• Naval Warfare

  First Flight III destroyer for US Navy introduces innovative radar capabilities

  8th October 2023

  The introduction of USS Jack H. Lucas to the US Navy's fleet has led to a series of innovative developments that will enhance US capabilities in A2AD zones.

• Land Warfare

  AUSA 2023: Quantum Systems expands UAV family with Twister

  23rd October 2023

  The Twister UAV, which has a flight endurance of 75 minutes and a wingspan of 1.25m, was on display for the first time at AUSA in Washington earlier this month.

• Air Warfare

  DARPA moves to next stage of fast cruise VTOL

  28th November 2023

  DARPA and SOCOM's SPRINT programme, an effort to create an X-plane to demonstrate the key technologies to enable a combination of aircraft speed and runway independence, has moved to the next phase.

• Land Warfare

  US Army picks Elbit for JETS II prototype development

  27th October 2023

  The JETS II prototype will be designed to help soldiers prosecute threats in operational environments quickly.

• 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.

• Digital Battlespace

  Steatite nears completion of order for Crib rugged mobile operations hub

  6th November 2023

  Steatite‘s Crib is a ruggedised universal C2 terminal which incorporates multi-function displays enabled with Persistent Systems Wave Relay Mobile Ad-hoc Network (MANET) radio.

• Land Warfare

  Thales’ personal EW system Storm 2 set for 2025 launch

  15th December 2023

  Information on Storm 2 was first revealed by Shephard in May last year when the primary focus of the system was counter-IED. The concepts of operation for the system have since changed .

• Naval Warfare

  Dutch warships' mid-life upgrade to de-risk systems for future air defence frigate

  13th September 2023

  The Royal Netherland’s Navy (RNLN’s) four De Zeven Provincien-class (LCF) frigates are near to completing a series of upgrades that will enable the ships to operate effectively until replacements are delivered, with the refit informing future requirements.

• Land Warfare

  Production qualification flight test completed for Precision Strike Missile from HIMARS launcher

  16th November 2023

  Precision Strike Missile (PrSM), the US Army’s next-generation, long-range precision strike missile, can destroying targets out to more than 400km.

• Air Warfare

  Australia increases Ukraine support and deploys Wedgetail to Germany

  30th October 2023

  Australia has committed AUD910 million (US$579 million) to Ukraine after increasing its contribution with the provision of more equipment.

• Land Warfare

  The US Government approves the sale of long-range artillery and rocket systems to Latvia

  25th October 2023

  Under the Foreign Military Sale (FMS) approved by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) Latvia could receive M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) and M30A2 Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS).

• Air Warfare

  Kratos reveals design for Thanatos tactical UAV

  6th November 2023

  Kratos has experience with tactical UAVs but the tail-less design of Thanatos has marked a substantial change from the company’s XQ-58A Valkyrie UAV.

• Land Warfare

  How high-frequency electronics can boost EW effects for ground forces

  27th October 2023

  Solutions that operate in the high-frequency (HF) spectrum have the potential to enhance many systems and subsystems in the intelligence, radar, detection, target engagement, navigation and communications fields.

• Land Warfare

  Texelis goes alone as it unveils Celeris

  28th November 2023

  Texelis and Nexter, a KNDS company, manufacture the Serval 4x4 lightweight multi-role armoured vehicle together but Texelis has started selling the rolling chassis of the vehicle as a separate system.

• Naval Warfare

  Rheinmetall to provide Australia with smart sea mines

  29th August 2023

  Rheinmetall subsidiary, RWM Italia, has been awarded a multi-million-euro order from Australia to deliver smart sea mines, the first time that the country will have such a capability in decades.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Minehunters

  Kormoran II Class MCM (4-6) [Poland]

  Background Timeline As of March 2022, the Kormoran II-class consists of six minehunters for the Polish Navy. However, as of June 2022, only one vessel has been commissioned. ...

• Sealift/replenishment vessels

  NRE+ (Navio Reabastecedor de Esquadra e Logístico) (1-2) [Portugal]

  Background Requirements Portugal urges to replace NRP Bérrio, a fleet support tanker which was decommissioned in 2020. Since Bérrio was decommissioned, the Portuguese Navy has been ...

• OPVs

  Viana do Castelo-class (Batch II - NPO3S) (5-10) [Portugal]

  Background Requirements The Viana do Castelo class offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) are used for maritime patrol and surveillance, fisheries protection, SAR, anti-drug and anti-arms trafficking, illegal immigration ...

• Corvettes

  Continental Defence Corvette [Canada]

  Background Initial requirements Under the second pillar of its shipbuilding strategy, Canada is seeking to procure an undisclosed number of small vessels (below 1000t). Part ...

• Frigates

  F126 programme (5-6) [Germany]

  Background Requirements The MKS 180 frigate programme for the Federal German Navy reflects the desire for the German government to become more engaged on the ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | C295 MPAs [India]

  In February 2024, India's Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) cleared the Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) to purchase 15 maritime patrol aircraft for about $3.5 billion. The Indian ...

