• Defence Notes

  HMS Diamond tests Sea Viper

  24th May 2017

  The Royal Navy’s HMS Diamond has tested its Sea Viper missile system off the coast of Scotland, the navy announced on 19 May.The firing was …

• Defence Helicopter

  ​Brazilian Navy details Super Cougar delivery

  23rd May 2017

  The Brazilian Navy has received seven H225M in UH-15 configuration from Airbus Helicopters subsidiary Helibras, with the first of two UH-15A CSAR aircraft to be delivered this year out …

• Naval Warfare

  RAAF P-8A assists in civilian SAR mission

  23rd May 2017

  The Royal Australian Air Force’s new (RAAF) P-8A Poseidon aircraft has assisted in a search and rescue (SAR) operation approximately 50km south of Mount Gambier, Victoria, …

• Special Operations

  SOFIC 2017: SOCOM's thirst for vertical lift (video)

  22nd May 2017

  Special operations missions are often dependent on rotary wing capabilities, allowing operators to be moved into assault positions with speed and precision, while also enabling …

• Special Operations

  SOFIC 2017: SOCOM's fixed-wing refresh (video)

  22nd May 2017

  US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) is currently undertaking a comprehensive recapitalisation of its fixed wing assets, mainly in the form of the new MC-130J and …

• Land Warfare

  GDELS delivers first Piranha to Denmark

  22nd May 2017

  General Dynamics European Land Systems (GDELS) has delivered the first seven pre-production Piranha 8x8 armoured vehicles to the Danish Defence Acquisition and Logistics Organization (DALO), the …

• Special Operations

  SOFIC 2017: Equipping the SOF warrior (video)

  22nd May 2017

  At this year's SOFIC exhibition in Tampa, Florida, Shephard spoke to the officer responsible for acquiring equipment for SOF operators on the ground and the challenges …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  IMDEX Asia: China promotes armed UAVs

  22nd May 2017

  The Ziyan Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Company, based in Zhuhai, China, promoted three new rotorcraft UAVs at IMDEX Asia 2017 in Singapore. Only one of the …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  IMDEX Asia: Chinese USVs are working SCS

  22nd May 2017

  A new Chinese unmanned surface vehicle (USV) was unveiled by the Zhuhai-based Yunzhou Intelligence Technology at IMDEX Asia 2017 in Singapore. A large scale model …

• Military Logistics

  Zaragoza to permanently host ETAC

  22nd May 2017

  Zaragoza in Spain will officially become the home of the European Air Transport Fleet (EATF) programme on 8 June, with transfer of the project from the …

• Land Warfare

  Russia delays Kurganets-25 production

  22nd May 2017

  The launch of series production of the Kurganets-25 family of armoured combat vehicles has been postponed beyond 2021, Russian officials have disclosed.  The delay was …

• Naval Warfare

  Star Safire ordered for USCG HC-144

  19th May 2017

  FLIR Systems will supply eight Star Safire 380HD electro-optical infrared (EO/IR) sensors for the US Coast Guard's (USCG's) HC-144 Ocean Sentry surveillance aircraft, the USCG announced on 16 …

• Digital Battlespace

  Thales Nederland details radar advancements

  19th May 2017

  Thales Nederland is currently undertaking testing activity of an initial three SMART-L MM 3D long-range multi-mission radars for air and space surveillance and ballistic missile …

• Special Operations

  SOFIC 2017: The week in Tampa (video)

  19th May 2017

  Over the last few days, the Shephard team has had several opportunities to speak to top officials from US Special Operations Command, as well as leading figures …

• Training

  ITEC 2017: Military and VIP presence on the up (video)

  19th May 2017

  This year's ITEC took place in Rotterdam, Netherlands, for the first time and for those attending the show the Dutch Ministry of Defence had a …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Transport

  Medium Transport Aircraft (DROP) [Poland​]

  Background Requirement Poland acquired the C-130E Hercules over a decade ago under the US FMS programme. Deliveries started in 2009 and ran through to summer ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  Armoured Infantry Combat Vehicle (VBC Fuz) [Brazil]

  Programme background Technical requirements The Brazilian Army released two documents outlining the technical and operational requirements for the VBC Fuz in early 2020. These outline ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  C-130H Replacement [Sweden]

  Programme Background Requirements Sweden has five C-130H aircraft (designated Tp-84) and one KC-130H. Two C-130Es bought in the 1960s have retired, but the six H ...

• Military UAS - mini

  RQ-11 Raven [Czech Republic]

  Methodology PGO and programme status The contract has been awarded and completed, giving a PGO of 100%. Units required The 2009 programme involved the procurement ...

• Loitering munitions

  Warmate [Ukraine]

  Programme Background Ukraine placed an order for an undisclosed number of Warmate systems in 2017. Shepherd believes units acquired in this order later were utilised ...

• Military UAS - small

  ScanEagle (11-20) [Czech Republic]

  Methodology PGO and programme status Since Defence Insight cannot find any evidence of a procurement, the effort has been marked as cancelled. Therefore, it has ...

