• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Specialist solutions: the growing importance of niche UAS in defence

  31st July 2024

  DARPA and Northrop Grumman outline plans for the XRQ-73 uncrewed aerial system with hybrid-electric power, which will join the growing ranks of highly specialist UAV designs.

• Air Warfare

  Quantum Systems unveils new Reliant UAS

  8th May 2024

  As well as the new UAS, Quantum Systems has outlined its plans to improve the capabilities of its existing platforms.

• Digital Battlespace

  How to build navigational resilience for your military in a hackable world

  17th September 2024

  If the position or navigation information of your defence assets are compromised, they are as good as useless.

• Naval Warfare

  US Navy places small boat order worth up to $290 million

  17th May 2024

  The Metal Shark 40 Defiant, a 40-foot, welded-aluminium pilothouse monohull patrol boat, features ballistic protection and can be armed with a range of remotely operated and crew-served weapons systems. The ReconCraft 40ft patrol boat is similar and offers waterjet, outboard and inboard/outboard propulsion.

• Air Warfare

  Turkish Kaan fighter completes second flight

  7th May 2024

  Turkey's TF-X Kaan fighter jet has achieved another milestone with its successful second test flight, signalling a steady progress towards its scheduled service entry date.

• Digital Battlespace

  Spectra Group’s GENSS tactical radio to debut at SOF Week

  2nd May 2024

  GENSS (next GENeration SlingShot) is a tactical radio communications system developed by the Spectra Group with a modular, open-architecture solution that can be adapted for air, land and sea applications.

• Land Warfare

  AUSA 2024 preview: Vehicles to take centre stage as competitions heat up

  3rd October 2024

  The Association of the US Army’s flagship conference and exhibition, the largest defence trade show in the US, returns on 14 October presenting one of the few chances for companies to publicly put their platforms to an audience of US decision-makers. Shephard takes a look at what’s in store for 2024.

• Defence Notes

  CUAS platforms, security systems and MBTs steal the spotlight as the curtain falls on Eurosatory 2024

  21st June 2024

  Eurosatory 2024 is done, the boxes are mostly put away, vehicles sent home to bed, stalls torn down, ripped carpet rolled up and weary business directors and their engineers have, for the last time for this edition, hung their MKU lanyards around their necks. But what, if anything, have we learned from this show in suburban Paris?

• Land Warfare

  Will Ukraine war air defence experience unlock new markets for Korkut gun system?

  18th June 2024

  Aselsan’s Korkut twin 35mm air defence gun is a unique in-production self-propelled system that can be integrated on a range of tracked and wheeled platforms. Korkut is in Turkish service already, but the need for air defence and C-UAS capabilities highlighted by the Ukraine conflict may lead to greater foreign interest in this solution.

• Digital Battlespace

  In-orbit imaging a “game-changer” in space situational awareness

  15th August 2024

  As the threats of nuclear weapons in space and the militarisation of the domain persist, an Australian outfit has been developing technology that defence organisations could utilise to identify objects in space to gain a better understand of what they are doing in orbit.

• Air Warfare

  Designs revealed for DARPA’s ANCILLARY VTOL UAS programme

  23rd May 2024

  Six bidders have been competing for DARPA’s AdvaNced airCraft Infrastructure-Less Launch And RecoverY (ANCILLARY) programme for a low-weight, large-payload, long-endurance VTOL uncrewed X-plane.

• Naval Warfare

  Leonardo fires up small calibre naval gun development as Italy nears first Lionfish X-Gun handover

  19th April 2024

  Alongside progress on its Lionfish contracts, Leonardo emphasised its shift in focus from traditional larger calibre systems toward smaller calibre solutions, epitomised by the X-Gun’s inception in 2017.

• Air Warfare

  Aechelon Tech bags US T-45C training contract

  2nd May 2024

  The new image generator systems were set to allow aircrew to train with a high-fidelity augmented virtual-real cockpit.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  DroneShield to improve software of DroneSentry-X C-UAS system under new contract

  4th April 2024

  DroneSentry-X, a cross-vehicle compatible, automated 360° C-UAS detect and defeat device, can offer 360° awareness and protection using integrated sensors. According to its manufacturer, it is suitable for mobile operations, on-site surveillance and on-the-move missions.

• Land Warfare

  The Crucial Role of Advanced Detection Technology in Modern Warfare

  6th June 2024

  Modern warfare's diverse threats create a dynamic battlefield, making it necessary for defense forces to adopt proactive detection and mitigation strategies.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• OPVs

  OPVs Procurement (1-2) [Greece]

  Programme Background Requirements According to the RFI issued in late 2022, the Hellenic Coast Guard is seeking to procure two new OPVs. The vessels are ...

• Landing platform docks/dock landing ships

  Landing Platform Docks [India]

  Programme Background Requirements The LPD tender, although more akin to an LHD, specifies that the quartet of ships must be built within India, although collaboration ...

• AEW&C

  GlobalEye (1-3) [UAE]

  Programme Background The GlobalEye is a modification of Bombardier's Global 6000 jet aircraft fitted with the S-band Erieye Extended Range (ER) radar and mission system ...

• OPVs

  Jan Mayen Class (1-3) [Norway]

  Programme Background Contract The Jan Mayen-class vessels were designed by LMG Marin, with the process beginning with the Norwegian Defence Material Agency (NDMA) in 2013 and ...

• ISR/special mission

  Global 550 (Project Air 555) [Australia]

  Programme Background The Australian military is acquiring EW aircraft to provide support to land, air and naval forces for operations in complex electromagnetic environments. The quartet of ...

