• Naval Warfare

  Insight: How rising tensions have fuelled the Type 26 frigate's development

  12th September 2023

  Slated to enter service in the late 2020s, the Type 26 frigate addresses the pressing need for enhanced ASW capabilities, particularly in light of heightened tensions with Russia. Shephard Defence Insight analyses the design and its equipment fit.

• Digital Battlespace

  BAE Systems awarded contract from USN for next-generation interrogator

  27th July 2023

  BAE Systems has secured a $15 million contract from the USN to deliver its advanced digital interrogator for maritime vessels, enhancing situational awareness and reducing friendly fire incidents.

• Naval Warfare

  How the Canadian Surface Combatant programme can recover from COVID-19 delays

  23rd August 2023

  The Canadian Department of National Defence (DND) is working with Irving Shipyard to manage the lingering impact of COVID-19 on the Canadian Surface Combatant (CSC) project.

• Naval Warfare

  USN orders nine more Arleigh Burke Flight III destroyers

  3rd August 2023

  The USN will receive nine more DDG 51 Arleigh Burke-class Flight III destroyers, six from Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) and three from General Dynamics Bath Iron Works, under a deal likely to be worth around $1.8 billion each ship.

• Training

  US Navy upgrades its red air aggressor F-16 Vipers

  4th August 2023

  Amentum will maintain US Navy adversary F-16 aircraft and provide full system maintenance and supply chain support to ensure seamless flight operations in all naval bases.

• Naval Warfare

  DSEI 2023: does the Royal Navy's surface combatant recapitalisation go far enough after a decade of neglect?

  6th September 2023

  The UK Royal Navy (RN) operates one of the world’s premier fleets with the ability to deploy high-end warships globally and retains key competencies in carrier aviation, amphibious and undersea warfare that few can boast. It also provides the UK’s nuclear deterrent submarines. Despite this potential, it needs to recover from a decade of neglect to sustain these capabilities.

• Air Warfare

  Leonardo AW249 prototype performs tests in Spain

  8th August 2023

  The aircraft carrying out hot weather tests in Spain represents the second iteration of the AW249 NEES Fenice attack helicopter.

• Land Warfare

  Fibrotex develops mobile camouflage systems for US clients

  19th July 2023

  Fibrotex’s camouflage triad will be complete with the development of mobile camouflage systems.

• Naval Warfare

  Canada in talks with six countries over future submarine needs

  31st July 2023

  The Canadian Patrol Submarine Programme (CPSP) is in its options analysis phase that includes engagement with potential builders to determine next steps.

• Naval Warfare

  Insight: Gowind 2500 corvette enjoys strong export business despite Romanian rejection

  5th September 2023

  France's Naval Group's Gowind 2500 corvette, designed for multiple naval missions, has gained popularity worldwide. Shephard Defence Insight provides detailed analysis of its export contracts, armament and technical specifications.

• Defence Notes

  The centre of gravity of ‘Axis of Evil 2.0’ shifts eastwards (Opinion)

  14th September 2023

  Russia might be at the tip of the spear in terms of authoritarian aggression, but it has plenty of backers in the shape of countries like China, Iran and North Korea. Others, like India, try to duplicitously sit on the fence.

• Land Warfare

  Meteksan targets drones with new radar and counter-UAS systems

  1st August 2023

  Meteksan showcased the Retinar AESA radar at IDEF 2023, offering enhanced detection and tracking capabilities for UAVs and tactical targets. The radar has applications in mobile counter-UAS systems.

• Air Warfare

  Bigger bang for your buoys: Schiebel makes headway on S-300 at Paris Air Show

  22nd June 2023

  The rotary-wing UAS maker – famed for its S-100 Camcopter – is making strides with the development of its S-300, a larger aircraft that will offer expanded payload options and more persistence.

• Air Warfare

  Australia receives its first UH-60M Black Hawks

  8th August 2023

  Sikorsky has been extremely rapid in delivering Black Hawks to Australia, with the first two already handed over.

• Naval Warfare

  Lockheed Martin's PAC-3 MSE missile successfully communicated with Aegis radar

  11th July 2023

  Lockheed Martin's PAC-3 MSE interceptor has successfully communicated with the AN/SPY-1 radar, a significant step towards integrating the missile into the Aegis Weapon System for enhanced maritime defence capabilities.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

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

  Anka-S (First Batch) [Turkey]

  Programme Background Orders In February 2018, TAI announced that it had delivered the first Anka-S UAVs to the Turkish Air Force. In late 2018, Savunmasanay ...

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

  Anka-S [Chad]

  Programme Background Hurkus Trainer Aircraft On 10 July 2023, President General Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno visited an air base to inspect the country's new Hurkus trainer ...

• Submarines: conventional/attack

  Isaac Peral Class (S-80A Plus) [Spain]

  Programme Background The S-80A SSK design for the Spanish Navy is based on the Franco-Spanish S-80 Scorpene design that both countries decided to cooperate on ...

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

  Anka-S (Saudi Arabia)

  Programme Background Desired Procurement Saudi Arabia has reportedly been in negotiations to procure six Anka UAVs since 2013. It has not been disclosed which Anka ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  S-70i (Philippines)

  The Black Hawk is believed to have been the most expensive of the aircraft that had been shortlisted for the PAF project, others being the ...

