• Naval Warfare

  How will NATO’s Baltic Sentry work to protect undersea cables in the Baltic Sea?

  3rd March 2025

  The rise in incidents of damage to subsea cabling in the Baltic Seahas driven NATO to commit to bolstering the action of local navies. But how effective can it be?

• Land Warfare

  Digital backbone: bringing new capabilities to the UK defence market

  29th August 2025

  In Conversation: Shephard’s Gerrard Cowan talks to Bittium’s newly appointed general manager for UK defence, Dean Aldridge, about how the company’s tactical communications technologies can empower the British armed forces, and its ambitions for the UK market.

• Air Warfare

  Why is the US far behind Russia and China in the space warfare domain?

  21st April 2025

  While Beijing and Moscow have been working on anti-satellite weapons at an accelerated speed, Washington still does not have capabilities to defeat them, with one US legislator describing the situation as “the Cuban Missile Crisis in space”.

• Land Warfare

  Rheinmetall starts work on a new Lithuanian artillery factory

  29th November 2024

  Rheinmetall’s new factory in Lithuania will produce hundreds of thousands of artillery shells and operations will begin in 2026.

• Land Warfare

  What does the future hold for North Korean troops in Ukraine?

  3rd February 2025

  Various questions remain unanswered regarding the presence of North Korean troops in Ukraine.

• Land Warfare

  Energy evolution: How laser defence systems are powering the next phase of air defence (podcast)

  11th June 2025

  Laser-based air defence is moving from promise to deployment as global threats evolve. In this special podcast, we explore how high-energy laser systems are reshaping interception strategies.

• Land Warfare

  Italy aims for $26 billion vehicle investment and prepares for cyber defence

  3rd February 2025

  Italy’s Armoured Infantry Combat System (AICS) system began seven years ago in an effort to replace older vehicles such as M113s and the force is also looking to replace its C1 Ariete Main Battle Tanks (MBTs).

• Land Warfare

  IDEX 2025: Shifting sands – the Middle East’s defence landscape in flux (video)

  13th February 2025

  As Western influence wanes, Middle Eastern countries are leveraging defence modernisation to assert regional dominance, while global players such as China and Turkey seize new market opportunities. Sam Hart, Senior Land Analyst at Shephard Group, offers insights into how these developments are reshaping the region’s defence landscape.

• Land Warfare

  Aselsan has started producing Akkor active protection system for Altay tank

  24th January 2025

  Akkor is an active protection system (APS) developed by Aselsan, equipped with both hard- and soft-kill functionalities. It provides protection against antitank missiles and rockets for armoured vehicles and is designed for Turkey’s Leopard and Altay tanks.

• Land Warfare

  Engineering and design mean smaller vehicles can be tank killers but is it a good idea?

  29th September 2025

  The eulogy for the dedicated tank hunter or buster appears to have been written with most armies putting them out to retirement in the face of alternatives like longer-range missiles or uncrewed aerial systems (UAS). However, arming infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) or armoured personnel carriers (APCs) with medium-range missiles seems to indicate some kind of tank killer is required.

• Naval Warfare

  Virginia and Columbia-class submarine programmes sign long-term parts deals

  10th January 2025

  Parts from both US and Australian manufacturers will be used to build two critical submarine classes.

• Air Warfare

  Spain makes order for 25 Eurofighter Typhoons

  20th December 2024

  Known as the Halcon II programme, the order covers 21 single-seat and four twin-seat aircraft, set to be delivered between 2030 and 2035.

• Air Warfare

  UAVs for Ukraine: Europe is willing to spend

  4th March 2025

  Despite President Donald Trump’s suspension of military aid to Ukraine, Shephard Defence Insight data suggests that in relation to UAVs, Europe and its non-US NATO allies are more than willing to fill any spending vacuum and are already contributing more than twice as much as the US.

• Land Warfare

  IDEX 2025: IAI pushes ahead with new systems as international interest is roused in Iron Dome

  18th February 2025

  Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) CEO Boaz Levy spoke to Shephard about the company’s decades-long development of it missile portfolio, at a time when countries around the world have been demonstrating a growing appetite in procuring national missile defence systems.

• Naval Warfare

  Pakistan Navy takes second OPV 2600 vessel from Damen

  23rd December 2024

  The PNS Yamama completes the class of maritime security vessels.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - small

  WanderB or ThunderB [Colombia]

  Programme Background Expodefensa 2019 During Colombia's Expodefensa 2019 exhibition, BlueBird Aero Systems displayed its ThunderB VTOL small UAV. Reportedly, the Colombian Army requested information on ...

• Patrol boats

  Mk VI Patrol Boat - Ukraine (7-8) Optional

  Programme Background The Mk VI is described as the USN's next-generation patrol boat and is currently in service with the US Navy's Coastal Riverine Forces (CRF). The ...

• Patrol boats

  Mk VI Patrol Boat - Ukraine (1-6)

  Programme Background The Mk VI is described as the USN's next-generation patrol boat and is currently in service with the US Navy's Coastal Riverine Forces (CRF). The ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  Category 3 UCAV [Brazil]

  Background Notice On 19 March 2025, the Brazilian Army General Staff (EME) published a notice to survey the national and international market for the supply of ...

• Loitering munitions

  Altius 600M & Altius 700M (Ukraine Aid) [UK]

  Programme Background Anduril On 6 March 2025, the UK MoD and John Healey, the Secretary of State for Defence, announced a package to help counter Russia's aggression against ...

