• Digital Battlespace

  Interoperability: The Vital Ingredient for NATO’s Future Success (Studio)

  10th October 2023

  The lens of multi-domain operations is sharpening, and software-driven communication choices, deeper integration, and innovative technology are increasingly crucial. Companies like L3Harris are enabling a new age of international collaboration by emphasising NATO-standardised interoperability.

• Land Warfare

  Poland orders more Spike LR anti-tank missiles

  7th August 2023

  Poland has ordered more Spike LR anti-tank guided missiles under a deal worth PLN400 million ($99.2 million) with deliveries to begin almost immediately through local manufacturer of the system, Mesko.

• Land Warfare

  Global armoured renaissance: new report reveals $25.6 billion surge in 8x8 wheeled armoured vehicle spending

  12th September 2023

  As global tensions intensify following the Russo-Ukraine conflict, the armoured vehicle market is undergoing a monumental shift, with an anticipated $25.6 billion investment in 8x8 wheeled vehicles by 2035.

• Land Warfare

  Netherlands orders General Dynamics floating bridges

  24th July 2023

  General Dynamics European Land Systems has received an order from the Royal Netherlands Army for three Improved Ribbon Bridge (IRB) floating bridge systems.

• Air Warfare

  Australia orders 20 C-130Js to replace and expand current RAAF fleet

  25th July 2023

  The Royal Australian Air Force’s fleet of Lockheed Martin C-130J transport aircraft will be renewed by a $6.6 billion order for 20 new aircraft.

• Air Warfare

  Rheinmetall breaks ground on F-35 fuselage plant

  1st August 2023

  The Rheinmetall F-35A factory is set to produce at least 400 fighter jet fuselages for Germany and other NATO operators.

• Land Warfare

  Dedicated recon model of Otokar Akrep II vehicle ready for export

  28th July 2023

  Otokar has introduced a reconnaissance variant of the Akrep II 4x4 armoured vehicle, equipped with a remote weapon station and advanced surveillance features. The export-ready vehicle offers adaptable weapon systems and hybrid electric drive options.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  More Black Hornet UAVs bound for Ukraine as part of Norway order

  18th July 2023

  Teledyne FLIR Defense will supply Black Hornet 3 nano-UAVs to Ukraine, as part of a Norway MoD order. The pocket-sized drones provide crucial reconnaissance capabilities.

• Naval Warfare

  USN orders nine more Arleigh Burke Flight III destroyers

  3rd August 2023

  The USN will receive nine more DDG 51 Arleigh Burke-class Flight III destroyers, six from Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) and three from General Dynamics Bath Iron Works, under a deal likely to be worth around $1.8 billion each ship.

• Defence Notes

  Rheinmetall buys Expal Systems to expand ammunition production to meet booming orders

  1st August 2023

  Rheinmetall has finalised its acquisition of Expal Systems, significantly boosting its ammunition production capacity and strengthening Rheinmetall's position as a NATO supplier and enhancing its product portfolio.

• Digital Battlespace

  Improving integration for smarter operations

  6th September 2023

  Military operations can be improved through the digitisation of the intelligence and operational cycles.

• Air Warfare

  Indonesia orders next batch of 18 Rafale fighters

  14th August 2023

  The next 18 Rafale fighters for Indonesia have been formally ordered.

• Land Warfare

  As the Ukraine war passes the 18-month mark, how are NATO’s factories meeting the artillery challenge?

  18th September 2023

  NATO is rapidly increasing its supply of equipment to Ukraine in a number of key areas including tube artillery and, crucially, its ammunition. Shephard analyses how the alliance's members are stepping up to this challenge after years of industrial neglect.

• Air Warfare

  Indonesia orders Anka UAVs from Turkiye

  3rd August 2023

  Indonesia becomes the eighth customer for the Anka, as Turkiye further cements its positions as a major supplier of UAVs.

• Land Warfare

  Israel-Hamas War: Israel’s fleet of armoured vehicles set to get their metal tested

  20th October 2023

  Israel appears to be set for a ground war in northern Gaza in what the Israeli government argues is an effort to destroy the capability of Hamas to attack Israel. It is an environment the IDF has fought in before and the army’s vehicles will likely have a key role.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - mini, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Edge 130 [US]

  Programme Background First Order As reported by Shephard, In October 2024, the US Customs and Border Protection force submitted a $1.6 million order to acquire Edge ...

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

  MEUAS IV (US)

  Programme Background MEUAS History The first iteration of the MEUAS programme began in the early 2000s when the ScanEagle was acquired through the programme and ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Cobra II Armoured Tactical Vehicle - 2 (EGM-ZTA-2)

  Some of the Cobra IIs delivered to the SGD are armed with an Aselsan SARP RWS. Based on the value of the June 2016 contract ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - mini, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Vector / Scorpion (Contracted) [Ukraine]

  Programme Background Previous Orders & Donations On 29 March 2022, the US Embassy in Warsaw announced that Quantum Systems had donated an unknown quantity of ...

• Transport

  C295 [Angola]

  Programme Background Requirement Angola's transport capability is mainly provided by Soviet-origin An-12, An-30, An-72/74, Il-76 and the Xian MA-60 from China. According to AIN Online, Angola ...

