• Naval Warfare

  US Navy advances with the Harpoon Service Life Extension Programme

  16th December 2025

  The US Navy plans to improve Harpoon’s anti-ship and land attack capabilities by equipping the missiles with sensors and technologies required for succeeding in future battlespace.

• Land Warfare

  UK agrees parallel development and production process for British Army Challenger 3

  23rd January 2026

  In a bid to accelerate delivery of the British Army’s Challenger 3 main battle tank, which has just carried out its first crewed firings with the latest Rheinmetall 120mm L55A1 smoothbore gun, the UK has opted for an unconventional approach.

• Air Warfare

  Dubai Airshow 2025: Embraer strengthens C-390 UAE bid with completion centre plans

  18th November 2025

  The proposals, along with a recent MoU signed with local industry, move the company another step forward in its bid to replace the UAE’s ageing transport aircraft.

• Naval Warfare

  US Navy seeks AI software suppliers to bolster air and missile defence

  8th October 2025

  The US Navy is conducting market research to find AI software products for the Collaborative Integrated Air and Missile Defence Planning Programme.

• Land Warfare

  AUSA 2025: German RCH 155 gets tracks

  14th October 2025

  KNDS Deutschland has unveiled a tracked Boxer demonstrator integrating the RCH 155 turret, offering lower ground pressure, on-the-move firing and an ISO-container resupply solution as customers line up for mobility-focused artillery.

• Land Warfare

  “Timelines are measured in seconds”: tackling the UAS threat with dispersed defences

  17th July 2026

  Small uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) have transformed the battlespace, posing a complex threat across all domains. Militaries now need counter-UAS (CUAS) capabilities that defeat the danger while meeting demands around readiness, manoeuvrability and adaptability, according to Mike Spina, Director, Global Sales and Business Development for Targeting and Sensor Systems (TSS) at L3Harris Technologies.

• Air Warfare

  Sweden confirms order for four C-390 Millennium aircraft

  8th October 2025

  The firm order also included options for seven more aircraft as part of the joint European procurement for the multi-role aircraft, allowing for potential future European acquisitions.

• Naval Warfare

  Gulf tensions force Western navies to confront mine warfare shortfalls

  2nd April 2026

  The conversion of RFA Lyme Bay comes during signs that European navies may once again need to cooperate on Gulf mine clearance operations.

• Land Warfare

  Scorpion light mortar completes tests with US Army and moves to next exercise

  29th October 2025

  Having completed five days of trials with the US Army, the two Scorpion Light mortar systems will stay in Hawaii to take part in planned Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center training exercises in early November.

• Defence Notes

  How US Special Operations Forces are using AI to transform modern warfare

  29th May 2026

  USSOCOM is expanding the use of artificial intelligence, autonomous systems and human-machine teaming to improve decision-making, survivability and operational reach in contested environments.

• Air Warfare

  AUSA 2025: Lockheed Martin conducts first ground-based demo of JAGM Quad Launcher

  13th October 2025

  The first live-fire demonstration of the Joint Air-to-Ground Missile Quad Launcher was tested against a ground vehicle, with further tests against a UAS target planned for the system next month.

• Land Warfare

  2025 land market review: British Army woes, European heavy armour and US MBT progress

  18th December 2025

  The last year has seen several major procurements in the land market. Shephard’s Dr Peter Magill reviews the main trends and themes in land procurement of 2025.

• Naval Warfare

  US Coast Guard starts construction of first Waterways Commerce Cutter

  23rd June 2025

  By replacing capabilities that are more than 60 years old, the Inland Construction Tenders will support the building, repairing and maintaining of fixed aids to navigation.

• Naval Warfare

  Italy’s U212 Near Future Submarine production builds pace as upgrade plans mature

  21st April 2026

  Andrea Simone Pinna, OCCAR-EA combat system officer for the U212 NFS programme, outlined production progress, new capabilities and plans for the Italian Navy’s next-generation conventional submarine.

• Naval Warfare

  What capabilities has the US deployed in the Caribbean and South America to engage “drug boats”?

  7th November 2025

  The US arsenal includes amphibious assault and littoral combat ships, cutters, destroyers, landing platform docks, a nuclear-powered fast attack submarine, drones, ISR aircraft, helicopters and fighters.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Fighter - multirole

  F-X III Phase II (F-35) [South Korea]

  Programme Background On 14 September 2014, South Korea signed an FMS contract under the first phase of F-X III programme to supply 40 F-35As for ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-35B (1-12) [Singapore]

  Programme Background Singapore is renowned as a discerning and demanding customer, so its selection of the F-35 must be seen as a vote of confidence ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-35A Japan

  In 2019, Japan requested to be an official partner in the F-35 programme, but this request was rejected by the Pentagon. The F-35 Joint Strike ...

• Military helicopters - light/training

  SW4 Puszczyk Replacement [Poland]

  Programme Background  In 2002, Poland order 47 SW4 training helicopters from Italian manufacturer Leonardo; as of Spring 2025, the Ministry of Defence is looking to ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-35A Japan Follow On

  The F-35 full-rate production is expected to be further delayed following an October 2020 US DoD announcement that postponed the simulation tests, originally planned for 2017 ...

