• 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.

• Air Warfare

  Insight: How will the US Navy keep its EA-18G Growler EW aircraft flying until 2046?

  14th September 2023

  The carrier-based EA-18G Growler entered service in 2010 and is intended to remain in service until 2046. Shephard Defence Insight analyses the key operational technologies on the aircraft and the upgrade path needed to keep it flying and effective for another two decades.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  DSEI 2023: UMS Skeldar and Marshall unveil containerised deployment system for V-200 UAS

  11th September 2023

  UMS Skeldar and Marshall Land Systems are unveiling the Battlefield Deployable Uncrewed Aerial System (BDUAS) at DSEI, a complete package for transporting, maintaining and controlling a Skeldar V-200 UAV.

• Training

  Singapore Army experiments with robot dog teaming at Exercise Forging Sabre

  26th September 2023

  The Singapore Army is testing robotic dogs and UAVs for urban operations on exercise in the US.

• Defence Notes

  Ukraine and Taiwan? What the US will spend Biden's extra 40.1 billion defence dollars on

  23rd August 2023

  The additional budget proposal addresses critical needs for emergency funding for the Pentagon, partners and allies.

• Naval Warfare

  No easy options: Australia's navy faces complex surface fleet choices

  14th September 2023

  As part of Australia’s Defence Strategic Review (DSR), a report into the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN’s) future surface fleet force structure was directed to be completed separately. Shephard examines its likely outcomes and how Australia might balance capability with affordability

• Naval Warfare

  Delay to Irish Naval Service's new Multi-Role Vessel tender raises affordability questions

  11th September 2023

  An expected tender for the procurement of a new Multi Role Vessel (MRV) for the Irish Naval Service (INS) this year has yet to emerge.

• Land Warfare

  AUSA 2023: New EOS R800 RWS combines laser and kinetic capabilities to counter aerial threats

  10th October 2023

  The weapon has been designed to be capable of blinding the optics in all classes of UAVs and ATGMs.

• Naval Warfare

  Royal Navy's Type 31 frigate programme moves to multi-ship build phase

  18th September 2023

  Babcock International Group has achieved a significant milestone in the Royal Navy's Type 31 frigate programme by laying the keel for HMS Active, the second ship in the Inspiration class.

• Defence Helicopter

  Dart Aerospace to supply high-lift heliporter to US Navy

  11th September 2023

  The Canadian Commercial Corporation (CCC) is has been awarded an indefinite-delivery indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract by the US DoD to provide a high-lift heliporter designed and manufactured by Dart Aerospace to the USN.

• Air Warfare

  RTX awarded $7 million DoD funding for GhostEye MR radar development

  31st August 2023

  Raytheon has been awarded $7 million to advance the development and assessment of the GhostEye medium-range (MR) radar, enhancing air defence capabilities with its 360° surveillance and fire control sensor.

• Air Warfare

  Elbit Systems wins $95 million contract for SkyStriker loitering munitions

  19th September 2023

  Elbit Systems has been awarded a $95 million contract to supply several hundred SkyStriker loitering munitions to a European country.

• Land Warfare

  DSEI 2023: BAE ready to transfer CV90 upgrade work from Sweden to Netherlands

  13th September 2023

  BAE Systems Hägglunds has completed its first four upgraded CV9035NL infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) for the Royal Netherlands Army (RNLA), and the programme remains on track deliver to 122 enhanced platforms by the end of 2026.

• Naval Warfare

  DSEI 2023: MARSS completes anti-drone installation on Canadian ship

  12th September 2023

  MARSS has completed the rapid installation of its NiDAR C2 counter-UAS (CUAS) system on board the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) replenishment and supply ship MV Asterix, an announcement which follows the recent unveiling of its X-JOC deployable NiDAR containerised system which is on display at DSEI.

• Air Warfare

  MQ-4C Triton UAS reaches initial operational capability with US Navy

  15th September 2023

  The MQ-4C Triton uncrewed aircraft has officially achieved Initial Operating Capability (IOC) with the US Navy.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Light tanks

  Light Tank Programme (Tracked) [Philippines]

  Programme Background The decision to split the programme into a wheeled and a tracked element follows the belief of the Philippine Army that this will ...

• VBR-MSR Medium Wheeled Armoured Reconnaissance Vehicle

  Technical Requirements The Brazilian Army released two documents outlining the technical and operational requirements for the VBR-MR programme in early 2020. These outlined a number ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Combat Fighter Jet [Ireland]

  Programme Background  In February 2025, the Irish Minister for Defence and Tánaiste Simon Harris highlighted Irelands need to procure a new combat fighter jet to combat ...

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

  Polish Drones (Ukraine Aid) [Sweden]

  Background Swedish Support Package On 31 March 2025, the Swedish Government presented its 19th and largest military support package to Ukraine to date, valued at almost SEK ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | A400M (forecast) [United Kingdom]

  In April 2025, the Ministry of Defence confirmed that as part of the Strategic Defence Review is reviewing a potential purchase of additional A400M Atlas ...

