• Naval Warfare

  Indo Pacific 2025: Autonomous systems reigned but can the Australian Defence Force afford it?

  17th November 2025

  Multiple autonomous systems and technologies were on display at this year’s Indo Pacific, but questions remain over how the Australian Department of Defence will balance the books.

• Defence Notes

  Unfolding the Golden Dome for America: Seven things you should know about the programme

  3rd June 2025

  Shephard talked to multiple experts about the most pressing concerns and considerations regarding the air defence system advocated by President Trump.

• Air Warfare

  2025 air market review: European defence independence, next-gen tech and export concerns dominate

  23rd December 2025

  This year’s (geo)political turmoil has challenged many long-prevailing assumptions, leading to far-reaching consequences for air forces and their supplier bases in industry worldwide – with five key trends in review for 2025.

• Land Warfare

  Drone wars: countries are looking for answers but do companies have the solutions?

  18th March 2026

  Manufacturers are speeding up their counter-drone development efforts as countries increasingly focus on procurements to provide battlefield and national protection.

• Land Warfare

  DSEI 2025: Still no order from British Army or Germany for RCH 155 Boxers

  11th September 2025

  The first customer for the RCH 155 artillery system on the Boxer platform is Ukraine, which has already started to take delivery of the first of 54 systems from KNDS Deutschland. There is still no contract from Germany or the UK, while Hanwha continues to say it can supply its K9 system at short notice.

• Land Warfare

  GM Defense teams up with NP Aerospace for British Army vehicle requirement

  23rd June 2025

  The UK’s Land Mobility Programme (LMP) has three types of vehicles: medium protected, light protected and light mobility (LMV). US company GM Defense and the UK’s NP Aerospace have teamed up to make an offering for the latter. The LMP will replace more than a dozen vehicle types with as few as three or four models.

• Air Warfare

  Union slams “self-sabotage” of UK government over Typhoon production

  8th July 2025

  The UK Ministry of Defence remains resolute that the Typhoon sits at the heart of the country’s air defence capabilities and is focused on the aircraft’s potential export orders, despite its continued focus on F-35 procurement.

• Air Warfare

  India readies private sector push as AMCA moves towards 2028 prototype

  17th July 2025

  India’s stealth fighter ambitions gain fresh momentum as HAL opens the door to private sector involvement in AMCA Mk1A structural assembly, with strategic support growing for next-gen propulsion and sensor technologies.

• Naval Warfare

  How the UK Royal Navy is powering up its hybrid fleet to combat new threats

  14th November 2025

  Since it announced its move towards a new “hybrid navy” earlier this year, the force has announced a number of new uncrewed technologies in the works.

• Defence Notes

  Defence companies continue to ride procurement wave

  1st August 2025

  Vehicle and technology companies are reporting substantial growth compared to the first half of 2024. Italy’s Fincantieri saw revenues jump 24% for the first half of the year compared to 2024 and Thales up 6.8% for the same period. General Dynamics reported second quarter revenue growth of 8.9% for the second quarter compared to last year and MilDef reported organic order intake growth of 58%.

• Air Warfare

  How the US Air Force plans to use data analytics to enhance the roles of airmen and assets

  27th November 2025

  The USAF has allocated nearly US$500 million to further the deployment of this type of technology in FY2026. It envisions using analytics to enhance sensors, weapons, missiles and human performance.

• Air Warfare

  Paris Air Show 2025: Airbus assembles first SIRTAP prototype, with a maiden flight planned by year's end

  16th June 2025

  Airbus has completed the assembly of the first SIRTAP prototype, ahead of a ground test campaign that will culminate in the system's maiden flight by the end of 2025. The MALE drone is destined for delivery to Spain in 2027 and will also be operated by Colombia.

• Air Warfare

  How the MQ-9B’s interoperability is driving future market success

  8th September 2025

  With numerous nations, including the UK, committing a combined US$9.99 billion to acquiring the MQ-9B MALE UAV according to Shephard Defence Insight data, the capability now looks set to soar as UAV spending rises globally.

• Air Warfare

  October drone digest: Growing desire for CCAs and new VTOL technology unveiled

  30th October 2025

  During October 2025, several countries and organisations signalled their intention to acquire loyal wingman uncrewed aircraft systems — designated by the US Air Force as Collaborative Combat Aircraft — or to study the capability further, while various new uncrewed helicopters were showcased.

• Air Warfare

  Anduril expands footprint in South Korea

  12th August 2025

  The US firm has signed agreements with HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HII) and Korean Air to develop defence products for the South Korean market as well as license existing Anduril products for use and export to the region.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Loitering munitions

  Launched Effects - Medium Range (LE-MR) [US]

  Background Air-launched effect (ALE) In 2022, the US sought a family of systems comprising an air vehicle, payload, mission systems applications and support equipment to ...

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

  SA2 & SA7 [New Zealand]

  Background Uncrewed Range As reported by Shephard, in February 2026, Syos Aerospace announced that it had been contracted by the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) to ...

• Submarines: nuclear/attack

  Second Hand SSNs [Australia]

  Programme Background Timeline In September 2021, it was announced in a trilateral announcement between Australia, the US and the UK that Australia, in a shock ...

• Military helicopters - maritime, Military helicopters - multirole

  MH-60R [New Zealand]

  Programme Background In April 2025, New Zealand pledged to boost defence expenditure through its Defence Capability Plan. Building on that commitment, the government announced at ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  CH-47ER Chinook [UK]

  Background Formally known as the Chinook Capability Sustainment Program the UK is planning to replace its 14 oldest CH-47s with 14 new-build CH-47F (ER). The ...

