• Defence Notes

  US forces’ heads lay out their needs and requirements before Senate committees

  22nd May 2025

  The new US administration has introduced or outlined plans for substantial change across the Department of Defence (DoD) and its branches. Several branch heads faced up to Senate Committees to outline needs and challenges.

• Air Warfare

  Ghost Bat drone makes first deployment in latest milestone

  25th June 2025

  In the past 18 months, Boeing’s MQ-28A Ghost Bat uncrewed aerial system (UAS) has achieved several milestones including teaming with manned aircraft, achieving 100 flight hours and training of first military pilot.

• Air Warfare

  Taurus KEPD 350E missile sees upgrade for German armed forces

  4th April 2025

  Taurus Systems, a joint venture between MBDA Germany and Saab, was awarded a $161 million 10-year contract in January 2025 to modernise the Taurus 350 missile.

• Air Warfare

  Air Warfare Review 2024: Budget cuts and delays fail to dampen modernisation efforts in 2024

  10th December 2024

  From major platform upgrades, high-value contract wins and programme delays, Shephard reported on a mixed year for air warfare in 2024, as geopolitical tensions rose across Europe and the Middle East.

• Digital Battlespace

  Aselsan brings in dozens of companies and systems under the Steel Dome umbrella

  12th October 2025

  Turkey has joined the family of countries attempting to establish a multilayered air defence system with government approval in August 2024 for the effort landed by Aselsan. Dubbed Steel Dome, the programme joins Israel’s Iron Dome, the US Golden Dome, India’s Mission Sudarshan Chakra and South Korea’s low-altitude missile defence system.

• Land Warfare

  “Adversaries have adapted”: how counter-UAS and space control will decide future conflicts

  18th March 2025

  In conversation... EOS's Andreas Schwer talks to Shephard's Ben Watts about how the Australian company is shifting its strategic focus to two technologies it sees as essential for success on the modern battlefield - C-UAS and space control.

• Land Warfare

  US Army LTAMDS enters production phase

  22nd April 2025

  LTAMDS was approved in multiple flight trials and assessments.

• Naval Warfare

  Canada commits to $15 billion River-class destroyers and infrastructure

  17th March 2025

  The new destroyer programme aims to build 15 new vessels over at least the next 25 years, the first of which should launch in the early 2030s.

• Air Warfare

  US budget boosts Boeing’s F-15EX with $3.1 billion investment to increase fleet to 129

  1st July 2025

  The F-15EX Eagle II had already been singled out for further funding in January 2025, when it was chosen to replace the A-10 aircraft for the US National Guard.

• Air Warfare

  Sweden confirms spares for 14 Gripen fighters set for Ukraine

  26th November 2024

  Sweden defence minister Pål Jonson said that the materials provided for 14 Gripen aircraft were part of a larger package.

• Land Warfare

  BAE Systems to further develop modular armoured vehicle

  8th August 2025

  BAE Systems and Kongsberg have received contracts for the US Marine Corps’ (USMC’s) armed Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV) variant with the former also outlining future plans for the Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV) it is producing for the US Army.

• Air Warfare

  Indian Air Force airlifter contract bidders push credentials at Aero India

  19th February 2025

  The three main bidders aiming to replace India’s ageing An-32 and Il-76 transporter fleet were at Aero India to put their case, despite recent geopolitical pressures on the competition.

• Air Warfare

  Next generation jammers ordered for Royal Australian Air Force and US Navy Growlers

  19th May 2025

  The order includes jammers for Australian EA-18G Growler electronic attack aircraft follows an order for deployment on US Navy Growlers in December last year and an announcement in March that full-rate production was near.

• Land Warfare

  DSEI 2025: Teledyne takes wraps off autonomous launch recovery box for drones

  9th September 2025

  Teledyne FLIR Defense revealed the SkyPad fully autonomous quadcopter launch and recovery box at AUSA in Washington DC last year. The SkyCarrier is the production version of the system and is designed for the launch and recovery of the company’s SkyRaider and SkyRanger uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs).

• Defence Notes

  DroneShield to double its US footprint to meet growing demand for counter-UxS capabilities

  23rd September 2025

  DroneShield disclosed to Shephard its plans to increase its workforce and manufacturing capacities while strengthening partnerships with US suppliers.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | Multirole fighters [Botswana]

  Botswana Defence Force is planning to purchase 10 multirole fighters to replace its ageing fleet of F-5 jets. Both Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) FA-50 platform ...

• Data links

  Data links | Multirole fighters [Botswana]

  Botswana Defence Force is planning to purchase 10 multirole fighters to replace its ageing fleet of F-5 jets. Both Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) FA-50 platform ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  Air: Helmet-mounted displays | Multirole fighters [Botswana]

  Botswana Defence Force is planning to purchase 10 multirole fighters to replace its ageing fleet of F-5 jets. Both Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) FA-50 platform ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | Multirole fighters [Botswana]

  Botswana Defence Force is planning to purchase 10 multirole fighters to replace its ageing fleet of F-5 jets. Both Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) FA-50 platform ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | Multirole fighters [Botswana]

  Botswana Defence Force is planning to purchase 10 multirole fighters to replace its ageing fleet of F-5 jets. Both Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) FA-50 platform ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  C-390 [Hungary]

  Programme Background The aircraft for Hungary will be specially configured for tactical transport operations, air-to-air refuelling of the service's Saab Gripen C/D fighters, and medical ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Gripen E [Sweden]

  Programme Background  In June 2020, cross party political talks in Sweden addressing future defence funding have collapsed, following disagreement over whether additional money should be ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Multirole fighters [Botswana]

  Programme Background Botswana is seeking to acquire a new multirole fighter to fulfil a gap left by the nations outdated fleet of F-5 aircraft. According to ...