• Tanks

  Leopard 2A8 [Netherlands]

  Programme Background Bidders and Suppliers The Leopard 2A8, the latest in the Leopard family, was selected by the Royal Dutch Army as per announcements in ...

• Maritime patrol

  C295 MPA [Angola]

  Programme Background Requirement Angola uses a mix of Dornier Do-28s, A-29s and EMB-312 Tucanos for maritime surveillance duties. The country's dedicated maritime patrol capability was ...

• Tanks

  T-90S/SK (Forecast) (Vietnam)

  Shephard estimates that Vietnam may have a requirement for up to 200 T-90S/SK MBTs to modernise its tank fleet. Minus the 64 that were already ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  A330 MRTT Follow-On (NATO)

  Following operations in Libya and extensive analyses by the European Defence Agency (EDA), it was agreed at the NATO Summit in 2012 that the EDA ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  CV90 [Ukraine]

  Programme Background Announced at the NATO Defense Ministers’ Meeting in Brussels in June 2023, Ukraine formally signed a Joint Declaration on Cooperation in the Procurement and Operation ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Su-30MKI - India Follow-On

  India is experiencing Chinese violations in the western sector of the Line of Actual Control. The stand-off with China has sped up government-to-government discussions that have ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  BvS10 military vehicles

  The Austrian BvS10 fleet is expected to reach IOC by the end of 2020. When the contract was announced, there were indications that the Austrian ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  A330 MRTT (1-9) [NATO]

  Programme Background Following operations in Libya and extensive analyses by the European Defence Agency (EDA), it was agreed at the NATO Summit in 2012 that ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6, Special operations vehicles

  Pars IV 6x6 MKKA

  Programme Background The Turkish Special Forces Command is understood to have launched its MKKA programme to meet a requirement for 6x6 mine-protected vehicles. These will provide ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  KT-1B Woongbi - Indonesia

  The programme value is estimates as $30 million for the purchase of three KT-1B aircraft. The deliveries are planned to be completed in 2021. The KT-1B ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Counter-UAS systems, Land: Integrated Defensive Systems, Land: air defence radar, Land: battlefield and ground surveillance radar, Land: coastal surveillance radars

  CHR

  RADA Electronic Industries' Compact Hemispheric Radar (CHR) is a family of sensors used in active protection systems for land vehicles. The CHR family comprises active ...

• Air: AEW/fire control radar

  Erieye

  The S-band Erieye is a long-range airborne early warning and control radarthat detects and automatically tracks air and surface targets across a largearea. The radar has ...

• Counter-UAS systems

  Drone Dome

  Drone Dome is made up of three main components: RADA Electronic Industries' RPS-42 radar; Controp's MEOS observation; and Netline's C-Guard RD and NetSense subsystems for ...

• Sea: naval surveillance radar

  Pozitiv-ME1.2

  The Pozitiv-ME1.2 is a three-dimensional naval surveillance radar manufactured in Russia. It is designed to search, detect, and track air and surface targets. According to ...

• Counter-UAS systems, Land: air defence radar, Land: battlefield and ground surveillance radar, Sea: naval surveillance radar

  pMHR

  The Portable Multi-Mission Hemispheric Radar (pMHR) is the smallest in the family of MHRs manufactured by Israeli company RADA Electronic Industries. The radar provides hostile ...

• Land: air defence radar, Land: battlefield and ground surveillance radar, Sea: coastal surveillance radar, Sea: naval surveillance radar

  ieMHR

  The ieMHR radar is a three-dimensional pulse-doppler radar previously manufactured by Israeli company RADA Electronic Industries and is currently produced by Leonardo. It is designed ...

• Maritime patrol

  340 MSA

  The Saab 340 MSA incorporates a mission management system connected to onboard sensors for all-weather monitoring of large maritime areas. The aircraft is equipped with automatic ...

• Land: C2 simulators

  C2 Training

  Saab provides doctrinal-based simulation that enables trainees to dynamically execute plans and orders from their own C2 system. Commander and staff can perceive and comprehend ...

• Tanks

  VT2

  The 125mm-armed VT2 tracked MBT, which was unveiled at DSA 2012, is the export version of the People's Liberation Army Type 96A. As of early ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Mildef Tarantula

  The Tarantula is a High Mobility Armoured Vehicles from Malaysian defence manufacturer Mildef International Technologies.  First revealed in February 2021, the Tarantula has already received orders from ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Maatla 4x4

  Paramount's Maatla 4x4 is a Light Protected Vehicle (LPV) aimed at the African off-road armoured vehicle market. Announced at the African Aerospace and Defence Expo (AAD 2022) in ...

• Data links

  Link Y Mk2

  Thales Link Y Mk2 is used to securely exchange tactical data and orders via a self-managing, adaptive radio network between multiple military platforms. Designed for ...

• Land: battle management systems

  MFoCS

  Mounted Family of Computing Systems (MFoCS) is a modular family which is designed to integrate existing FBCB2, future JBC-P and WIN-T capability into a modular ...

• Tanks

  Yatagan

  The Yatagan tank, sometimes referred to as the T-84-120, is an improved T-84 armed with a NATO-standard 120mm smoothbore gun developed by KMDB for the ...

• Military UGVs

  SUGV

  The Small Unmanned Ground Vehicle (SUGV) was previously known as the 310 SUGV and is designed for dismounted EOD missions, but it can also be used ...