• Naval Warfare

  NATO’s largest exercise for decades is shaping future transatlantic security

  27th February 2024

  Steadfast Defender 24 (STDE24), the main NATO multi-domain exercise for 2024, has seen large-scale national and multinational live exercises taking place across the whole NATO area. Among the challenges it has attempted to tackle have been the increased lethality of uncrewed systems and how to enhance amphibious landings in cold environments.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Iranian UAV threat leaves Israel’s defence industry searching for answers

  11th March 2024

  Iran has continued to invest heavily in its drone-building capacity, supplying Russia and Iranian proxies throughout the Middle East, leading defence experts in Israel to call for more defensive solutions be developed to deter the threat from UAVs.

• Naval Warfare

  US Coast Guard to invest nearly $500 million in Arctic capabilities

  28th March 2024

  The branch has been seeking icebreakers, cutters, C3 and ISR solutions, as well as uncrewed aerial and maritime platforms.

• Air Warfare

  UK disposable frontline drones set for 2025 deployment while collaborative platforms await decision

  28th March 2024

  Reflecting on lessons learned from the cancellation of the Mosquito programme, the Royal Air Force has redefined the role of uncrewed systems within its ranks through a tiered system.

• Land Warfare

  Elbit Systems wins $300 million deal to supply vehicle systems to European customer

  20th February 2024

  Elbit Systems has won a contract to supply equipment and subsystems for a European country’s armoured vehicles which could include UT30 MK2 unmanned turrets and Iron Vision head-mounted displays.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Emgepron and Tidewise team up to develop first ‘made-in-Brazil’ USV

  8th March 2024

  Brazil's Emgepron and Tidewise have partnered to construct the Suppressor unmanned surface vessel by 2025 amid potential interest from the Brazilian Navy.

• Naval Warfare

  US forces intercept second boat carrying Iranian weapon supplies for Houthi rebels

  15th February 2024

  The operation in the Arabian Sea involved the US Coast Guard Sentinel-class fast-response cutter USCGC Clarence Sutphin Jr assigned to US Naval Forces Central Command.

• Air Warfare

  Singapore Airshow 2024: Stay ahead of developments with our Show Portal

  16th February 2024

  Shephard will provide updates on the latest news, announcements and launches throughout the Singapore Airshow 2024.

• Naval Warfare

  Turkish Navy looks to advance maritime power with 2024 fleet expansion

  22nd January 2024

  Turkish Navy has ambitious plans to expand and modernize its fleet with new warships, submarines, drones and missiles in 2024.

• Training

  Filipino soldiers complete training on ASCOD light tank

  14th February 2024

  General Dynamics European Land Systems (GDELS) unveiled the ASCOD Medium Main Battle Tank (MMBT) tank based on its tracked ASCOD IFV, at Eurosatory 2018. In January 2021, Elbit Systems announced that it had been awarded a US$172 million contract to supply vehicles to the Philippines.

• Air Warfare

  India launches homegrown fifth-generation fighter programme despite ongoing advanced fighter engine gap

  12th March 2024

  New Delhi’s plans for the debut of its first AMCA fighter prototype within four and a half years have been marred by the nation’s ongoing struggle to bridge the technological gap in developing advanced fighter jet engines.

• Air Warfare

  General Atomics unveils XQ-67A combat drone

  12th February 2024

  The development of the XQ-67A was set out to create a platform capable of crewed-uncrewed teaming, with noticeable visual similarities to existing advanced UAS.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  UK unveils $5.7 billion uncrewed systems plan with an eye on Ukraine

  23rd February 2024

  The UK has outlined a strategy on how it will spend billions of dollars on uncrewed systems over the next decade as it transitions to a more mixed force of crewed and uncrewed platforms.

• Naval Warfare

  US and UK forces intensify strikes against Houthi capabilities

  23rd January 2024

  On 22 January, the coalition targeted eight areas controlled by the non-state military group in Yemen.

• Naval Warfare

  Taiwan launches first IDS submarine in attempt to deter Chinese aggression

  4th March 2024

  Taipei’s morale-boosting US$1.5 billion submarine project has entered the water as Taiwan ramps up attempts to stall Chinese hostility.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  Combat Air Teaming System (CATS) Warrior [India]

  Programme Background Make In India The 'Make In India' initiative is an effort by the Indian government to boost domestic manufacturing. In the context of ...

• Military UAS - small

  Black Hornet 3 PRS (UK)

  Programme Background The British Army operated approximately 160 first-generation Black Hornet PD-100 nano UAS between 2013 and 2017, when the decision was made to retire ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  Ajax IFV [UK]

  Programme Background Prior to commencing development of the Ajax the UK utilised the Warrior was its primary IFV. However, the Warrior entered service in 1987 making ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  Naval Collaborative Combat Air Vehicle (N-CCAV) [India]

  Programme Background CATS Warrior The Combat Air Teaming System (CATS) is a planned, uncrewed and crewed family of aircraft in development by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited ...

