• Naval Warfare

  Newest US Coast Guard cutters go after Chinese vessels sailing in the Arctic

  9th September 2025

  Cutters Earl Cunningham and Storis have been monitoring five Beijing research vessels navigating in the North Pole.

• 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

  Applied Intuition takes aim at major air combat programmes with UK expansion

  14th August 2025

  The autonomous software company’s new UK subsidiary is the latest in a line of businesses poised to expand and offer its services to the UK Ministry of Defence and industry, as the country invests more in AI and autonomous technology to deliver the next generation of uncrewed systems.

• Air Warfare

  Expanded focus – unleashing the potential of commercial SATCOM for defence

  17th June 2025

  In conversation... Intelsat's Ray Lindenmayer talks to Shephard's Gerrard Cowan about the new capabilities advanced commercial SATCOM technologies can provide for military customers, and how industry and government can best work together to achieve maximum effect in orbit.

• 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%.

• Defence Notes

  France unveils new strategic review as Macron vows to accelerate defence spend

  15th July 2025

  The 2025 National Strategic Review highlights the importance of readiness against a growing Russian threat and was published days after a speech from the French President Macron who called for an increase in defence spending worth €6.5 billion by 2027.

• Air Warfare

  Paris Air Show 2025: A400M production moved forward as development plans outlined

  17th June 2025

  It is more than a decade since the Airbus A400M tactical lift aircraft entered service. More than 130 aircraft are in service around the world with nine countries, while another order has been made by Indonesia. The company is now looking to lower operational costs and increase the number of potential missions.

• Air Warfare

  Eurofighter eyes mid-life upgrade for Typhoon jets, with production increase underway

  26th June 2025

  With roughly 80% of combat missions flown by Typhoons in Europe, the Eurofighter consortium is emphasising the continued relevance of its jet and wants to ramp up production to continue to deliver combat mass in light of a shifting geo-political world order.

• Air Warfare

  Paris Air Show 2025: New capabilities, partnerships and next-gen programmes remain priority for industry

  12th June 2025

  As European countries increase their defence budgets, the Paris Air Show will look to how the aerospace industry’s responds, with programme progression, new technology and industrial partnerships all expected to take centre stage at Le Bourget.

• 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.

• Naval Warfare

  Final US Navy Independence-class Littoral Combat Ship concludes acceptance testing

  24th June 2025

  After troubled progress with the Littoral Combat Ship programme, the US Navy plans to commission USS Pierre (LCS 38) this autumn.

• Defence Notes

  Singapore plots a way forward with new technology and formation reform

  24th July 2025

  Singapore spends about 3.5% of GDP on defence and the section’s budget sits on high on the proportion of national spending. The country is investing in uncrewed technology, medium- and long-range fires and new submarines and ships with the hunt also on for new maritime patrol aircraft.

• Air Warfare

  Rolls-Royce wins $711 million contract to support UK Royal Air Force Typhoon engines

  9th May 2025

  The contract covers maintenance and service for the EJ200 engine that powers the UK Royal Air Force’s Typhoon fleet.

• Air Warfare

  New UAVs: is the right capability being procured for the British Army?

  26th May 2025

  Following the retirement of Watchkeeper from the UK Armed Forces, what drone capabilities will be next sought as a replacement?

• Naval Warfare

  US Coast Guard commissions first icebreaker acquired in the last 25 years

  11th August 2025

  The Cutter Storis officially entered service with the Branch on 10 August. The new capability will be operated from Juneau, Alaska.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - micro, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Multidomian Micro Drones [USSOCOM]

  Background Special Notice On 14 November 2024, a Special Notice was released that informed the industry that the US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) was looking for ...

• LTTV

  Programme Background The LTTV is to equip the combat support and combat service support elements of the Belgian SOF and the Belgian Army's two Ranger ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  NH90 Special Forces [France]

  Programme Background In French service, advanced H225M Caracals with aerial refuelling capabilities are used by SOF units of the French Air Force (FAF) and French ...

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

  Attritable Multirotor First Person View (AM-FPV) [US]

  Background SOF Week 2025 Speaking to Shephard at Special Operations Forces (SOF) Week 2025, Performance Drone Work's (PDW) CEO Ryan Gury, stated that the Attritable Multirotor First Person View (AM-FPV) was ...

• Pegaz Special Operations Vehicles

  Programme BackgroundRequirementThe Polish MoD has a long-standing requirement to procure a new 4x4 tactical vehicle to replace the M1165A1 HMMWVs and Oshkosh M-ATVs currently in ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  SOF Vehicles (Bulgaria)

  Programme Background The Bulgarian MoD is investing in the modernisation of the Bulgarian Armed Forces by procuring new equipment for all of its branches, including ...

