]

  Background Request for Information (RfI) In September 2022, the Norwegian Defence Material Agency (NDMA) launched a request for information in preparation for a possible procurement ...

• Corvettes

  European Patrol Corvette (EPC) [France]

  Programme Background Requirements The European Patrol Corvette (EPC) is one of the new PESCO (Permanent Structured Cooperation on Defence and Security) projects. PESCO was established ...

• Corvettes

  European Patrol Corvette (EPC) [Italy]

  Programme Background Requirements The 2021-2023 Documento Programmatico Pluriennale (DPP) - a multi-year defence planning document from the Italian MoD - includes a plan to acquire eight "Patrol Ships", ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Land: air defence radar

  APIS

  APIS is a passive high-resolution primary radar system developed by Indra. It is the first passive system in the world capable of offering images using ...

• Uncrewed aerial systems engines

  AE50R

  The AE50R is an aviation gasoline single rotary engine with an output of 40.4kW. The engine is certified according to European Aviation Safety Agency Part ...

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

  LOTUS

  The LOTUS, Low Observable Tactical Unnamed System, is a tactical UAV especially designed for border patrol ISR operations.  The development of the project is funded by ...

• Helicopter engines

  Arriel 2H

  Safran Helicopter Engines received European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) engine type certification for its Arriel 2H engine, installed in the Avicopter AC312E, in April 2018. ...

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

  AR5

  First announced in October 2012, the AR5 is a MALE UAS designed for SAR, surveillance and maritime patrol missions. The AR5 can be flown manually or commanded ...

• Air: NVGs

  PNL-3M Orlik

  PNL-3M are high-performance, lightweight, passive stereoscopic NVGs for helicopter crew members. Certification by European Aviation Safety Agency also enables civilian use. The device can be ...

• Trainer

  Gabriel-TP

  Gabriel-TP is a low-wing, two-seat tandem trainer aircraft aimed at both military and civilian customers. It is certified by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) in ...

• Loitering munitions

  Akeron RCH 170

  Unveiled in April 2025, the Akeron RCH 170 is a fixed-wing loitering munition from MBDA. Similar in design to the Switchblade 300, the catapult launched system ...

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

  Capa-X

  The Capa-X is a VTOL-capable fixed-wing drone from Survey Copter, a subsidiary of Airbus. The drone has been linked with France's Système de Drone Tactique Léger (SDTL) ...

• Laser-directed energy weapons

  Tryzub Laser

  Ukraine's Tryzub (Trident) laser was revealed during the European Defence Industry: Prospects for Cooperation with the Ukrainian Defence Industry conference in 2025. Video footage from ...

• Air: Integrated cockpit systems

  Standard 3

  Jointly developed by ATR and Thales, The Standard 3 avionics suite has been specifically designed for ATR-600 aircraft. It offers the pilot user-friendly interface, along ...

• Loitering munitions

  Akeron RCX 50

  Unveiled in April 2025, the Akeron RCX 50 is a rotary-wing loitering munition from MBDA.  According to reports, the RCX 50 is designed to support ...

• Counter-UAS systems

  DroneGun

  DroneGun enables controlled management of an adversarial UAS, causing no damage to the UAV or surrounding area. It either forces the drone to perform a ...

• Military - USVs

  NOMARS

  The No Manning Required Ship (NOMARS) is a US Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) effort to develop a first-of-its-kind large uncrewed surface vessel.

• Uncrewed aerial systems engines

  Trident 100TD2

  The Trident 100TD2 is a compression-ignition engine that is capable of operating on various types of heavy fuel. It is claimed to offer up to ...