• Defence Notes

  Croatia launches a new fighter procurement drive

  31st May 2019

  Croatia has launched a second fighter procurement attempt after a widely-publicised failure to secure secondhand F-16s offered by the Israeli government. Defence minister, Damir Krstičević …

• Military Logistics

  KBR to support UK MoD

  1st May 2019

  KBR has received a contract to support the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) in the Middle East, the company announced on 26 April. Under the …

• Digital Battlespace

  EW Europe 2019: Leonardo’s BriteCloud squares up to US testing

  14th May 2019

  Announced on 13 May at AOC EW Europe, the US DoD has selected Leonardo’s BriteCloud expendable active decoy (EAD) to be assessed under the Office …

• Naval Warfare

  Korea requests SM-2 Block IIIB standard missiles

  22nd May 2019

  The US State Department has made a determination approving a potential foreign military sale of SM-2 Block IIIB standard missiles to the Republic of Korea, …

• Naval Warfare

  HMS Queen Elizabeth completes work package

  23rd May 2019

  Babcock International has completed the first docking and maintenance period on the Royal Navy’s HMS Queen Elizabeth at its facility in Rosyth, UK, it was …

• Land Warfare

  Japan-US jointly research next-gen amphibious vehicle

  20th May 2019

  The Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Agency announced on 13 May that the Japanese MoD and US DoD had signed an agreement to jointly research next-generation …

• Training

  GeoSpectrum unveils MASTT system

  23rd May 2019

  GeoSpectrum Technologies has launched a Multipurpose Autonomous Sub-Surface Training Target (MASTT) system for submarine detection and tracking training. MASTT replicates the acoustic signature of submarines …

• 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 …

• Digital Battlespace

  Virve connections for Finnish Defence Forces

  15th May 2019

  The Finnish Ministry of Defence (MoD) has authorised the Defence Force to renew its four-year contract with State Security Networks Group Finland for Virve radio …

• Military Logistics

  USNS Fall River arrives in Thailand

  22nd May 2019

  US Navy expeditionary fast transport ship, USNS Fall River, has arrived in Sattahip, Thailand, for the final mission stop of Pacific Partnership 2019, the US …

• Military Logistics

  Russia, Kazakhstan discuss defence partnership

  17th May 2019

  The Russian Ministry of Defence has carried out consultations on military cooperation with Kazakhstan, the Russian MoD announced on 15 May. Both parties reviewed and …

• Digital Battlespace

  Spanish Army's soldier modernisation efforts advance

  29th May 2019

  The Spanish Foot-Soldier System (SISCAP) soldier modernisation effort will shortly enter its test readiness review (TRR) phase, Shephard has learned.  It passed its critical design review (CDR) …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Romania acquires Polish C-IED robots

  21st May 2019

  The Romanian Air Force has taken delivery of an unspecified number of counterterrorism Gryf UGVs designed and manufactured by the Polish Lukasiewicz-PIAP Institute. The deliveries …

• Defence Notes

  UK P-8A ahead of schedule

  17th May 2019

  For a free 24 hour trial to read this and all our other Premium News Click Here The first UK RAF P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol/multi-mission aircraft is …

• Land Warfare

  UK funds new Foxhound upgrades

  25th April 2019

  The UK MoD has confirmed to Shephard that it has awarded General Dynamics a £2.8 million ($3.6 million) contract to design and deliver upgrade kits …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - rotary-wing

  FPV & Attack Drones (Ukraine Aid) [UK & Norway]

  Background £450 million On 11 April 2025, the UK MoD announced a £450 million package for Ukraine, which included £350 million from the UK from this ...

• Loitering munitions

  Altius 600M & Altius 700M (Ukraine Aid) [UK]

  Programme Background Anduril On 6 March 2025, the UK MoD and John Healey, the Secretary of State for Defence, announced a package to help counter Russia's aggression against ...

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

  AR3 (Ukraine Aid) [UK]

  Background £270 Million investment On 15 September 2025, the UK MoD noted that, since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the UK ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Multi-Role Vehicle (Protected) (MRV-P) Package 1 (UK)

  Programme Background Requirement The MRV-P programme was intended to procure replacements for a diverse fleet of 4x4 and 6x6 vehicles purchased during the wars in Iraq ...

• Military UAS - mini, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  30,000 FPV Drones (Ukraine Aid) [UK]

  Programme Background IDCC On 9 January 2025, the UK MoD announced that 30,000 FPV drones would be sent to Ukraine after the awarding of £45 million ...

• Sealift/replenishment vessels

  Fleet Solid Support (FSS) (1-3) [UK]

  Programme Background Requirement The 2015 Strategic Defence & Security Review (SDSR) highlighted the requirement for three Military Afloat Reach & Sustainability (MARS) Fleet Solid Support (FSS) ...

