• Defence Helicopter

  Czech Republic receives first AH-1Z Viper helicopters

  18th August 2023

  The Czech Republic has taken delivery of its first AH-1Z Vipers as part of a partnership with the USMC H-1 Light/Attack Helicopter programme.

• Naval Warfare

  Poland signs $1.5 billion contract for coastal defence missiles

  7th September 2023

  Kongsberg has been awarded a contract worth NOK16 billion ($1.49 billion) from the Polish Ministry of National Defence for delivery of four Naval Strike Missile (NSM) Coastal Defence System (CDS) squadrons.

• Training

  Black Construction wins additional $11 million funds for US fire training range

  21st August 2023

  Black Construction has been awarded an $11 million contract modification from the US DoD to design and construct a live-fire training range complex.

• Land Warfare

  DSEI 2023: BAE outlines land-based roles for Bofors 40mm naval gun

  13th September 2023

  BAE Systems Bofors is proposing a land-based version of its 40mm Mk 4 naval gun, for installation on 8x8 or ATV platforms, for use against ground and aerial targets.

• Digital Battlespace

  Elbit awarded $200 million for artillery C4I and counter-fire solutions

  5th September 2023

  Elbit Systems has been awarded two contracts by an undisclosed European country, worth a combined $200 million, to supply a C4I solution to artillery battalions and a Hostile Fire Counter Attack (HFCA) system.

• Land Warfare

  What will the US Army’s RCVs-Light feature?

  3rd October 2023

  Modularity, open systems architecture, transportability, advanced technology and growth potential are among the main US Army requirements to select the designs of four companies as part of the Robotic Combat Vehicle-Light (RCV-Light) Middle Tier Acquisition – Rapid Prototyping programme capability.

• Defence Helicopter

  Industry awarded new contracts for Australian and US Apache attack helicopter work

  1st September 2023

  Longbow LLC and Lockheed Martin have received new contracts to supply Longbow fire control radars to Australia, and refurbish US Army Target Acquisition Designation Sight/Pilot Night Vision Sensor (TADS/PNVS) equipment. Both systems equip the AH-64 Apache attack helicopter.

• Air Warfare

  JetZero receives $235 million from the US Air Force to develop fuel-efficient blended-wing aircraft

  18th August 2023

  JetZero has won a $235 million award from USAF to accelerate the development of its blended-wing body aircraft which promises a 50% reduction in fuel burn and emissions.

• Naval Warfare

  SeaFuture 2023 puts spotlight on Italian naval programmes

  20th June 2023

  The recent SeaFuture event highlighted some of Italy's most important submarine, surface ship and naval aviation procurements. Shephard Defence Insight puts these latest programme developments in detailed context.

• Naval Warfare

  Second Royal Navy Type 26 frigate sees the light

  26th June 2023

  Part of the second of the UK RN’s future City-class Type 26 frigates, HMS Cardiff, has emerged from the build hall at BAE Systems Govan site in Glasgow, Scotland.

• Training

  Adacel joins CAE team to pursue Australian future air mission training project

  15th August 2023

  Air traffic control training and simulation solution provider Adacel has joined the CAE-led Team AUStringer in response to the Australian AIR 5428 Phase 3, Future Air Mission Training System (F-AMTS) effort.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  DSEI 2023: Israel’s SpearUAV unveils new multi-canister launch system for Viper drone

  5th September 2023

  SpearUAV is displaying a new Multi-Canister Launcher (MCL) for its Viper UAV at DSEI, a system which will allow for swarming through deployment of up to four drones at a time from crewed or uncrewed platforms.

• Land Warfare

  Lockheed Martin validates designs for Next Generation Interceptor

  24th August 2023

  The next US missile defence interceptor has made continued progress toward production and fielding.

• Naval Warfare

  Italian Navy overcomes delays in PPA ship deliveries

  29th September 2023

  Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri delivered the third of seven Pattugliatori Polivalenti d'Altura (PPA) Multipurpose Offshore Patrol Vessel to the Italian Navy during a ceremony on 27 September.

• 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

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | GlobalEye [France]

  During Paris Air Show 2025, the French Defence Procurement Agency and Saab signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the procurement of two GlobalEye AEW&C; ...

• Data links

  Data links | GlobalEye [France]

  During Paris Air Show 2025, the French Defence Procurement Agency and Saab signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the procurement of two GlobalEye AEW&C; ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | GlobalEye [France]

  During Paris Air Show 2025, the French Defence Procurement Agency and Saab signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the procurement of two GlobalEye AEW&C; ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | GlobalEye [France]

  During Paris Air Show 2025, the French Defence Procurement Agency and Saab signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the procurement of two GlobalEye AEW&C; ...

• ISR/special mission, Maritime patrol

  C295 MPAs/MSAs [Spain]

  Programme Background Required to replace Spain's existing P-3M Orion fleet set to reach OSD in the mid-late 2020s, Airbus' C295W has been selected as the replacement ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | C-390 [Portugal]

  During the Paris Air Show 2025, Embraer and the Portuguese Air Force formalised the procurement of Portugal's sixth C-390 aircraft with the option for ten ...

