• Air Warfare

  Insight: What future remains for the E-7 Wedgetail aircraft?

  2nd September 2025

  The surveillance aircraft from Boeing is deployed by various countries, most notably the Royal Australian Air Force; but ongoing setbacks for future customers, who cite rising costs and delays, have thrown the aircraft into the spotlight.

• Naval Warfare

  UK MoD’s confirmation of MBDA missile for Type 26 points to more European collaboration

  4th December 2025

  The Type 26 will also be fitted with the Sea Ceptor vertically launched air defence system that can fire CAMM missiles and a 24-cell Mk 41 vertical launch system that can fire the Tomahawk land-attack cruise missiles, anti-submarine rockets and long-range anti-ship missiles.

• Air Warfare

  Spanish Army’s VAMTAC drone acquisition progresses ongoing UAV investment

  16th June 2025

  Spain has made clear its intent to acquire a range of uncrewed aerial systems (UAS), including those that will form part of its wider VAMTAC programme, announced in June 2025.

• Land Warfare

  Chaiseri’s quartet of new vehicles offers fresh capabilities to Asian markets

  20th November 2025

  The Guardian-T 8x8, Hisaar MRAP 4x4, Ridgeback 4x4 and Jackal 4x4 were all on display at Defense & Security 2025, with target markets for the vehicles including Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines as well as Thailand.

• Air Warfare

  Why the F-16 fighter jet remains a force to be reckoned with (updated 2026)

  28th January 2026

  The Lockheed Martin F-16 fighter jet remains in the limelight more than 40 years after its first flight. Shephard sums up the latest developments and details everything you need to know about the aircraft in 2026.

• Land Warfare

  DSEI 2025: Cockerill’s new weapon station nears end of development

  11th September 2025

  The Cockerill Compact Light Weapon Station (CLWS) could be fitted to older platforms to enhance their capability or to new platforms such as the Patria 6×6 which is being adopted by an increasing number of countries.

• Air Warfare

  Australia bets big on new systems and local industry in the face of drone wars

  6th June 2025

  Australia has a small but vibrant drone and counter-drone industry ranging from niche dual technology company Grabba Technologies to large multinational like DroneShield. It is these companies and a reshaping of procurement methods to ramp up its drone power.

• Air Warfare

  DSEI 2025: Schiebel reveals two weaponised Camcopter UAVs

  10th September 2025

  The new capabilities are based on platforms already in use or in development, and are designed to perform in demanding defence missions.

• Naval Warfare

  MBDA-led DragonFire’s latest trials move the LDEW system closer to UK navy integration

  21st November 2025

  The DragonFire lines up with other European laser-directed energy weapons being developed in collaboration with MBDA.

• Air Warfare

  Dubai Airshow 2025: Middle Eastern nations chart a broader course for defence procurement

  10th November 2025

  Several key defence contracts are still waiting to be confirmed in the air domain as global players including the US, some European countries and Turkey look to seize market opportunities.

• Air Warfare

  Trump’s drone directives win US industry support but questions remain over ability to challenge Chinese market dominance

  12th June 2025

  New presidential directives for UAV production are intended to remove bureaucratic barriers and support suppliers.

• Air Warfare

  Further funding allocated for Eurofighter Typhoon ECRS Mk2 radar programme

  16th June 2025

  The latest tranche of funding from the UK government comes ahead of the radar's integration into Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft from 2028.

• Naval Warfare

  South Korea pushes forward on unmanned surface vessel development for future fleet

  20th June 2025

  South Korean industry continues to evolve unmanned surface vessels as the ROK Navy targets future force needs and addresses manpower challenges.

• Air Warfare

  Leonardo’s Proteus structural tests “nearing completion” ahead of first flight

  30th June 2025

  The company has tested over 15 mission sets for the drone, with the rotorcraft used to demonstrate the viability of armed forces utilising large uncrewed aerial systems’ (UAS) for autonomous missions in the future.

• Defence Notes

  Modular and attritable equipment must be a priority: US military

  18th September 2025

  Senior officers and representatives from the US Army, US Air Force and US Navy emphasised the need to expedite acquisition projects for systems and platforms that are more modular. They also highlighted that the loss of equipment is acceptable.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Hybrid effector systems

  M-SHORAD Increment 1 [USA]

  Background The US Army is developing a new maneuver short-range air defense system (M-SHORAD) to perform short-range air defense (SHORAD). Under this programme, there are ...

• Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  ISTAR UAS project [Canada]

  Programme Background Objective The Royal Canadian Navy's (RCN) main significant UAV project is the RCN Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance Unmanned Aircraft System (RCN ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  Flexible Tactical Uncrewed Air System (FTUAS) [UK]

  Background Tender notice and timeline On 25 May 2021, the MoD published a tender notice for the urgent acquisition of a UAS and ancillaries under ...

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

  DEF129 (Nano UAS) [Australia]

  Programme Background DEF129 The Australian Ground Service has combined various army procurement efforts under the DEF129 programme to increase the abundance and proliferation of UAVs ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  Ka-52M Alligator-Russia

  Programme Background The loss of 66 Ka-52s and 8 Mi-24s damaged and/or destroyed leaves the Russian Military with an acute need of replacements.  The Ka-52M will ...

