• Land Warfare

  Improved British Army Javelin launcher passes milestone as more missile orders placed

  27th May 2025

  Almost US$2 billon has been placed in orders for the Javelin anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) in the past 18 months with the British Army just announcing firing of its Lightweight Command Launch Unit (LWCLU) over an extended range.

• Land Warfare

  International consortium bids for Spanish 6x6 cavalry scout vehicle requirement

  16th May 2025

  Rival bids are expected for Spain’s 6x6 cavalry scout vehicle requirement, with an international consortium facing competition from major players including GDELS, Rheinmetall and the UAE’s Edge Group.

• Defence Notes

  US reforms its defence acquisition system to focus on commercial capabilities

  21st August 2025

  This shift is planned to accelerate the procurement and fielding of capabilities. As part of this strategy, the US also intends modernise its regulations in an attempt to change its bureaucratic and risk-averse culture.

• Land Warfare

  Czech Government increases Leopard tank ties

  25th July 2025

  The Czech Government is aligning itself even more closely to a future fleet of Leopard tanks as other countries in Europe also sign up for the Leopard 2A8 variant.

• Land Warfare

  New Type 100 AFVs help China leapfrog ahead of other Western concepts

  19th September 2025

  China’s fourth-generation armoured fighting vehicles (AFVs) have pulled ahead of international analogues in their concept of operations, but questions remain about the reliability of their advanced technologies further down the line.

• Land Warfare

  Companies look to tank-launched guided projectiles for non-line-of-sight effects

  29th December 2025

  While integration of guided weapons on modern armoured vehicles usually takes the form of a podded launcher on the turret exterior, recent developments suggest the concept of firing missiles from a tank’s main gun could be seeing a revival.

• Land Warfare

  Europe looks to solve tank procurement challenges with upgraded and new platforms

  28th August 2025

  The UK government in 2019 reflected a common attitude towards main battle tanks (MBTs) across Western Europe as it moved to reduce its fleet from 227 Challenger 2 vehicles to 148, which would be upgraded under a plan that eventually produced the Challenger 3. Now, however, there is an increased interest in platforms new, upgraded and planned across the continent.

• Land Warfare

  Raytheon and Diehl Defence sign deal to co-produce Stinger missiles in Europe

  19th August 2025

  An agreement has been signed that will extend Stinger missile system production to Europe with Diehl Defence currently looking at manufacturing locations.

• Land Warfare

  Land forces review: British Army vehicle programme stalls and company results land

  26th November 2025

  In the first monthly review of land forces stories, the Shephard team looks back to evaluate the major news events that have impacted the sector. The UK’s Land Mobility Programme was notable but another setback occurred when a market industry day was scrapped.

• Defence Notes

  Foreshadowing of UK defence review suggests it is light on programme details

  2nd June 2025

  The UK’s Strategic Defence Review (SDR) was designed to answer two questions: What is needed to fix UK defence and make it fit for the 2040s, and what do you get for a fixed financial profile? The SDR outlines that work still needs to be done on specifics.

• Air Warfare

  Australia awards multiple contracts to support counter-drone technologies

  29th July 2025

  Under the multi-stage Project Land 156, Australia’s Department of Defence (DoD) is seeking systems to counter uncrewed aerial systems (CUAS). These contracts are the first in an effort to support technologies relevant to the effort.

• Air Warfare

  Bayraktar TB2: The $4.11 billion market success of a cost-effective MALE UAV

  22nd January 2026

  The success of the Bayraktar TB2 stems from it fulfilling a niche of providing reasonable capabilities at a low cost, leading to its acquisition by more than 30 countries including many in Africa; but there are reasons to be cautious about its potential future prospects.

• Land Warfare

  Netherlands to get step change in air defence capability with FFG ACSV selection

  21st January 2026

  FFG’s tracked Armoured Combat Support Vehicle will form the backbone of the Netherlands’ new low-level air defences, Shephard has learned, with scope for further fleet expansion beyond the initial order.

• Land Warfare

  British Army details Ajax plans

  28th April 2025

  Of the six variants in the Ajax programme – reconnaissance (Ajax), reconnaissance support (Ares), C2 (Athena), equipment repair (Apollo), equipment recovery (Atlas) and engineering reconnaissance (Argus) – the Ajax reconnaissance version is now entering service.

• Land Warfare

  Dutch order for up to 1,570 trucks highlights surging demand

  19th May 2025

  The past 12 months has seen billions-of-dollars in logistics, support and supply trucks ordered and delivered. The deals range from a US Army US$1.5 billion contract with Oshkosh, Italy for US$784 million from IDV and Canada’s US$1.8 billion order for Mercedes-Benz Zetros trucks to a German order worth US$3.5 billion with Rheinmetall.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - small

  Jump 20 [Denmark]

  Programme Background 2020 Tender In January 2018, Denmark's three main political parties signed the Danish Defence Agreement, a cross-party defence white paper covering the period ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  CV90 [Denmark]

  Programme Background Bidders and Suppliers The Danish Army has already taken delivery of 45 CV9035 IFV with deliveries running from 2007 through 2009. One of ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  CV90 [Denmark]

  Programme Background The CV90 is already in service with Denmark, with 44 CV90s currently in service with the Danish Army. In September 2024, Denmark ordered ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Eagle V 4x4

