• Land Warfare

  Insight: Why the CV90 infantry fighting vehicle is making a clean sweep of Nordic markets

  19th September 2023

  Shephard Defence Insight explores the evolution of BAE Systems Hägglunds’ CV90 IFV from its inception in the late 1980s to the latest CV90 MkIV, detailing the order history and upgrade packages of its ten European customers.

• Air Warfare

  Raytheon upgrades KAI FA-50 combat aircraft with PhantomStrike radar

  16th May 2023

  Raytheon is to integrate its PhantomStrike fire control radar on the KAI FA-50 light attack aircraft.

• Air Warfare

  Turkish Air Force F-16 fighter upgrade moves ahead with first deliveries

  23rd May 2023

  The Ozgur upgrade to Turkish Air Force F-16 jets, carried out by Turkish Aerospace industries, claims to bring the aircraft up to a standard equivalent to the latest Block 70/72 model, using domestically developed avionics and subsystems.

• Defence Notes

  How the Chinese balloon incident will impact future US air threat detection

  16th March 2023

  Although the Pentagon claims that current systems can detect this type of threat, it has confirmed that measures will be taken in order to maintain the US's edge over its adversaries.

• Defence Helicopter

  Updated: UK New Medium Helicopter bidders ready to move as soon as MoD confirms timeline

  23rd June 2023

  The lack of clearly defined acquisition targets for the UK New Medium Helicopter programme continues to pose challenges to the timeline of introducing the new rotorcraft into service by 2025.

• Defence Notes

  Malaysia’s military acquisition mayhem and malfeasance (Opinion)

  15th June 2023

  Malaysia has succeeded in producing some prime examples of unsuccessful military procurements and corruption. Unfortunately, it is the Malaysian Armed Forces that bears the consequences.

• Land Warfare

  Demand for AFVs and artillery keeps South Korean firms busy

  28th June 2023

  Worldwide demand for military equipment is playing into South Korea's hands, as the country's defence industry makes deeper inroads into foreign markets.

• Defence Notes

  Why delays in approving the FY2024 budget can widen the gap between Chinese and US capabilities

  19th May 2023

  Naval shipbuilding and restocking key munitions, as well as development projects, may be directly impacted by short-term funding measures.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  British Army eyes new small armed UAS capability

  19th May 2023

  The UK MoD has released a request for information on small armed UAS which could be used by the British Army.

• Land Warfare

  Senior UK general says Ukraine war lessons should reshape defence priorities

  8th March 2023

  The UK's Assistant Chief of the General Staff has called for a re-focus on core ground combat capabilities and boots on the ground for the British Army.

• Air Warfare

  Bell awards subcontracts for Canadian Griffon helicopter modernisation

  27th April 2023

  Bell will complete modernisation work on the first nine Canadian Armed Forces CH-146s, with the remainder of the 85 aircraft upgraded by Alpine Aerotech and Heli-One Canada.

• Air Warfare

  Turkiye’s strong desire to buy F-16 from US persists, defying previous statements

  1st June 2023

  Turkiye's renewed interest in the long-gestating F-16 deal, despite geopolitical hurdles and a potential ban on adding indigenous weapons, highlights the significance of this strategic acquisition for Ankara's military capabilities.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Eurodrone gets Liebherr landing gear

  25th April 2023

  Airbus has chosen Liebherr-Aerospace Lindenberg GmbH to supply the landing gear and hydraulic system for the medium-altitude, long-endurance Eurodrone.

• Air Warfare

  First Indian C295 transport aircraft performs maiden flight

  10th May 2023

  India's programme to procure 56 C295 transports is making progress, with the first aircraft taking to the air.

• Training

  Turkiye's Hurjet trainer and light attack aircraft makes maiden flight

  3rd May 2023

  TAI has completed the first flight of its Hurjet supersonic trainer and light attack aircraft platform, intended to replace the Turkish Air Force's T-38 fleet.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Submarines: nuclear, attack

  Second Hand SSNs [Australia]

  Programme Background Timeline In September 2021, it was announced in a trilateral announcement between Australia, the US and the UK that Australia, in a shock ...

• Military helicopters - maritime, Military helicopters - multirole

  MH-60R [New Zealand]

  Programme Background In April 2025, New Zealand pledged to boost defence expenditure through its Defence Capability Plan. Building on that commitment, the government announced at ...

• ISR/special mission

  E-6 TACAMO Recapitalisation Programme (E-130J) [USN]

  Programme Background The E-6 Take Charge and Move Out (TACAMO) Recapitalisation Programme (E-XX) provides for air vehicle replacement and mission systems modernization to augment and eventually ...

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

  MQ-25 Stingray (13-76) [USN]

  Background Initial Requirements - Unmanned Carrier Launch Airborne Surveillance and Strike (UCLASS) The programme looked different when it began. In 2013, the USN awarded four ...

• Military helicopters - scout/light attack

  MD 530F -Kenya

  Crew transition training took place at the MD Helicopters headquarters in Mesa, Arizona, with field service support, armament, and gunnery training scheduled to occur at ...

