• Naval Warfare

  Sweden’s decision on four new warships inches closer as it eyes UK, France and Spain

  27th November 2025

  Sweden decided last year that it wanted a significantly larger warship for its Luleå Class programme than originally planned, with three likely contenders that could potentially deliver within the country’s tight schedule.

• Land Warfare

  IDEX 2025: Rafael increases missile and drone defence capability as threats and demands rise

  21st February 2025

  Rafael president and CEO Yoav Tourgeman, speaking to Shephard at IDEX 2025, has outlined how the company is pushing through air defence programmes in the face of attacks on Israel from rockets, missiles and drones on multiple fronts.

• Naval Warfare

  The Philippines strengthens maritime defences amid rising tensions in South China Sea

  28th April 2025

  The Philippine Navy is fast-tracking its maritime modernisation with new warships, unmanned platforms, and international shipbuilding partnerships to bolster its regional deterrence posture.

• Land Warfare

  Borsuk IFV programme marks turning point for Poland’s armoured modernisation

  30th June 2025

  The Borsuk vehicles are to replace the Soviet-designed BMP-1 as the Polish military’s main tracked Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV).

• Land Warfare

  What does Germany’s new tank joint venture mean for MGCS?

  16th July 2025

  Germany is Europe’s leading country for tank manufacture and until this month was committed to the Franco-German Main Ground Combat System (MGCS) which included tanks and other vehicles. Earlier this month, Germany and other European countries set up the Main ARmoured Tank of Europe (MARTE) project casting a shadow over the MGCS.

• Land Warfare

  Engineering and design mean smaller vehicles can be tank killers but is it a good idea?

  29th September 2025

  The eulogy for the dedicated tank hunter or buster appears to have been written with most armies putting them out to retirement in the face of alternatives like longer-range missiles or uncrewed aerial systems (UAS). However, arming infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) or armoured personnel carriers (APCs) with medium-range missiles seems to indicate some kind of tank killer is required.

• Land Warfare

  The Joint Light Tactical Vehicle continues its success as the new variant rolls out

  20th March 2025

  The Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) is becoming the dominant platform in its class as it replaces most of the massive US Army and US Marine Corps (USMC) fleets of HMMWV 4x4s, colloquially known as the Humvee. Shephard dives deep into the JLTV programme background and analyses the latest variants and contracts, including the controversial production switch to AM General and the continued contracts continuing to head Oshkosh's way.

• Land Warfare

  IDEX 2025: Milrem teams up with Pearson to develop large uncrewed demining platforms

  17th February 2025

  Milrem, known for its uncrewed ground vehicles (UGVs), and Pearson with its experience in developing demining and improvised explosive device (IED) defeating engineering solutions, will bring the two capabilities together.

• Land Warfare

  IDEX 2025: EOS to fire R500 remote weapon station for potential customers this year

  20th February 2025

  The R500, the latest remote weapon station (RWS) designed by EOS, was unveiled at IDEX 2025 in Abu Dhabi. It joins the smaller R400 and Slinger, as well as the large R600 and R800 systems, in the company’s portfolio.

• Land Warfare

  Steadicopter launches Golden Eagle Heavy Strike RUAS in Washington

  16th October 2024

  Using its platform at AUSA 2024, Steadicopter launched its latest rotary unmanned aerial system (RUAS), having worked alongside partner Rafael on the platform’s payload.

• Naval Warfare

  Navantia combat systems selected for Chinese-built Thai LPD

  6th March 2025

  The landing platform dock, believed to be the largest naval vessel that China has exported, will see the Chinese-built vessel embrace Western technology.

• Land Warfare

  Hungary to start fielding KF41 Lynx infantry fighting vehicle

  27th January 2025

  The Lynx infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) will provide a step change for the Hungarian Army and will replace Russian supplied BTR-80 8x8 series wheeled armoured personnel carriers (APC). The Lynx will take on both IFV and APC roles as it is a step change in firepower and provides a much higher level of protection.

• Land Warfare

  Italy set to begin evaluation of KF41 IFV

  3rd January 2025

  The KF41 is entering service in Hungary and a version of it is in the running to meet the US XM30 requirement. An order from Italy could be for as many as 1,050 vehicles.

• Land Warfare

  Trophy APS ordered for new German Leopards

  4th December 2024

  Rafael Advanced Defence Systems’ Trophy active protection system (APS) has been deployed extensively onboard armoured vehicles used by the Israeli Army.

• Naval Warfare

  Long development phases for capital ships not viable to deal with future threats, says Indra

  27th February 2025

  Defence technology firm Indra believes governments, militaries and industry must focus more on technology to achieve effective naval warfighting.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

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

  Spike Firefly [Vietnam]

  Background Reported Deal In February 2026, media outlets such as The Defence Post and Intelligence Online reported that Vietnam’s Ministry of Defense had signed a ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Boxer (Vilkas) [Lithuania - Second Batch]

  Programme Background  Lithuania's Boxers are manufactured by the ARTEC production lines in Germany and the Netherlands. KMW is responsible for producing 56 of the vehicles ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Boxer (Vilkas) [Lithuania - Additional Units]

  Programme Background  Lithuania's Boxers are manufactured by the ARTEC production lines in Germany and the Netherlands. KMW is responsible for producing 56 of the vehicles ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Boxer (Vilkas) [Lithuania - First Batch]

  Programme Background Lithuania's Boxers are manufactured by the ARTEC production lines in Germany and the Netherlands. KMW is responsible for producing 56 of the vehicles ...