• Zmag SOF Vehicle (Israel)

  Programme Background Originally designed by and marketed by Ido Cohen, the Zmag is part of a family of ATVs aimed at both civilian and military customers. In ...

• SOV-Cdo Replacement (Australia)

  Programme Background The Australian MoD plans to invest in new equipment for its SOF units to allow the ADF to respond more effectively and more ...

• Zmag SOF Vehicle (Batch 2) [Israel]

  Programme Background Originally designed by and marketed by Ido Cohen, the Zmag is part of a family of ATVs aimed at both civilian and military customers. In ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | GlobalEye [Canada]

  In February 2026, the Canadian AI company Cohere signed a new partnership with Saab for integration of Artificial Intelligence technologies onto the Global Eye AEW&C; ...

• Data links

  Data links | GlobalEye [Canada]

  In February 2026, the Canadian AI company Cohere signed a new partnership with Saab for integration of Artificial Intelligence technologies onto the Global Eye AEW&C; ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | GlobalEye [Canada]

  In February 2026, the Canadian AI company Cohere signed a new partnership with Saab for integration of Artificial Intelligence technologies onto the Global Eye AEW&C; ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | GlobalEye [Canada]

  In February 2026, the Canadian AI company Cohere signed a new partnership with Saab for integration of Artificial Intelligence technologies onto the Global Eye AEW&C; ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | ISTAR Aircraft [South Korea]

  The Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) has a requirement for up to four intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance (ISTAR) aircraft to supplement its ...

• Data links

  Data links | ISTAR Aircraft [South Korea]

  The Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) has a requirement for up to four intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance (ISTAR) aircraft to supplement its ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

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

  Attritable Multirotor First Person View (AM-FPV)

  Unveiled in May 2025, the Attritable Multirotor First Person View (AM-FPV) is a low-cost, rapidly deployable platform for strike and ISR missions, inspired by battlefield lessons from ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

  Thunder TM-1025

  The SOF Thunder comprises one variant in a wider family of TM-1025 RIBs currently in service with the Polish armed forces. The SOF Thunder is ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  VOS-APP

  The Arquus VOS-APP is a 6x6 support vehicle currently under trial with the French SOF. Acting as a replacement for the 1970s-vintage ACMAT VLRA, the VOS-APP is the ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

  ZH-753

  The Zodiac Hurricane 753 OB SAR is typically used as a shore-based boat operating independently in SAR, counterterrorism and law enforcement missions. The deep-V fibreglass ...

• Loitering munitions

  Red Dragon

  The Red Dragon is a loitering munition from AeroVironment. According to the company, it is designed for one-way attack missions in high-threat, GPS-denied and communications-degraded environments. Unveiled in ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

  Ares 35 Harpoon

  The Ares 35 Harpoon has been designed for interception & interdiction operations, as well as anti-smuggling, SOF insertion and extraction, surveillance and patrolling missions.

• Data links

  GSNC

  Global Secure Network Connection (GSNC) provides a global data communications solution for military aircraft, including bomber, refuelling and transport aircraft. The GSNC system uses Iridium ...

• Swimmer delivery vehicles

  Shallow Water Combat Submersible (SWCS)​

  The USN has contracted Teledyne Brown to develop the Shallow Water Combat Submersible (SWCS) as part of a wider effort to develop new underwater transports for ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

  Ares 55 Harpoon

  The Ares 55 Harpoon is a fast interceptor craft by Ares Shipyard for interception & interdiction operations, as well as anti-smuggling, SOF insertion and extraction, ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

  Ares 65 Harpoon

  The Ares 65 Harpoon is a fast interceptor craft by Ares Shipyard for interception & interdiction operations, as well as anti-smuggling, SOF insertion and extraction, surveillance and ...

• Submachine guns

  FN SCAR-SC

  FN Herstal unveiled the 5.56mm FN SCAR-SC (Subcompact Carbine), the newest member of the SCAR (SOF Combat Assault Rifle) family originally developed for the US ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - HALE

  Global Observer

  The AeroVironment Global Observer HALE UAV was a developmental HALE UAV designed for various civil, commercial and government applications.  Development of the platform began in 2007 ...

• Global HET

  Built to haul payloads of up to 72.6t, the Oshkosh Global Heavy Equipment Transporter (HET) is a mover for some of the heaviest military equipment. ...

• Subsystems: software

  Global Teach

  Global Teach training management systems provide support for educational processes. Inovex’s military-adapted training management system oversees training processes from planning to controlling, independently from the ...

• Individual grenade launchers

  XRGL40

  The XRGL40 is an extended-range 40mm handheld multi-shot weapon able to engage at ranges up to 800m. Fitted with the GR40 multi-velocity programmable sight (see ...