• Transport

  C295 [Serbia]

  Programme Background Serbia has completed the acquisition of two Airbus C295MW (Modernised, Winglets) transport aircraft, receiving the second plane on 14 November at Milenko Pavlović ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Global Combat Air Programme [UK]

  Programme Background The next-generation platform concept is part of the 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review, which sought to deliver a Future Combat Air System ...

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

  MQ-25 Stingray (10-12) [USN]

  Background Initial Requirements -  Unmanned Carrier Launch Airborne Surveillance and Strike (UCLASS) The programme looked different when it began. In 2013, the USN awarded four Preliminary ...

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

  MQ-25 Stingray (1-9) [USN]

  Background Initial Requirements - Unmanned Carrier Launch Airborne Surveillance and Strike (UCLASS) The programme looked different when it began. In 2013, the USN awarded four ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  Future Long Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) [USA]

  Programme Background US Army's Future Vertical Lift Programme The FLRAA is one of three strands of a broader army programme. The others are the Future ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | Kaan [Indonesia]

  At IndoDefence 2025, Turkish Aerospace formalised a Memorandum of Understanding with Indonesia for the procurement of 48 Kaan fighters with a contract value of $10 billion. ...

• Data links

  Data links | Kaan [Indonesia]

  At IndoDefence 2025, Turkish Aerospace formalised a Memorandum of Understanding with Indonesia for the procurement of 48 Kaan fighters with a contract value of $10 billion. ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  Air: Helmet-mounted displays | Kaan [Indonesia]

  At IndoDefence 2025, Turkish Aerospace formalised a Memorandum of Understanding with Indonesia for the procurement of 48 Kaan fighters with a contract value of $10 billion. ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | Kaan [Indonesia]

  At IndoDefence 2025, Turkish Aerospace formalised a Memorandum of Understanding with Indonesia for the procurement of 48 Kaan fighters with a contract value of $10 billion. ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | Kaan [Indonesia]

  At IndoDefence 2025, Turkish Aerospace formalised a Memorandum of Understanding with Indonesia for the procurement of 48 Kaan fighters with a contract value of $10 billion. ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Air: Head-up displays

  Collins Aerospace HUD

  The Head-up Display (HUD) developed by Collins Aerospace, USA lets pilots fly seamlessly under all conditions. Compatible with night vision goggles, it can be utilized ...

• Air: Displays

  Collins Aerospace AMLCDs

  Collins Aerospace's display system includes four 6''X8'' coloured  Active Matrix Liquid Crystal Displays (AMLCDs). These AMLCDs are fully compatible with Night Vision Goggles (NVG) and ...

• EO/IR systems

  SYERS-2 (series)

  The Senior Year Electro-Optical Reconnaissance System (SYERS-2) is a multi-spectral, high-altitude ISR system. It has been installed on the US Army's fleet of U-2 Dragon Lady ...

• Loitering munitions

  Revenger

  The Revenger is a loitering munition developed by SRB Aerial Systems.  Not much is known about the platform; however, at IDEX 2023, two units were ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  AR-1500

  Designed for export markets, the TruNet AR-1500 delivers high-speed communication between aircraft and ground forces. Notably, the transceiver supports modern waveforms as well as country-specific encryption ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  Zero-G HMDS+

  The Zero-G HMDS+ is a developmental helmet-mounted display system being developed by Collins Aerospace and Elbit Systems for sixth-generation higher aircraft. According to the company, ...

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

  Abqaiq M2DU

  The Abqaiq M2DU is a developmental fixed-wing UAV manufactured by SRB Aerial Systems. It is a highly modular platform powered by a COTS 2-strike piston engine.  ...

• Air: air combat simulators

  HITS-A

  Collins Aerospace is the prime contractor designing and developing the first integrated aircrew training systems for the E-2D, leading the Hawkeye Integrated Training System for ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  F-35 Gen III HMDS

  The F-35 Gen III helmet-mounted display system (HMDS) is provided by a joint venture between Elbit Systems of America and Rockwell Collins, developed for the F-35 ...

• Air: Displays

  FDS-255

  Rockwell Collins' (now Collins Aerospace) FDS-255 Multifunction Flight Display System is a Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (COTS) display package developed as a stand-alone replacement for electromechanical indicators. It ...

• Air: Integrated cockpit systems

  Common Avionics Architecture System (CAAS)

  Developed by Collins Aerospace, the Common Avionics Architecture System (CAAS) is based on the Flight2 open system architecture design and includes an advanced hardware, software ...

• Air: Displays

  MFD-4068

  Produced by Collins Aerospace, the MFD-4068 is a colour AMLCD display with an optional touchscreen. It is designed to be integrated into trainer and transport aircraft ...

• UAS: flight control systems

  Piccolo Elite

  Produced by Collins Aerospace, the Piccolo Elite is an autopilot architecture solution for advanced UAS applications. Unveiled in 2019, it is provided in five configurations ...

• UAS: communication systems

  RT-2071C

  Produced by Collins Aerospace, RT-2071(C) Secure CDL ISR Radio is an NSA Type-1 certified radio transceiver that provides low-cost and low-SWaP wideband data link capability. 

• 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 ...