• Naval Warfare

  Clock ticks for the US Navy to present a recovery plan for faulty welds in its vessels

  8th October 2024

  The branch should submit the rework plan to the House of Representatives by 11 October.

• Naval Warfare

  Exail selected to enhance navigation capabilities of the French Navy’s OPV

  6th September 2024

  Naval Group has selected the high-tech industrial group to provide its Phins Inertial Navigation Systems and Netans Data Distribution Units to French OPVs.

• Naval Warfare

  Austal USA starts work on first of 11 Heritage-class OPCs

  30th August 2024

  The company was awarded a US$3.3 billion contract to construct 11 OPCs for the US Coast Guard in June 2022.

• Naval Warfare

  US Navy’s Navigation Plan 2024 to focus on rapid integration of uncrewed capabilities

  20th September 2024

  The service’s Navigation Plan 2024 and “Project 33” targets outlined robotic and autonomous systems as core focus areas up until 2027.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  US Army accelerates acquisition and field of company-level sUAS

  9th October 2024

  The service has been using a Directed Requirement (DR) approach to speed up the deployment of a Medium Range Reconnaissance capability.

• Naval Warfare

  Oostende mine countermeasures vessel begins sea trials

  22nd July 2024

  The first vessel in the Belgian-Dutch rMCM mine-clearing fleet, the Oostende, has begun its sea trials before officially entering service in 2025.

• Land Warfare

  British Army programme cuts could continue in 2025

  24th December 2024

  The six-month old Labour leadership in the UK has already made cuts and army programmes could be on the chopping block in 2025. Where might the axe fall?

• Defence Notes

  Defence cooperation in Europe: Views on the current situation from the EDA

  19th June 2024

  The European Defence Agency (EDA) has been using its platform at Eurosatory to emphasise its role in enhancing EU defence capabilities through collaboration and outlined its future priorities.

• Air Warfare

  Staying power: The importance of mid-life upgrades (opinion)

  9th July 2024

  The rapid integration of advanced Western weapons with Soviet-era Ukrainian aircraft and the adaptability shown in makeshift solutions has highlighted the essential role of mid-life upgrades in maintaining effective military forces amid evolving combat and technological challenges.

• Naval Warfare

  Thales to test passive sonar on Naval Group large uncrewed underwater vessel

  11th July 2024

  Naval Group’s extra-large uncrewed underwater vessel (XL-UUV) demonstrator, which completed sea qualification in mid-2023, is a key component of the French defence procurement agency’s (DGA’s) Unmanned Combat Underwater Vehicle (UCUV) demonstrator project.

• Land Warfare

  South Korean defence industry demonstrates its tech prowess

  6th November 2024

  Shephard takes a deep dive into the latest developments in the South Korean defence sector as the country arms itself to deal with current and future threats.

• Land Warfare

  ‘A true force multiplier’ – where AI can make the most impact in defence

  3rd October 2024

  In Conversation... ST Engineering’s Ravinder Singh talks to Shephard's Gerrard Cowan about how AI can enhance human performance, the best ways to build trust in the technology among defence customers, and the areas where AI can transform military operations

• Naval Warfare

  US Navy commissions the last San Antonio-class Flight I vessel

  10th September 2024

  Equipped with the capabilities of the other San Antonio Class ships, the USS Richard M. McCool (LPD 29) incorporated additional lessons learned in its design.

• Naval Warfare

  Second Belgian mine counter-measure ship launched

  3rd July 2024

  Twelve new Mine Countermeasures Vessels (MCMVs) are being built to replace the Tripartite-class MCMV. The programme is a joint Dutch-Belgian procurement and a contract was awarded to Belgium Naval Robotics (BNR) in 2019.

• Naval Warfare

  Australia’s Ghost Shark XLUUV to undergo trials in the US

  21st August 2024

  US uncrewed underwater vehicle (UUV) systems manufacturer Anduril, through its Australian subsidiary, has a contract to deliver three prototype extra-large UUVs (XLUUVs) named Ghost Shark to the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• MPVs - 4x4

  Kalyani M4 (India)

  Programme Background In the wake of border clashes with the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) in 2020, the Indian Army has accelerated several of its ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | Sea Sultan [Pakistan]

  The Pakistani Navy (PN) had selected the Embraer Lineage 1000E to base its future long-range maritime patrol aircraft (MPA). Pakistan hired Leonardo as the prime contractor for the ...