• Data links

  Data links | C295 MPAs [India]

  In February 2024, India's Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) cleared the Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) to purchase 15 maritime patrol aircraft for about $3.5 billion. The Indian ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | C295 MPAs [India]

  In February 2024, India's Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) cleared the Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) to purchase 15 maritime patrol aircraft for about $3.5 billion. The Indian ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | C295 MPAs [India]

  In February 2024, India's Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) cleared the Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) to purchase 15 maritime patrol aircraft for about $3.5 billion. The Indian ...

• Maritime patrol

  C295 MPAs [India]

  Programme Background In February 2024, India's Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) cleared the Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) to purchase 15 maritime patrol aircraft for about $3.5 ...

• Military UAS - small

  V-Bat [Netherlands]

  Background Contract award On 9 July 2025, Shield AI announced that the Netherlands MoD had acquired eight V-Bat aircraft, specifically the V-Bat 400, to enhance the maritime ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Multirole Underwater Seabed Surveillance Ship (MU3S) [Italy]

  In June 2024, during a presentation provided at the NATO Maritime Security Centre of Excellence (MARSEC COE), the Italian Navy detailed the new capabilities it ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Multirole Underwater Seabed Surveillance Ship (MU3S) [Italy]

  In June 2024, during a presentation provided at the NATO Maritime Security Centre of Excellence (MARSEC COE), the Italian Navy detailed the new capabilities it ...

• UAS: communication systems

  UAS: communication systems | Future Vertical Lift Maritime Strike (FVL-MS) [USA]

  The Future Vertical Lift Maritime Strike (FVL-MS) programme seeks to develop and acquire a family of systems, including crewed and uncrewed aircraft, to replace rotary life aircraft ...

• UAS: flight control systems

  UAS: flight control systems | Future Vertical Lift Maritime Strike (FVL-MS) [USA]

  The Future Vertical Lift Maritime Strike (FVL-MS) programme seeks to develop and acquire a family of systems, including crewed and uncrewed aircraft, to replace rotary life aircraft ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Sea: navigation radar

  FAR-3000

  The FAR-3000 is Furuno's chart radar used to provide situational awareness and navigation safety. It has been developed mainly as a commercial radar, but New ...

• Sealift/replenishment vessels

  Protecteur class JSS

  The Canadian government announced on 2 June 2013 the selection of the Berlin-class design, proposed by ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems Canada, to meet the Royal Canadian Navy’s ...

• Submarines: conventional/attack

  Scorpene Class

  The Chilean Scorpene-class were procured from the consortium composed of Naval Group and Navantia in the late 1990s. The submarines, which were delivered between 2005 and ...

• 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 ...

• Patrol boats

  Warrior Class (Stan Patrol 6211)

  Under Project Biro, the South African Navy is acquiring three new multi-mission inshore patrol vessels. The project is expected to run for approximately seven years, ...

• Submarines: conventional/attack

  Gotland Class

  Three Gotland-class (A19) conventional attack submarines are in service with the Swedish Navy. All three boats have completed an extensive mid-life upgrade. The submarines now ...

• Data links

  Multimedia Com HDLP

  HDLP is a software object providing data link layer services for HF radio data communications. It has been designed for insertion as the data link ...

• Sea: naval surveillance radar, Sea: navigation radar

  SharpEye

  The SharpEye radar is a multi-band combined naval navigation and surveillance radar manufactured by Kelvin Hughes (now under Hensoldt UK). It is marketed towards navies, ...

• Subsystems: hardware

  Maritime Console

  The Discovery Machine Maritime Console can create highly intelligent entities for use in simulated training events. It is designed to work with the USN Joint ...

• Air: COMINT and ELINT systems

  FlyingFish Maritime

  The FlyingFish Maritime SIGINT system is one of several derivatives of the FlyingFish Airborne Satellite Monitoring System developed by Horizon Technologies. Designed to be mounted ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  SitaWare Maritime

  Developed by Systematic, SitaWare Maritime is a C4ISR system that emphasises interoperability, the ability to provide a recognised maritime picture, and data-led decision-making aids. According ...

• 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 - USVs

  Devil Ray T38

  The Devil Ray T38 is a high-performance uncrewed surface vessel (USV) developed by Maritime Tactical Systems, Inc. (MARTAC). The USV can support intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, ...

• Military - USVs

  Devil Ray T18

  The Devil Ray T18 is a compact, high-performance smart uncrewed surface vessel (SUSV) developed by Maritime Tactical Systems, Inc. (MARTAC). Designed for operations in harsh maritime ...

• Maritime patrol

  Cessna Maritime Patrol

  The Cessna 'special mission' Maritime Patrol Aircraft is a variant of the Cessna Citation Longitude business jet developed by Textron aviation. Textron has stated the onboard systems, ...