• Loitering munitions

  Testing Loitering Munitions [Germany]

  Background Three Tested Models In April 2023, Germany reportedly ordered three different loitering munition systems to assess further their suitability for use by the German Armed ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  Project Land 400 Phase 3 [Australia]

  Programme Background Requirement: 2015 RfI The Land 400 Phase 3 programme will procure a new tracked IFV to replace the Australian Army's legacy fleet of ...

• Loitering munitions

  Maritime Launched Effects (MLE) [US]

  Background Origin The loitering munition effort dates back to at least 2018 and was previously called Maritime Precision Engagement (MPE). The US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) ...

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

  Orbiter 3 [Greece]

  Programme Background On 17 April 2023, Aeronautics announced a contract to supply "dozens." of Orbiter 3 UAVs to the Greek MoD. The agreement was part ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  Hunter [Singapore - Contracted]

  Programme Background Development of the Hunter began in 2006 and was assisted by Singapore's Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA). At least five variants of the platform ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  Hunter IFV [Singapore]

  Programme Background Development of the Hunter began in 2006 and was assisted by Singapore's Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA). At least five variants of the platform ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  VAMTAC ST5 (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) [Spain]

  Programme Background The VAMTAC ST5 is already in Spanish service with the Spanish Army, Navy, and Air Force in various configurations. In June 2025, the ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  New IFV [Greece]

  Programme Background Current Greek Capabilities The majority of Greece's IFV fleet is comprised of BMP-1s. Greece acquired 501 BMP-1s from Germany between 1993 and 1994. ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  Land 400 Phase 3 (Amphibious Vehicles) [Australia]

  Programme Background The Australian DoD released the initial RfI for the Land 400 Phase 3 programme in November 2015. Following consultations with local industry, the ...

• Death Adder RTV 2

  Programme Background The 2nd Commando Regiment currently operates an RTV designed and manufactured by Australia's Bale Defence. These were delivered between 2014 and 2015. Intended ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  VAMTAC ST5 (Batch 3) [Spain]

  Programme Background The decision to acquire these vehicles comes within the wider context of the Spanish government announcing a significant increase in defence spending in ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Individual assault/anti-tank weapons

  Spike SR

  Part of Rafael's Spike missile family, the fire-and-forget, man-portable Spike Short Range (SR) EO-guided missile system has operational capabilities in all weather conditions. Although the ...

• Multipurpose missiles

  Spike ER

  The Spike ER is a fourth-generation, multipurpose missile fitted with EO charge-coupled device/imaging IR sensors for operation during the day, night and in adverse weather. ...

• Crew-served assault/anti-tank weapons, Multipurpose missiles

  Spike MR/LR

  The Spike MR and Spike LR share the same command launch unit, thermal sight, tripod and missile technology. The fire-and-forget missile is equipped with an ...

• Loitering munitions

  L-Spike 4X

  The L-Spike 4X is a loitering munition first displayed by Rafael US at AUSA 2025.  iI will be offered with two primary warhead configurations: Tandem HEAT ...

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

  Spike Firefly

  Spike FireFly is a loitering munition developed jointly by Rafael and the Israeli MoD. It is designated as Maoz by the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF), and has ...

• Crew-served assault/anti-tank weapons

  Spike LR2

  The Spike LR2 (also known as NT-S) is Rafael's fifth-generation anti-tank guided missile system. It is a long-range, multi-purpose, multi-platform weapon designed for infantry, armored ...

• Towed rocket launchers

  SPARC

  Rafael unveiled the SPARC, a 360° remote-controlled towed launcher for its Spike non-line-of-sight (NLOS) missile, at the September 2015 DSEI exhibition in London. Spike NLOS ...

• Multipurpose missiles

  Spike ER2

  The Spike ER2 (Extended Range) is a multipurpose missile that can be fired from ground-based, airborne or naval platforms at a range of surface targets, ...

• Land: RWS

  Samson MK I

  Formerly known as the Remote Controlled Weapon Station-30 (RCWS-30), the Samson MK I is a dual-axis gyro-stabilised unmanned turret developed by Rafael to meet the ...

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

  Golden Eagle HS

  The Golden Eagle HS (Heavy Strike) is a rotary-wing UAV that can be armed with Rafael's powerful Spike SR and LR2 missiles, providing ground troops with anti-armour ...

• Land: RWS

  Samson Mk II/ Samson 30

  The Samson Mk II (now referred to as the Samson 30) was unveiled in 2012 as a replacement for the original Samson uncrewed turret. Like ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Freccia

  The Freccia 8x8 was developed by CIO to meet an Italian Army requirement for an IFV derived from the 105mm-armed Centauro cavalry vehicle to equip ...

• Multipurpose missiles

  Spike NLOS

  The Spike NLOS (non-line-of-sight) is a multi-purpose, EO missile system with a real-time wireless data link capable of attacking targets at ranges up to 25km.  ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  Hunter

  ST Engineering began the development of the tracked Next-Generation Armoured Fighting Vehicle (NGAFV) in 2006 as a replacement for the Singapore Army's fleet of approximately ...

• Land: RWS

  R800

  The R800 is a RWS developed by EOS for integration on heavy armoured vehicle platforms. It is designed to offer the capabilities of a medium ...