• Data links

  Data links | C-390 [Portugal]

  During the Paris Air Show 2025, Embraer and the Portuguese Air Force formalised the procurement of Portugal's sixth C-390 aircraft with the option for ten ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | C-390 [Portugal]

  During the Paris Air Show 2025, Embraer and the Portuguese Air Force formalised the procurement of Portugal's sixth C-390 aircraft with the option for ten ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | C-390 Options [Portugal]

  During the 2025 Paris Air Show, the Portuguese placed a firm order for one C-390 aircraft with the option to acquire 10 additional aircraft for ...

• Data links

  Data links | C-390 Options [Portugal]

  During the 2025 Paris Air Show, the Portuguese placed a firm order for one C-390 aircraft with the option to acquire 10 additional aircraft for ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | C-390 Options [Portugal]

  During the 2025 Paris Air Show, the Portuguese placed a firm order for one C-390 aircraft with the option to acquire 10 additional aircraft for ...

• UAS: communication systems

  UAS: communication systems | Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) [French Air Force]

  In October 2024, France’s Minister of the Armed Forces, Sébastien Lecornu, announced that Dassault Aviation would develop a loyal wingman-type UCAV, or Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA), to ...

• UAS: flight control systems

  UAS: flight control systems | Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) [French Air Force]

  In October 2024, France’s Minister of the Armed Forces, Sébastien Lecornu, announced that Dassault Aviation would develop a loyal wingman-type UCAV, or Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA), to ...

• UAS: communication systems

  UAS: communication systems | Carrier-based Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) [French Navy]

  In May 2025, the French Navy presented a broad plan for its carrier air wing, outlining its composition at three points in time: 2038, 2040 ...

• UAS: flight control systems

  UAS: flight control systems | Carrier-based Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) [French Navy]

  In May 2025, the French Navy presented a broad plan for its carrier air wing, outlining its composition at three points in time: 2038, 2040 ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Air: Displays

  LAD2008DA

  Produced by Psion DSP, LAD2008DA is a 20"x8" Large Area Display for full-glass cockpit applications. It was showcased during the 2022 Farnborough Air Show and the 2023 ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Wing Loong X

  The Wing Loong X, or WL-X, is a fixed-wing UAV developed by the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC). Debuted at the Paris Air Show ...

• Air: Displays

  RDU-4208 LAD

  ScioTeq RDU-4208 is a 20"x8" Large-Area Display. It features a fully redundant, high-resolution screen with multitouch support. Unveiled in 2022, it was also demonstrated in ...

• Air: aerial targets, Loitering munitions

  Super Simsek

  The Super Simsek (Süper Şimşek) is an improved version of the Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) training drone turned loitering munition.  The drone has reconfigurable payload options ...

• EO/IR systems

  M-19 HD

  The M-19 HD multi-sensor, multispectral, HD observation and targeting payload was unveiled at the Paris Air Show in June 2015. It can incorporate up to ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  Orbiter 5

  Unveiled at Paris Air Show 2023, the Orbiter 5 is a fixed-wing UAV from Aeronautics.  The multi-mission drone can host two payloads simultaneously, features autonomous flight and ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  Rotary Wing Cargo UAV

  Displayed at Paris Air Show 2023, the Rotary Wing Cargo UAV is a cargo-carrying and ISR drone manufactured by Turkish Aerospace (TAI). Powered by a ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Stealth UCAV (nEUROn Successor)

  At the Paris Air Show 2025, Dassault Aviation showcased a stealthy UCAV, the successor of the nEUROn aircraft. A Safran M88 engine will power the ...

• Loitering munitions

  SpyX

  The SpyX is a loitering munition from BlueBird Aero Systems. Unveiled at the Paris Air Show 2023, the munition offers autonomous electro-optical guided attack capabilities and ...

• Loitering munitions

  FWD-LM01

  The FWD-LM01 is a loitering munition unveiled by Flying Wedge Defence & Aerospace at the Paris Air Show 2025. The manufacturer states the drone is built for ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  AeroForce 380

  The AeroForce 380 is a MALE fixed-wing drone. Based on the Milkor 380, it is tailored for maritime surveillance and Coast Guard missions. It can ...

• Military UAS - mini

  Strix 425

  The Strix 425 is a mini fixed-wing drone from EOS Technologie. The hand-launched platform can host a removable VTOL system and multiple payloads.  According to a company ...

• Military UAS - small

  LR2M

  The Long Range and Multi-Missions (LR2M) is a fixed-wing VTOL-capable small UAV from Aeronefs Services. Unveiled at the Paris Air Show 2025, the drone is suited to ...

• Air: COMINT and ELINT systems

  Air Keeper

  Elbit Systems unveiled the Air Keeper, an airborne SIGINT and EW system for aircraft at the Paris Air Show 2015. Already operational, Air Keeper is ...

• Air: Integrated cockpit systems

  HeliSure

  Rockwell Collins HeliSure is a product line of situational awareness solutions for rotary-wing aircraft. It provides glass cockpit capabilities using commercial off-the-shelf equipment that can be ...