• Training

  NATO to conduct largest exercise since end of Cold War

  23rd January 2024

  NATO has announced the launch of its largest exercise in decades in a move that Russia has viewed as an “irrevocable return” of Cold War era positions.

• Land Warfare

  BAE Systems receives $50 million to restart M777 production

  5th January 2024

  The M777 155mm lightweight howitzer has seen service across five continents and has been heavily used in Ukraine where weapons were donated by Australia, Canada and the US.

• Land Warfare

  Destruction of expired reserves of ATACMS ‘is not true’, says Pentagon

  9th January 2024

  Recent rumours claimed that the DoD would destroy its overdue MGM-140 stockpiles instead of donating them to Ukraine.

• Land Warfare

  Pakistan conducts test launch of Fatah-ll guided rocket system

  2nd January 2024

  Pakistan’s indigenous Guided Multi-barrel Launched Rocket System Fatah-II could provide the country with a significant leap in its missile capabilities, enabling precision strikes at distances ranging from 250km to 400km.

• Training

  US Air Force fires warning as China attempts to recruit US airmen

  20th February 2024

  US Air Force authorities have warned that Beijing has been trying to contract experienced US personnel to fill PRC training gaps in tactics, techniques and procedures.

• Land Warfare

  Rheinmetall to upgrade Romanian air defence artillery systems

  2nd January 2024

  Romania is one of several countries near Ukraine and Russia which have recently signed contracts for improved air defence equipment alongside Austria, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.

• Land Warfare

  AUSA 2023: Roshel shows latest Senator MRAP

  11th October 2023

  Canadian company Roshel are displaying the latest version of its Senator 4x4 Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle at AUSA 2023 for the first time.

• Air Warfare

  Nearly half of USAF aircraft fleet has passed design service life, says air force official

  31st January 2024

  The US Air Force has been operating helicopters and combat, ISR, transport and training platforms that have been in service for three decades or more, with 44% of its fleet having already passed its design service life.

• Air Warfare

  Czech Republic seals $6.6 billion F-35 deal amid Gripen lease uncertainty

  1st February 2024

  The Czech Republic has solidified its defence stance with a historic F-35 procurement deal, yet unresolved talks have hinted at lingering considerations over potential Gripen lease extensions.

• Land Warfare

  Italy to buy more Flyer vehicles and air defence systems

  30th January 2024

  The Flyer 72 Advanced Light Strike Vehicle was developed by General Dynamics in partnership with Flyer Defense to meet a US Special Operations Command's requirement. Nine of the vehicles have already been in Italian service and Israel has 70 on order.

• Air Warfare

  Will air forces in the Middle East look to new sources for advanced equipment?

  29th December 2023

  Amid a tense strategic situation and the absence of advanced indigenous products, Gulf Cooperation Council states have come to be regarded as a priority export destination for most new air, land or sea systems.

• Defence Helicopter

  Argentina seeks AW109 and CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters

  25th September 2023

  The Argentinian Air Force (FAA) and the Argentinian Naval Aviation Command (COAN) are looking for options to upgrade their helicopter fleets.

• Land Warfare

  Lithuania receives JLTVs and towed mortars, orders optical sights and radars

  3rd January 2024

  Lithuania has invested heavily in new equipment for air defence and its ground forces including recently signing an agreement with Sweden for short-range air-defence systems, additional NASAMS medium-range air defence systems and additional Saab RBS 70 air defence missiles.

• Naval Warfare

  Greek frigate launch heralds Hellenic Navy modernisation

  11th October 2023

  The launch of the first of three new Kimon-class (FDI HN) frigates for Greece on 4 October 2023 at French shipyard Naval Group represents the beginning of a significant recapitalisation of the Hellenic Navy fleet, which is in urgent need of modernisation.

• Air Warfare

  Insight: How the P-8 Poseidon has conquered the maritime patrol aircraft market

  6th September 2023

  Shephard Defence Insight analyses the success story of the Boeing P-8 Poseidon, a multi-mission maritime patrol aircraft that has captured international interest, detailing its variants, operators and unit cost.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Transport

  King Air 360 [Nigeria]

  Programme Background On 7 October 2021, Nigeria’s Budget Office published its proposed budget details. The Nigerian Air Force requested 10.86 billion Nigerian Naira (US$26.4 million) ...

• Maritime patrol

  P-8 Poseidon [South Korea]

  Programme Background South Korea is facing an imminent submarine threat from North Korea. The Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN) is operating an aging fleet of P-3C ...

• ISR/special mission

  King Air 350ER ISR [Kuwait]

  Programme Background In February 2018, the US State Department has approved an estimated $259m potential foreign military sale of King Air 350ER intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance ...

• Loitering munitions

  HX-2 (Contracted) (Ukraine Aid) [Germany]

  Background HF-1 Readjustment In November 2024, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius announced in Schrobenhausen, Bavaria, that Germany would supply Ukraine with 4,000 HF-1 loitering munitions. ...

• Loitering munitions

  HX-2 (Uncontracted) (Ukraine Aid) [Germany]

  Background Contracted Drones In November 2024, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius announced in Schrobenhausen, Bavaria, that Germany would supply Ukraine with 4,000 HF-1 loitering munitions. ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  C-2 (Japan)

  Programme BackgroundKawasaki Heavy Industries developed the C-2 for the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) to replace its Kawasaki C-1 and Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules fleets. ...

