• Air Warfare

  South Korea’s KF-21 fighter fires guided IRIS-T missile

  20th May 2024

  Manufactured by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), the KF-21 Boramae is a fighter aircraft that resembles the design of the F-35A. South Korea has investing nearly US$8 billion in the fighter development programme which is set to be completed by 2028.

• 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.

• Training

  Australia’s ‘Top Gun’ exercise in Top End reaches unprecedented scale in face of Chinese military build up

  24th July 2024

  Fast-jet exercise focuses on interoperability and cooperation between allies amid growing regional security concerns in the Asia-Pacific region.

• Air Warfare

  US Ordnance sees growing demand for small arms and machine guns

  8th May 2024

  The company believes its willingness to accommodate client requests, accept small orders and implement user feedback for continuous improvement has contributed to its success.

• Defence Notes

  US Senate plans to booster FY2025 acquisitions with an extra $10 billion despite budget cuts to major programmes

  7th August 2024

  While lawmakers intend to provide additional resources for procurement for all US branches, they have reduced the budget for main programmes such as F-35, MQ-25, PIM and AMPV.

• 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.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Why lawmakers want the US Army to have a Drone Corps

  30th May 2024

  Despite opposition from the service’s leadership, the proposal to have a separate UAV and C-UAV branch has advanced in the House of Representatives.

• Air Warfare

  Czech Republic seals $6.6 billion F-35 deal amid Gripen lease uncertainty

  1st February 2024

  The Czech Republic has solidified its defence stance with a historic F-35 procurement deal, yet unresolved talks have hinted at lingering considerations over potential Gripen lease extensions.

• Naval Warfare

  The future remains unclear for US Coast Guard’s Healy icebreaker

  4th September 2024

  The cutter has been in Seattle where repairs have been taking place to electrical fire damage but no estimate has been given on its return to service leaving the US Coast Guard without surface assets to patrol the Arctic.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Counter-UAS laser being considered for use at Paris Olympics

  19th June 2024

  Cilas is showcasing its HELMA-P counter-UAS laser weapon at Eurosatory 2024 – which is being considered for use at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games – to detect, track and neutralise drones up to 1km away.

• Land Warfare

  Australian Army readies itself for influx of heavy metal

  5th September 2024

  The Australian Army has been restructuring its armoured capabilities, consolidating heavy armoured vehicles such as the M1A2 SEPv3 Abrams and AS21 Redback IFVs in Townsville, while also advancing key defence projects.

• Air Warfare

  Raytheon expands air missile production and announces successful use of StormBreaker from F-35C

  23rd July 2024

  Raytheon has been pushing its production line to meet demand for missiles. At the same time, the Farnborough International Airshow exhibitor has been trying to ensure there are no weak links in its supply chain and increase its depth of suppliers.

• Land Warfare

  MAV’Rx on show to select few

  20th June 2024

  Arquus’s latest 4x4 vehicle prototype was presented in a private setting and features a weapons system from John Cockerill Group.

• Air Warfare

  Warning signals: Is the AEW aircraft market poised for a resurgence?

  10th July 2024

  The AEW aircraft market is evolving with the integration of AI, advanced sensors and increased information flow as evidenced by the Boeing E-7's upcoming replacement of aging NATO E-3 Sentry fleets and Saab’s innovative GlobalEye platform.

• Land Warfare

  M10 Booker advances towards service

  13th September 2024

  The M10 Booker will be the US Army’s first new light tank in decades and last month’s low-rate initial production (LRIP) contract for continued manufacture was a major step in a programme which will substantially reshape the force’s Infantry Brigade Combat Teams (IBCTs).

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  C-390 [Hungary]

  Programme Background The aircraft for Hungary will be specially configured for tactical transport operations, air-to-air refuelling of the service's Saab Gripen C/D fighters, and medical ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Gripen E [Sweden]

  Programme Background  In June 2020, cross party political talks in Sweden addressing future defence funding have collapsed, following disagreement over whether additional money should be ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  C-130H Replacement [Sweden]

  Programme Background Requirements Sweden has five C-130H aircraft (designated Tp-84) and one KC-130H. Two C-130Es bought in the 1960s have retired, but the six H ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Horizon 2 - Multirole Fighter Programme [Philippines]

  Programme Background Requirement The Philippines wants a fighter able to perform score missions such as air-to-air combat, air-to-ground tasks and reconnaissance, including over water. It ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Horizon 3 - Multirole Fighter Programme [Philippines]

  Programme Background Requirement The Philippines retired its F-5 fighters in 2005 and purchased 12 FA-50 light attack aircraft from South Korea in 2013. However, new fighter ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-16 Replacement (5-12) [Thailand]

  Programme Background Requirements The new Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) commander ACM Napadej Thupatemi, who took up his post on 1 October 2021, commented that the ...

• ISR/special mission

  E-6 TACAMO Recapitalisation Programme (E-130J) [USN]

  Programme Background The E-6 Take Charge and Move Out (TACAMO) Recapitalisation Programme (E-XX) provides for air vehicle replacement and mission systems modernization to augment and eventually ...

