• Land Warfare

  Improved British Army Javelin launcher passes milestone as more missile orders placed

  27th May 2025

  Almost US$2 billon has been placed in orders for the Javelin anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) in the past 18 months with the British Army just announcing firing of its Lightweight Command Launch Unit (LWCLU) over an extended range.

• Air Warfare

  US budget boosts Boeing’s F-15EX with $3.1 billion investment to increase fleet to 129

  1st July 2025

  The F-15EX Eagle II had already been singled out for further funding in January 2025, when it was chosen to replace the A-10 aircraft for the US National Guard.

• Air Warfare

  Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force selects General Atomics MQ-9B SeaGuardians

  5th December 2024

  The MQ-9B SeaGuardian will be used as part of the JMSDF’s long range maritime ISR patrol programme.

• Air Warfare

  US Air Force announces mission designation for Anduril and GA-ASI’s CCA prototypes

  4th March 2025

  The news follows confirmation from GA-ASI that it will fly its CCA prototype this year and signals the next step in the collaborative combat aircraft programme.

• Land Warfare

  IDEX 2025: Shifting sands – the Middle East’s defence landscape in flux (video)

  13th February 2025

  As Western influence wanes, Middle Eastern countries are leveraging defence modernisation to assert regional dominance, while global players such as China and Turkey seize new market opportunities. Sam Hart, Senior Land Analyst at Shephard Group, offers insights into how these developments are reshaping the region’s defence landscape.

• Naval Warfare

  The Netherlands cleared to purchase $2.2 billion in Tomahawk missiles

  28th April 2025

  The approved purchase is for Tomahawk Block IV and Block V missiles, control systems, telemetry missiles and communication and broadcast systems.

• Naval Warfare

  Kongsberg’s large uncrewed vehicle to join US Navy

  25th February 2025

  The company’s Hugin Superior system has passed its acceptance testing just a year into its contract with the Defense Innovation Unit.

• Land Warfare

  Curtiss-Wright completes delivery of turret drive system for Australian Boxer CRVs

  14th November 2024

  The Australian Army is procuring Rheinmetall Boxer Combat Reconnaissance Vehicles (CRVs) and Curtiss-Wright is providing the turret stabilisation system under Land 400 Phase 2.

• Air Warfare

  Northrop Grumman notes $477 million loss as it manages higher B-21 programme costs

  24th April 2025

  In its Q1 earnings call, the company disclosed a US$477 million pretax loss related to the programme as it works to scale up.

• Land Warfare

  Sweden turns to Nammo and Rheinmetall as world demand grows for 155mm shells

  9th July 2025

  Demand for ammunition continues to increase with manufacturing capability growing to match. Sweden have turned to the two supply lines of Rheinmetall and Nammo as part of a Nordic effort to meet demand. The Polish Government has also announced a US$700 million investment to boost manufacture of munitions.

• Land Warfare

  Refresh of Romanian army vehicles speeds up

  12th June 2025

  Romania received its first Cobra MkII 4×4 light tactical armoured vehicles, ordered Abrams main battle tanks (MBTs) and VAMTAC light vehicles, and is set to invest billions-of-dollars in infantry fighting vehicles.

• Naval Warfare

  Keel laid for Royal Navy’s next-generation nuclear submarine

  25th March 2025

  HMS Dreadnought will be the first of the four Dreadnought class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs) scheduled to enter service in the early 2030s. Following its keel-laying ceremony last week, Shephard takes a deeper dive into the class which will eventually replace the Royal Navy's long-standing Vanguard class of boats.

• Naval Warfare

  US Navy tests Aegis combat system for hypersonic missile defence

  3rd April 2025

  The Arleigh Burke destroyer USS Pinckney undertook the tests against a simulated SM-6 missile.

• Training

  I/ITSEC 2024: Saab introduces UAV live training capability

  9th December 2024

  The system can be used to prepare soldiers for both drone offensive operations and CUAS missions.

• Land Warfare

  Thales to modernise Netherlands TACTIS combined arms trainer

  30th April 2025

  Thales will modernise the Royal Netherlands Army’s TACTIS simulation system over eight years with enhanced synthetic environments, new simulators for the CV9035NL, Boxer and Leopard 2 tanks.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Landing platform docks/dock landing ships

  Landing Platform Docks [Saudi Arabia]

  Programme Background Requirements The Royal Saudi Naval Forces (RSNF) is in the process of a fleet transformation plan (SNEP II) which, so far, has seen the procurement ...

• Frigates

  Frigates Procurement Programme [Saudi Arabia]

  Programme Background Requirements The Royal Saudi Navy urges to enhance its combat capabilities and to replace older vessels. Riyadh has recently embarked on major naval ...

• Loitering munitions

  HERO-120 [Argentina]

  Programme Background Initial Purchase As reported by Janes, on 27 December 2022, the Argentine MoD announced it had signed a contract with Israeli MoD's Directorate ...

• Loitering munitions

  HERO-30 [Argentina]

  Programme Background Initial Purchase As reported by Janes, on 27 December 2022, the Argentine MoD announced it had signed a contract with Israeli MoD's Directorate ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  Surion Marine Attack Helicopter (South Korea)

  Programme Background The ROKMC wants to obtain 24 attack helicopters for the first time. When bidding opened in January 2019, there were five contenders: Bell ...