  According to documents released by the Danish Ministry of Defence, a total of 233.6 million Danish Krone (US$34.669 million) were allocated to this programme. 62.1 ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Patrol Ships Procurement [Denmark]

  On 18 August 2022, the Danish MoD announced a plan to invest up to $5.5 billion to replace a large number of platforms of the ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Patrol Ships Procurement [Denmark]

  On 18 August 2022, the Danish MoD announced a plan to invest up to $5.5 billion to replace a large number of platforms of the ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Absalon Class Replacement [Denmark]

  On 18 August 2022, the Danish MoD announced a plan to invest up to $5.5 billion to replace a large number of platforms of the ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Air Defence Frigates Procurement [Denmark]

  On 18 August 2022, the Danish MoD announced a plan to invest up to $5.5 billion to replace a large number of platforms of the ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Air Defence Frigates Procurement [Denmark]

  On 18 August 2022, the Danish MoD announced a plan to invest up to $5.5 billion to replace a large number of platforms of the ...

• Frigates

  Air Defence Frigates Procurement [Denmark]

  Programme Background Requirements After focusing on the procurement of new highly capable patrol ships and new Arctic frigates as a replacement for the Thetis-class, Shephard had ...

• OPVs

  Patrol Ships Procurement [Denmark]

  Programme Background Requirements On 18 August 2022, the Danish MoD announced a plan to invest up to $5.5 billion to replace a large number of ...

• Patrol boats

  Patrol Boats Procurement (1-21) [Denmark]

  Development and Procurement Timeline On 18 August 2022, the Danish MoD announced a plan to invest up to $5.5 billion to replace a large number ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Arctic Frigates Procurement/Thetis Class Replacement (4-5) [Denmark]

  In January 2025, Denmark announced the acquisition of "three new Arctic ships, additional long-range drones with advanced image acquisition capacity" and "satellite capacity" worth over ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Arctic Frigates Procurement/Thetis Class Replacement (4-5) [Denmark]

  In January 2025, Denmark announced the acquisition of "three new Arctic ships, additional long-range drones with advanced image acquisition capacity" and "satellite capacity" worth over ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-35A [Denmark]

  Denmark joined the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program in 2002 during the System Development and Demonstration phase and has influenced technical elements of the ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• MPVs - 4x4

  Eagle V 4x4

  GDELS unveiled the fifth generation of its Eagle light tactical vehicle at Eurosatory 2012. The platform has replaced earlier-generation vehicles in production. More than 1,250 ...

• EO/IR systems

  Helios/HeliTOW

  A stabilised direct view optical system for surveillance and targeting, HeliTOW includes TOW missile tracking and guidance systems. The sight unit provides the gunner with ...

• Sniper rifles

  AX50

  The 50cal AX50 long-range anti-materiel rifle is based on the company's AW50. It has an external stock design with the aim of facilitating a secure, ...

• EO/IR systems, Sea: ship surveillance and fire control systems

  SeaFLIR 280-HDEP

  Unveiled in 2020, the SeaFLIR 280-HDEP is a shipboard multi-spectral surveillance system manufactured by Teledyne FLIR. It features an FHD daylight camera, a WXGA MWIR ...

• EO/IR systems

  SeaFLIR 380X-HD

  The SeaFLIR 380X-HD is a long-range, shipboard EO/IR system. It is available as an upgrade to any existing SeaFLIR 380-HD system. Manufactured by Teledyne FLIR, the system features ...

• Land: soldier modernisation systems - national programmes

  DANES

  Initial efforts to field a complete soldier system through the Danish Army Network-Enabled Soldier (DANES) concept were abandoned, following an evaluation of the US Land ...

• OPVs

  MPV80

  At DSEI 2021, OMT presented the Modular Patrol Vessel 80 (MPV80), an OPV design characterised by strong modularity and flexibility. The MPV80 comes in three ...

• Land: RWS

  Lemur

  Originally comprising a series of roof-mounted stabilised EO sights, the BAE Systems Bofors Lemur family has since expanded to incorporate armed RWS variants. Available in ...

• Medium/general-purpose machine guns

  M60E6

  The M60E6 GPMG is the latest improved version of the M60. USORD's M60E4/Mk 43 is in service in at least 15 countries and with US ...

• Frigates

  GMF-120

  The GMF-120 (Guided Missile Frigate) is an air defence missile frigate designed by German shipbuilder NVL. The vessel was first displayed at the Danish Tradeshow DALO Industry ...

• Assault rifles/carbines/shotguns

  C7A2

  Colt Canada developed the 5.56mm C7 family of assault weapons based on the M16A2 to meet the requirements of the Canadian Army. The family includes ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  CV90 Armadillo

  The Armadillo APC, unveiled at Eurosatory 2010, is based on BAE Systems’ CV90 IFV design. It has been modified to provide a higher degree of ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - micro

  eBee TAC

  The eBee TAC is a BlueUAS-approved micro fixed-wing UAV from EagleNXT.  Described by the manufacturer as a cyber-secure governmental and tactical mapping drone, the system ...

• Maritime patrol

  Challenger 604

  Bombardier Challenger CL-604 MPAs are in service with the Royal Danish Air Force and the Korea Coast Guard. The first of three Danish aircraft entered ...

• Patrol boats

  Flyvefisken Class

  Fourteen Flyvefisken-class (Standard Flex 300) patrol vessels were built by Aalborg Shipyard, which has since shut down and entered service with the Danish Navy. The ...