• Land Warfare

  As the Ukraine war passes the 18-month mark, how are NATO’s factories meeting the artillery challenge?

  18th September 2023

  NATO is rapidly increasing its supply of equipment to Ukraine in a number of key areas including tube artillery and, crucially, its ammunition. Shephard analyses how the alliance's members are stepping up to this challenge after years of industrial neglect.

• Air Warfare

  Indonesia signs MoU for Boeing F-15EX fighters

  22nd August 2023

  Perhaps somewhat surprisingly, Indonesia is still showing interest in obtaining F-15EX fighters from the US.

• Land Warfare

  Patria MUSCL – Enabling covert airspace surveillance

  7th September 2023

  Airspace surveillance is like playing hide and seek. Except you are both hiding and seeking at the same time, and you are doing it in multiple domains – on land, in the air, and in the electromagnetic spectrum.

• Naval Warfare

  Indian Navy tries again to procure minehunters, but this time it goes futuristic

  4th September 2023

  The Indian Navy is looking to the future with MCMVs that integrate a lot of autonomous technology. Meanwhile, other construction projects, such as ASWSWCs and survey vessels, are proceeding.

• Land Warfare

  Slovakia to buy Oshkosh JLTVs in modernisation push

  17th July 2023

  The Slovak Armed Forces will acquire 160 Oshkosh 4x4 Joint Light Tactical Vehicles (JLTVs), enhancing their capabilities and advancing modernisation efforts.

• Naval Warfare

  Insight: How rising tensions have fuelled the Type 26 frigate's development

  12th September 2023

  Slated to enter service in the late 2020s, the Type 26 frigate addresses the pressing need for enhanced ASW capabilities, particularly in light of heightened tensions with Russia. Shephard Defence Insight analyses the design and its equipment fit.

• Land Warfare

  Hanwha's Redback selected as preferred solution for Land 400 Phase 3 IFV

  27th July 2023

  Hanwha Defense Australia has been chosen as the preferred bidder for the Land 400 Phase 3 programme, providing 129 Redback IFVs to the Australian Army. The vehicles will be delivered at an accelerated rate with the first in 2027 and last expected before the end of 2028.

• Land Warfare

  Germany, Netherlands place €1.9 billion order for Caracal airmobile vehicles

  11th July 2023

  Germany and the Netherlands have signed a contract with Rheinmetall for the supply of Caracal airmobile platforms, worth €1.9 billion.

• Naval Warfare

  Insight: Gowind 2500 corvette enjoys strong export business despite Romanian rejection

  5th September 2023

  France's Naval Group's Gowind 2500 corvette, designed for multiple naval missions, has gained popularity worldwide. Shephard Defence Insight provides detailed analysis of its export contracts, armament and technical specifications.

• Air Warfare

  Chinese balloon affair prompts lawmakers' push on Pentagon to improve air and sea detection

  7th August 2023

  The US Senate Committee on Appropriations has proposed an additional $293.5 million for new and upgraded radars plus communications equipment to protect the US homeland.

• Digital Battlespace

  Riding the Data Wave: How the Military is Harnessing the Power of Data Integration (Studio)

  24th August 2023

  The future battlefield is extending beyond traditional realms; it is blending our physical world with new, digital realms. Success in the future operating environment will be dependent on leveraging a seamlessly integrated, data-driven, multi-domain environment that can efficiently defend against sophisticated technological threats.

• Naval Warfare

  French nuclear sub Perle returns to action after fire damage

  10th July 2023

  Following sea trials, Rubis-class nuclear-powered attack submarine (SSN) Perle has been delivered back to the French Navy following extensive repair works after a catastrophic fire in 2020.

• Land Warfare

  Indian Army seeks ATGMs for BMP-2s and machine guns

  20th July 2023

  The Indian Army is hunting for medium-calibre machine guns, plus anti-tank guided missiles for its fleet of BMP-2 vehicles.

• Naval Warfare

  Defence AI company Helsing envisions benefits for ASW, amplifying sensor capabilities

  24th July 2023

  According to defence AI company Helsing, the technology could improve how navies conduct anti-submarine warfare (ASW) operations.

• Land Warfare

  Insight: The UK's Challenger 3 tank programme gets ready for service in 2025

  4th September 2023

  Initially planned for service entry between 2027 and 2030, the British Army's first Challenger 3 tanks remain on track for accelerated delivery in 2025. Shephard Defence Insight provides full technical details and a programme update for this vital UK armoured capability.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military helicopters - multirole

  UH-60M - Jordan

  On 7 July 2020, the US State Department announced that it has approved a possible FMS of one UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter and related equipment ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Offshore Patrol Cutters (OPC 10 to OPC 25)

  The US Coast Guard (USCG) is planning on having up to 25 Offshore Patrol Cutters (OPC's) to replace the aging 29 medium-endurance cutters.The OPC programme ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Offshore Patrol Cutters (OPC 10 to OPC 25)

  The US Coast Guard (USCG) is planning on having up to 25 Offshore Patrol Cutters (OPC's) to replace the aging 29 medium-endurance cutters.The OPC programme ...

• Corvettes

  Merkuriy Class (Project 20386)

  Programme Background Requirements The Russian Navy has been streamlining the number of new ship classes to reduce logistic and maintenance costs, meaning around two to ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  4x4 Vehicles [Dominican Republic]

  Programme Background Requirement The Dominican Republic shares a border with Haiti, whose security situation has worsened since the 2010 earthquake. In order to improve border ...