• OPVs

  Teresa Magbanua Class [Philippines]

  Programme Background The Philippine Department of Transportation (DOTr) signed a contract for two 94m multi-role response vessels (MRRVs) in February 2020 to be built by ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  Wing Loong I [Eygpt]

  Programme Background SIPRI According to data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), in 2016, Eygpt ordered around 10 Wing Loong I aircraft from China, which were ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | EA-37B [Italy]

  On 21 July 2025, Italy awarded L3Harris, in partnership with BAE Systems, a $300 million contract for two EA-37B Electronic Attack aircraft. BAE Systems is set ...

• Data links

  Data links | EA-37B [Italy]

  On 21 July 2025, Italy awarded L3Harris, in partnership with BAE Systems, a $300 million contract for two EA-37B Electronic Attack aircraft. BAE Systems is set ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | EA-37B [Italy]

  On 21 July 2025, Italy awarded L3Harris, in partnership with BAE Systems, a $300 million contract for two EA-37B Electronic Attack aircraft. BAE Systems is set ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | EA-37B [Italy]

  On 21 July 2025, Italy awarded L3Harris, in partnership with BAE Systems, a $300 million contract for two EA-37B Electronic Attack aircraft. BAE Systems is set ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | NRE+ (Navio Reabastecedor de Esquadra e Logístico) [Portugal]

  Portugal urges to replace NRP Bérrio, a fleet support tanker which was decommissioned in 2020. In December 2023, during an interview with Portuguese media, the Chief ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | NRE+ (Navio Reabastecedor de Esquadra e Logístico) [Portugal]

  Portugal urges to replace NRP Bérrio, a fleet support tanker which was decommissioned in 2020. In December 2023, during an interview with Portuguese media, the Chief ...

• Data links

  Data links | M-346 [Italy]

  In 2023, the Italian Ministry of Defence launched a procurement programme to replace its MB-339A aircraft with the M-346 Advanced Jet Trainer (T-346A). This effort involves 38 ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  Air: Helmet-mounted displays | M-346 [Italy]

  In 2023, the Italian Ministry of Defence launched a procurement programme to replace its MB-339A aircraft with the M-346 Advanced Jet Trainer (T-346A). This effort involves 38 ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Riptide Mk II

  At Oceanology International 2018, Riptide Autonomous Solutions presented its second-generation micro-UUV – the Mk II. The Riptide Mk II UUV has a maximum speed of ...

• Military - USVs

  C-Worker 15

  C-Worker 15 is a large uncrewed surface vessel (USV) built by L-3 Harris designed specifically for towing payloads and deploying Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs).

• Data links

  GNOMAD International

  Global Network On the Move – Active Distribution (GNOMAD) is an exportable SATCOM on-the-move system supplying a mobile network for military and government vehicles. The ...

• Fighter - ground attack

  AMX International

  The AMX International is a ground attack aircraft manufactured by AMX International, a consortium of Italy's Leonardo (Alenia and Aermacchi) and Brazil's Embraer, the latter ...

• International Modeling and Simulation

  Alion supports international customers with M&S strategies that include requirements and strategic planning; establishment of national simulation centres; Emergency Management and Crisis Response Emergency Operations ...

• Cannons

  40 CTAS

  CTA International has developed the 40 mm Cased Telescoped Armament System (40 CTAS) for integration into armoured vehicles for either new build or systems upgrades. ...

• EO/IR systems

  UltraFORCE 380-HDc

  The UltraFORCE 380-HDc is an EO/IR system from Teledyne FLIR. Unveiled at Farnborough International Airshow in 2024, it is an International Traffic in Arms Regulations-free (ITAR-free) version ...

• Air: helicopter flight simulators

  Helicopter Underwater Escape Training Simulator (HUET)

  The Helicopter Underwater Escape Trainer (HUET) facility is designed and built by Meteksan Defence based on international standards and OPITO criteria (an international organization defining qualification ...

• Trucks and utility vehicles - 4x4, Trucks and utility vehicles - 6x6

  7000-MV MTV

  The Navistar 7000 series is a range of military heavy-lift vehicles developed by Navistar Defense, based on the Navistar International WorkStar truck chassis. This series ...

• Air: air combat simulators

  Training Support and Services

  Diehl provides professional services to international customers with regard to ACMI systems, including analysis and presentation of mission data. Air force specialists support forces with ...

• Pistols

  STX

  In 2014, Detonics introduced the 9mm STX and in June 2015 announced that it had signed an agreement with STI International to produce the pistol. 

• Sonobuoys

  AN/SSQ-53G DIFAR

  The AN/SSQ-53G DIFAR is made by Ultra Maritime in the USA, it is marketed at international users of the MH-60 and P-8A.

• MPVs - 4x4

  HMAV

  Mildef International Technologies publicly unveiled the prototype High Mobility Armoured Vehicle (HMAV) 4x4 at an event in Sepang in February 2021.  Designed to meet UN ...

• EO/IR systems

  UXG-300

  The UXG-300 is a two-axis high-speed gyro-stabilised gimbal manufactured by UAVision and designed by BCB International. It features continuous 360-degree pan rotation and -105° to ...

• Sonobuoys

  AN/SSQ-53G(GPS) DIFAR Sonobuoy

  The AN/SSQ-53G(GPS) DIFAR Sonobuoy produced by Ultra Maritime is an A-sized passive sonobuoy that is marketed at international customers who require a GPS transmitter.