• 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

  Hughes awarded SATCOM R&D contract

  25th July 2019

  Hughes Network Systems has been awarded an $11.8 million military satellite communications (SATCOM) research and development contract by the US Army, the company announced on …

• Digital Battlespace

  How Canada is enhancing its SATCOM coverage

  15th August 2019

  Expanding its commitment to the space domain, Canada’s defence policy commits to ‘increased and predictable’ funding to deliver new capabilities, such as earth observation, space …

• Digital Battlespace

  Singapore rolls out SATCOM VAMTAC and MAN SX45 wrecker

  9th July 2019

  The Singapore Army unveiled a new SATCOM variant of the URO VAMTAC ST5, as well as MAN SX45 8x8 wreckers, in Singapore’s National Day mobile …

• Digital Battlespace

  USAF downselects Falcon radio for airborne comms competition

  8th July 2019

  L3Harris Technologies has been awarded a development prototype contract from the US Air Force for its Falcon Wideband Airborne HF Radio, which will now be …

• Defence Helicopter

  High hopes for Hughes BLOS technology

  27th June 2019

  Based on a unique through-the-rotor waveform that enables full motion video transmission, Hughes has recently demonstrated BLoS technology on-board Spanish NH90 TTH aircraft, with a collection of …

• Land Warfare

  Paris Air Show: Uvision presents new multi-canister launcher

  18th June 2019

  Uvision has developed the Hero-400EC Multi-Canister Launcher, designed for a range of land and naval applications. The Hero-400EC, originally unveiled in 2017, is a long-range …

• Digital Battlespace

  US Marine Corps tunes into narrowband network

  13th June 2019

  The USMC  has now begun rolling out its next-generation narrowband SATCOM system to replace its legacy SATCOM networks. Thousands of antenna kits for the AN/PRC-117G …

• Defence Helicopter

  Paris Air Show: BSN systems for S-70 Black Hawk

  17th June 2019

  Blue Sky Network (BSN) has signed a contract with Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation to provide tracking and SATCOM systems for the S-70 Black Hawk helicopter. BSN …

• Digital Battlespace

  Harris receives second order for AN/PRC-158

  17th June 2019

  Harris Corporation has received a second low-rate initial production (LRIP) order from the US Army for the AN/PRC-158 multi-channel radio. The order falls under the …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Inmarsat makes UAV play as emerging partnerships take-off

  30th May 2019

  The UK mobile satellite provider Inmarsat is seeking to increase its civil UAV sector footprint having established a set of five new partnerships with drone …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Paris Air Show: IAI inducts new TUAS to Heron family

  10th June 2019

  Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has launched a third addition to its unmanned Heron collection, with the TUAS to be known as T-Heron. Developed for ground …

• Digital Battlespace

  US on hunt for next-gen tactical radio systems

  30th May 2019

  The US Department of Defense (DoD) is seeking a next-generation Joint Tactical Terminal (JTT) communication system to replace the ageing JTT-Senior and JTT-Integrated Broadcast Service …

• Defence Notes

  Paris Air Show: Sharper sting for Boeing's Super Hornet

  10th June 2019

  Boeing expects to deliver the first two network-centric Super Hornet F/A-18 Block III aircraft in 2019 for testing and evaluation by the US Navy.  Separately, …

• Digital Battlespace

  Harris to supply radios to New Zealand Army

  10th May 2019

  New Zealand announced in Q1 2019 that Harris Defence Australia had been chosen to deliver a new tactical communications network for the New Zealand Army, …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• 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 ...

• 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

  MALE Combat Drones [Thailand]

  Programme Background Roadmap In February 2024, the RTAF unveiled its White Paper 2024. Incorporating lessons from the Russo-Ukrainian War, the Israel-Hamas War, and other events ...

• 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 ...

• Military UAS - small

  Mini RPAS (High Altitude)

  Programme Background The Indian Army has initiated several tenders aiming to procure micro UAVs, but there has been little progress in following through with these ...

