• Air Warfare

  Germany signs $15 million deal for Black Hornet 4 nano-drones

  25th February 2025

  Teledyne FLIR Defense has delivered more than 33,000 Black Hornet uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAV)s to 45 countries and are being used Ukrainian forces in the war against Russia.

• Land Warfare

  Large 10×10 vehicles go in search of a role

  2nd July 2025

  Wheeled vehicles ranging in size from 4×4 to 8×8 provide high-speed at a good level of mobility compared to tracked. However, tracked can be larger and have a higher level of mobility in marginal terrain with a smaller turning circle. What are the possibilities for a 10×10?

• Land Warfare

  IDEX 2025: GM presents Next Generation Tactical Vehicle as testing drives changes

  13th February 2025

  Key features of the General Motors (GM) Defense Next Generation Tactical Vehicle (Next Gen) is its silent drive mode of operation, its low acoustic signature and its capability to have exportable power.

• Air Warfare

  UVision declares a “first” with helicopter-launched loitering munition to be displayed at Paris Air Show

  6th June 2025

  UVision’s HERO loitering munition family is widely used. As an air-launched loitering munition, however, it is a new concept which could meet a specific declared need of the US Marine Corps.

• Air Warfare

  France pushes for 80% workshare as FCAS programme nears critical development stage

  9th July 2025

  Tensions on the programme have long simmered, with Airbus and Dassault recently clashing over workshare in June ahead of the Paris Air Show. The sixth-generation fighter programme is due to replace Rafale and Eurofighter Typhoon jets beginning in 2040.

• 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.

• Land Warfare

  Latvian ASCOD IFVs to enter service next year as country’s land programmes surge

  1st June 2025

  Latvia is buying Austrian Spanish Cooperative Development (ASCOD) infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs). The country is investing widely including in the purchase of High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), Patria 6×6 vehicles, TRML-4D air defence radars and air defence systems and UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters.

• Naval Warfare

  GAO recommends better oversight of support for shipyards in the face of capacity concerns

  28th February 2025

  The US Government Accountability Office (GAO) believes the US industrial base will struggle to meet US Navy (USN) requirements. This follows recent warnings from USN heads of a decline in resources and that the industrial base is under strain.

• Defence Notes

  Unfolding the Golden Dome for America: Seven things you should know about the programme

  3rd June 2025

  Shephard talked to multiple experts about the most pressing concerns and considerations regarding the air defence system advocated by President Trump.

• Naval Warfare

  US Navy moves quickly with uncrewed vessels and industry follows

  23rd June 2025

  The US Navy (USN) is evolving into a hybrid fleet with uncrewed systems supporting crewed vessels and companies working to provide new solutions. In the case of Ocean Aero, its Triton uncrewed surface vessel can also be used underwater.

• Land Warfare

  The challenge of making the inflatable illusion and training centre

  21st April 2025

  Faking aircraft, yanks and vehicles has a storied history through the previous century but there are others uses for inflatable systems such as more detailed and classified military equipment and training structures.

• Land Warfare

  CV90 user group signs agreement to improve procurement and commonality

  9th June 2025

  The CV90 is in service with or ordered by ten countries. The agreement between six of these countries is designed to create commonality to provide economies of scale and a reduced training burden.

• Land Warfare

  IDEX 2025: AM General and Oshkosh could face battle over British Army vehicle requirement

  19th February 2025

  AM General’s Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV A2) has entered production and is eyeing the light protected (LPV) element of the British Army’s Land Mobility Programme on which it could compete with Oshkosh Defense with the JLTV A1.

• Air Warfare

  Poland air report: Drones, transport aircraft and tankers dominate potential procurement plans

  19th December 2025

  With a rising defence budget and equipment list, Poland’s air market is set to grow as the country continues to modernise its transport and helicopter fleets while seeking out uncrewed aerial vehicles and loitering munitions.

• Air Warfare

  How satcom is shaping the future of fast, accurate warfare (podcast)

  22nd October 2025

  "Speed is the key advantage and accuracy is the key outcome": Amazon Kuiper Government Solutions’ Rick Freeman talks to Shephard’s Georgia Lewis about how space-as-a-service is transforming defence connectivity and access to satellite capabilities.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• LL-UTV (Contracted)

  Programme Background The LL-UTV is intended to increase the tactical mobility of the German Army's airborne forces and possibly also its SOF. A tender for ...

• LL-UTV (Options)

  Programme Background The LL-UTV is intended to increase the tactical mobility of the German Army's airborne forces and possibly also its SOF. A tender for ...

• MRZR Alpha LTATV

  Programme Background Polaris Government and Defense was awarded a contract to provide up to 1,500 LTATVs to USSOCOM in September 2013. These were based on ...

• MRZR 2 (Forecast) (Latvia)

  Programme Background The Latvian Armed Forces have identified a need for off-road tactical military vehicles that will help to increase the responsiveness of its expeditionary ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  Strategic Tanker Transport [Canada]

  Programme Background This project will replace the existing fleet capability, including strategic airlift, air-to-air refuelling, Aeromedical Evacuations and Strategic Government of Canada transport. The Strategic ...

