• Air Warfare

  Czech Republic extend Gripen lease to bridge until entry of F-35

  3rd June 2025

  The Czech Republic has formally extended its lease of Saab JAS-39 Gripen fighter aircraft until 2035, allowing for the arrival of the first Lockheed Martin F-35 in 2031 and full operational capability four years later. .

• Air Warfare

  Embraer “confident” as C-390 and A-29 production ramps up in 2025

  31st January 2025

  Embraer chief commercial officer Frederico Lemos said that it was aiming to produce more than 10 of its C-390 multi-mission aircraft a year by 2030, with some A-29 aircraft already allocated and ready for delivery.

• Land Warfare

  US approves $825 million sale of Stinger Block I missiles to Morocco

  17th April 2025

  The 600-missiles will be used to expand the Moroccan armed forces’ short range air defence capabilities.

• Air Warfare

  IDEX 2025: Industry poised to profit from Middle East air forces’ modernisation efforts

  14th February 2025

  Companies such as the Eurofighter consortium and Embraer, await potential orders from the Middle East, while countries including Saudi Arabia and the UAE work to add mass, modernise and replace ageing aircraft.

• Air Warfare

  Lockheed Martin unveils new scalable counter-UAS system

  27th February 2025

  The scalable system was flown during a company-funded exercise to demonstrate its ability to detect, track and mitigate a mix of small uncrewed aerial systems, including drone swarms.

• Air Warfare

  RTX Raytheon to surge production of AIM-9X Block II missiles by nearly 80% in three years

  5th June 2025

  Currently manufacturing 1,400 AIM-9X Block II missiles annually, Raytheon plans to reach the mark of 2,500 per year by September 2028.

• Naval Warfare

  Keel laid for Royal Navy’s next-generation nuclear submarine

  25th March 2025

  HMS Dreadnought will be the first of the four Dreadnought class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs) scheduled to enter service in the early 2030s. Following its keel-laying ceremony last week, Shephard takes a deeper dive into the class which will eventually replace the Royal Navy's long-standing Vanguard class of boats.

• Defence Notes

  Brazilian Congress to review constitution amendment to secure defence budget increase

  15th May 2025

  An amendment to the Brazilian Constitution currently under discussion would permanently assign 2% of annual GDP to the defence budget, potentially cementing modernisation programmes for the country’s armed forces.

• Land Warfare

  Czech Republic set to order RBS 70 NG systems as CAESAR howitzers begin production

  2nd June 2025

  The Czech Government is to approve the purchase of a fleet of vehicle mounted integrated air defence systems as the country invests to overhaul its equipment. Spending includes two dozen F-35As, CAESAR howitzers and refurbished Leopard tanks.

• Land Warfare

  Patria completes test firing of new self-propelled gun as demand for systems grows

  26th June 2025

  Patria quotes a maximum rate of fire of eight rounds a minute from the new ARVE (ARtillery on VEhicle) self-propelled gun with a range of 40km for an assisted round. The rapid, low-risk development is designed to meet emerging requirements which have arisen out of the Ukraine war.

• Defence Notes

  Why the NORAD inventory might be the US and Canada’s Achilles’ heel

  4th November 2025

  Both the US and Canada operate Cold War-era capabilities which cannot defeat today’s and tomorrow’s threats.

• Land Warfare

  BAE Systems expands Amphibious Combat Vehicle family with modular capabilities for future missions

  13th May 2025

  BAE Systems recently announced two contracts for a total of 60 ACVs for the US Marines and has displayed its ACV Logistics concept.

• Naval Warfare

  Taiwan multiplies mine-layer vessel and UAV inventories to deter PLA

  25th April 2025

  Taiwan is strengthening its deterrence against the PLA through an asymmetric arsenal that includes fast mine-laying vessels and domestically developed UAVs.

• Land Warfare

  US Army to test droppable camera for perimeter security under the xTech programme

  12th May 2025

  Bounce Imaging’s Thermal Camera Spike is a rugged, deployable 360° surveillance tool.

• Defence Notes

  US military foresees growing use of 3D printing

  13th November 2025

  Advanced manufacturing has evolved to meet military requirements and now supports multiple US critical assets, including Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, F-18, F-22, F-35, Bradley, HMMWV and Patriot.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Transport

  C-130J (Secondhand) [Greece]

  Programme Background The decision was prompted by repeated operational failures in the HAF’s C-130 fleet, particularly highlighted during a failed mission to transport a Greek ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  C-2 (Japan)

  Programme BackgroundKawasaki Heavy Industries developed the C-2 for the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) to replace its Kawasaki C-1 and Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules fleets. ...

• Transport

  C-130J - USAF

  Programme Background The C-130J Super Hercules is a four-engine turboprop transport aircraft developed by Lockheed Martin to replace aging C-130 variants. The US and FMS ...

• Transport

  C-130 Replacement [Saudi Arabia]

  Programme Background Requirement The Royal Saudi Air Force operates 33 C-130H, 7 KC-130H aircraft and two KC-130Js. The country has been seeking to replace its ...

• Transport

  C-130 Replacement [Chile]

  Programme Background One potential answer was the KC-390, for which it signed a letter of intent for six, but which now appears not to be ...