• Military helicopters - light/training

  Future Aircrew Training Program [Canada]

  Background The FAcT requires to graduate 120 pilots, 40 combat systems officers and 36 airborne electronic sensor operators per year with 15% fluctuation. Training services are ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-35A Joint Strike Fighter - USAF

  Background The programme’s early competitive phase included three different airframe designs. Boeing submitted one design, Lockheed Martin submitted another, and McDonnell Douglas submitted a third ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-35B [Japan]

  F-35B was selected on 16 August 2019 for Japan's short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) multirole fighter aircraft requirement. Tokyo is planning  ‘partial refurbishment of ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Sistema RPAS Táctico de Altas Prestaciones (SiRTAP) [Spain]

  Background MoU In 2017, it was announced that Spain and Colombia were jointly developing a MALE UAV to meet the ISR requirements of both countries’ ...

• Military helicopters - light/training

  Bell 505 (South Korea - Army)

  Programme Background Requirement South Korea operates an ageing fleet of Bell UH-1s and MD 500s for training purposes. The country has already replaced a part of ...

• Military helicopters - light/training

  Bell 505 (South Korea - Navy)

  Programme Background Requirement South Korea operates an ageing fleet of Bell UH-1s and MD 500s for training purposes. The country has already replaced a part of ...

• Main battle tanks

  Main Battle Tank Upgrade [Australia]

  Programme Background Between 2006 and 2007, the Australian Army received 59 M1A1 AIM SA Abrams MBTs under Project Land 907 Phase 1. These vehicles were planned to ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Sistema RPAS Táctico de Altas Prestaciones (SiRTAP) [Colombia]

  Background MoU In 2017, it was announced that Spain was jointly developing a MALE UAV with Colombia to meet the ISR requirement of both armed ...

• Trainer

  Future Aircrew Training Program [Canada]

  Background Requirement The new procurement will result in one contract covering all the requirements, including maintenance and infrastructure services. Canada’s Industrial and Technological Benefits Policy ...

• Maritime patrol

  P-8A Poseidon [UK]

  Background In July 2016, the UK government announced that it had ordered nine aircraft for service with the RAF. Under this frame, in January 2019, ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Land: C2 simulators

  GESI

  The GESI (Gefechtssimulation System or combat simulation system) is a constructive simulation system designed to run complex and comprehensive joint and combined exercises at tactical ...

• Air: air combat simulators

  Distributed and Networked Mission Training

  Airbus D&S; networks training systems to enable joint and distributed mission training across local and national boundaries, generating realistic and needs-oriented scenarios. The solution uses ...

• Land: vehicle simulators

  Leopard 2E Simulators

  Indra was prime contractor for the Spanish Army Leopard 2E Tank Simulation Programme, which involved 23 devices across driving, turret and platoon simulators with networking ...

• Land: tactical engagement simulators

  Instrumented Ground Combat Training Systems

  Cubic supplies combat training systems for CTCs, homestations and forward-deployed environments. The systems are designed to support missions including force-on-force, urban operations, joint, combined arms ...

• Sea: tactical training

  UAE NTC

  In 2016, CAE was awarded a contract to design and deliver a comprehensive Naval Training Centre (NTC) to the UAE Navy. The UAE NTC will ...

• Land: C2 simulators

  JLCCTC

  The Joint Land Component Constructive Training Capability (JLCCTC) integrates seven command and battle staff training tools into a simulation-based system. JLCCTC will support US Army, ...

• Land: tactical engagement simulators

  ECOSim - Tactics

  The ECOSim (Enhanced Company Operations Simulation) is a company-level training simulation device that teaches leaders how best to deploy troops, UAVs, convoys and other assets. ...

• Land: battle management systems

  KOCATEPE (TACCIS)

  Aselsan KOCATEPE is a battle management system which provides a software-based solution for headquarters staff at the brigade level and above. According to news sources, it ...

• Air: air combat simulators

  ANTares Joint and Combined Tactical Training

  Rheinmetall’s Advanced Network Trainer (ANTares) is designed to support the military needs for joint and combined training with networked and interoperable land-, air- and sea-based ...

• Major networking projects

  JCSS

  The Joint Communication Simulation System (JCSS) provides communications planners and system analysts with the capability to validate support plans, analyse existing and proposed network architectures ...

• Subsystems: software

  OneSAF

  The One Semi-Automated Force (OneSAF) is an open-source, common constructive simulation platform used by the US Army, joint and international communities as well as non-military ...

• Land: C2 simulators

  Joint Warfare Training Center

  This system provides multi-level simulation of joint forces operations (Air Force, Army and Navy) for training of tactical proficiency of divisions', brigades' and battalions' commanding ...

• Air: fixed-wing flight simulators

  Rafale Simulator

  Thales, Sogitec and Dassault Aviation have together developed two pilot training centres to support the training of Rafale fighter pilots. The Saint-Dizier Rafale simulation centre ...

• Subsystems: software

  Simulation

  From physics-based dynamics and intelligent entity behaviours to tactical and operational missions, Presagis simulation software tools address the rigorous challenges of M&S; applications. Its simulation ...

• Subsystems: visual

  Independence IDX 7000 ER

  The IDX 7000 image generator provides real-time image generation for simulation, training and mission rehearsal applications, with up to four video channels per low-profile 1U ...