• ISR/special mission

  E-6 TACAMO Recapitalisation Programme (E-130J) [USN]

  Programme Background The E-6 Take Charge and Move Out (TACAMO) Recapitalisation Programme (E-XX) provides for air vehicle replacement and mission systems modernization to augment and eventually ...

• Military helicopters - scout/light attack

  MD 530F -Kenya

  Crew transition training took place at the MD Helicopters headquarters in Mesa, Arizona, with field service support, armament, and gunnery training scheduled to occur at ...

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

  MQ-25 Stingray (13-76) [USN]

  Background Initial Requirements - Unmanned Carrier Launch Airborne Surveillance and Strike (UCLASS) The programme looked different when it began. In 2013, the USN awarded four ...

• Transport

  C295 [Serbia]

  Programme Background Serbia has completed the acquisition of two Airbus C295MW (Modernised, Winglets) transport aircraft, receiving the second plane on 14 November at Milenko Pavlović ...

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

  MQ-25 Stingray (10-12) [USN]

  Background Initial Requirements -  Unmanned Carrier Launch Airborne Surveillance and Strike (UCLASS) The programme looked different when it began. In 2013, the USN awarded four Preliminary ...

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

  MQ-25 Stingray (1-9) [USN]

  Background Initial Requirements - Unmanned Carrier Launch Airborne Surveillance and Strike (UCLASS) The programme looked different when it began. In 2013, the USN awarded four ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  Future Long Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) (MV-75 Cheyenne II) [USA]

  Programme Background US Army's Future Vertical Lift Programme The FLRAA is one of three strands of a broader army programme. The others are the Future ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | Kaan [Indonesia]

  At IndoDefence 2025, Turkish Aerospace formalised a Memorandum of Understanding with Indonesia for the procurement of 48 Kaan fighters with a contract value of $10 billion. ...

• Data links

  Data links | Kaan [Indonesia]

  At IndoDefence 2025, Turkish Aerospace formalised a Memorandum of Understanding with Indonesia for the procurement of 48 Kaan fighters with a contract value of $10 billion. ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  Air: Helmet-mounted displays | Kaan [Indonesia]

  At IndoDefence 2025, Turkish Aerospace formalised a Memorandum of Understanding with Indonesia for the procurement of 48 Kaan fighters with a contract value of $10 billion. ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Air: Head-up displays

  Collins Aerospace HUD

  The Head-up Display (HUD) developed by Collins Aerospace, USA lets pilots fly seamlessly under all conditions. Compatible with night vision goggles, it can be utilized ...

• Air: Displays

  Collins Aerospace AMLCDs

  Collins Aerospace's display system includes four 6''X8'' coloured  Active Matrix Liquid Crystal Displays (AMLCDs). These AMLCDs are fully compatible with Night Vision Goggles (NVG) and ...

• Air: COMINT and ELINT systems

  CS-1218

  The CS-1218 is a small, high-performance,omni-directional antenna that operates over the 0.5-18GHz range. It is intended for use up to 40,000ft. The CS-1218 is radome-enclosed, ...

• EO/IR systems

  SYERS-2 (series)

  The Senior Year Electro-Optical Reconnaissance System (SYERS-2) is a multi-spectral, high-altitude ISR system. It has been installed on the US Army's fleet of U-2 Dragon Lady ...

• Loitering munitions

  Revenger

  The Revenger is a loitering munition developed by SRB Aerial Systems.  Not much is known about the platform; however, at IDEX 2023, two units were ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  AR-1500

  Designed for export markets, the TruNet AR-1500 delivers high-speed communication between aircraft and ground forces. Notably, the transceiver supports modern waveforms as well as country-specific encryption ...

• Air: COMINT and ELINT systems

  CS-1240

  The CS-1240 is a small, high-performance, omni-directional antenna that operates over the 18-40GHz frequency range. It is intended for use up to 25,000ft. The CS-1240 ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  Zero-G HMDS+

  The Zero-G HMDS+ is a developmental helmet-mounted display system being developed by Collins Aerospace and Elbit Systems for sixth-generation higher aircraft. According to the company, ...

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

  Abqaiq M2DU

  The Abqaiq M2DU is a developmental fixed-wing UAV manufactured by SRB Aerial Systems. It is a highly modular platform powered by a COTS 2-strike piston engine.  ...

• Air: COMINT and ELINT systems

  CS-3645

  The CS-3645 hybrid ELINT/electronic support measures (ESM) system provides simultaneous tactical threat warning, ESM and technical ELINT capabilities from 0.5-40GHz. The CS-3645 combines the characteristics ...

• Air: air combat simulators

  HITS-A

  Collins Aerospace is the prime contractor designing and developing the first integrated aircrew training systems for the E-2D, leading the Hawkeye Integrated Training System for ...

• Air: COMINT and ELINT systems

  CS-3240

  The CS-3240 automatic ELINT system detects, captures and identifies radar signals in the 2-18GHz range –options for higher- and lower-frequency coverage are available. The CS-3240 ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  F-35 Gen III HMDS

  The F-35 Gen III helmet-mounted display system (HMDS) is provided by a joint venture between Elbit Systems of America and Rockwell Collins, developed for the F-35 ...

• Air: Displays

  FDS-255

  Rockwell Collins' (now Collins Aerospace) FDS-255 Multifunction Flight Display System is a Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (COTS) display package developed as a stand-alone replacement for electromechanical indicators. It ...

• Air: Integrated cockpit systems

  Common Avionics Architecture System (CAAS)

  Developed by Collins Aerospace, the Common Avionics Architecture System (CAAS) is based on the Flight2 open system architecture design and includes an advanced hardware, software ...