• Military UAS - mini

  Aeromobila A Pilotaggio Remoto (Mini) [Italy]

  Programme Background Requirement Released on 5 August 2021, the Italian MoD's Multi-Year Defence Programme Document for 2021-2023 announced a programme aimed at acquiring a mini-UAS capable ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  IAR-99 Replacement (Romania)

  On 29 August 2017, Leonardo announced that the IAR-99 trainer technology demonstrator (TD) will be fitted with company's Vixen 500E AESA radar. The Vixen 500E AESA ...

• Military UAS - micro

  Aeromobila A Pilotaggio Remoto (Micro) [Italy]

  Programme Background Requirement Released on 5 August 2021, the Italian MoD's Multi-Year Defence Programme Document for 2021-2023 announced a programme aimed at acquiring a micro-UAS capable ...

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

  RQ-20 Puma [Belgium]

  Programme  Requirement The Belgian MoD outlined plans to procure more mini and tactical UAS in its Strategic Vision for Defence published in 2016. According to ...

• AEW&C

  AEW&C Aircraft [India]

  Programme Background India is planning to increase its AEW&C; capabilities with indigenous radar systems.  A330 Bid In 2015, the IAF has requested to procure six ...

• Military UAS - small

  Bug Nano UAS (UK)

  Programme Background The British Army previously took delivery of 160 first-generation Black Hornet PD-100 nano UAS in 2013 to support operations in Afghanistan. After these ...

• Military UAS - small

  Puma 2 AE [Germany]

  Programme Background The Germany navy had an urgent requirement for three UAS required for reconnaissance and identification in maritime operations. A platform was required that ...

• UAS: communication systems

  UAS: communication systems | Small UAS [Spain]

  The Spanish Army examined the Russo-Ukrainian War in early 2024 and incorporated many learnings into its Fuerza 35 Project, a restructuring and procurement modernisation initiative. ...

• UAS: flight control systems

  UAS: flight control systems | Small UAS [Spain]

  The Spanish Army examined the Russo-Ukrainian War in early 2024 and incorporated many learnings into its Fuerza 35 Project, a restructuring and procurement modernisation initiative. ...

• Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  Blue Water Maritime Logistics UAS (BWUAS) [USA]

  Programme Background Programme Goal The Blue Water Maritime Logistics UAS (BWUAS) programme stems from the Military Sealift Command and Fleet Forces Command identifying, in 2018, a ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Land: air defence radar

  MPDR 12

  The MPDR 12 is a 60 rpm pulse-Doppler radar with high data rates and effective clutter rejection performance. Integrated with Siemens pulse-Doppler tracking and fire ...

• Land: air defence 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 ...

• Land: battlefield and ground surveillance radar

  NR-100

  The NR-100 is a man-portable pulse-Doppler radar designed to detect and track moving people and vehicles, providing targeting information for infantry weapons. 

• Air: weather radar

  TWR-850/WXR-840/WXR-80

  The TWR-850/WXR-840/WXR-80 weather radar systems use Doppler-based turbulence and weather detection for faster analysis and a solid-state transmitter for optimum pulse width for different ranges ...

• Air: AEW/fire control radar, Air: surveillance radar

  AN/APY-1/2

  The S-band AN/APY-1 radar is installed in a large rotodome above the fuselage of the Boeing KE-3A/E-3A/B Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft ...

• Air: AEW/fire control radar

  N001

  The N001 is a mechanically scanned pulse-Doppler fire control radar associated with the Su-27, -30 and -33 fighters. The system features single-target engagement capability. 

• Sea: naval surveillance radar

  Skyfender AMSR

  The SkyFender AMSR is a two-dimensional, all-weather naval surveillance and helicopter control radar manufactured by Indra Sistemas. It is designed to provide air and sea operation ...

• Sea: naval fire control radar

  MR-90 Orekh

  The MR-90 Orekh, also known as Front Dome, is a Russian fire control system developed originally in the 1980s. It is a pulse-Doppler radar with ...

• Land: battlefield and ground surveillance radar

  BFSR-MR

  The BattleField Surveillance Radar – Medium Range (BFSR-MR) is a ground-based surveillance and acquisition radar capable of detecting and displaying moving targets, including people, vehicles, ...

• Land: air defence radar

  SkyFender ADR

  SkyFender Air Defence Radar (ADR) is a pulse-Doppler radar operating in the X-band that performs signal processing in time and spectral domains to provide target ...

• Air: AEW/fire control radar

  RDI

  The RDI is an optimised pulse-Doppler radar installed on Mirage 2000B and C models used in the air superiority role. The slotted flat-plate antenna features ...

• Air: Defensive Systems - Radar Warning Receivers

  ALR-400

  The ALR-400 is a radar warning receiver manufactured by Indra Systems. The system features wideband reception technology, open architecture design, and performs with highly complex ...

• Land: battlefield and ground surveillance radar

  ARSS

  Relied upon by US as well as international paramilitary and government agencies, Telephonics’ Advanced Radar Surveillance System (ARSS) uses pulse-Doppler technology, providing wide-area ground surveillance ...

• Land: battlefield and ground surveillance radar

  FoPEN

  The FoPEN is a wide-band, pulse-Doppler and ground surveillance radar that operates in the UHF band, minimising foliage attenuation. The system features track-while-scan and pulse ...

• Air: AEW/fire control radar

  Falcon S-7

  The Falcon S-7 is a multi-functional airborne pulse-Doppler fire control radar developed by AVIC's Radar and Avionics Research Institute for the F-7 combat aircraft. The ...