• Air Warfare

  Dubai Airshow 2025: Boeing’s KC-46 upgraded vision system progresses with first test flight

  17th November 2025

  The KC-46 Pegasus is also a key platform that Boeing is pushing for the Middle East, with the manufacturer expressing optimism regarding its regional prospects.

• Naval Warfare

  Australia commissions HMAS Arafura three-and-a-half years behind schedule

  30th June 2025

  The Royal Australian Navy has finally commissioned the first Arafura-class offshore patrol vessel – more than three years behind schedule – highlighting the programme’s delays, design compromises and ongoing industrial restructuring.

• Land Warfare

  The C-UAS challenge: Finding the threat before it finds you

  18th May 2026

  How Teledyne FLIR Defense C-UAS solutions – and sensors optimized for third-party systems integrators – deliver early drone detection and decision advantage for UAS threat response

• Naval Warfare

  First Type 31 frigate for UK Royal Navy rolls out of construction

  27th May 2025

  Named the HMS Venturer, this roll out marks a pivotal milestone as it moves from the construction phase to then undergo outfitting and systems integration ahead of sea trials.

• Defence Notes

  UK Strategic Defence Review puts emphasis on autonomy, airpower and munitions

  2nd June 2025

  The UK’s Strategic Defence Review (SDR) was launched as one of the first acts of the UK’s new Labour Government in June last year. The review has recommended a major big-picture reform of the country’s forces.

• Land Warfare

  Is the RCH 155 self-propelled wheeled howitzer for the British Army finally on the way?

  30th April 2026

  The Remote-Controlled Howitzer 155mm self-propelled gun is making strong progress, with contracts being placed and production capacity being boosted for the base Boxer vehicle.

• Air Warfare

  AUSA 2025: IAI presents its bid for US Army’s next-generation VTOL UAS requirement

  13th October 2025

  The OmniRaider uncrewed aerial system is described by Israel Aerospace Industries as an “Americanised” version of its ThunderB-NG vertical take-off and landing UAS of which there are hundreds in service.

• Naval Warfare

  How will SAFE shape naval procurement for Canada and its highest-receiving members?

  31st December 2025

  Canada’s inclusion on the EU’s Security Action for Europe initiative is set to enhance the country’s defence procurement strategy with important implications for some of its naval programmes, while Poland and Romania have also secured significant SAFE funding.

• Defence Notes

  DroneShield to double its US footprint to meet growing demand for counter-UxS capabilities

  23rd September 2025

  DroneShield disclosed to Shephard its plans to increase its workforce and manufacturing capacities while strengthening partnerships with US suppliers.

• Land Warfare

  US Army signs for $982 million loitering munition deal as demand rises and industry follows

  6th October 2025

  The Hero-120 loitering munition has a 4.5 kg multi-purpose warhead designed to engage armoured targets. It is manufactured in the US by Mistral in partnership with Israel’s Uvision.

• Land Warfare

  US Army orders 86 Mack Defense M917A3 Heavy Dump Trucks

  7th October 2025

  The initial order was placed as part of the $222 million, five-year contract awarded to Mack Defense in June.

• Land Warfare

  MKJ Warrior Series — The Nett Warrior Qualified Connector for Today’s Soldier Systems

  17th February 2026

  ITT Cannon’s MKJ Warrior connectors are designed for the harshest environments, delivering mission critical comms, navigation and USB data/power.

• Land Warfare

  Active vehicle protection comes to the forefront as Trophy and Iron Fist secure contracts

  16th February 2026

  Experience on the battlefield is accelerating the adoption of active protection systems as technologies continue to evolve to reflect shifting global defence needs.

• Air Warfare

  Boeing prepared to go fast on CxR uncrewed tiltrotor concept

  3rd November 2025

  The Collaborative Transformational Rotorcraft is designed with the potential to meet a range of mission requirements, from reconnaissance, surveillance and target acquisition to contested logistics.

• Air Warfare

  Scaling for diverse fleet needs: How many CCA will be acquired per crewed aircraft?

  23rd February 2026

  There is currently no industry standard in the ratio of uncrewed to crewed aircraft. Because collaborative combat aircraft vary widely in capability and crewed-uncrewed teaming availability, while country-specific requirements vary, it is unlikely that a single CCA configuration will meet all operational needs.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Maritime patrol

  P-8A Poseidon [US]

  Programme Background The P-8A Multi-mission Maritime Aircraft (MMA) system is a heavily modified and militarized derivative of Boeing's 737-800 ERX commercial aircraft. The P-8A is ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  CH-53K [USA]

  Programme Background The USMC is replacing its ageing CH-53E helicopters with the CH-53K heavy-lift helicopter. Designed as an evolution of the CH-53E, the CH-53K is ...

• Fighter - naval

  F-35B (FY2026-2031) [USA]

  Background According to U.S. budget documents throughout the decade, the U.S. Navy intends to acquire 324 F-35B STOVL aircraft. Prior to 2020, the U.S. Navy ...

• Maritime patrol

  P-8A Poseidon [UK]

  Programme Background In July 2016, the UK government announced that it had ordered nine aircraft for service with the RAF. Under this frame, in January ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Constellation Class - FFG(X) (11-20)

  The US Navy ran the Next Generational Future Guided Missile Frigate (FFG X) programme to build a replacement for the Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigates, the ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Constellation Class - FFG(X) (11-20)

  The US Navy ran the Next Generational Future Guided Missile Frigate (FFG X) programme to build a replacement for the Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigates, the ...

