• Uncrewed Vehicles

  UAVOS and KACST announce new Saker-1B MALE UAS

  4th March 2020

  UAVOS has teamed up with King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) in Saudi Arabia to develop the Saker-1B MALE UAS. The two companies …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  GA-ASI successfully ground tests ALCoS

  25th February 2020

  General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA‑ASI) has successfully ground tested its Airborne Laser Communication System (ALCoS), the company announced on 20 February. ALCoS successfully established a …

• Digital Battlespace

  Northrop Grumman to develop PTS rapid prototype

  25th February 2020

  Northrop Grumman is to develop a Protected Tactical SATCOM (PTS) rapid prototype payload for the US Space Force’s Space and Missile Systems Center. The payload …

• Digital Battlespace

  Kratos announces place on GTACS II contract vehicle

  20th January 2020

  Kratos Defense & Security Solutions has received a place on the US Army’s new Global Tactical Advanced Communication Systems II (GTACS II) contract vehicle. Under …

• Digital Battlespace

  French Navy to get communications boost with Mercure system

  16th December 2019

  French naval communications will benefit from a capability enhancement with the advent of the Mercure HF communications system which will provide an increase in the …

• Digital Battlespace

  LEO to provide ‘game changing’ capability

  7th November 2019

  Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite technology is set to provide a ‘game-changing’ capability for armed forces demanding flexible and cost-effective connectivity almost anywhere in the …

• Digital Battlespace

  Honeywell sees ‘room for growth’ in Asia-Pacific

  27th November 2019

  Honeywell predicts growing demand to modernise military aircraft fleets in Asia-Pacific. Air forces around the region have ageing aircraft fleets, and this is boosting demand …

• Digital Battlespace

  AOC 2019: Ukraine details Russia's EW actions in Donbass region

  31st October 2019

  A senior official within Ukraine’s Armed Forces disclosed operational details regarding the application of electronic warfare (EW) in the East of the country to the …

• Defence Helicopter

  China’s Z-20 gets its first public airings

  23rd October 2019

  The Z-20 helicopter manufactured by the Harbin Aircraft Industry Group – but clearly copied from the Sikorsky S-70 Black Hawk – has enjoyed a flurry …

• Digital Battlespace

  Podcast: Five Eyes Connectivity - Tactical data links

  26th September 2019

  Welcome to Shephard Studio’s special series on Five Eyes Connectivity, sponsored by our partner Viasat.  Listen on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify and more. In the Five Eyes Connectivity podcast …

• Digital Battlespace

  Podcast: Five Eyes Connectivity - SATCOM

  26th September 2019

  Welcome to Shephard Studio’s special series on Five Eyes Connectivity, sponsored by our partner Viasat.  Listen on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify and more. In the Five Eyes Connectivity podcast …

• Digital Battlespace

  DSEI 2019: Collins Aerospace Systems launches SATCOM alternative

  19th September 2019

  Collins Aerospace Systems’ new Universal Radio Group (URG)-IV wideband High Frequency (HF) communications system is aimed at land and naval customers who require a cheaper …

• Digital Battlespace

  ST Engineering strengthens SATCOM capabilities

  18th September 2019

  The US subsidiary of Singapore Technologies Engineering (ST Engineering), iDirect Government, has acquired 100% ownership of Glowlink Communications Technology, the company announced on 17 September.  …

• Digital Battlespace

  Space Vehicles XVI programme a ‘small part to a larger solution’

  5th September 2019

  The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) is investigating the use of low Earth orbit satellites to extend the range of the Link 16 tactical datalink, …

• Digital Battlespace

  Outfitting the UH-60 with resilient SATCOM capabilities (sponsored)

  5th September 2019

  This video is brought to you by Viasat The multi-mission UH-60 has a strong history of providing mission-critical support across the battlespace. Until recently, warfighters …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Loitering munitions

  Medium-Range Loitering Munition with LEO Satellite Data Link [South Korea]

  Background New Project In April 2025, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) and the Agency for Defense Development (ADD) announced a new project titled “Development of Medium-Range ...

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

  Dominator XP [Thailand]

  Programme Background Purchase As reported by Shephard, in September 2023, the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) inducted three Dominator XPs. The RTAF purchased the trio ...

• Loitering munitions

  Loitering Munitions (Special Mission Brigade) [South Korea]

  Programme Background Drone Ambition As reported by Shephard, South Korea has ambitions to possess a large arsenal of drones. In May 2024, the presidential office ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  CH-47F Chinook (Singapore)

  Programme Background In July 2020, photos have emerged on the internet of the first Boeing CH-47F Chinook destined for the Republic of Singapore Air Force ...

