• Defence Notes

  What role could holographic and 3D capabilities play in the warfare of tomorrow

  4th June 2025

  Holographic and 3D technologies have been lauded by some for their ability to provide technical and operational advantages for military training and planning. But is the hype truly justified?

• Special Operations

  Japan to set up DARPA-style institute to tackle evolving threat of cyber warfare

  14th August 2024

  Japan’s Ministry of Defense is devoting government-level effort and funding to tackling the growing problem of cyber warfare.

• Defence Notes

  Incoming Irish government backs plans for larger defence force

  17th January 2025

  It has been more than six weeks since the Irish general election. After long negotiations, a coalition of two of the three largest parties and independents has resulted in a Programme for Government (PfG) which will form the basis of a government almost guaranteed to be formed on 22 January.

• Air Warfare

  Why is the US far behind Russia and China in the space warfare domain?

  21st April 2025

  While Beijing and Moscow have been working on anti-satellite weapons at an accelerated speed, Washington still does not have capabilities to defeat them, with one US legislator describing the situation as “the Cuban Missile Crisis in space”.

• Land Warfare

  Sustain capabilities and secure advantage with advanced Digital Engineering

  28th January 2025

  CDS Defence & Security optimises defence systems with Digital Engineering and MBPS for peak performance. Learn more today!

• Defence Notes

  World Defense Show promises bigger and better event for 2026

  24th July 2025

  At this year's IDEF in Istanbul, Shephard spoke to World Defense Show (WDS) CEO Andrew Pearcey about his event's strategic role in Saudi Arabia, its themes and new features for 2026 and how it has grown since its launch in 2022.

• Land Warfare

  US Army special operators test 5G and Wi-Fi 6e device for dismounted troops

  17th January 2025

  Persistent Systems’ Personal Transport 5 was built for deployment in challenging, contested and congested scenarios.

• Land Warfare

  Israel’s Elbit Systems riding high and reports almost a billion dollars in orders to close 2024

  23rd December 2024

  Elbit Systems has signed another US$967 million in orders in the past three months after reporting its land revenues increased by 24% for 3Q2024 compared to 3Q 2023 thanks to increasing ammunition and munition sales in Israel.

• Naval Warfare

  AUKUS nations lay out plans for joint submarine development

  27th September 2024

  Defence ministers from the UK, US and Australia have been meeting in London to outline plans for Pillar I and Pillar II development focused on the creation of a joint nuclear attack submarine.

• Training

  I/ITSEC 2024: UK MoD awards Hadean a £20 million deal for innovative solutions

  6th December 2024

  Hadean announced the deal and teaming arrangements with BAE Systems and Deloitte at I/ITSEC 2024 where it also displayed its Hadean Platform which is designed to offer scalable, realistic and high-fidelity simulations.

• Air Warfare

  NGAD’s demise ‘grossly exaggerated’ as US Air Force continues to re-evaluate programme

  6th November 2024

  The Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) programme has been on pause since July 2024 following a re-evaluation of the technology and concept by the US Air Force.

• Land Warfare

  IDEX 2025: Debutant vehicles announced as companies look for partnerships

  17th February 2025

  The International Defence Exhibition and Conference (IDEX) in UAE capital Abu Dhabi will bring together more than 1,300 exhibitors from more than 65 countries.

• Digital Battlespace

  Intelligence advantage: How real-time GEOINT is reshaping military decision-making (Studio)

  26th February 2025

  In today’s contested operational environment, adaptability is key. The new Geospatial-Intelligence as a Service (GEO IaaS) solution from Fujitsu and MAIAR empowers militaries by enabling intelligence advantage, combining advanced technology with human expertise to deliver actionable insights.

• Digital Battlespace

  Adarga’s Vantage AI software selected for UK Strategic Command’s Defence Support

  23rd September 2024

  Adarga’s Vantage information analysis tool is in service with the UK MoD and individual UK forces. It builds on the company’s Knowledge Platform which processes, organises and analyses open source material, as well as information held by the user’s military, security and intelligence services.