• Transport

  C-130 Replacement [South Africa]

  Programme Background Requirement South Africa’s current C-130BZ fleet has become increasingly difficult and expensive to maintain, being amongst the oldest C-130 aircraft still operational. Despite a 2023 ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  C-130H Replacement [Sweden]

  Programme Background Requirements Sweden has five C-130H aircraft (designated Tp-84) and one KC-130H. Two C-130Es bought in the 1960s have retired, but the six H ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  A400M [Indonesia]

  Programme Background The TNI-AU currently relies on 17 Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules and L-100-30 aircraft, including five C-130Hs transferred from Australia. Indonesian Air Force (TNI-AU) is ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | C-130 Hercules Replacement [Greece]

  As part of the Long Defence Procurement Program covering 2025-2036, Greece has identified Embraer's C-390 transport aircraft as a possible replacement for the C-130 Hercules. The ...

• Data links

  Data links | C-130 Hercules Replacement [Greece]

  As part of the Long Defence Procurement Program covering 2025-2036, Greece has identified Embraer's C-390 transport aircraft as a possible replacement for the C-130 Hercules. The ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | C-130 Hercules Replacement [Greece]

  As part of the Long Defence Procurement Program covering 2025-2036, Greece has identified Embraer's C-390 transport aircraft as a possible replacement for the C-130 Hercules. The ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  A400M-Forecast [Indonesia]

  Programme Background The TNI-AU currently relies on 17 Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules and L-100-30 aircraft, including five C-130Hs transferred from Australia. Indonesian Air Force (TNI-AU) is ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  KC-130J - US Marine Corps

  Programme Background The C-130J Super Hercules is a four-engine turboprop transport aircraft developed by Lockheed Martin to replace aging C-130 variants. The US and FMS ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  C-37A - USAF

  Programme Background The USAF was using C-20B transport aircraft, variant of civilian Gulfstream III, to provide worldwide airlift for DoD and government officials. With the ...

• Transport

  Strategic Airlift Capability [Mexico]

  Programme Background Requirement The Mexican Air Force's transport capability is provided by the country's 302nd (C-130 Hercules) and 502nd (Boeing 737-200) squadrons. Previously, it also operated Boeing ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Air: transport/tanker simulators

  C-130 Tampa Training Center

  CAE owns and operates a training centre in Tampa, Florida, for operators of the Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules aircraft. CAE’s C-130 Tampa Training Center offers ...

• Air: transport/tanker simulators

  C-130 ATS

  The Lockheed Martin C-130 Aircrew Training System (ATS) provides academic and simulation training for C-130 weapons system aircrews and maintenance personnel. Located in Little Rock, Arkansas, ...

• Air: surveillance radar

  AN/APN-241

  The AN/APN-241 is a high-resolution tactical transport radar manufactured by Northrop Grumman. It was designed and developed as a baseline radar for the C-130 mission ...

• EO/IR systems

  Orca 130

  According to the manufacturer, Threod Systems, the Orca 130 is a non-ITAR, four-sensor gyro-stabilised payload for ISR missions. The Orca 130 is the standard payload for the ...

• Transport

  C-130J Super Hercules

  The C-130J Super Hercules is the latest model of the C-130 Hercules four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft. The C-130J primarily performs the tactical portion of ...

• Trailers

  MTVR Cargo Trailer

  The MTVR Cargo Trailer was developed for use with the USMC's Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement (MTVR), produced by Oshkosh Defense. It is built for rugged ...

• Air: Integrated cockpit systems

  Cockpit 9000

  Produced by CMC Electronics, the Cockpit 9000 is an integrated avionics solution primarily integrated into C-130 aircraft. According to the manufacturer, over 100 C-130s are ...

• Transport

  C-130 Hercules

  The C-130E/H Hercules is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft. It first entered service in 1962. According to Lockheed Martin, 1,693 C-130E and C-130H models ...

• Transport

  C-2

  Kawasaki Heavy Industries developed the C-2 for the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) to replace its Kawasaki C-1 and Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules fleets. The ...

• Air: transport/tanker simulators

  USAF C-130J MATS

  Training for USAF C-130J crews is managed under a programme called C-130J Maintenance and Aircrew Training System (MATS). Lockheed Martin is the prime contractor for ...

• Fixed wing aircraft engines

  AE 2100

  The Rolls-Royce AE 2100 turboprop engine is a widely used military powerplant that can be found on Lockheed Martin C-130 variants (AE 2100D3), Leonardo C-27J ...

• Launchers

  Hercules AH-01

  The Hercules AH-01 high-pressure pneumatic launcher is designed to launch UAVs of up to 500kg MTOW. It is air-transportable in C-130, A400M, or other similar ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  Flyer 72/GMV 1.1

  The Flyer 72 Advanced Light Strike Vehicle (ALSV) was developed by General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems (GD-OTS), in partnership with Flyer Defense, to meet ...

• Fixed wing aircraft engines

  AE 2100D3

  The AE2100 engine, a derivative of the T406 turboshaft family of engines, is designed by Rolls-Royce to power high-speed transport aircraft. The AE2100D3 variant was ...

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

  X-61A Gremlin

  Dynetics, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Leidos, is developing the X-61A Gremlin. This low-cost swarming drone can be outfitted with different payloads, launched by a mothership, recovered ...