• Fighter - multirole

  JAS 39E/F Gripen (Brazil)

  In 2016, Gripen’s Project and Development Center was opened in Sao Paulo to allow Sweedish and Brazillian engineers to work together in the Gripen development ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Multi-Role Combat Aircraft [Malaysia]

  Programme Background Requirement Malaysia has long had a requirement known as the Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MRCA) designed to replace the MiG-29 fleet. The MRCA programme ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-16 Replacement (1-4) [Thailand]

  Programme Background The Royal Thai Air Force began looking for an F-16 replacement in 2021 after the then new Air Force commander ACM Napadej Thupatemi ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | Kfir Replacement [Colombia]

  The Colombian Air Force has a long-standing requirement for 15 new fighter aircraft to replace its aging 23 Kfir aircraft in service. On 3 April ...

• Data links

  Data links | Kfir Replacement [Colombia]

  The Colombian Air Force has a long-standing requirement for 15 new fighter aircraft to replace its aging 23 Kfir aircraft in service. On 3 April ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  Air: Helmet-mounted displays | Kfir Replacement [Colombia]

  The Colombian Air Force has a long-standing requirement for 15 new fighter aircraft to replace its aging 23 Kfir aircraft in service. On 3 April ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | Kfir Replacement [Colombia]

  The Colombian Air Force has a long-standing requirement for 15 new fighter aircraft to replace its aging 23 Kfir aircraft in service. On 3 April ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | Kfir Replacement [Colombia]

  The Colombian Air Force has a long-standing requirement for 15 new fighter aircraft to replace its aging 23 Kfir aircraft in service. On 3 April ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Fighter - multirole

  JAS 39C/D Gripen

  The Gripen is a delta-wing fourth-generation multirole fighter produced by Saab in Sweden. The JAS 39C variants are single-seat and the JAS 39D two-seat. The ...

• EO/IR systems

  DJRP

  The Digital Joint Reconnaissance Pod (DJRP) is a tactical EO/IR reconnaissance system. It provides simultaneous high resolution and wide field-of-view EO imagery and horizon-to-horizon day/night ...

• Air: COMINT and ELINT systems, Air: Defensive Systems - Radar Warning Receivers, Air: Integrated Defensive Systems

  BOW

  Saab's BOW family of Radar Warning Receivers (RWRs) and electronic support measures are designed to outfit a diverse array of fixed-wing aircraft. The highly modular ...

• Fighter - multirole

  JAS 39E/F Gripen

  The Saab JAS 39E/F Gripen is a multirole fighter aircraft developed from earlier Gripen models and the Gripen NG. The latest version was selected by Brazil ...

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

  AVE-C/D

  The AVE-C/D is a flight control system UAV demonstrator (AVE-C) and stealth UAV demonstrator (AVE-D), forming part of the R&D; programme initiated by the French ...

• Air: Displays

  EP-17 Gripen Display System

  The EP-17 Gripen Display System has been developed by SAAB Avitronics, Sweden, specifically for the Gripen multi-role combat aircraft. It integrates on-board sensors, data-links and ...

• Air: Integrated Defensive Systems

  ESTL

  The Enhanced Survivability Technology (ESTL) is an integrated self-protection pod with missile approach warning (MAWS) manufactured by Saab. It is designed to counter RF and IR ...

• Air: AEW/fire control radar

  Raven ES-05

  The Raven ES-05 is an AESA fire-control radar developed by Leonardo in close collaboration with Saab for the Gripen E/F. It features a repositionable AESA ...

• Air-to-air missiles, Surface-to-air missiles

  IRIS-T/IRIS-T SLS missile

  Diehl BGT Defence has developed the IRIS-T (IR Imaging System Tail/Thrust Vector-Controlled) short-range air-to-air missile for use by several NATO and international countries. The missile is also ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F/A-18C/D

  The F/A-18 C/D ('KAF-18' in Kuwait) Hornet replaced the original A and B Hornet models, seeking to correct problems with range and acceleration. After success ...

• F50

  The F50 is an integrated quadcopter UAV designed for police/law enforcement missions. The UAV is available in several variants: the F50 A (advanced), F50 B ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-16C/D Block 25, 30/32, 40/42

  The F-16C/D ('C' one-seat, 'D' two-seat designation) is the second generation of the F-16 Fighting Falcon family. The production of the F-16C/D began in 1983 with ...

• EO/IR systems

  LITENING

  The LITENING Advanced Targeting Pod is an electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) system designed to detect, acquire, identify, and track targets over extended ranges.  It supports diverse mission ...

• Trainer

  T-6C/D Texan II

  The Beechcraft T-6C Texan II (UK designation Texan MK1) is a military training aircraft designed for all instruction levels. It is an improved version of ...

• EO/IR systems

  RECCELITE

  The RECCELITE system enables Persistent Wide Area Surveillance and Border Monitoring, providing high-resolution, real-time images over a wide coverage area ‒ from both stand-in and ...