• Military UAS - micro, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Teal 2 (Customs and Border Protection Force) [US]

  Programme Background First Order Global News Wire reported that Red Cat had filled an order for 54 Teal 2 units from the US Customs and ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-15EX (FY2021-2025) [USA]

  Programme Background The United States Air Force (USAF) is looking to procure 239 F-15EX fighter aircraft, which is an increase from an original requirement of 144 ...

• Military UAS - micro

  Short Range Reconnaissance (SRR) (Tranche 2) / Rucksack Portable UAS (RPUAS) [USA]

  Background The Rucksack Portable UAS (RPUAS) Programme The RPUAS programme will provide the battalion and below-ground manoeuvre elements within the US Army with an organic, ...

• Loitering munitions

  HF-1 (Ukraine Aid) [Germany]

  Background 4000 Drones In November 2024, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius announced in Schrobenhausen, Bavaria, that Germany would supply Ukraine with 4,000 HF-1 loitering munitions. Deliveries ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Ara 2 (Chad - Options)

  Programme Background The Chadian Armed Forces have a requirement for mine-resistant armoured vehicles to provide protected mobility to troops deployed on operations against hostile forces. ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  Fuchs 2 Local Assembly

  The Fuchs 2 will replace a variety of legacy APCs currently in service with the Algerian Army including the Panhard M3 VTT, the BTR-60 and ...

• ISR/special mission

  RC-2 - Japan

  Programme Background Japan has decided to develop its own EW aircraft to oppose China and Russia, countries that are already reinforcing their own EW capabilities. ...

• OPVs

  River Class Batch 2

  Programme Background BAE Systems developed an improved version at the River class Batch 1 ships (which first entered service in 2003), to be dubbed the ...

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

  Future Tactical UAS (FTUAS) (Increment 2) [US Army]

  Programme Background Programme Objective The Future Tactical UAS (FTUAS) was to provide a tactical ISTAR capability for US Army Brigade Combat Teams (BCTs). It was intended to ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• EO/IR systems

  AN/AAQ-14

  The AN/AAQ-14 LANTIRN (Low Altitude Navigation and Targeting Infrared for Night) targeting pod is a crucial component of the LANTIRN system, developed by Martin Marietta ...

• EO/IR systems

  AN/AAQ-27A

  In production for USMC MV-22 Osprey tiltrotors, the AAQ-27A allows pilots to see through darkness, smoke, haze and adverse weather. The third-generation medium-wave IR system ...

• Air: Electronic Attack - Jamming, Air: Integrated Defensive Systems

  AN/AAQ-24(V)

  Northrop Grumman’s AN/AAQ-24(V) is a Directional Infrared Countermeasure (DIRCM) designed to protect large fixed-wing and small rotary wing aircrafts. The system has been installed in ...

• EO/IR systems

  AN/AAQ-13

  The AN/AAQ-13 is a navigation pod developed by Martin Marietta (now part of Lockheed Martin) for the U.S. Air Force. It is a key component ...

• Air: EO/IR – Jamming Systems

  AN/AAQ-45

  Leonardo’s AN/AAQ-45 Distributed Aperture Infrared Countermeasures is designed to equip rotorcraft. The system is being installed on Sikorsky HH-60G Pave Hawk medium-lift utility helicopters used ...

• Air: Defensive Systems - MLDS, EO/IR systems

  AN/AAQ-37 DAS

  The AN/AAQ-37 Distributed Aperture System (DAS) comprises six high-resolution infrared sensors mounted around the aircraft's airframe to provide seamless, spherical coverage (4π steradians).  The DAS ...

• EO/IR systems

  AN/AAQ-29A

  In production for USMC CH-53E and USAF HH-60G platforms, the medium-wave IR AAQ-29A is similar to the AN/AAQ-27A, the difference being its incorporation of an ...

• EO/IR systems

  LITENING

  The LITENING Advanced Targeting Pod is an electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) system designed to detect, acquire, identify, and track targets over extended ranges.  It supports diverse mission ...

• Air: Electronic Attack - Jamming, Air: Electronic Attack - Pod, Air: EO/IR – Jamming Systems

  Guardian

  Northrop Grumman’s Guardian Directional Infrared Countermeasure (DIRCM) is intended to product airliners and large aircraft against IR-guided missiles, principally surface-to-air missiles fired from Man-Portable Air ...

• EO/IR systems

  LANTIRN

  The Low-Altitude Navigation and Targeting Infrared for Night (LANTIRN) system increases the combat effectiveness of fighter aircraft, allowing them to fly at low altitudes, at night ...

• Combat Search and Rescue

  Saab 340B+ / SAR-200

  The Saab 340B+, known also as SAR-200, is a search and rescue aircraft based on the Saab 340 regional airliner.  It is powered by two CT7-9B turboprop ...

• Air: Integrated Defensive Systems

  SISCM

  The Suite of Integrated Sensors and Countermeasures (SISCM), also known as the AN/APR-39B, is designed to provide an integrated, multi-sensor threat warning and countermeasures capability using ...

• EW test systems

  Meon v3

  Developed as an end-to-end confidence flight-line test set for stimulation and radiometric measurement of MWS/IRCM systems. It is compatible with ALQ-144, ALQ-157, ALQ-204 Matador, AAQ-24 ...

• Air: Defensive Systems - MLDS

  AN/AAR-54(V)

  Northrop Grumman’s AN/AAR-54(V) is a Missile Approach Warning System (MAWS) designed for fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft. The MAWS employs ultraviolet sensing to detect the hot ...

• Combat Search and Rescue

  HC-130P/N

  HC-130P/N is a SAR aircraft developed as extended-range version of C-130 Hercules transport airframe to execute all weather personnel recovery operations from austere airfields and ...