• Training

  Russia trains CAR army in weapons use

  27th March 2018

  Inside a sprawling former ‘imperial palace’ near Bangui, Russian instructors have set up a camp where they are training soldiers of the Central African Republic …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Continued investment proves less risky for Watchkeeper

  26th March 2018

  The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) remains committed to the troubled Watchkeeper project despite missing its full operating capability (FOC) one milestone in November 2017. It …

• Land Warfare

  Rheinmetall integrates MELLS into Marder IFV

  22nd March 2018

  Rheinmetall has integrated the MELLS anti-tank missile system into the German Army’s Marder 1A5 infantry fighting vehicle (IFV), the company announced on 20 March. Rheinmetall received …

• Naval Warfare

  Naval Group selects FTI suppliers

  28th March 2018

  Naval Group has initiated the process of selecting equipment suppliers for France's Frégate de Taille Intermédiaire (FTI) frigate programme, the company announced on 20 March. …

• Land Warfare

  Singapore takes delivery of Aster 30 missiles

  29th March 2018

  Singapore has taken delivery of its first MBDA Aster 30 SAMP/T surface-to-air missiles (SAM), with the first image revealed to the public in a Republic …

• Land Warfare

  Singapore allegedly acquires Leopard 2A7 tanks

  20th March 2018

  The Singapore Army could have quietly taken delivery of a dozen Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) Leopard 2A7 MBTs between 2016 and 2017, according to the Stockholm …

• Defence Notes

  Insight: Trump signs Taiwan Travel Act

  19th March 2018

  China’s Foreign Ministry expressed displeasure over US President Donald Trump’s signing of the Taiwan Travel Act (HR 535) on 16 March. The legislation, though non-binding, …

• Defence Notes

  China's aircraft carrier sails by Taiwan as tensions rise

  21st March 2018

  Taiwan said on 21 March it had scrambled jets and sent ships to track the passage of a Chinese aircraft carrier through the Taiwan Strait, …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Aspen, Sensurion to co-develop UAV Avionics

  21st March 2018

  Aspen Avionics and Sensurion Aerospace have entered into a partnership to develop certified avionics for UAS and unmanned air-taxi platforms, Aspen announced 19 March. The …

• Defence Helicopter

  Nepal’s army eyes renewed helicopter fleet

  29th March 2018

  With its sights fixed on the task of renewing its helicopter and aircraft fleet, the Nepali Army Air Wing decommissioned two Alouette III helicopters on …

• Military Logistics

  DIMDEX 2018: DND's search for treasure continues

  13th March 2018

  Naval logistics forms the backbone for any naval force deployed persistently overseas, removing much of the requirements for vessels to leave stations for lengthy trips …

• Land Warfare

  Jordan receives more Marder vehicles from Germany

  21st March 2018

  A batch of refurbished ex-German Army Marder infantry fighting vehicles (IFV) have been delivered to the Jordanian armed forces. Deliveries of 25 modernised Marder 1A3 IFVs …

• Defence Notes

  Israel Army given shoot orders ahead of Gaza border protest

  28th March 2018

  Israeli Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Gadi Eisenkot has warned the army has been given authorisation to open fire ahead of mass protests on the …

• Military Logistics

  AUSA Global: Army seeking 30 percent logistics demand reduction

  28th March 2018

  The US Army has publicly release its new ‘demand reduction strategy’ for future logistics operations at this week’s Association of the US Army Global Force …

• Defence Notes

  Engine maker Rolls-Royce powers back into profit

  7th March 2018

  Rolls-Royce roared back into net profit in 2017, largely as the sterling recovered, the company announced on 7 March. Profit after tax struck £4.2 billion …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Loitering munitions

  DELI [Türkiye]

  Programme Background Speaking to Shephard at SAHA Expo 2022, a spokesperson stated that the platform was expected to enter into service with the Turkish Armed ...

• Military UAS - micro, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Short Range Reconnaissance (SRR) (Tranche 2) / Rucksack Portable UAS (RPUAS) [USA]

  Programme Background The Rucksack Portable UAS (RPUAS) Programme The RPUAS programme will provide the battalion and below-ground manoeuvre elements within the US Army with an ...

• Military UAS - micro, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Micro UAV [Argentina]

  Programme Background Tender The EA and MoD in April 2021 announced Public Tender 0090/2021 (UOC: 84/135), which saw the General Directorate of Material begin the process ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  AH-64E Apache (Indian Air Force)

  Programme Background The Indian Army was originally granted co-ownership of the 22 Apaches by the Indian MoD. However, the IAF refused to cede them to ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  ISR Civilian-Made UAVs [Taiwan]

  Background Civilian-made, Military-specification As reported by Shephard in April 2025, to accelerate the acquisition process and urgently build a larger UAV inventory, Taipei is enlisting the private ...

