• Digital Battlespace

  Australia’s Currawong project on track

  8th April 2019

  Release 3 of the Project Currawong integrated battlefield telecom network for the Australian Army, which will include ‘headquarters on the move’ carried in a Bushmaster, …

• Special Operations

  SOFINS 2019: French Special Operations Command shows off new flight suit

  4th April 2019

  The French Special Operations Command (COS) has designed its very own next-generation tactical flight suit for air crew members, service officials have disclosed to Shephard. …

• Land Warfare

  India approves order for hundreds of T-90MS tanks

  16th April 2019

  The Cabinet Committee on Security in India approved the acquisition of 464 T-90MS MBTs from Russia in early April 2019.  The procurement for the Indian Army …

• Digital Battlespace

  Milipol Asia 2019: Rafael highlights its cybersecurity credentials

  3rd April 2019

  Rafael is well known for its military products – Singapore uses its Protector USV and SPYDER air defence systems, for example – but at the …

• Military Logistics

  Leonardo introduces C-27J firefighting configuration

  25th March 2019

  Leonardo has introduced a firefighting configuration of the C-27J Spartan aircraft to expand its multirole capabilities, the company announced on 19 MarchThe aircraft is fitted …

• Digital Battlespace

  India's ASAT test reflects space race

  1st April 2019

  India’s Mission Shakti, an anti-satellite (ASAT) missile test carried out on 27 March by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), makes it the fourth …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Heathrow picks C-UAS to combat drone disruption

  13th March 2019

  Heathrow has placed an order with German drone detection systems manufacturer Aaronia AG for a counter-UAS (C-UAS) system in a multi-million Euro deal, Shephard has learned.  Aaronia …

• Military Logistics

  LIMA 2019: RMAF focuses on MRO out of necessity

  1st April 2019

  The Malaysian government put a positive gloss on LIMA 2019 in Langkawi, stating that MYR3.67 billion’s ($913.8 million) worth of deals was concluded. These included …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  EchoGuard radar Black Sage Technologies

  11th March 2019

  Echodyne’s EchoGuard security radar has been selected by Black Sage Technologies for mid-range C-UAS security, the company announced on 6 March. The EchoGuard radar provides …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Unmanned Systems Asia 2019: Lockheed targeting Asia with Indago

  8th April 2019

  Lockheed Martin is targeting further growth in Asia for its Indago 3 UAS, having recently sold two of the systems to the Singapore Ministry of …

• Defence Notes

  US successfully tests anti-ICBM system

  28th March 2019

  The US military said on 26 March 2019 that it had successfully tested an anti-intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) system, with a target launched from the …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Study considers Ag-Cormorant for crop spraying

  27th March 2019

  ADAMA has partnered with Tactical Robotics to carry out a joint study of the use of high-payload UAS for aerial crop spraying, the company announced …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Thales to lead Geosafe project

  22nd March 2019

  Thales will take part in the European Commission’s U-Safe project for UAS geofencing solutions to secure the future operations of UAS in civil airspace, the …

• Military Logistics

  Oman allows US military to use its ports

  25th March 2019

  Oman on 24 March said it had signed an agreement with the US that would allow American ships and warplanes to take advantage of ports …

• Defence Helicopter

  Airbus looks to France and Germany to fill MUM-T partner gap

  27th March 2019

  Following a successful series of flight trials between the H145 and Schiebel Camcopter S-100 UAS last year, Airbus is still struggling to find funding and partners …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - small

  Medium Range Reconnaissance (MRR) / Rucksack Portable UAS (RPUAS) [USA]

  Background The Rucksack Portable UAS (RPUAS) programme The RPUAS programme will provide the battalion and below-ground manoeuvre elements within the US Army with an organic, ...

• Military UAS - mini

  U&C reconnaissance drones [US Army]

  Methodology PGO The programme has been assigned a PGO of 100%, as a contract has been awarded. Unit cost It has not been clarified what ...

• Transport

  C-27J [Azerbaijan]

  Programme Background The Azerbaijani Air Force signed a contract with Leonardo in June 2023 to procure the C-27J Spartan tactical transport aircraft. This move is ...

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

  Mini Reconnaissance Drones [Lithuania]

  Programme Background Planned Purchases On 14 September 2022, the Lithuanian MoD announced in a short statement on Twitter, now X, that it had begun organising ...

• 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 - fixed-wing, Military UAS - small

  Small Reconnaissance Drones [Lithuania]

  Programme Background Planned Purchases On 14 September 2022, the Lithuanian MoD announced in a short statement on Twitter, now X, that it had begun organising ...

• Frigates

  European Combat Vessel [Spain]

  Programme Background Requirements The European Combat Vessel (ECV) is currently a conceptual project that seeks to design a European collaborative multi-mission, modular warship. As of ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | Combat Fighter Jet [Ireland]

  In February 2025, Simon Harris, the Irish Minister for Defence and Tánaiste, emphasised the importance of acquiring a new combat fighter jet to address aerial ...