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

  Anka-S (Second Batch) [Turkey]

  Programme Background First Batch Based on comments by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) and Turkish media in 2018, Shephard believes that Türkiye acquired 26 Anka-S drones ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

  New Water Jet Fast Attack Craft (NWJFAC) (1-31) [India]

  Programme Background Requirements The Indian Navy is seeking replacements for a large proportion of its 19 46-49m-long waterjet-powered fast attack craft, several of which are approaching ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Portugal VTLB

  Programme Background The Portuguese Army planned to allocate funds for the procurement of 167 VTLBs during the Military Programming Law running from 2015 until 2026. ...

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

  Akinci [Turkey]

  Programme Background Unveiling & Testing Unveiled at TEKOFEST Istanbul Aviation, Space and Technology Festival in September 2019, the Akinci completed its first flight in December 2019. In June 2021, ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - HALE

  RQ-4 Global Hawk (Japan)

  Programme Background Selection & Contract AwardIn 2015, Northrop Grumman's RQ-4 Global Hawk UAS and E-2D Advanced Hawkeye airborne early warning aircraft were selected by Japan to ...

• Submarines: conventional, attack

  Submarines Procurement (1-2) [Greece]

  Programme Background Requirements As of 2025, the Hellenic Navy (HN) submarine force consists of four Type 214, four Type 209/1200 and two Type 209/1100. With ...

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

  MQ-9B SkyGuardian (3) [Belgium]

  Background Strategic Vision 2030 In 2016, the Belgian MoD published its Strategic Vision 2030 report. This report highlighted the need for MALE reconnaissance drones to ...

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

  MQ-9B SkyGuardian (1-2) [Belgium]

  Background Strategic Vision 2030 In 2016, the Belgian MoD published its Strategic Vision 2030 report. This report highlighted the need for MALE reconnaissance drones to ...

• Military UAS - small

  Heavy Lift Capability (UASHLC) [UK]

  Programme Background Requirement & Objective The RN identified a requirement to acquire an RPAS to transport cargo and supplies between ships and personnel. When mature, it ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  Greenerwave LEO/GEO Terminal

  Greenerweave's LEO/GEO Terminal is a Ku-band SATCOM solution which benefits from the manufacturer's proprietary technology to reduce manufacturing costs and power requirements. Unveiled in March ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  MONDO Satellite Terminal

  The Multi Orbit Network, Dual Operation (MONDO) Satellite Terminal is a developmental SATCOM solution that provides continuous communication links on GEO, LEO and MEO networks. ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  Revolution 450mp

  Introduced in 2023, the 450mp is a small form factor SATCOM modem which supports multiple orbits and waveforms. Notably, the man-portable modem supports the manufacturer's Evolution ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  FoldSat LEo Ku OW Mil

  The FoldSat LEo Ku OW Mil is a ruggedised SATCOM terminal developed by OneWeb. Launched in September 2023, it provides person-portable communications with a foldable ...

• Naval: Radio and SATCOM

  King Cobra

  The Fleet 394 'King Cobra' is a 2m-class Naval SATCOM terminal designed by EM Solutions. It provides simultaneous Ka-Band and X-Band coverage. According to the manufacturer, it ...

• Towed guns

  105mm LEO

  Denel Land Systems began development of the 105mm Light Experimental Ordnance (LEO) in 1995 to meet a South African Army technical requirement for a 105mm ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  Osprey u8 HGL

  Launched in 2023, Kymeta Osprey u8 HGL is a hybrid Geostationary/Low-Earth Orbit terminal that provides satellite communications on the move. Notably, it can be mounted ...

• EO/IR systems

  LEO-II

  The LEO-II airborne observation system was a COTS, gyro-stabilised platform containing a multi-sensor payload and a laser pointer, which is available simultaneously in the turret. ...

• Space: radar systems

  TecSAR

  TecSAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar Technonology Demonstrator) is designed for LEO IMINT and carries an X-band radar payload with multi-beam electronic steering. The system is also ...

• EO/IR systems

  LEO-III

  The LEO-III, or LEO-III HD, was an airborne observation system with HD sensors and video outputs. It was a COTS, gyro-stabilised platform containing a multi-sensor HD ...

• Air: mission management systems

  LEO-III-HD

  The LEO-III-HD is an airborne observation system with HD sensors and video outputs. It is a COTS, gyro-stabilised platform containing a multi-sensor HD payload that ...

• Core systems: cameras and IR detectors

  Leo MW

  Leo MW is a compact detector designed for optimised SWaP mediumwave IR (3-5µm) applications. It features a digital output camera link.

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  Multi-Orbit Tactical Terminal

  Intelsat Multi-Orbit Tactical Terminal (MOTT) is a ruggedised terminal with a low-profile design. The vehicle-mountable terminal features an electronically steered array antenna, edge computing capabilities ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Vireo

  Produced by CesiumAstro, Vireo is a Ka-band, multi-beam payload communication system designed for commercial and military applications. The system enables uplink and downlink operations from ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  RESA L Ka

  Requtech's RESA L Ka is an integrated, electronically scanned array antenna terminal for Ka-Band LEO, MEO or GEO constellations for on-the-move and on-the-pause applications. Unveiled ...