• 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 - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  MQ-1 Gray Eagle [US Army]

  Background Required Quantity Although the US Army first envisioned a requirement for 132 MQ-1C Gray Eagles, the US Army's Army Acquisition Objective (AAO) was increased ...

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

  Orbiter 3 (Croatia)

  Programme Background The Croatian government launched a competitive tender for the procurement of a short-range UAV in October 2017. Although the tender was opened on ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Protected 4x4 Replacement [Argentina]

  Programme Background Argentina currently operates the AML, Spartan 4x4 APC and Dongfeng Warrior CSK131, with 45 still in service across the three vehicles. It also previously operated ...

• Military UAS - mini, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  AR100-H [Germany]

  Programme Background In May 2022, it was announced that 145 AR100-H drones would be supplied to the German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr). At the time of ...

• Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - small

  Alpha 900 [Uruguay]

  Background Acqustiion In October 2022, the Alpha 900 from Alpha Unmanned Systems was reportedly jointly purchased by the Uruguayan state energy company UTE and the ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Boxer (MIV) [UK]

  Programme Background History The UK MoD announced in March 2018 that it would re-join the Boxer programme and pursue a sole-source acquisition of the 8x8 ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | P6359 Future Naval Mine Countermeasures system (NMCM) [Norway]

  Norway's current naval mine countermeasures (NMCM) inventory is reaching the end of its operational lifespan and is in need of replacement. The future project under ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | P6359 Future Naval Mine Countermeasures system (NMCM) [Norway]

  Norway's current naval mine countermeasures (NMCM) inventory is reaching the end of its operational lifespan and is in need of replacement. The future project under ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Sixth-Generation Aircraft [South Korea]

  Programme Background Hanwha industries has confirmed that a new engine is under development to replace the American manufactured F-414 engine; according to reports, the new ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | New Generation Minehunters/Offshore (NGM/A) (1-4) [Italy]

  The Italian Navy is procuring twelve new multi-purpose mine countermeasures (MCM) vessels under the Cacciamine Nuova Generazione (CNG) programme. The programme includes coastal-going units (NGM/C) ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Military - USVs

  SHARC

  The Sensor Hosting Autonomous Remote Craft (SHARC) wave glider platform is a JV developed between Boeing and Liquid Robotics. The SHARC is able to deliver ...

• Land: soldier modernisation systems - industry programmes

  Warrior Systems

  General Dynamics Mission Systems is prime contractor and system integrator for the US Army’s Warrior soldier systems, which include Air Warrior, Future Force Warrior, Land Warrior ...

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

  NRQ-21

  Insitu displayed the NRQ-21 Integrator at the Unmanned Warrior 2016 event in Wales. The aircraft has been designed to carry out tasks on land and ...

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

  Outlaw SeaHunter

  Outlaw UAVs are used by military and research agencies for training, testing, data collection and system development. In the 114-137kg maximum take-off weight class, SeaHunter ...

• Land: soldier modernisation systems - industry programmes

  Mounted Warrior

  Mounted Warrior will provide an integrated system-of-systems ensemble designed to improve the survivability, lethality and combat effectiveness of armoured vehicle crewmen. The system leverages capabilities ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  Warrior

  The Warrior IFV entered service with the British Army in mid-1987. A total of 789 vehicles were delivered in IFV, infantry command, anti-tank, recovery, repair, ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  MIHDS

  The Modular Integrated Helmet Display System (MIHDS) is designed and developed jointly by General Dynamics Mission Systems, USA and Microvision Inc. The system's SD2500 design ...

• Military - USVs

  MAST

  The Maritime Autonomy Surface Testbed (MAST) was developed by ASV Global and Roke Manor Research under funding from the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory. It ...

• Land: soldier modernisation systems - national programmes

  Warrior 2020

  Finland’s Warrior 2020 programme is focused on improving individual soldier equipment in the five capability areas defined by NATO: C4I, lethality, mobility, survivability and sustainability. Warrior ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  CATS Warrior

  Manufactured by the state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), the Combat Air Teaming System (CATS) Warrior is a medium-altitude long-endurance UAS part of the CATS family ...

• Military helicopters - scout/light attack

  OH-58D Kiowa Warrior

  The OH-58D Kiowa Warrior, manufactured by Bell Helicopter Textron, is a two-person, light scout helicopter with a day/night mast-mounted sight, glass cockpit and four-bladed rotor system. ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  MUBC

  The Modular Universal Battery Charger (MUBC) is a scalable charging system for a range of military and commercial batteries. It provides for the addition of ...

• Military helicopters - scout/light attack

  MD 530F Cayuse Warrior

  An evolution of the OH-6 Cayuse light observation helicopter, the MD 530F was initially Federal Aviation Administration-certified in July 1985 as the Model 369FF. It ...

• UAS: Integrated systems - uncrewed

  Athena 511

  The Athena 511 is a compact all-in-one GPS-aided INS air data system. The system’s integrated inertial sensing uses a tactical grade, ring-laser gyro IMU, with ...

• Land: RWS

  Unmanned T40

  Nexter is developed an unmanned variant of its T40 two-man turret to meet the growing demand for these types of systems. Like the standard T40, ...