• Minehunters

  Awaji Class (1-4) [Japan]

  Programme Background Two Awaji class mine countermeasures vessels (MCMV) were ordered from the Japanese shipyard Japan Marine United (JMU) for the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) initially. ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Ejder Yalçın (Batch 1) [Qatar]

  Background In the face of deteriorating relations with some of its neighbours in the Gulf, Qatar has forged closer defence ties with Turkey. This has ...

• OPVs

  Inlay Class (second OPV)

  Programme Background The Inlay class originally consists of a single OPV in service with the Myanmar Navy. However, a second Inlay-class OPV has been reported under construction since ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  Aerostar [Mexico]

  Methodology Unit cost Based on the UAV’s MTOW and the Defence Insight database, Shephard estimates the aircraft’s 2026 gross and flyaway unit costs are $1.95 million and $1.58 million, respectively. Based ...

• Military UAS - small

  HUSAR (2023 Order) [Germany]

  Programme Background First Order In 2015, the German Army launched the HUSAR programme to identify a replacement for its Airbus Defence & Space KZO and ...

• OPVs

  Cyprus Second Sa'ar 62 OPV

  Programme BackgroundThe Republic of Cyrus' Ministry of Defence placed an order with Israel Shipyards for its first Sa'ar 62  OPV in December 2015 in a project valued ...

• Patrol boats

  Rajshree Class (Flight II)

  Programme BackgroundThe Rajshree class is to consist of 13 FPVs built in two separate flights. Flight I saw construction begin in 2010 and all eight vessels ...

• Maritime patrol

  P-8A Poseidon [Germany]

  Background 2017 MPA programme (cancelled) In 2017, Germany and France announced that they would be developing a maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) to replace their current ...

• Landing platform docks/dock landing ships

  Makassar Class LPD (7)

  Indonesia signed a contract for $150 million for two LPDs in the Makassar class, KRI Makassar and KRI Surabaya, with South Korean shipbuilder Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Pistols

  Jericho Pistol 941

  Designed for military and law enforcement users, the Jericho Pistol 941 is available in 9mm, .40 S&W; and .45 ACP calibres and in standard, short ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Guará WS

  Avibras is marketing the 4x4 Guará WS light armoured vehicle, a further development of its 4x4 AV-VB4 RE Guará prototype. Developed in cooperation with the ...

• Land: manned turrets

  TORC30

  The TORC30 is a stabilised unmanned turret armed with a Rheinmetall MK30-2/ABM 30mm cannon being developed by Ares, an Elbit subsidiary, and the Brazilian Army’s ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  V-RAPTOR

  Unveiled at LAAD 2023 in Rio de Janeiro, the V-RAPTOR is a tactical police armoured vehicle from domestic manufacturer Combat Armor Defense do Brasil.

• Military UAS - mini

  Nauru 100D

  The Nauru 100D is a mini fixed-wing UAV from Xmobots. Unveiled at the 2025 LAAD Defence & Security tradeshow, the aircraft is VTOL-capable, developed for ISTAR, and ...

• Air: Displays

  Panoramic Cockpit Display

  Developed by L3Harris and Elbit Systems America, the Panoramic Cockpit Display (PCD) is a touchscreen MFD integrated into F-35 aircraft. It provides two electronically divided ...

• Anti-ship missiles

  MANSUP/MANSUP-ER

  MANSUP (Míssil Antinavio Nacional de Superfície) is a surface-to-surface anti-ship missile developed in Brazil. Its first test launch was conducted in 2018. MANSUP is going to ...

• Self-propelled rocket launchers

  Armadillo TA-2

  The Armadillo TA-2 is an automatic or manned rocket launcher system designed to be fully retracted inside a 4x4 light vehicle.The concept, which was being ...

• EW test systems, Air: chaff/flare/decoy systems

  CAST-easy

  RUAG unveiled the Countermeasure Advanced System Test Equipment (CAST-easy) in 2017 earmarking it for the Panavia Tornado series of combat aircraft. The 2017 announcement stated ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  KC-390/C-390 Millennium

  The KC-390 is a high-wing, twin-turbofan, T-tail design intended to meet the needs of the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) for a tanker/transport aircraft. Developed and ...

• CUAS - hybrid effector systems

  Drone Deterrence System

  First unveiled at the LIMA 2017 exhibition by Mitsubishi Electric, the Drone Deterrence System began to be developed in 2014 and made its first sale in ...

• Individual assault/anti-tank weapons

  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 ...

• Landing platform docks/dock landing ships

  Albion Class

  The two Albion-class Landing Platform Dock (LPD) ships, HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark, were built for the UK Royal Navy to replace the older 1960s vintage ...

• Uncrewed aerial systems engines

  FJ33-5A

  The FJ33-5A is a turbofan engine manufactured by Williams. The engine achieved EASA certification in April 2017, and is used onboard the XQ-58 Valkyrie UAV. 

• Minehunters

  Kormoran II Class

  Three Kormoran II-class minehunters were budgeted for the Polish Navy in 2011, and a contract was placed for a prototype in 2013, with the first ...