• Loitering munitions

  Attack & Surveillance Drones (Ukraine Aid) [UK]

  Programme Background 1000th Day On 19 November 2024, the UK Government announced a new military support package for Ukraine, which would supply £7.5 million ($9.4 ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  KC-130J [Saudi Arabia]

  Programme Background On 20 May 2017, President Donald Trump signed a Memorandum of Intent for a $109.7 billion arms deal with Saudi Arabia, including $5.8 ...

• Maritime patrol

  Maritime Patrol Aircraft [Greece]

  Programme Background Requirement The Greek government issued a request for proposals in 2023, with a focus on acquiring modern, all-weather maritime surveillance aircraft. The intended ...

• Transport

  C-27 Spartan (Third Batch) [Peru]

  Programme Background In the early 2010s, the Peruvian Air Force started a transport aircraft programme to modernise its transport wing with a platform which can traverse ...

• Frigates

  Type 054A/P (Pakistan)

  Programme Background Contracts Pakistan has ordered four frigates from China under the Type 054AP programme, which refers to the vessels being based on the Peoples ...

• Light attack

  M-346 FA [Brazil]

  Programme Background Requirement Brazil operates several A-1 (AMX) light attack aircraft, which were produced by Embraer in partnership with Leonardo in the 1980s. Similarly, the ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Multirole Fighter (Taiwan)

  Programme Background Taiwan claims that Chinese fighter jets are often crossing into the island's air defence zone. The Republic of China Air Force is looking for options ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

  PKX-B Batch II (1-4) [South Korea]

  Programme Background Contracts Award On 24 November 2022, HJ Heavy Industries was awarded a contract worth KRW212 billion ($160 million) to build four PKX-B Batch-II fast attack ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors, Patrol boats

  Gun Boats (Pakistan)

  Programme Background Timeline The first steel cutting for these boats occurred on 6 October 2022. The PN is seeking 20 vessels; the first one should ...

• Trainer

  Hurjet (1-17) [Türkiye]

  Programme Background The Turkish Executive Committee of Defence Industry (SSIK) has officially given the green light to mass production of the Hürjet trainer and light ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Air: Integrated Defensive Systems

  ACES

  Raytheon's Advanced Countermeasures Electronic System (ACES) is an Integrated Self-Protection System (ISPS) designed to equip Lockheed Martin F-16 series combat aircraft. It includes sub-systems from ...

• Air: air combat simulators

  Royal Moroccan Air Force F-16 ATD

  L3Harris Technologies continues to upgrade the fielded F-16C Block 52 Aircrew Training Devices to include updates to the current Morocco F-16 OFP Tape and replacement ...

• Land: range systems and targets

  Table Top Trainer Family

  The Table Top Trainer family is driven by customer demand for cost-effective and mobile simulation solutions for training in special functions such as laying bridges ...

• Sea: naval surveillance radar

  Fregat M2EM / Top Plate

  The Fregat M2EM, part of the 'Top Plate' radar family, is a three-dimensional, naval air and surface surveillance radar manufactured in Russia. The system is known to ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-16A/B Block 1, 5, 10, 15, 20

  The F-16 Fighting Falcon programme started as a low-cost, highly manoeuvrable day fighter to complement the higher-cost, heavier McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle air superiority fighter. ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  Ajban LRSOV

  The Ajban Long-Range Special Operations Vehicle (LRSOV) is an open-top 4x4 long-range reconnaissance vehicle based on Nimr's Ajban multipurpose vehicle. The LRSOV seats four crew ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  Patsas

  Unveiled at Eurosatory 2012, the 4x4 Bastion Patsas is an open-top variant of ACMAT's Bastion family developed for SF operations. In 2012, Chad became the ...

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

  STR-50

  The STR-50 is a rotary-wing UAV manufactured by Stromkind.  Little is known about the platform. It was seen displayed on top of a Boxer 8x8 ...

• Titan MkIV

  The Titan MkIV is an octorotor UAV designed for industrial and commercial applications, such as inspection, data collection and surveillance. It is capable of carrying ...

• Land: vehicle simulators

  Convoy Table-Top Crew Station

  The Convoy Table-Top Crew Station simulates commander, driver and gunner positions of a HMMWV or tactical truck. The gunner position features a head-mounted display for ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  KG-255 INE

  The AltaSec KG-255 is an NSA-certified Type 1 inline network encryptor (INE) that supports the secure exchange of classified information, up to the Top Secret ...

• Military - USVs

  Adaro

  Adaro is a rugged, man-portable, X-class USV. Its series-hybrid energy system allows for quiet operation, including at top speeds, while the heavy fuel-based range extender ...

• Individual grenade launchers

  LG4

  The LG4 is a six-chamber, revolving-cylinder, shoulder-fired, semi-automatic 40x46mm grenade launcher. It is fitted with a top rail for optical sights and a bottom rail ...

• Z-Boat 1800

  The Z-Boat 1800 is a remotely operated hydrographic survey boat which includes GNSS positioning, echo sounder and GPS. It has a typical survey speed of ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Multi-role Armored System (MARS) 4x4

  The MARS 4x4 is a mobile air defence platform manufactured by the Czech company SVOS. Originally designed with an open top, soon after its unveiling, ...