• Land Warfare

  Hit to Kill UAV destroys other drones with kinetic energy

  31st March 2023

  MBDA has partnered with Novadem to develop a new UAV designed to knock out hostile drones using kinetic energy as part of the Sky Warden counter-UAS system.

• Training

  Leonardo takes another step towards sixth-generation training

  14th March 2023

  Leonardo will develop immersive training solutions that leverage Varjo's headsets for multiple use cases across the pilot training curriculum.

• Air Warfare

  Decision to delay UK's MQ-9B Protector programme cost £186 million

  17th March 2023

  The Ministry of Defence's decision to delay the MQ-9B Protector programme by two years has cost the country £186 million, with total projected whole-life costs now at over £1.7 billion.

• Air Warfare

  Taiwan expands its UAV inventory to meet future threats

  14th March 2023

  Taiwan is busy developing new types of UAVs to equip its armed forces.

• Air Warfare

  Germany greenlights F-35 jet purchase for nuclear strike role

  16th December 2022

  Germany is buying the F-35A conventional take-off and landing variant of the fighter jet.

• Air Warfare

  MD Helicopters ramps up production as Nigerian order lands

  8th March 2023

  MD Helicopters is expanding its production line to fulfil a Nigerian Army order for 12 Cayuse Warrior Plus scout/attack helicopters.

• Air Warfare

  Indian Army receives its first swarm of UAVs

  8th March 2023

  NewSpace Research and Technologies has completed delivery of a UAV swarm to India's army.

• Air Warfare

  UK denies Saudi participation in 6th-generation fighter programme

  2nd March 2023

  The UK has categorically stated that the agreement signed between the two countries is unrelated to FCAS or the Global Combat Air Programme despite Saudi announcements.

• Air Warfare

  Honeywell seals F-35 and Hawk jet support deals for Asia-Pacific region

  1st March 2023

  Honeywell has signed agreements with BAE Systems Australia and Rosebank Engineering to provide maintenance, repair and overhaul services for the RAAF's Hawk 127 fleet and F-35 wheels and brakes.

• Land Warfare

  IDEX 2023: Czech firm offers multi-layered air defence for Middle East market

  26th February 2023

  The air defence capability is currently under development and ‘partially in production’ for Indonesia.

• Defence Notes

  What's the deal with defence procurement? (podcast)

  17th March 2023

  This week on the Shephard Defence Podcast, senior naval reporter Harry Lye and military training & simulation reporter Norbert Neumann chat with Professor John Louth.

• Air Warfare

  Past financial woes won't affect US Air Force E-7A programme, Boeing says

  3rd March 2023

  Boeing said its recent financial issues on other defence programmes will not affect the USAF's E-7A programme and the first aircraft is expected to be operational by 2027.

• Naval Warfare

  Argentina seeks to rejuvenate submarine capabilities, but economic woes pose a challenge

  20th April 2023

  Argentina is seeking bids from European shipbuilders for new submarines but may struggle to sell the plan to the public due to economic difficulties.

• Air Warfare

  Indonesian light transport progamme stalls, while fighter plans make slow progress

  27th February 2023

  Indonesia's transport and fast jet air force modernisation efforts continue to proceed at a slow pace.

• Air Warfare

  Boeing to cease Super Hornet production in 2025 unless Indian deal goes ahead

  28th February 2023

  Closing the Super Hornet and Growler production lines will allow Boeing to focus its resources on other ongoing and future defence programmes.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Fighter - multirole

  Combat Fighter Jet [Ireland]

  Programme Background  In February 2025, the Irish Minister for Defence and Tánaiste Simon Harris highlighted Irelands need to procure a new combat fighter jet to combat ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  C-390 Options [Portugal]

  Programme Background Leadership from Embraer and the Portuguese Air Force formalised a contract that includes 10 aircraft options that can be utilised by any NATO ...

• AEW&C

  Alliance Future Surveillance and Control (1-6) [NATO]

  Programme Background NATO’s E-3A AWACS fleet is set to retire in 2035, after 50 years of service. To plan for the required follow-on capability, NATO's ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  C-390 [Portugal]

  Programme Background Leadership from the Portuguese Air Force and Embraer signed a contract for a sixth C-390, with the option for ten additional aircraft for ...

• OPVs

  Samarth Class (Batch 2)

  Programme Background The Samarth class Advanced Offshore Patrol Vessels (AOPVs) are a class of six in service with the Indian Coast Guard with a further five vessels ...

• Fighter - multirole

  MiG-35 (Russia)

  The MiG-35 is a new-generation derivative of the twin-engine MiG-29 (NATO code-name ‘Fulcrum’) featuring multi-role combat capabilities, significantly reworked airframe and a vastly expanded arsenal ...