• Data links

  Data links | Combat Fighter Jet [Ireland]

  In February 2025, Simon Harris, the Irish Minister for Defence and Tánaiste, emphasised the importance of acquiring a new combat fighter jet to address aerial ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  Air: Helmet-mounted displays | Combat Fighter Jet [Ireland]

  In February 2025, Simon Harris, the Irish Minister for Defence and Tánaiste, emphasised the importance of acquiring a new combat fighter jet to address aerial ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | Combat Fighter Jet [Ireland]

  In February 2025, Simon Harris, the Irish Minister for Defence and Tánaiste, emphasised the importance of acquiring a new combat fighter jet to address aerial ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | Combat Fighter Jet [Ireland]

  In February 2025, Simon Harris, the Irish Minister for Defence and Tánaiste, emphasised the importance of acquiring a new combat fighter jet to address aerial ...

• OPVs

  Harry DeWolf Class (AOPS) Coast Guard (7-8) [Canada]

  Background Requirements The new vessels will replace the CCGS Leonard J Cowley, an ice-strengthened fisheries patrol vessel that entered service in 1984 and CCGS Cygnus, a ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  A400M [Germany]

  Programme Background Germany originally said it would but 60 A400Ms, but when the program was re-baselined in 2010 reduced its planed off take to 53, ...

• Destroyers

  Next-Generation Large Surface Combatants (LSC) - DDG(X) [USN]

  Programme Background Requirements The US Navy (USN) is acknowledging a need to move away from the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer design, which is slowly outgrowing. Flight III ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Counter-UAS systems

  MEHEL 2.0

  The Mobile Expeditionary High-Energy Laser (MEHEL) is a C-UAS-capable vehicle that employs directed energy to neutralise targets. MEHEL 2.0 was first seen at AUSA 2016, ...

• Laser-directed energy weapons

  Fractl:2

  Fractl:2, developed and manufactured by AIM Defence, is an Australian laser directed energy weapon (LDEW). The high-powered portable system is Australia's first acquisition of a directed ...

• Counter-UAS systems

  DroneDefender

  DroneDefender is a directed-energy UAS countermeasure that disrupts the adversary's control of the aircraft, neutralising it so that no remote action (including detonation) can occur, ...

• Counter-UAS systems, Land: Electronic Attack - Jamming

  EJDERHA HPEM System

  The EJDERHA is a high power electromagnetic system manufactured by Aselsan. It generates high-amplitude electromagnetic fields and directs them to potential targets such as IEDs ...

• Laser-directed energy weapons

  Apollo

  Apollo is a High-Energy Laser Weapon System manufactured by Electro Optic Systems (EOS). Apollo's laser utilises directed energy to disable or destroy aerial targets without ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  SCATA Mk1

  The SCATA Mk1 is the first military vehicle developed by Finland's SCATA.

• Laser-directed energy weapons

  Locust

  BlueHalo's Locust is a laser weapon system. The system delivers a complete kill chain, providing a layered and broadband detection capability that is coupled with electronic ...

• Laser-directed energy weapons

  Minotaur

  Minotaur, developed by Soukos Robots, is a Greek laser directed energy weapon (LDEW). Minotaur is an anti-drone platform with the ability to shoot down unmanned ...

• Laser-directed energy weapons, Self-propelled guns, Self-propelled missile systems

  SkyRanger 30

  SkyRanger 30 is a mobile ground-based air defence (GBAD) laser directed energy weapon (LDEW) system designed by Rheinmetall. The system comprises automatic cannons, guided missiles, and a ...

• OPVs

  PPA/MultiPurpose Combat Ship (MPCS) EVO

  The PPA/MultiPurpose Combat Ship (MPCS) EVO is an enhanced version of the Thaon di Revel-class PPAs unveiled at Euronaval 2024. The PPA/MPCS EVO retains the core platform ...

• Laser-directed energy weapons

  CROSSBOW MINI

  CROSSBOW MINI, developed by IPG Photonics, is a laser-directed energy weapon (LDEW). The LDEW has multiple deployable configurations and is a part of the manufacturers ...

• Laser-directed energy weapons

  DIAL

  The Laser Weapon Instrumental Demonstrator (DIAL), in joint development with Indra and Escribano Mechanical Engineering, is a Spanish laser directed energy weapon (LDEW). The system ...

• Laser-directed energy weapons

  Archimedes

  Archimedes, developed by Aurelius Systems, is a laser-directed energy weapon designed to stop drones at scale. The system is still in development, though Aurelius received ...

• Laser-directed energy weapons

  ALKA-KAPLAN

  ALKA-KAPLAN is a collaborative effort between Turkish manufacturers ROKETSAN and FNSS. The system is a mobile armoured anti-drone system, which integrates the ALKA directed energy-weapon ...

• Laser-directed energy weapons

  Italian LDEW (Leonardo/MBDA)

  As announced in December 2024, Leonardo and MBDA are collaborating to produce a Fire Unit Laser Directed Energy Weapon (LDEW) for the Italian Navy. The ...