• Air Warfare

  Leidos and L3Harris partner on US Army ISR aircraft for ATHENA-S

  27th July 2023

  Leidos and L3Harris Technologies announced on 26 July they are teaming up for the US Army’s Theater Level High-Altitude Expeditionary Next Airborne – Signals Intelligence (ATHENA-S) proposal.

• Land Warfare

  Roketsan rolls out Tactical Missile Weapon System

  27th July 2023

  Roketsan, using internal R&D funding, has developed the Tactical Missile Weapon System (TMWS), which is being shown at IDEX 2023 installed on the roof of the FNSS Pars (6x6) armoured fighting vehicle (AFV).

• Naval Warfare

  Anzac-class frigate to test-fire Sea Ceptor in New Zealand's first naval missile launch in seven years

  15th August 2023

  HMNZS Te Mana is conduct a five-month deployment to test all the new equipment it received during the recent Frigate Systems Upgrade (FSU) project, including a first missile firing since 2016.

• Air Warfare

  Korean Air completes first AH-6i fuselage

  27th June 2023

  Korean Air in South Korea is building Boeing scout helicopter fuselages for an international customer.

• Air Warfare

  Insight: What does the future hold for the Eurofighter Typhoon combat aircraft?

  11th September 2023

  The Eurofighter Typhoon Tranche 3A has been adopted by Middle Eastern air forces as well as the European partner nations. Shephard Defence Insight analyses its next-generation radar, cockpit technology and future upgrade plans.

• Naval Warfare

  Singapore receives first Invincible-class submarine

  24th July 2023

  The first-in-class boat remains in Germany to assist with training.

• Naval Warfare

  No easy options: Australia's navy faces complex surface fleet choices

  14th September 2023

  As part of Australia’s Defence Strategic Review (DSR), a report into the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN’s) future surface fleet force structure was directed to be completed separately. Shephard examines its likely outcomes and how Australia might balance capability with affordability

• Training

  Aeralis and Inzpire take fast jet training to new heights

  19th July 2023

  With a focus on on-demand operational air support and cost reduction, the partnership harnesses Aeralis' digitally engineered platform and Inzpire's training and engineering expertise.

• Land Warfare

  David's Sling completes new test of capability

  10th July 2023

  The David’s Sling Weapon System (DSWS) is designed to defend against rockets, missiles and crewed or uncrewed aircraft and has completed testing of expanded capability.

• Land Warfare

  Germany, Netherlands place €1.9 billion order for Caracal airmobile vehicles

  11th July 2023

  Germany and the Netherlands have signed a contract with Rheinmetall for the supply of Caracal airmobile platforms, worth €1.9 billion.

• Digital Battlespace

  Kontron unveils new high-performance plug-in card for harsh environments

  5th July 2023

  Kontron introduces the VX307H, a rugged 3U VPX plug-in card designed for high-performance embedded computing in defence and general applications.

• Air Warfare

  China’s J-20 fighter hits milestone with suspected first flight with WS15 engines

  7th July 2023

  The consensus amongst the open-source community is that China has test-flown a J-20 powered fully by WS15 engines for the first time.

• Land Warfare

  Why US Army artillery needs a new Precision Guidance Kit

  14th July 2023

  Northrop Grumman has secured a $40.6 million US Army contract for M1156E4 Precision Guidance Kit development, expanding capabilities for new artillery systems. Learn more about this major upgrade.

• Air Warfare

  BAE Systems Phasa-35 UAS soars into the stratosphere

  17th July 2023

  BAE Systems has achieved the first stratospheric flight of the Phasa-35 High Altitude Pseudo-Satellite (HAPS) uncrewed aerial system (UAS). Weighing 150kg, the drone flew to over 66,000ft in altitude and could offer long-endurance ISR and communication capabilities.

• Training

  Italian Air Force begins MQ-9A Reaper training

  26th June 2023

  The Italian Air Force (IAF) has begun training the inaugural group of pilots and sensor operators who will operate the MQ-9A Block 5 Reaper remotely piloted aircraft system (RPAS).

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Loitering munitions

  Colibri: Short-range loitering munition (Contracted) [France]

  Background Origins French Ministry of Armed Forces spokesperson Hervé Grandjean stated at a press conference in May 2022 that the General Directorate for Armament (DGA) ...

• Long Range Missile Defence Systems: > 90km range

  BARAK MX [Greece]

  Background As part of the Achilles Shield modernisation plan, Greece is working on a multi-layered air defence system valued at around $3 billion. The system ...

• Long Range Missile Defence Systems: > 90km range

  Barak MX [Slovakia]

  Background In 2023, the Slovak Ministry of Defence recommended negotiating with Israel for BARAK MX under the first stage of Slovakia’s air-defence-capability programme. The final ...

• Long Range Missile Defence Systems: > 90km range

  Barak MX [Thailand]

  Background Thailand is procuring the Barak MX air defence system, which will be operated by the Anti-Aircraft Regiment of the Security Force Command. The system ...

• Loitering munitions

  Colibri: Short-range loitering munition (Uncontracted) [France]

  Background Origins French Ministry of Armed Forces spokesperson Hervé Grandjean stated at a press conference in May 2022 that the General Directorate for Armament (DGA) ...