• Military helicopters - maritime, Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  CH-53K - US Navy

  Programme Background The Marine Corps is replacing its aging CH-53E helicopters with the CH-53K heavy-lift helicopter. Designed as an evolution of the CH-53E, the CH-53K ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | F-35B STOVL Future Procurement - US Navy

  The US Navy is planning to order 115 F-35B STOVLs between FY2026 and FY2031 under the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program. The purchase is estimated ...

• Data links

  Data links | F-35B STOVL Future Procurement - US Navy

  The US Navy is planning to order 115 F-35B STOVLs between FY2026 and FY2031 under the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program. The purchase is estimated ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  Air: Helmet-mounted displays | F-35B STOVL Future Procurement - US Navy

  The US Navy is planning to order 115 F-35B STOVLs between FY2026 and FY2031 under the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program. The purchase is estimated ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | F-35B STOVL Future Procurement - US Navy

  The US Navy is planning to order 115 F-35B STOVLs between FY2026 and FY2031 under the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program. The purchase is estimated ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | F-35B STOVL Future Procurement - US Navy

  The US Navy is planning to order 115 F-35B STOVLs between FY2026 and FY2031 under the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program. The purchase is estimated ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | F-35C Carrier Variant (CV) Future Procurement

  The US Navy is planning to order 130 F-35Cs between FY2026 and FY2030 under the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program. The purchase is estimated be ...

• Data links

  Data links | F-35C Carrier Variant (CV) Future Procurement

  The US Navy is planning to order 130 F-35Cs between FY2026 and FY2030 under the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program. The purchase is estimated be ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  Air: Helmet-mounted displays | F-35C Carrier Variant (CV) Future Procurement

  The US Navy is planning to order 130 F-35Cs between FY2026 and FY2030 under the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program. The purchase is estimated be ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Maritime patrol

  US-2

  The ShinMaywa US-2 is an amphibious short take-off and landing aircraft used primarily by the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) for SAR. 

• Military - USVs

  Voyager

  Voyager is an Uncrewed Surface Vessel (USV) built by US-based Saildrone. Voyager has been used by the US Navy (USN) and is one of three ...

• Military - UUVs

  Orca

  Orca is an extra-large uncrewed underwater vehicle (XLUUV) developed by Boeing for the US Navy (USN).

• Destroyers

  Kee Lung (Kidd) Class

  The Kee Lung-class consists of four ex-US Kidd-class guided missile destroyers in service with the Republic of China Navy (ROCN). The ships were originally built for ...

• Military - UUVs

  Mission Specialist Defender

  The Mission Specialist Defender is a remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV) developed by VideoRay, now part of BlueHalo's unmanned maritime systems. The ROV is known ...

• Data links

  GNOMAD US Domestic

  The US domestic version of GNOMAD (see separate entry) is a ruggedised system comprising a satellite antenna and baseband modular chassis that can be installed ...

• Military - USVs

  Explorer

  Saildrone's Explorer is the smallest of three USVs designed and built by the US-based USV manufacturer Saildrone. The system is used by the US Navy (USN) ...

• EO/IR systems, Sea: ship surveillance and fire control systems

  SeaFLIR 380-HD

  The SeaFLIR 380-HD is a long-range, multispectral surveillance system for surface vessels. Manufactured by Teledyne FLIR, the system combines HD IR, colour or SWIR spectral information. According to ...

• Unguided Medium Calibre Ammunition

  MK266 High Explosive Incendiary with Tracer

  The MK266 High Explosive Incendiary with Tracer is a 30mm medium calibre round manufactured by Northrop Grumman. It is currently in use with the US Navy.

• Military - UUVs

  Snakehead LDUUV

  The Snakehead Large Displacement Uncrewed Underwater Vehicle (LDUUV) is a US Navy (USN) Uncrewed Underwater Vehicle (UUV) designed to be launched from submarine Dry Dock Shelters ...

• Unguided Medium Calibre Ammunition

  XM1198 High Explosive Dual Purpose with Self Destruct (HEDP-SD)

  The XM1198 High Explosive Dual Purpose with Self Destruct (HEDP-SD) is a 30mm medium calibre round manufactured by Northrop Grumman. The US Navy uses the XM1198.

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Integrated Combat System

  The Integrated Combat System (ICS) is a combat management system being developed for the US Navy. The project, currently led by Lockheed Martin, aims to ...

• Unguided Medium Calibre Ammunition

  XM950 Target Practice Round

  The XM950 Target Practice Round is a 30mm medium calibre training round manufactured by Northrop Grumman. The US Navy uses the XM950 for training with its ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Navy Multiband Terminal (NMT)

  The Navy Multiband Terminal is the next-generation maritime military SATCOM for the US Navy and allied nations. The terminal integrates EHF and AEHF systems with ...

• Ship-launched torpedoes, Submarine-launched torpedoes

  Mk-48 Mod 6AT ADCAP

  The Mk-48 ADCAP (Advanced Capability) is the improved version of the Mk-48 family. Development started with the Mk-48 Mod 5 and continues to the present ...