• 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 - small

  AdvaNced airCraft Infrastructure-Less Launch And RecoverY (ANCILLARY) [US]

  Programme Background Aims & Timeline As stated by DARPA, the ANCILLARY programme aims to develop and fly an X-plane that will provide a "leap-ahead" in long-endurance, ...

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

  Tactical-Level Armed Drone [Thailand]

  Programme Background Roadmap In February 2024, the RTAF unveiled its White Paper 2024. Incorporating lessons from the Russo-Ukrainian War, the Israel-Hamas War, and other events ...

• 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 ...

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

  DTIF GUARD (Ireland)

  Programme Background The Problem As stated by the project's website, Ireland is the "softest target in EU for smugglers" due to its 3171km of coastline, ...

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

  MQ-9B SkyGuardian [Belgium]

  Programme Background FMS Contract On 26 March 2019, the US State Department announced that it had approved a possible FMS of four MQ-9B SkyGuardians for an estimated ...

• 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 ...

• 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

• UAS: communication systems

  Aviator UAV 200

  Cobham’s UAV 200 is a satcom solution designed to enhance a tactical UAV’s performance, range and payload flexibility in a number of applications.This including SAR, ...

• USV-450

  The SeaRobotics USV-450 is a lightweight USV designed for survey/surveillance, hydrographic data-gathering and general-purpose sensor transport. 

• Military - USVs

  USV-11000

  The SeaRobotics USV-11000 is a long-endurance USV that can be used for military and civil missions. This includes coastal and offshore surveys, hydrographic data-gathering, harbour security ...

• UAS: communication systems

  BlackRay 1000

  The BlackRay 1000 is a ruggedised two-way SATCOM terminal for the UAV market with built-in modem and ACU. It is customisable to meet most UAS ...

• Military - USVs

  USV-550

  The SeaRobotics USV-550 can be used for shallow-water survey and surveillance, hydrographic data-gathering, general-purpose sensor transport and small ROV deployment. 

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

  Shadow M2

  The Shadow M2 builds on the Shadow 200, but has greater endurance and payload capability, quieter and more reliable propulsion and an optional SATCOM capability ...

• UAS: communication systems

  LAISR ULW

  Developed by Inmarsat Government, the Lightweight Airborne ISR System - Ultra Lightweight (LAISR ULW) is an L-Band SATCOM terminal providing beyond-line-of-sight (BLOS) connectivity for SWaP-constrained ...

• Maritime patrol, Trainer

  DA42 MPP Pandion

  The DA42 MultiPurpose Platform (MPP) Pandion is a lightweight MPA, designed to carry out various missions, including coastal surveillance, training, anti-piracy, oil spill detection and ...

• UAS: communication systems

  Airborne Broadband SATCOM

  ViaSat’s airborne SATCOM services offer worldwide access and a range of service levels, providing connectivity and performance options tailored to meet a variety of needs. ...

• Military - USVs

  USV-Collapsible

  The USV-Collapsible can be used for surveying, hydrographic data-gathering, harbour security/surveillance and general-purpose sensor transport. It can also be collapsed into a small shipping crate ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  ELK-1882T NC2

  Produced by Elta Systems (a subsidiary of IAI), ELK-1882T NC2 SATCOM terminals provide secure BLOS communications for fighter and special mission aircraft. The terminals utilise software-defined ...

• Land: battle management systems

  SCC Titan

  The server-based Situational Command and Control (SCC) Titan system is broken down into an HQ and a field-ready tactical satellite package, both designed to offer ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  RF-7800B-VU104

  This land mobile broadband global area network (BGAN) SATCOM terminal provides a tactical radio network capability within the Falcon III multi-band radio family. The RF-7800B-VU104 ...

• Data links

  VDC-550/-555/-850

  ViaSat Data Controllers (VDCs) work with combat net radios to deliver networking, including over severely degraded channels. Using a tactical radio, computer and VDC, notes ...

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

  F100 Karma

  The F100 Karma is a fixed-wing UAV from WEDRONES. It is designed to detect, track, and mitigate the threats posed by other drones. The drone is ...