• Landing craft and hovercraft

  EDA-S [France]

  Programme Background Following the announcement of the 14-ship contract, the DGA approved the design of the first two standard amphibious landing craft (EDA-S) in October 2019, ...

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

  Camcopter S-100 [Greece]

  Background Trials On 2 August 2021, Schiebel's press release announced that the company had demonstrated the Camcopter S-100's capabilities to the Hellenic Navy. The UAV was ...

• Destroyers

  KDDX-S [South Korea]

  Programme Background Requirements During MADEX 2023, Naval News reported that there is an upcoming competition for new destroyers, namely the KDDX-S programme. According to the ...

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

  Anka-S (Second Batch) [Turkey]

  Programme Background First Batch Based on comments by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) and Turkish media in 2018, Shephard believes that Türkiye acquired 26 Anka-S drones ...

• Submarines: conventional/attack

  Isaac Peral Class (S-80A Plus) (5-6)/S-80 Flight II [Spain]

  Programme Background Requirements In February 2024, during a conference organised by El Confidencial, Admiral Ricardo Hernandez, Head of Logistic Support, stated that one of the ...

• Data links

  Data links | S-211 Replacement [Philippines]

  The Philippines is looking at replacement options for its ageing fleet of S-211 trainer jets. The S-211s have been in operation with the Philippines since ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  Air: Helmet-mounted displays | S-211 Replacement [Philippines]

  The Philippines is looking at replacement options for its ageing fleet of S-211 trainer jets. The S-211s have been in operation with the Philippines since ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | S-211 Replacement [Philippines]

  The Philippines is looking at replacement options for its ageing fleet of S-211 trainer jets. The S-211s have been in operation with the Philippines since ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | S-211 Replacement [Philippines]

  The Philippines is looking at replacement options for its ageing fleet of S-211 trainer jets. The S-211s have been in operation with the Philippines since ...

• UAS: communication systems

  UAS: communication systems | Camcopter S-100 [Chile]

  On 25 October 2024, Carabineros De Chile announced on X that training for its members with the S-100 in Austria had been completed. A few months ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - tactical

  Camcopter S-300 / S-301

  The Camcopter S-300 is a larger variant of the S-100 manufactured by Schiebel. The VTOL-capable UAV is intended for ISR missions, particularly those in the maritime ...

• Data links

  S-band TDMA Airborne Data Link

  Multiple-participant airborne S-band TDMA data link with up to 400 slots/s. Transmission rate is up to 625Kb/s. As an example, a data link built for ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  R&S M3TR

  The R&S; M3TR SDR family is a family of digital radios. The core of the integrated communications system is the lightweight R&S; MR3000 H/U manpack ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM, UAS: communication systems

  R&S SDAR

  The R&S; SDAR is a software-defined airborne radio that extends the R&S; M3AR airborne radio family. The R&S; SDAR offers secure broadband voice and data ...

• Corvettes

  Saar S-80

  The S-80 is a multirole corvette developed by Israel Shipyard and based on the S-72 platform. The S-80, showcased for the first time at Euronaval ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  S-61T

  The S-61T, developed and manufactured by Sikorsky, is a civil variant of the SH-3 Sea King helicopter series. The S-61T is an upgraded version of ...

• Submarines: conventional/attack

  Isaac Peral Class (S-80A Plus)

  Spain’s S-80A or Isaac Peral-class SSKs are being built to replace the Spanish Navy’s existing Agosta 90B-class SSKs that were designed in the 1970s and ...

• Data links

  TIGDL-II

  Tactical Interoperable Ground Data Link (TIGDL)-II is described as a transportable TDL surface terminal that supports military operations by providing a full duplex ground capability ...

• Air: Defensive Systems - Radar Warning Receivers

  SIR-S/I

  The SIR-S/I, manufactured by Leonardo, is a Mode-S secondary surveillance radar. The SIR-S/I is primarily operated for the detection of cooperative targets in air traffic control, ...

• Medium Range Missile Defence Systems: 20-90km range

  S-125-2A Pechora-2A (SA-26)

  Almaz-Antey offers the S-125-2A Pechora-2A (NATO designation SA-26) upgrade package for the S-125 Pechora (US/NATO designation SA-3 Goa) static and towed medium-range SAM system that first entered ...

• Surface-to-air missiles

  48N6E2

  The 48N6E2 is the second generation of the 48N6 surface-to-air missile (SAM). It is designed to target low-altitude jets and tactical ballistic missiles. It has ...

• Long Range Missile Defence Systems: > 90km range, Self-propelled missile systems

  S-400 Triumf (SA-21 Growler)

  The S-400 Triumf (NATO reporting name: SA-21 Growler) long-range air defence system, previously known as the S-300PMU-3, was developed by the Almaz Central Design Bureau ...

• Subsystems: software

  M&S Suite

  M&S; Suite is a comprehensive and integrated range of modelling and simulation (M&S;) software tools designed to help speed up application development and reduce integration ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  KG-350

  The KG-350 is an encryptor for network communications. The product was granted Type 1 certification by the US National Security Agency (NSA) on 27 July ...

• Unguided Mortar Ammunition

  60mm Illumination

  Austrian company Hirtenberger's 60mm Illumination - Visible Mk2-S (60mm ILL-VIS Mk2-S) is designed to illuminate a large area with visible light for a prolonged period.