• Loitering munitions, Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Containerized Autonomous Drone Delivery System (CADDS) [US]

  Background CADDS Concept In early February 2026, the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) stated that it required the ability to rapidly deploy large quantities of UAS ...

• Military UAS - micro, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Sovereign UAS Challenge [Australia]

  Background Chinese Drones Banned As reported by Shephard in August 2023, the Australian Defence Force (ADF) previously used commercial UAS from companies such as DJI ...

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

  Akinci [Libya]

  Programme Background 2022 Reports In October 2022, various Libyan media outlets reported that the country was eyeing a possible procurement from Baykar, possibly the Akinici ...

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

  ScanEagle [Czechia]

  Programme Background Earmarked The ACR took delivery of ten ScanEagle systems (100 UAVs), which were received as a donation from the US in 2015. In ...

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

  TUAS [Malaysia]

  Programme Background Tender & Requirments The Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) issued a tender in May 2020 to provide a new Tactical Uncrewed Aerial System (TUAS). ...

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

  Large ULS-A / Aerial Logistics Connector (ALC) [USMC]

  Background US Marine ULS-A programmes The US Marines are seeking a family of Unmanned Logistics Systems-Air (ULS-A), which will provide logistics and ground units with their ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  C-37A - USAF

  Programme Background The USAF was using C-20B transport aircraft, variant of civilian Gulfstream III, to provide worldwide airlift for DoD and government officials. With the ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  OC-135B Replacement (USAF- Cancelled)

  Programme Background The modification and Treaty Certification works include Digital Visual Imaging System kits, design and development for mission system integration (structural design, interphone communications systems, ...

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

  HUSAR (2023 Order) [Germany]

  Programme Background First Order In 2015, the German Army launched the HUSAR programme to identify a replacement for its Airbus Defence & Space KZO and ...

• Loitering munitions

  ZT-180 [Russia]

  Background Claims On 23 February 2023, DER SPIEGEL reported that, according to information it had gathered, China and Russia were negotiating the purchase of 100 ZT-180 drones, ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• md4-3000

  The md4-3000 is a small VTOL quadcopter UAV with a maximum take-off weight of 15kg, one-third of which can be payload. It can fly by remote ...

• Neo V2

  Flycam UAV displayed the Neo V2 at the Commercial UAV Expo in Las Vegas in November 2016. Developed in 2014, the UAV has a twin-boom ...

• Falcon 8+

  Intel unveiled the Falcon 8+ for the first time at the Commercial UAV Expo in Las Vegas in November 2016. The V-Form octocopter, which will ...

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

  Skylark 3

  The Skylark 3 is a small UAS manufactured by Elbit Systems. It is designed for both dismounted and vehicle-based operations.  It can perform a range of ...

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

  M12 Monitor

  The Saxon Remote Systems M12 Monitor UAV is a commercial and military system designed to perform a range of roles such as surveillance, pipeline inspection ...

• H520

  The H520 is a hexarotor VTOL UAV designed for the commercial and industrial markets by Yuneec International. The system was unveiled in January 2017. It ...

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

  Resolute Eagle

  The Resolute Eagle is a tactical Group 3 UAS with fuselage and underwing payload bays, which is able to carry multiple sensors. The UAS has been ...

• Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  SICX-10E

  The SICX-10E is a rotary-wing UAV suitable for a range of military and civil roles, including tactical ISR, bomb damage assessment, homeland security, aerial surveillance, ...

• Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  SICX-25

  The SICX-25 is a rotary-wing UAV suitable for a range of military, commercial and civil missions, including tactical ISTAR, bomb damage assessment, civil air surveillance, ...

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

  30 June

  Developed by the Egyptian Ministry of Military Production, the 30 June is a MALE fixed-wing UAV designed for reconnaissance missions.  Additionally, it features an electromagnetic system and ...

• EO/IR systems

  Skybox

  The Skybox allows gimballed camera systems developed for small UAVs to be integrated on the nose of manned helicopters. It accommodates cameras such as DJI’s ...

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

  Wulung

  The Wulung is an Indonesian tactical UAV. First displayed at the Indo Defence Expo and Forum in November 2014, the aircraft entered mass production in May ...

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

  StratoAirNet

  The StratoAirNet is a lightweight MALE UAV that is solar-powered and designed for commercial and military applications. It can accommodate multiple payloads weighing up to ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Yagu

  Plasan unveiled the Yagu 4x4 at the March 2018 Expo Seguridad event. It is based on the Arctic Cat Wildcat 4 1000 commercial all-terrain vehicle. The ...

• Air: mission management systems

  TM-100 Map and Video Management system

  Trakka Systems introduced a new TM-100 Map and Video Management system at HAI Heli-Expo 2017 in Dallas. The augmented reality mapping system with metadata video and audio ...