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

  Hermes 900 [Brazil]

  Programme Background First Batch (2014) In 2014, Elbit reported supplying the Hermes 900 to the Brazilian Air Force (FAB). The drone is called the RQ-900 in ...

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

  Akinci [Saudi Arabia]

  Programme Background Erdogan Visit On 17 July 2023,  President Tayyip Erdogan arrived in Jeddah for the first stop of his Gulf tour. The following day, ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  Watchkeeper X (Contracted) [Romania]

  Programme Background 2021 In mid-2021, the Romanian manufacturer Aerostar signed a collaboration with U-TacS to potentially produce the Watchkeeper X in Romania. U-TacS is a ...

• Loitering munitions

  Harop [Morocco]

  Programme Background In November 2021, Haaretz reported that a $22 million drone sale between Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and Morocco had occurred. That publication and ...

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

  Long-Endurance UAV [US AFRICOM]

  Programme Background Ageing MQ-9A Reapers In November 2022, Shephard reported that GA-ASI would continue supporting contractor SMX with its MQ-9A after winning a $2.3 billion task ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  Watchkeeper X (Uncontracted) [Romania]

  Programme Background 2021 In mid-2021, the Romanian manufacturer Aerostar signed a collaboration with U-TacS to potentially produce the Watchkeeper X in Romania. U-TacS is a ...

• Loitering munitions

  Switchblade 300 [Australia]

  Programme Background Contract Award & Delivery On 8 July 2024, the Australian Government announced its soldiers would be equipped with Switchblade 300 following an acquisition ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  Heavy Lift Helicopter [Philippines]

  Programme Background Procurement from Russia In November 2021, Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana confirmed that a contract had been signed to acquire 16 Mi-171 heavy ...

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

  WJ-700 [Algeria]

  Forecast Methodology Programme Value Unconfirmed reports show that the completed procurement cost Algeria $145 million in 2022. Quanity Required Reports indicated that Algreia had acquired four ...

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

  Persistent Surveillance / High-Altitude Pseudo-Satellite (HAPS) [Japan]

  Programme Background Drone Appetite Released in December 2022, the Defence Buildup Programme (DBP) called on the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) to replace some human assets with ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

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

  Samoom

  Unveiled at the World Defence Show 2022, the Samoon is a Saudi Arabian UCAV manufactured by Intra Defence Technologies.  It is powered by Belgian ULPower Aero ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Cockerill i-X

  The Cockerill i-X is a wheeled armoured vehicle designed as a light armoured platform with a modular turret for intercepting enemy forces. John Cockerill Defense unveiled the new ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

  2800 ASW Patrol Boat

  The 2800 ASW Patrol Boat, developed by Couach, is a vessel designed for ASW operations. Unveiled at the 2022 World Defence Show, the vessel can be ...

• Land: battle management systems

  Mulhim

  Developed by Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI), Mulhim is a developmental Battle Management System designed for brigade-level and below formations. First unveiled in 2022, it ...

• UAS: communication systems

  SkyARX Ku-18

  CTech SkyARX Ku-18 is a lightweight, SATCOM-on-the-move terminal designed for air applications. The Ku-band terminal supports the secure transmission of full-motion video, data, and mission-critical ...

• EO/IR systems

  PT-8N

  The PT-8D is an IR system from Overwatch Imaging. It is fitted with multiple HD thermal cameras and has been designed to conduct missions at dusk ...

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

  SKAT 350

  Based on the Supercam 350, the SKAT 350 is a mini fixed-wing UAV manufactured by Kalashnikov Concern JSC. The drone was revealed in early 2024, ...

• Air: Displays

  LAD2008DA

  Produced by Psion DSP, LAD2008DA is a 20"x8" Large Area Display for full-glass cockpit applications. It was showcased during the 2022 Farnborough Air Show and the 2023 ...

• EO/IR systems

  PT-8D

  Marketed as a cost-effective solution, the PT-8D is a wide-area search and ISR payload from Overwatch Imaging. It features an RGB colour camera and a ...

• Land: RWS

  TEBER-II 30/40

  The Teber II-30/40 is a remote-controlled turret developed by Turkish manufacturer FNSS. This RCT is designed to fit tracked or wheeled armour vehicle programs. FNSS ...

• EO/IR systems

  PT-8DN

  The PT-8DN is a versatile day-night payload from Overwatch Imaging.  It has dual RGB sensors of different focal lengths and an HD LWIR sensor. It also ...

• Air: Displays

  RDU-4208 LAD

  ScioTeq RDU-4208 is a 20"x8" Large-Area Display. It features a fully redundant, high-resolution screen with multitouch support. Unveiled in 2022, it was also demonstrated in ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  D-Tiger

  Thai Defense Industry (TDI) unveiled its D-Tiger 4x4 armoured tactical vehicle at Defense & Security 2022 in Bangkok. The D-Tiger is aimed at export sales, with ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Pars Alpha 8x8

  Unveiled at the World Defense Show 2024 in Riyadh, the Pars Alpha is the latest 8x8 Armoured Vehicle from Turkish manufacturer FNSS. Featuring improvements on ...

• Aircraft carriers

  Varan Aircraft Carrier

  At the Army 2022 defence exposition, Nevsky Design Bureau unveiled a new model for its light carrier design Varan. Varan is a non-nuclear powered ship capable ...