• Naval Warfare

  USN orders more incremental availability work for USS Gerald R Ford

  29th July 2021

  Latest order for Huntington Ingalls follows a 2019 contract for early service life work on USN carrier Gerald R Ford.

• Air Warfare

  Chinese UAVs fly near Japan as new models abound

  1st September 2021

  New and innovative UAV designs continue to flood out of Chinese companies and institutes, while the PLA is getting bolder about flying them farther afield too.

• Air Warfare

  Four more Rafales join Qatar Emiri Air Force

  28th July 2021

  Qatar continues to expand its combat aircraft capability with the arrival of four additional Rafales.

• Air Warfare

  Afghan Air Force has planes but no state

  27th August 2021

  The Afghan Air Force no longer exists within Afghanistan, but many of its personnel and aircraft scattered to neighbouring countries after defeat at the hands of the Taliban.

• Land Warfare

  Kuwait receives first modernised Abrams after revised programme timeframe

  5th August 2021

  The M1A2K upgrade programme includes some new features but it is significantly behind its original schedule.

• Training

  UK-Qatar Hawk squadron spreads its wings

  22nd July 2021

  BAE Systems to support and train new joint Hawk squadron based at RAF Leeming, UK.

• Land Warfare

  Russia pitches more S-400 SAM systems to Turkey

  22nd July 2021

  Rosoboronexport announced at MAKS 2021 its intention to deliver more S-400 SAM systems to Turkey.

• Air Warfare

  MiG displays its aspirations but scepticism is justified

  6th August 2021

  Two new fighters and a heavy UAV, displayed in model form by MiG Corporation at the MAKS-2021 event in late July, are unlikely to progress beyond the drawing board.

• Naval Warfare

  Keel laid for ninth German K130 corvette

  14th July 2021

  The keel for Germany’s ninth Braunschweig-class K130 corvette has been laid during a pared-back ceremony at Lürssen’s Peene shipyard.

• Defence Notes

  Poland lays groundwork for sovereign surveillance satellite capability

  26th July 2021

  Development of a domestically made microsatellite constellation would plug a gap for Polish defence and security.

• Defence Notes

  Turkey and Qatar tighten their military bonds

  9th July 2021

  The latest basing agreement underlines the enduring benefits of the Qatar-Turkey military relationship, despite the end of the GCC embargo.

• Air Warfare

  Norway prepares to receive first Poseidon aircraft

  9th July 2021

  Boeing has rolled the first P-8A Poseidon aircraft, intended for Norway, out of the paint shop. Flight testing is next, with the deliveries to begin soon.

• Air Warfare

  Pakistani contract expedites first MPA airframe conversion

  13th July 2021

  Pakistan wants a fleet of ten long-range maritime patrol aircraft, and conversion of the first three has been contracted.

• Training

  Indonesia and Thailand eye T-50 repeat orders

  22nd July 2021

  It has been a while since KAI received any orders for the T-50 jet, but a couple of deals are on the cards.

• Air Warfare

  India begins romance with first MH-60 Romeos

  20th July 2021

  The USN has handed over the first pair of MH-60R anti-submarine warfare helicopters to India, but they will remain on American soil for now.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | C-390 [Poland]

  During LAAD 2025, Brazilian Minister of Defence José Múcio revealed ongoing negotiations with Poland regarding a potential purchase of the C-390. Currently, Poland operates the ...

• Data links

  Data links | C-390 [Poland]

  During LAAD 2025, Brazilian Minister of Defence José Múcio revealed ongoing negotiations with Poland regarding a potential purchase of the C-390. Currently, Poland operates the ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | C-390 [Poland]

  During LAAD 2025, Brazilian Minister of Defence José Múcio revealed ongoing negotiations with Poland regarding a potential purchase of the C-390. Currently, Poland operates the ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | C-130H Replacement [Sweden]

  Sweden urges to replace its ageing fleet of five C-130H aircraft and one KC-130H. Although Stockholm was initially interested in buying second-hand C-130J from Italy, the ...

• Data links

  Data links | C-130H Replacement [Sweden]

  Sweden urges to replace its ageing fleet of five C-130H aircraft and one KC-130H. Although Stockholm was initially interested in buying second-hand C-130J from Italy, the ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | C-130H Replacement [Sweden]

  Sweden urges to replace its ageing fleet of five C-130H aircraft and one KC-130H. Although Stockholm was initially interested in buying second-hand C-130J from Italy, the ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | A-29 Super Tucano [Panama]

  On 11 March 2025, the Panamanian government announced the procurement of six new aircraft, including four A-29 Super Tucano aircraft. The purchase was authorised by ...

• Data links

  Data links | A-29 Super Tucano [Panama]

  On 11 March 2025, the Panamanian government announced the procurement of six new aircraft, including four A-29 Super Tucano aircraft. The purchase was authorised by ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  Air: Helmet-mounted displays | A-29 Super Tucano [Panama]

  On 11 March 2025, the Panamanian government announced the procurement of six new aircraft, including four A-29 Super Tucano aircraft. The purchase was authorised by ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | A-29 Super Tucano [Panama]

  On 11 March 2025, the Panamanian government announced the procurement of six new aircraft, including four A-29 Super Tucano aircraft. The purchase was authorised by ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | A-29 Super Tucano [Panama]

  On 11 March 2025, the Panamanian government announced the procurement of six new aircraft, including four A-29 Super Tucano aircraft. The purchase was authorised by ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  C-390 [Poland]

  Programme Background Reports of a possible purchase of the C-390 by Poland began circulating in June 2024 after a Polish journalist revealed that Embraer executives ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  VBC Fuz Armoured Infantry Combat Vehicle [Brazil]

  Programme Background Technical Requirements The Brazilian Army released two documents outlining the technical and operational requirements for the VBC Fuz in early 2020. These outline ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  C-130H Replacement [Sweden]

  Programme Background Requirements Sweden has five C-130H aircraft (designated Tp-84) and one KC-130H. Two C-130Es bought in the 1960s have retired, but the six H ...

• Loitering munitions

  Warmate [Ukraine]

  Programme Background Ukraine placed an order for an undisclosed number of Warmate systems in 2017. Shepherd believes units acquired in this order later were utilised ...