• Data links

  Data links | A400M (forecast) [United Kingdom]

  In April 2025, the Ministry of Defence confirmed that as part of the Strategic Defence Review is reviewing a potential purchase of additional A400M Atlas ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | A400M (forecast) [United Kingdom]

  In April 2025, the Ministry of Defence confirmed that as part of the Strategic Defence Review is reviewing a potential purchase of additional A400M Atlas ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Landing Craft Utility (LCU) [Japan]

  According to the 2022 Defence Buildup Programme, Japan will procure new Landing Craft Utility (LCUs). This was already specified in the Medium Term Defence Programme (FY2019 ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Landing Craft Utility (LCU) [Japan]

  According to the 2022 Defence Buildup Programme, Japan will procure new Landing Craft Utility (LCUs). This was already specified in the Medium Term Defence Programme (FY2019 ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Landing Craft Utility (LCU)/Small Transport Vessels (1-4) [Japan]

  According to the 2022 Defence Buildup Programme, Japan will procure new Landing Craft Utility (LCUs). This was already specified in the Medium Term Defence Programme (FY2019 ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Landing Craft Utility (LCU)/Small Transport Vessels (1-4) [Japan]

  According to the 2022 Defence Buildup Programme, Japan will procure new Landing Craft Utility (LCUs). This was already specified in the Medium Term Defence Programme (FY2019 ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Boxer (Skyranger) [Germany]

  Programme Background The SPD-led approach Since the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, Germany has been under consistent pressure to increase its defence spending. In the ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Manoeuvrable Boats [Japan]

  According to the 2022 Defence Buildup Programme, Japan will procure new manoeuvrable boats for the Japan Ground Self-Defence Force (JGSDF). Deliveries are set to start ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Manoeuvrable Boats [Japan]

  According to the 2022 Defence Buildup Programme, Japan will procure new manoeuvrable boats for the Japan Ground Self-Defence Force (JGSDF). Deliveries are set to start ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Manoeuvrable Boats (1-3) [Japan]

  According to the 2022 Defence Buildup Programme, Japan will procure new manoeuvrable boats for the Japan Ground Self-Defence Force (JGSDF). Deliveries are set to start ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  Anoa

  Pindad designed the 6x6 Anoa APC to meet the requirements of the Indonesian Army. Since the vehicle was publicly unveiled in November 2008, close to ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

  Antasena

  Antasena is an X-18 tank boat developed as a joint collaboration between CMI Defence and PT Lundin. The fast craft has been designed to support ...

• Wheeled assault guns

  Badak

  A prototype of the 90mm-armed 6x6 Badak (Indonesian for rhinoceros) direct fire support vehicle was unveiled at IndoDefence in November 2014 by Pindad and partner ...

• Core systems: cameras and IR detectors, EO/IR systems

  NightConqueror CMI

  The NightConqueror Compact Modular Imager (CMI) is the main component of a variety of thermal imaging systems. It is used in stabilised imaging turrets for ...

• Light tanks

  Tulpar Light Tank

  Otokar unveiled its tracked Tulpar Light Tank, which mounts CMI's Cockerill 3105 turret on Otokar's Tulpar IFV chassis, at the June 2018 Eurosatory exhibition. The ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  BTR-3

  Kharkiv Morozov Machine Building Design Bureau produced the first 8x8 BTR-3-series amphibious APC in 2001. The series includes the BTR-3U, the BTR-3U Guardian (variant for ...

• Land: manned turrets

  Cockerill CPWS 25-30

  The remotely-operated Cockerill Protected Weapon Station (CPWS) can be armed with 25 mm or 30 mm guns from various manufacturers and can be integrated on 4x4, ...

• Wheeled assault guns

  ERC 90 NG

  The ERC 90 Sagaie 6x6 armoured vehicles were acquired by the French Army to provide a well-armed vehicle for its rapid reaction armoured units. Capitalising ...

• Frigates

  Drazki Class

  The Bulgarian Navy's three Drazki-class frigates began life as four Wielingen-class (Type E-71) frigates with the Belgian Navy. The ships underwent a major refurbishment and ...

• Light tanks

  K21-105 Light Tank

  At IDEX 2013, Doosan and John Cockerill Defense presented the K21-105 Light Tank concept which integrates the Cockerill 105mm-armed XC-8 turret on the Doosan K21 ...

• Major networking projects

  Missile Defence

  In 2010, NATO rolled out an initial capability to protect alliance forces against missile threats and is now examining options for protecting territory and populations. ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Commando Select

  The Commando Select 4x4 APC, built on knowledge gained from the M1117 Armored Security Vehicle’s ten years of combat theatre use by the US Army, ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  Anders Multirole Combat Platform

  The tracked WPB Anders multirole combat platform was designed to replace the BMP-1 IFV and other vehicles in Polish Army service. The Anders family is ...

• Land: RWS

  CPWS

  Building on the success of the Cockerill Protected Weapon Station (CPWS) 25-30, John Cockerill Defense introduced a new version of the CPWS at the June 2018 ...

• Major networking projects

  Defence Architecture Framework

  BAE Systems is developing a broad base of systems architecture expertise to execute network-centric warfare projects on behalf of the Australian Defence Force. This is ...