• Data links

  Data links | Sea Sultan [Pakistan]

  The Pakistani Navy (PN) had selected the Embraer Lineage 1000E to base its future long-range maritime patrol aircraft (MPA). Pakistan hired Leonardo as the prime contractor for the ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | Sea Sultan [Pakistan]

  The Pakistani Navy (PN) had selected the Embraer Lineage 1000E to base its future long-range maritime patrol aircraft (MPA). Pakistan hired Leonardo as the prime contractor for the ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | Sea Sultan [Pakistan]

  The Pakistani Navy (PN) had selected the Embraer Lineage 1000E to base its future long-range maritime patrol aircraft (MPA). Pakistan hired Leonardo as the prime contractor for the ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  High Mobility Armoured 4x4 Tactical Vehicles [Latvia]

  Programme Background Requirement The procurement of high-mobility 4x4 armoured vehicles is part of an initiative to replace a diverse fleet of utility vehicles currently in ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Future Destroyers (13DDX) [Japan]

  At CNE 2024, Vice Admiral Shinichi Imayoshi, Director General of Naval Systems at the Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA), revealed that enhancing air defence ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Future Destroyers (13DDX) [Japan]

  At CNE 2024, Vice Admiral Shinichi Imayoshi, Director General of Naval Systems at the Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA), revealed that enhancing air defence ...

• Loitering munitions

  Switchblade [Greece]

  Programme Background 10-Year Purchasing Plan In 2024, Athens drafted the multi-billion 10-year purchasing plan, which included acquiring F-35 jets, three frigates from France under the Hellenic ...

• Maritime patrol

  Sea Sultan [Pakistan]

  Programme Background On 10 January 2020, Pakistan issued a tender for a single unconfigured long-range twin-jet MPA. In October 2020, Adm Zafar Mahmood Abbasi, the PN’s soon-to-retire ...

• Maritime patrol

  Sea Sultan [Pakistan]

  Programme Background Initial Tender On 10 January 2020, Pakistan issued a tender for a single unconfigured long-range twin-jet MPA. In October 2020, Adm Zafar Mahmood Abbasi, the ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Jais 4x4 [Saudi Arabia]

  Programme Background The Saudi Arabian government is aiming to localise 50% of its investment into defence by 2030 in line with the country's Vision 2030 ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Pacha Kuyuchix (New 8x8 Armoured Vehicle) [Peru]

  Programme Background The Peruvian Army is reliant upon a range of ageing 4x4 APCs, including the UR-416, Type 6614 and Type 6616, all of which ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Project Hoefyster (South Africa)

  Programme Background History The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) first formulated operational requirements for a new ICV in 1995, but modernisation of South Africa's ...

• Submarines: conventional/attack

  Submarines Procurement (3-4) [Greece]

  Programme Background Requirements As of 2025, the Hellenic Navy (HN) submarine force consists of four Type 214, four Type 209/1200 and two Type 209/1100. With ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• MPVs - 4x4

  Mbombe 4

  The Mbombe 4 is the 4x4 variant of Paramount's Mbombe family of mine-protected vehicles.  Capable of carrying up to 11 personnel, the Mbombe 4 shares ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Marauder Mk 2

  Paramount Group unveiled the Marauder Mark 2 armoured vehicle in August 2022. The new platform can be configured as an APC or an infantry combat vehicle, and it ...

• Loitering munitions

  N-Raven

  The N-Raven is a loitering munition manufactured by Paramount Group's Paramount Aerospace Systems (PAS). Debuted at IDEX 2021, the platform has since been redesigned.  It has been ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Matador 4x4 APC

  The Matador 4x4 vehicle can be configured as an APC or a light infantry combat vehicle, with the addition of weaponry. It is designed to ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  Mbombe 6

  The Mbombe 6 is the 6x6 version of the Mbombe family of armoured vehicles developed by South Africa's Paramount Group. In order to drive down ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Marauder

  The Marauder 4x4 can be configured as a simple troop carrier or as a wheeled combat vehicle by the addition of a heavy machine gun ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Al-Masmak/Nyoka Mk 2

  The Al-Masmak ('Fortress' in Arabic) 4x4 mine-protected APC was developed by Saudi Groups in cooperation with IADSA (since acquired by Paramount Group). Saudi Groups unveiled ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

  8.5m Guardian

  Made by Paramount Group, the 8.5m Guardian is the smallest in its class. It is designed to be launched from a larger vessel and is ...

• 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 ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Alan-2

  Developed by Kazakhstan Paramount Engineering, the Alan-2 is an armoured 4x4 tactical vehicle. It was demonstrated for the first time during the ADEX 2022 exhibition ...

• ISR/special mission, Maritime patrol

  Embraer Lineage 1000 (Sea Sultan)

  The Sea Sultan is the Maritime Patrol version of the Embraer Lineage 1000. The aircraft conducted a wide range of missions, such as ASuW, ASW, ISR, ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Mbombe 8

  Paramount unveiled the 8x8 member of its Mbombe family, the Mbombe 8, at the Kazakhstan Defence Expo on 2 June 2016.  Sharing more than 80% ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  Vulture

  The Paramount Advanced Technologies Vulture is a fixed-wing TUAV designed for such missions as day/night reconnaissance and surveillance and target acquisition in support of brigade-level ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  MAC OWL

  The MAC OWL is a Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle designed by Paramount Greece and Ukraine's MAC HUB. It draws upon Ukrainian experiences in the ongoing Russo-Ukraine ...

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

  Nomad (Group 3)

  In March 2025, Sikorsky unveiled an unnamed tail-sitter small UAV referred to as the Rotor Blown Wing. In October 2025, Sikorsky unveiled the Nomad family, which includes the ...