• Military UAS - mini, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Project Tiquila [UK]

  Programme Background Tender Notice On 18 September 2020, the MoD Combat Air Unmanned Air Systems (UAS) Team published a tender notice for a system integrator ...

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

  First Person View (FPV) Drones (Ukraine Aid) [UK]

  Programme Background 2024/2025 Military Aid Package On 12 January 2024, the UK government announced it would provide Ukraine with £2.5 billion ($3.2 billion) in military ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  Land Mobility Programme (Light Mobility Vehicle) [UK]

  This programme briefly introduces the wider Land Mobility Programme and then focuses on the Light Mobility Vehicle (LMV) programme. Information on the LPM and HPM can ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  New Medium Helicopter (NMH) [UK]

  Programme Background NMH Market Interest Day On 11 November 2021, the MoD communicated the requirements of the £1 billion ($1.34 billion) New Medium Helicopter (NMH) ...

• Fighter - naval

  F-35B [United Kingdom]

  Programme Background The total cost of the currently funded programme as reported through the UK Major Projects Report is expected to be £10.5 billion ($13.5 ...

• 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 ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | AUKUS-SSNs/SSN(R) Astute Replacement Programme [UK]

  The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has begun the planning process for the Astute class replacement programme referred to as SSN-Replacement (SSN(R)). In September 2021, it was announced ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | AUKUS-SSNs/SSN(R) Astute Replacement Programme [UK]

  The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has begun the planning process for the Astute class replacement programme referred to as SSN-Replacement (SSN(R)). In September 2021, it was announced ...

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

  Protector RG1 [UK]

  Background Programme Goal The programme aims to replace the MQ-9A Reapers in the RAF's inventory until they are formally retired in October 2025. The MQ-9B will deliver a UK ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Major networking projects

  Project Marshall

  The Joint Military Air Traffic Services project was initiated by the UK MoD in November 2005 to identify and evaluate options for the future delivery ...

• Light UGVs

  T7

  The T7 is a multi-mission robotic system designed for military, police and hazardous missions. At DSEI 2017, the UK MoD awarded the Harris Corporation a ...

• Laser-directed energy weapons

  DragonFire

  DragonFire is a laser weapon system built for the UK MoD and manufactured by a consortium of manufacturers. The primary manufacturer is MBDA, though they ...

• Air: fixed-wing flight simulators

  ASTOR FBFCT

  The Fixed Base Flight Crew Trainer (FBFCT) is a Level 5+ FTD for the UK RAF’s Airborne Standoff Radar (ASTOR) platform. The ASTOR FBFCT is ...

• Air-launched ASW torpedoes, Ship-launched torpedoes

  Sting Ray

  The Sting Ray Mod 1 is an air- and surface-launched, lightweight ASW torpedo. It can be deployed from frigates, helicopters and maritime patrol aircraft against ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  Warthog

  The Warthog is based on the ST Kinetics Bronco all terrain tracked carrier (ATTC) and was developed to meet a UK MoD urgent operational requirement ...

• Standalone Field Generator

  HGI is a supplier of standalone field generators to the UK MoD. It has supplied systems for communications, C2, field hospitals and workshop facilities. The ...

• Major networking projects

  Skynet 6 SATCOM

  Skynet 6 is designed to replace Skynet 5. The PFI contract for Skynet 5,  held by Paradigm Secure Communications and Airbus DS, ends in 2022. As ...

• Major networking projects

  DTT

  Raytheon UK is working with the UK MoD to deliver a Defence Targeting Toolset (DTT) capability. Aimed initially at land operations and eventually extending to ...

• Sealift/replenishment vessels

  RFA Proteus (Vard 3 08)

  RFA Proteus serves as the launchpad for remotely operated vehicles and is the newest UK seabed warfare vessel. The ship, bought by the UK MoD as MV ...

• Major networking projects

  Skynet 5 SATCOM

  Airbus is the service provider for the UK MoD Skynet 5 private finance initiative contract, signed in October 2003 and now worth $5.6 billion. Airbus ...

• Air: fixed-wing flight simulators

  UK MFTS

  The Military Flying Training System (MFTS) programme, is a private finance initiative involving the MoD and Ascent, a JV of Lockheed Martin and Babcock, which was ...

• Air-to-surface missiles

  SPEAR 3

  The Selective Precision Effects At Range (SPEAR) Capability 3 is being developed by MBDA for the UK MoD, which is seeking a new missile for ...

• Trucks and utility vehicles - 6x6

  Wheeled Tanker

  The Oshkosh Wheeled Tanker is a high-performance tactical vehicle, designed and built for the UK MoD in order to replace the existing fleet of legacy ...

• Air: helicopter flight simulators

  UK MSHATF

  The Medium Support Helicopter Aircrew Training Facility (MSHATF) opened for training at RAF Benson, England in July 1999. It provides training services to personnel from ...