• Fardier SOV

  Programme Background The French Army's airborne units previously operated 280 Lohr FL500 Fardier utility vehicles to carry heavy equipment. Those vehicles increased the tactical mobility ...

• Caracal 4x4 Light Air Assault (Netherlands - Forecast)

  Programme Background As part of its Defence-wide Replacement Programme of Wheeled Vehicles (DVOW), the Dutch Army initiated the 12kN AASLT Air Assault Vehicle procurement programme ...

• Caracal 4x4 Light Air Assault (Netherlands)

  Programme Background As part of its Defence-wide Replacement Programme of Wheeled Vehicles (DVOW), the Dutch Army initiated the 12kN AASLT Air Assault Vehicle procurement programme ...

• Caracal 4x4 Light Air Assault [Germany]

  Programme Background By 2017, the German Army's airborne forces had initiated two programmes to replace legacy equipment currently in service. The first of these programmes, ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | P-1 EW [Japan]

  Japan is advancing its electronic warfare (EW) capabilities through the development of an EW version of the domestically produced Kawasaki P-1 maritime patrol aircraft. The ...

• Data links

  Data links | P-1 EW [Japan]

  Japan is advancing its electronic warfare (EW) capabilities through the development of an EW version of the domestically produced Kawasaki P-1 maritime patrol aircraft. The ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | P-1 EW [Japan]

  Japan is advancing its electronic warfare (EW) capabilities through the development of an EW version of the domestically produced Kawasaki P-1 maritime patrol aircraft. The ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | P-1 EW [Japan]

  Japan is advancing its electronic warfare (EW) capabilities through the development of an EW version of the domestically produced Kawasaki P-1 maritime patrol aircraft. The ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  AH-1Z [Romania]

  The Romanian MoD has a long-standing requirement for new rotary platforms, including troop transport, supply and attack configurations. According to the the Military Strategy document, ...

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

  Replicator 2 [US]

  Programme Background 1.0 The Replicator programme was a US effort to field thousands of attritable, autonomous systems across multiple domains before the end of 2025 ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Trailers

  Tactical Trailer

  Polaris Defense developed the single-axle Tactical Trailer, able to carry a 450kg cargo, for use with its family of MRZR all-terrain vehicles. 

• LTVs - 4x4

  DAGOR/DAGOR A1

  In October 2014 at the AUSA Annual event, Polaris Defense unveiled its 4x4 Deployable Advanced Ground Off-Road (DAGOR) vehicle as its submission for the US ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  MRZR D4

  Unveiled at the Special Operations Forces Industry Conference in May 2016, the MRZR D4 is a high-performance, turbo-charged diesel variant of the MRZR 4 off-road ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing

  Airborne Launching and Attack System (AirLAS)

  The Airborne Launching and Attack System (AirLAS) is a system that pairs Diehl Defence's IRIS-T air-to-air missile with a reusable carrier UAV developed by POLARIS. The companies ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  MRZR 4

  The MRZR 4 is derived from the Polaris RZR commercial 4x4 all-terrain vehicle with modifications to make it suitable for military use. The MRZR 4 ...

• Sea: procedural training

  Polaris Desktop Bridge Trainer

  Described as a cost-effective alternative for training multiple students, the Polaris Desktop Bridge Trainer incorporates many of the features of the full navy bridge trainer, ...

• Sea: procedural training

  Polaris Navy Bridge Trainer

  The Polaris Navy Bridge Trainer simulates the bridge of a specific class of naval vessel, or as a generic bridge suitable for training personnel from ...

• Sea: tactical training

  Proteus Surface Warship CTT

  In addition to the generic Proteus Action Speed Tactical Trainer (ASTT), Kongsberg can also provide Command Team Trainers (CTT) tailored to the specific needs of ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  MRZR D2

  Originally introduced in 2013, the MRZR family of vehicles is in service with the US and several other militaries across the world.  On 20 February ...

• Land: battle management systems

  FAAD/C-RAM C2

  The Forward Area Air Defense (FAAD) Command and Control (C2) system was developed by Northrop Grumman to provide command and control (C2) for the US Army ...

• Self-propelled rocket launchers

  Fletcher

  Arnold Defense, which has produced more than 1.1 million 2.75in/70mm rocket launchers for airborne applications since 1961, unveiled the Fletcher 2.75in/70mm Weapon System at the September ...

• Medium UGVs

  MRZR X

  Team Polaris unveiled the unmanned MRZR X multi-mode, connected vehicle for the first time at the AUVSI trade show in 2018. The MRZR X has been ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  Sportsman MV850

  The Sportsman MV850 is derived from the Polaris Sportsman commercial 4x4 all-terrain vehicle and has been modified for military use. The MV850 seats one with ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  MRZR Alpha

  The MRZR Alpha is an improved variant of the Polaris MRZR series developed to meet a US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) requirement for a follow-on Light Tactical ...

• Sea: weapon training

  Proteus Naval Weapon Trainer

  Kongsberg has developed a crew-served and remotely operated simulation architecture that provides man-in-the-loop training for close-in weapon systems. The trainer is already in service as ...