• Land Warfare

  The power of partnership: GDMS–UK deepens cooperation with the British Army

  25th June 2025

  In Conversation: Shephard's Gerrard Cowan talks to General Dynamics Mission Systems–United Kingdom’s Chris Burrows about how the company's UK TacCIS business is reshaping battlefield communications through sustained customer engagement, accelerated innovation and ecosystem collaboration.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Fighter - multirole

  Penetrating Counter Air (PCA) [USA]

  Programme Background Requirement Originally conceived as a replacement for the F-22, the PCA was designed to counter various air threats, including integrated air defence systems ...

• Minehunters

  Project SEA 1905 - MMCMMS [Australia]

  Programme Background Requirements Australia is looking to acquire up to eight new advanced mine countermeasures/hydrographic survey vessels under the Project SEA 1905 Maritime Mine Countermeasures ...

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

  Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) (Increment 2) [USAF]

  Background Requirements The baseline requirements for Increment 2 of the CCA effort are similar to Increment 1, which is covered in a separate entry on Defence ...

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

  Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) (Increment 1) [USAF]

  Background Requirements The programme's requirements are based on the USAF's belief that it requires mass to compete effectively with an adversary in symmetrical warfare. However, ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  XM30 Mechanized Infantry Combat Vehicle [USA]

  Programme Background Requirement The OMFV programme is the latest of several attempts to develop a Bradley replacement.  Designed to be capable of operating with or without ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Major networking projects

  CoMotion Cyber

  Based upon CoMotion technology used in the Command Post of the Future, CoMotion Cyber provides individualised visualisation of a cyber common operational picture from diverse ...

• Major networking projects

  Defending Against Cyberattacks

  NATO is developing measures to improve protection of its communication and information systems against attempts at disruption through attacks or illegal access. These efforts form ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  KG-255 X

  The NSA-certified ViaSat KG-255X combines Type 1 High Assurance Internet Protocol Encryptor (HAIPE) with the latest cyber defence technologies and visualisation software to allow secure ...

• Data links

  Ruggedcom RX1500 Series

  The Ruggedcom RX1500 series, which consists of the RX5100 and the RX1501, is a layer 2/3 router and switch. Its modular and field-replaceable design allows ...

• Data links

  Ruggedcom M969

  The Ruggedcom M969 is a hardened, managed Ethernet switch in a MIL-STD 901D rated package for protection against vibration and shock impacts. It is equipped ...

• Subsystems: software

  Network Defense Trainer

  The Scalable Network Defense Trainer is an LVC simulation system for delivering realistic hands-on cyber training. It enables students to experience cyber attacks launched against ...

• Data links

  Ruggedcom RX5000

  The Ruggedcom RX5000 multi-service platform integrated switch and router is designed for utility, industrial and military network applications. The RX5000 series has a high level ...

• Major networking projects

  MADSS

  The Mission Assurance Decision Support Service (MADSS) will provide combatant commanders with a joint globally available common operating picture of network status supporting operations during ...

• Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - small

  SpectroDrone

  At the HLS & Cyber Expo in Israel in November 2016, Laser Detect System (LDS) unveiled its SpectroDrone sensor. The system has been designed to ...

• Subsystems: software

  Simulation Engine II

  The Simulation Engine II (SE II) commercial game engine is the first PC-based game engine to be developed by Sonalysts as a commercial product and ...

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

  E-UAV

  In October 2021, the Jordan Design and Development Bureau (JODDB) unveiled the E-UAV at the Artificial Intelligence Defense Technology and Cyber Security Exhibition and Conference (AIDTSEC). The UAV is ...

• Data links

  Ruggedcom RX1510 Series

  The Ruggedcom RX1510 series is a ruggedised layer 2/3 modular and field-replaceable routing/switching platform. Based on the embedded ROX II operating system, the RX1510 series ...

• Counter-UAS systems

  DroneSentryX

  DroneSentry-X is a cross-vehicle compatible, automated 360° detect and defeat device. It provides 360° awareness and protection using integrated sensors to detect and disrupt UAS. ...

• Land: COMINT and ELINT systems, Land: Electronic Attack - Jamming, Land: Integrated Defensive Systems

  Corvus- PECM

  Corvus is a multi-role, scalable platform supporting operations across Cyber and Electromagnetic Activities (CEMA). The Corvus architecture is rapidly reconfigurable to deliver force protection, individual ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval Drakon

  The Naval DRAKON is a cyber-secure shipboard communication system designed to facilitates communication between naval vessels, airborne sensors, and command centres. This platform integrates various SATCOM systems, ...