• OPVs

  Vikram Class

  Programme Background The Vikram class Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) for the Indian Coast Guard are being built at the Kattupalli shipyard by Larsen and Toubro (L&T;)  Shipbuilding. ...

• 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 ...

• ISR/special mission

  EC-37B Compass Call [USAF]

  Programme Background Requirement The retirement of the EF-111A in 1990 left the USAF largely out of the operational and tactical level radar jamming business. Lockheed Martin ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | Jamming and Escort Electronic Attack Aircraft (luWES) [Germany]

  Under the Luftgestützte Wirkung im Elektromagnetischen Spektrum (luWES) programme, Germany is committed to NATO to provide 15 electronic warfare escort aircraft to support its aerial jamming capability, ...

• Data links

  Data links | Jamming and Escort Electronic Attack Aircraft (luWES) [Germany]

  Under the Luftgestützte Wirkung im Elektromagnetischen Spektrum (luWES) programme, Germany is committed to NATO to provide 15 electronic warfare escort aircraft to support its aerial jamming capability, ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  Air: Helmet-mounted displays | Jamming and Escort Electronic Attack Aircraft (luWES) [Germany]

  Under the Luftgestützte Wirkung im Elektromagnetischen Spektrum (luWES) programme, Germany is committed to NATO to provide 15 electronic warfare escort aircraft to support its aerial jamming capability, ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | Jamming and Escort Electronic Attack Aircraft (luWES) [Germany]

  Under the Luftgestützte Wirkung im Elektromagnetischen Spektrum (luWES) programme, Germany is committed to NATO to provide 15 electronic warfare escort aircraft to support its aerial jamming capability, ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Major networking projects

  Air Policing

  Air Policing is a collective peacetime mission that requires NATO to take action against all violations and infringements of its airspace using agreed procedures. Supreme ...

• Land: battlefield and ground surveillance radar

  O-PEN Wall Penetration Radar

  SRC’s O-PEN sense-through-the-wall radar system, previously known as SOMISR II, was developed to address urban warfare requirements under a US Army Technology Objective programme. The ...

• Awing-F100J

  Awing-F100J is the latest UAV from Tianjin-based Quadrant Space (Tianjin) Technology and was displayed at the 11th Zhuhai Airshow in China for the first time ...

• RemoCopter-001

  The Uconsystem RemoCopter-001 is a very lightweight (1kg) quadrotor UAV dedicated to commercial and hobby applications, with an integrated EO payload. 

• Major networking projects

  Air and Missile Defence

  NATO Air and Missile Defence comprises all measures aimed at monitoring and reacting to potential air threats in NATO airspace, as well as countering hostile ...

• Major networking projects

  NATO DCIS

  Airbus is delivering the NATO Deployable Communication and Information System (DCIS). The project represents a major upgrade in the capability of NATO Response Forces (NRF) ...

• Land: RWS

  Qimek NATO

  Rheinmetall's RWS family includes the Qimek single-weapon RWS and the Nanuk dual-weapon RWS. The Qimek NATO combines full stabilisation, long-range day/night all-weather sights and a ...

• Land: RWS

  Nanuk NATO

  Rheinmetall's RWS family includes the Qimek single-weapon RWS and the Nanuk dual-weapon RWS, which was introduced in 2008. The Nanuk NATO combines full stabilisation, long-range ...

• Major networking projects

  NATO SATCOM

  Leonardo has been awarded a turnkey contract to rationalise and upgrade NATO’s SATCOM systems and associated infrastructure. The company will design, build, test, commission and ...

• Counter-UAS systems

  Blackbird

  The Blackbird UAV detection and geolocation system detects and locates both the UAV and its controller, using signal processing technology. It can be deployed interactively ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  V-RAPTOR

  Unveiled at LAAD 2023 in Rio de Janeiro, the V-RAPTOR is a tactical police armoured vehicle from domestic manufacturer Combat Armor Defense do Brasil.

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

  Phoenix

  The Phoenix UAV is a delta-wing platform designed largely for civilian applications such as policing, border patrol, coast guard, fire-fighting and surveillance, as well as ...

• Air-to-air missiles

  Vympel R-27

  The Vympel R-27 (NATO reporting name AA-10 Alamo) is a Soviet air-to-air missile. It remains in service with the Russian Air Force and is also ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  SDR-H Special Role Radio

  In February 2018, Domo Tactical Communications (DTC) announced the development of the SDR-H Special Role Radio (SRR), designed for tactical and special operations. The SRR ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

  Interceptor DV15

  The Interceptor DV15 is a sea-proven ultra-high-speed boat designed by CMN. According to the manufacturer, the vessel is capable to perform maritime policing, anti-smuggling patrols ...