• 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 ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Horizon 2 - Multirole Fighter Programme [Philippines]

  Programme Background Requirement The Philippines wants a fighter able to perform score missions such as air-to-air combat, air-to-ground tasks and reconnaissance, including over water. It ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Horizon 3 - Multirole Fighter Programme [Philippines]

  Programme Background Requirement The Philippines retired its F-5 fighters in 2005 and purchased 12 FA-50 light attack aircraft from South Korea in 2013. However, new fighter ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-16 Replacement (5-12) [Thailand]

  Programme Background Requirements The new Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) commander ACM Napadej Thupatemi, who took up his post on 1 October 2021, commented that the ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Future Fighter Capability Project [Canada]

  Programme Background Canada’s defence policy estimates the acquisition of the aircraft, associated equipment and setup to enable entry into service will cost C$15-19 billion ($12.9-14.5 billion). In ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | Kfir Replacement [Colombia]

  The Colombian Air Force has a long-standing requirement for 15 new fighter aircraft to replace its aging 23 Kfir aircraft in service. On 3 April ...

• Data links

  Data links | Kfir Replacement [Colombia]

  The Colombian Air Force has a long-standing requirement for 15 new fighter aircraft to replace its aging 23 Kfir aircraft in service. On 3 April ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Fighter - multirole

  JAS 39C/D Gripen

  The Gripen is a delta-wing fourth-generation multirole fighter produced by Saab in Sweden. The JAS 39C variants are single-seat and the JAS 39D two-seat. The ...

• EO/IR systems

  DJRP

  The Digital Joint Reconnaissance Pod (DJRP) is a tactical EO/IR reconnaissance system. It provides simultaneous high resolution and wide field-of-view EO imagery and horizon-to-horizon day/night ...

• Air: COMINT and ELINT systems, Air: Defensive Systems - Radar Warning Receivers, Air: Integrated Defensive Systems

  BOW

  Saab's BOW family of Radar Warning Receivers (RWRs) and electronic support measures are designed to outfit a diverse array of fixed-wing aircraft. The highly modular ...

• Fighter - multirole

  JAS 39E/F Gripen

  The Saab JAS 39E/F Gripen is a multirole fighter aircraft developed from earlier Gripen models and the Gripen NG. The latest version was selected by Brazil ...

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

  AVE-C/D

  The AVE-C/D is a flight control system UAV demonstrator (AVE-C) and stealth UAV demonstrator (AVE-D), forming part of the R&D; programme initiated by the French ...

• Air: Displays

  EP-17 Gripen Display System

  The EP-17 Gripen Display System has been developed by SAAB Avitronics, Sweden, specifically for the Gripen multi-role combat aircraft. It integrates on-board sensors, data-links and ...

• Air: Integrated Defensive Systems

  ESTL

  The Enhanced Survivability Technology (ESTL) is an integrated self-protection pod with missile approach warning (MAWS) manufactured by Saab. It is designed to counter RF and IR ...

• Air: AEW/fire control radar

  Raven ES-05

  The Raven ES-05 is an AESA fire-control radar developed by Leonardo in close collaboration with Saab for the Gripen E/F. It features a repositionable AESA ...

• Air-to-air missiles, Surface-to-air missiles

  IRIS-T/IRIS-T SLS missile

  Diehl BGT Defence has developed the IRIS-T (IR Imaging System Tail/Thrust Vector-Controlled) short-range air-to-air missile for use by several NATO and international countries. The missile is also ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F/A-18C/D

  The F/A-18 C/D ('KAF-18' in Kuwait) Hornet replaced the original A and B Hornet models, seeking to correct problems with range and acceleration. After success ...

• F50

  The F50 is an integrated quadcopter UAV designed for police/law enforcement missions. The UAV is available in several variants: the F50 A (advanced), F50 B ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-16C/D Block 25, 30/32, 40/42

  The F-16C/D ('C' one-seat, 'D' two-seat designation) is the second generation of the F-16 Fighting Falcon family. The production of the F-16C/D began in 1983 with ...

• EO/IR systems

  LITENING

  The LITENING Advanced Targeting Pod is an electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) system designed to detect, acquire, identify, and track targets over extended ranges.  It supports diverse mission ...

• Trainer

  T-6C/D Texan II

  The Beechcraft T-6C Texan II (UK designation Texan MK1) is a military training aircraft designed for all instruction levels. It is an improved version of ...

• EO/IR systems

  RECCELITE

  The RECCELITE system enables Persistent Wide Area Surveillance and Border Monitoring, providing high-resolution, real-time images over a wide coverage area ‒ from both stand-in and ...