• Landing platform docks/dock landing ships

  Landing Platform Dock [Qatar]

  Programme Background Close to a €4 billion ($4.67 billion) contract was awarded to Fincantieri in June 2016 for the construction of seven surface vessels, including the four ...

• ISR/special mission

  MC-27J - Algeria

  Programme Background Algeria has a long standing ISR aircraft requirement to support its Beech 1900 fleet comprised of six aircraft. The new ISR fleet is ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | TF-X Kaan Next Generation Fighter [Türkiye]

  The Turkish government announced the TF-X program, also known as the Milli Muharip Uçak (MMU)- National Combat Aircraft, in 2010 to replace its F-16 fleet. ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  Air: Helmet-mounted displays | TF-X Kaan Next Generation Fighter [Türkiye]

  The Turkish government announced the TF-X program, also known as the Milli Muharip Uçak (MMU)- National Combat Aircraft, in 2010 to replace its F-16 fleet. ...

• Data links

  Data links | TF-X Kaan Next Generation Fighter [Türkiye]

  The Turkish government announced the TF-X program, also known as the Milli Muharip Uçak (MMU)- National Combat Aircraft, in 2010 to replace its F-16 fleet. ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | TF-X Kaan Next Generation Fighter [Türkiye]

  The Turkish government announced the TF-X program, also known as the Milli Muharip Uçak (MMU)- National Combat Aircraft, in 2010 to replace its F-16 fleet. ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | TF-X Kaan Next Generation Fighter [Türkiye]

  The Turkish government announced the TF-X program, also known as the Milli Muharip Uçak (MMU)- National Combat Aircraft, in 2010 to replace its F-16 fleet. ...

• OPVs

  Second-hand Nordkapp OPVs [Uruguay]

  Programme Background For years, the Uruguayan Navy has sought to procure new Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) to modernise its fleet. The Navy has attempted to do ...

• Fighter - multirole

  TF-X Kaan Next Generation Fighter [Türkiye]

  Programme Background Requirement Geopolitical factors have spurred aircraft development in Türkiye. With its removal from the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter project following the Russian S-400 ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | SSN(X) Programme [USN]

  The US Navy may be far from reaching the end of procuring the current Virginia-class nuclear attack submarines (SSNs), but that does not mean planning for ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Land: air defence radar

  X-TAR 3D

  The X-Band Tactical Acquisition Radar 3D (X-TAR 3D) air surveillance and acquisition radar is the newest member of Rheinmetall’s X-TAR family. The fully coherent phased-array ...

• Land: air defence radar

  AN/MPQ-64 Sentinel

  The AN/MPQ-64 Sentinel is a mobile 3D phased-array radar used to alert SHORAD weapons about hostile airborne targets and queue up their shots. It operates ...

• Land: air defence radar

  MAR

  The Mobile Search Radar (MAR), developed by the Turkish company Aselsan, is a mobile, X-band, short-range 3D search and track radar specifically designed for point ...

• Land: air defence radar, Sea: naval surveillance radar

  Arabel

  Arabel is a multifunctional X-band radar developed by Thales for target acquisition, tracking, and missile guidance. It is used in the SAMP/T  air defence system ...

• Sea: naval fire control radar

  AKR-D

  The AKR-D family comprises fire control radar systems designed by Aselsan for naval platforms. They include the Ku-band AKR-D Block-A1 with an instrumented range of ...

• Air: AEW/fire control radar

  N011M

  The N011M BARS is a hybrid X-band radar system combining passive electronically scanned array technology with mechanical scanning capabilities. The system features dual-band operation (X-band ...

• Land: air defence radar

  ELM-2026B VSHORAD

  The ELM-2026B Very Short Range Air Defence Radar (VSHORAD) is designed for detection and tracking of airborne targets, including a variety of low-RCS and low-flying ...

• Land: air defence radar

  Hard 3D

  The HARD system initially developed by Ericsson, is an X-band, 3D frequency-agile, pulse-Doppler radar designed for short-range air defence. It specialises in detecting helicopters and ...

• Land: air defence radar

  X-TAR

  The X-Band Tactical Acquisition Radar (X-TAR) is a fully coherent X-band radar designed for such applications as early warning for MANPADS and guns or tactical ...

• Major networking projects

  Large Fixed / Large Fixed HEMP Terminal

  A 12.2m large fixed terminal that supports X-band communications with the Defense Satellite Communication System and offers simultaneous X/Ka-band communications with WGS satellites. It operates ...

• Land: air defence radar

  Roland

  The Roland radar system is a key component of the Franco-German Roland short-range air defence missile system. It consists of two main radar units: a ...

• Sea: commercial shipping radar

  FAR-21x7

  FAR-21x7 is a series of S-band and X-band radars with a 19in LCD display unit. The family consists of FAR-2117 and FAR-2127 X-band radars and ...

• Land: air defence radar

  AD26

  The AD26 Very Short Range Air Defence (VSHORAD) radar is a fifth-generation 3D tactical air defence system. The AD26 is a lightweight, transportable X-band solid-state ...

• Space: radar systems

  TerraSAR-X and ​TanDEM-X

  TerraSAR-X and the more advanced TanDEM-X (TerraSAR-X add-on for digital elevation measurement) are designed to operate closely together to generate an accurate 3D image of ...

• Land: air defence radar

  SkyFender ADR

  SkyFender Air Defence Radar (ADR) is a pulse-Doppler radar operating in the X-band that performs signal processing in time and spectral domains to provide target ...