• CUAS - jammers

  Centauros [Greece]

  Background In February 2026, Hellenic Aerospace Industry and Israel Aerospace Industries completed the integration of Centauros with the BARAK MX air- and missile-defence system. The ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Anka-B [Türkiye]

  Programme Background TAI announced in November 2019 that it had delivered a total of 22 Anka-B UAVs to the Turkish Navy. Two large contracts contributing ...

• Loitering munitions

  MTO CP (First Tranche) [Belgium]

  Background Belgian Drone Expansion In November 2025, the Forces Operations Blog (FOB) reported that the Belgian Land Force would launch various UAV procurement programmes, based ...

• Loitering munitions

  MTO CP (Second Tranche) [Belgium]

  Background Belgian drone expansion In November 2025, the Forces Operations Blog (FOB) reported that the Belgian Land Force would launch various UAV procurement programmes, based ...

• Military helicopters - scout/light attack

  AH-6i (Thailand)

  Programme Background The US State Department has made a determination approving the possible $400 million sale on 24 September 2019. The eight AH-6i light attack ...

• 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 helicopters - scout/light attack

  MD 530G Lebanon

  The Armed MD 530G Scout Attack Helicopter features next-generation all-glass cockpit that includes: two Genesys Aerosystems IDU-680 6” x 9” LCD primary displays, Tek Fusion ...

• Medium Range Missile Defence Systems: 20-90km range

  Barak MX [Colombia]

  Background In 2022 Colombia placed an order with Israel-based IAI for its Barak MX air defence system. Deliveries were due to be completed in 2026, ...

• Long Range Missile Defence Systems: > 90km range

  Long Range Air Defence [Norway]

  Background Following a 2023 report which bluntly stated that the Norwegian military was not ready for war and that particular gaps existed in air defence in ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Piranha V [Denmark]

  Programme Background In February 2013, the Danish Defence Acquisition and Logistics Organization (DALO) selected the Piranha V as one of five contenders for evaluation to ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Subsystems: visual

  L3 Wescam MX - Sim

  Partnering with L3 Wescam, INSYEN has developed the MX - Sim, a training product which simulates the operations of the L3 Wescam MX-series of EO/IR ...

• EO/IR systems

  Wescam MX-8

  Unveiled at AUSA 2016, the Wescam MX-8 is an EO/IR system designed for small crewed and uncrewed aircraft.  The smallest system in the Wescam's MX series, the ...

• Sea: naval surveillance radar

  Indera MX-3AH

  The Indera MX-3AH is a naval surveillance radar manufactured by Solution 247 in Indonesia. It is a Low-Probability-of-Intercept (LPI) radar that is equipped with Maritime Tracking ...

• Light mortars

  60MX Mortar Series

  Expal's 60mm 60MX1 and 60MX2 mortars are designed to be used with a bipod or in handheld mode using a commando kit, which consists of ...

• Subsystems: visual

  L3 Wescam MX - Emulator

  INSYEN has partnered with L3 Wescam to develop the MX -Emulator, a product which emulates the operations of L3 Wescam's MX series of EO/IR turrets, ...

• Medium mortars

  81mm MX Mortar Series

  The 81mm MX mortar series includes two different barrels for different operational scenarios: 1.15m (81MX1) and 1.45m (81MX2). Both can be transported in three backpack ...

• Towed mortars

  120mm MX Mortar Series

  The 120mm MX Mortar Series consists of two models with different barrel lengths: the 1.6m 120MX1 and 1.8m 120MX2. The design has numerous improvements based ...

• Surface-to-air missiles

  Barak ER (Barak-8ER)

  The Barak Extended Range (ER) missile, developed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), is an advanced surface-to-air interceptor designed to counter a wide spectrum of aerial ...

• EO/IR systems

  Wescam MX-25D

  The L3 Harris Wescam MX-25 is an EO/IR imaging system designed for ultra-high, long-endurance surveillance and reconnaissance missions from aircraft. It supports up to six sensors simultaneously, including long-range target ...

• Core systems: image intensifiers

  MX-10160

  F9800 series Gen III MX-10160 18mm I2 tubes are used in the AN/AVS-6 ANVIS and AN/AVS-9 (F4949) aviator NVG, as well as ground systems including ...

• EO/IR systems

  Wescam MX-10

  The Wescam MX-10 EO/IR low-weight imaging system is designed for low-altitude tactical surveillance and reconnaissance missions from crewed and uncrewed aircraft. The MX-10 has had a close ...

• EO/IR systems

  Wescam MX-20

  The Wescam MX-20 EO/IR is an imaging system from L3 Harris, designed for high-altitude, long-range persistent surveillance and reconnaissance missions from crewed and uncrewed aircraft. The MX-20HD was a ...

• EO/IR systems

  Alticam 11EOIR5

  Manfaucte by Hood Tech Vision, the Alitcam 11 series of EO/IR gimbals can be hosted on aircraft, vessels, or vehicles. The Alticam 11EOIR5 features HD ...

• EO/IR systems

  Alticam 09EOIR3

  Derived from the EO900 Super EO, the Alticam 09 series of gimbaled surveillance systems feature four-axis stabilisation and two simultaneous H.264 compressed video feeds. The ...

• Land: vehicle surveillance/target acquisition systems

  MX-10GS

  The MX-10GS is a mast-mounted small multi-sensor, multi-spectral imaging system in single-LRU configuration. It is designed for installation in ground combat vehicles and for force ...