• Land Warfare

  Canada’s delayed soldier upgrade on horizon

  27th July 2017

  The Canadian Army expects to take delivery of a new soldier electronics suite ‘within a few months’, in a sign that the service’s long-delayed soldier …

• Training

  Australia shortlists simulation requirement

  17th July 2017

  Australia has down-selected two consortia to compete for its JP 9711 Core Simulation Capability (CSimC) requirement. CSimC is aimed at upgrading and expanding the Australian …

• Defence Notes

  Upgunned ESG concept exercised in Talisman Saber

  21st July 2017

  Exercise Talisman Saber 2017, held in Australia this month, provided the US Navy (USN) with the opportunity to put its latent upgunned Expeditionary Strike Group …

• Defence Notes

  Air Power 2017: Flexibility vital for RAF success

  14th July 2017

  Novel partnerships must be improved to ensure the Royal Air Force is equipped to operate in increasingly contested operational environments, a former director of the United …

• Digital Battlespace

  New EW systems for Su-30SM delivered

  21st July 2017

  Russian electronics specialist KRET has delivered a new podded electronic countermeasures system (ECM) for the Su-30SM multi-role fighter.The delivery of the SAP-518SM system was announced …

• Defence Notes

  BDF orders Lockheed Martin’s Sniper ATPs

  13th July 2017

  Lockheed Martin has received a contract worth $22.45 million from the Bahrain Defence Force (BDF) for Sniper Advanced Targeting Pods (ATP), the company announced on …

• Defence Notes

  Air Power 2017: Brazil getting to Gripen (video)

  11th July 2017

  The Brazilian Air Force provides Shephard  with an overview and closer look at the capabilities of the Gripen E. The single-seat fighter jet's first flight took place in …

• Defence Helicopter

  ​ Paris Air Show: Ardiden 3G receives EASA cert

  20th June 2017

  Safran Helicopter Engines’ Ardiden 3G has received EASA type certification, with the company marking the milestone at a ceremony at the Paris Air Show on 19 …

• Land Warfare

  Lockheed, PGZ team for Homar programme

  12th July 2017

  The Polish Armament Group (PGZ) will base its negotiations for Poland's Homar programme on Lockheed Martin's High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS). Lockheed Martin announced …

• Digital Battlespace

  RAAF EA-18G Growler fleet complete

  12th July 2017

  The full fleet of Boeing EA-18G Growler electronic attack aircraft is now complete at the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Base Amberley, the Australian Department of …

• Defence Notes

  Air Power 2017: 21st Century partnerships in the spotlight (video)

  10th July 2017

  Air Power Association (APA) President Air Marshal (Ret’d) Greg Bagwell speaks to Shephard Media about the focus of the 2017 Air Power Conference, scheduled for …

• Defence Notes

  Analysis: PLA Navy edges toward owning Asia-Pacific

  13th July 2017

  China is producing naval vessels at a rate that will soon see the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) eclipse the US Navy (USN) in force …

• Land Warfare

  Denmark firms Eagle V order

  16th June 2017

  Denmark has firmed up its commitment to buy the General Dynamics European Land Systems (GDELS-MOWAG) 4x4 Eagle V armoured vehicles, with a contract signed for …

• Defence Notes

  IAI, KSSL sign MoU

  7th July 2017

  Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and India-based Kalyani Strategic Systems (KSSL) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to expand their joint venture activities. The new …

• Defence Notes

  Air Power 2017: USAF relearning peer capabilities

  14th July 2017

  The US Air Force is having to relearn capabilities required for operations against peer or near-peer opposition following extended operations over Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria. …

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 ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  A330 MRTT Follow-On (NATO)

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

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 - rotary-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  UAV Tactical Level [Norway]

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

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 - 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 ...

• 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 ...

• AEW&C

  Alliance Future Surveillance and Control (1-6) [NATO]

  Programme Background NATO’s E-3A AWACS fleet is set to retire in 2035, after 50 years of service. To plan for the required follow-on capability, NATO's ...

• 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 ...

• Surface-to-air missiles

  Mistral 3

  The Mistral 3 is the latest member of the Mistral family of very short-range surface-to-air missiles. It entered service in 2018 and has been chosen ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• Space: radar systems

  ESA Sentinel-1

  Sentinel-1 is a planned constellation of four satellites with two already in orbit and two on order. They carry a payload of a C-band SAR ...