• Defence Notes

  Ireland spells out $2.3 billion shopping list in five-year defence spending plan

  11th December 2025

  Ireland’s multi-annual investment in capital defence spending is set to rise from €300m in 2026 to €360m in 2029–2030 with major upgrades across land, air, maritime and cyber domains.

• Air Warfare

  Anduril’s Barracuda-100M completes latest successful test flights

  16th July 2025

  The munitions variant of the Barrauda-100 autonomous air vehicle is being tested for the US Army’s High-Speed Manoeuvrable Missile (HSMM) testbed programme, with further flight tests expected in 2026.

• Land Warfare

  Rheinmetall locks in $950 million purchase of US company to strengthen position

  3rd December 2024

  Rheinmetall is working to open up the US market and the potential billions of dollars on offer. In order to get in the door it has purchased engineering company Loc Performance Products.

• Naval Warfare

  South Korea pushes forward on unmanned surface vessel development for future fleet

  20th June 2025

  South Korean industry continues to evolve unmanned surface vessels as the ROK Navy targets future force needs and addresses manpower challenges.

• Land Warfare

  US Army makes moves on new artillery system to plug M109 gap

  17th October 2024

  Contracts have been awarded for the Self-Propelled Howitzer Performance Demonstration programme as the US Army attempts to address issues related to its 155mm field artillery capacity.

• Air Warfare

  ECRS Mk2 radar makes first flight on Eurofighter Typhoon

  30th September 2024

  The test, part of ongoing developments for the UK Typhoon fleet, was operated at BAE Systems in Lancashire and supported by the radar’s developer, Leonardo UK.

• Air Warfare

  Paris Air Show 2025: Milkor and Hanwha partner to integrate the latter’s SAR payload into the Milkor 380

  17th June 2025

  Hanwha Systems and Milkor announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the Paris Air Show to integrate the Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) system into the Milkor 380 drone.

• Naval Warfare

  US Coast Guard seeks national and foreign suppliers for light and medium icebreakers

  3rd November 2025

  Contracts for new light and medium cutters are expected to be awarded in mid-2026.

• Naval Warfare

  Type 23 Duke-class frigate HMS St Albans completes mid-life refit

  2nd December 2024

  HMS St Albans’ refit included an update in FOST training to help staff adapt to new technology and routines.

• Air Warfare

  US Pentagon pursues industry input to address drones’ payload and navigation limitations

  14th January 2026

  The US Department of Defence along with its services and agencies have been increasing efforts to enhance the uncrewed aerial vehicle capabilities to succeed in future warfare.

• Air Warfare

  Combat-proven capabilities: How precision-strike systems are evolving for tomorrow’s battlespace (podcast)

  11th June 2025

  Combat-tested technology is being reshaped to counter A2/AD threats, reduce reliance on GPS and enable faster, more autonomous targeting in complex environments. In this special podcast, experts explain how the evolving threat landscape is shaping next-generation strike capabilities.

• Defence Notes

  Israel defence ministry pushes ambitious spending plans for tanks, drones and KC-46 aircraft

  21st August 2025

  The procurement and acceleration production plans – some of which still await approval – across the air and land domains will aim to strengthen the operational needs of the Israel Defense Forces.

• Naval Warfare

  US Coast Guard prepares procurement of next-gen surface search radar

  25th November 2025

  The NXSSR will replace five in-service capabilities and be the US Coast Guard’s primary collision avoidance system.

• Defence Notes

  Amazon Project Kuiper offers network-centric approach to sovereignty of space systems (Studio)

  12th September 2025

  Shephard's Alix Valenti interviewed Project Kuiper's Don Brown at DSEI 2025, discussing the company's innovative approach to sovereignty of space communications systems, which focuses on being able to control the network rather than ownership of satellite constellations.

• Land Warfare

  Kongsberg awarded $329 million for turrets for ACV-30s

  5th November 2024

  In April 2020, Kongsberg was selected to provide up to 150 of its MCT-30, now called RT20, turret for Amphibious Combat Vehicle Medium Caliber Cannon (ACV-30) variant. The latest contract is described as Full Rate Production Lots 5 and 6.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  ACV-30 PRTV (USA)

  Programme Background The Armoured Combat Vehicle (ACV) programme is intended to provide a replacement for the USMC's fleet of Amphibious Assault Vehicle 7 (AAV7) tracked ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  BvS10 [Sweden]

  Programme Background The FMV announced that it had signed a contract with BAE Systems Hägglunds for 127 BvS10 MkIIBs in May 2021. These will fulfil ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | EA-37B [Italy]

  On 21 July 2025, Italy awarded L3Harris, in partnership with BAE Systems, a $300 million contract for two EA-37B Electronic Attack aircraft. BAE Systems is set ...

• Data links

  Data links | EA-37B [Italy]

  On 21 July 2025, Italy awarded L3Harris, in partnership with BAE Systems, a $300 million contract for two EA-37B Electronic Attack aircraft. BAE Systems is set ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | EA-37B [Italy]

  On 21 July 2025, Italy awarded L3Harris, in partnership with BAE Systems, a $300 million contract for two EA-37B Electronic Attack aircraft. BAE Systems is set ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | EA-37B [Italy]

  On 21 July 2025, Italy awarded L3Harris, in partnership with BAE Systems, a $300 million contract for two EA-37B Electronic Attack aircraft. BAE Systems is set ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  ACV (US - USMC)

  Programme Background The Armored Combat Vehicle (ACV) programme is intended to provide a replacement for the USMC's fleet of Amphibious Assault Vehicle 7 (AAV7) tracked ...

• ISR/special mission

  EA-37B [Italy]

  Programme Background  On 21 July 2025, Italy awarded L3Harris, in partnership with BAE Systems, a $300 million contract to supply two EA-37B electronic attack aircraft. ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  ACV - Additional Order 1 (US - USMC)

  Programme Background The Armoured Combat Vehicle (ACV) programme is intended to provide a replacement for the USMC's fleet of Amphibious Assault Vehicle 7 (AAV7) tracked ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  AMPV [USA]

  Programme Background Platform Development The US Army initiated the AMPV programme to acquire a replacement for several variants of the M113 tracked APC, which has ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  ACV - Additional Order 2 (US - USMC)

  Programme Background The Armoured Combat Vehicle (ACV) programme is intended to provide a replacement for the USMC's fleet of Amphibious Assault Vehicle 7 (AAV7) tracked ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  ACV - Additional Order 3 (US - USMC)

  Programme Background The Armoured Combat Vehicle (ACV) programme is intended to provide a replacement for the USMC's fleet of Amphibious Assault Vehicle 7 (AAV7) tracked ...

• ISR/special mission

  Airborne Electonic Attack (1-2) [Italy]

  Programme Background The acquisition effort involves a Direct Commercial Sale (DCS) for the procurement and installation of modifications and a Foreign Military Sale (FMS) of ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  CV90 [Czech Republic]

  Programme Background The Czech Republic has been working on modernising its mechanised units at least since 2017, when the country launched its "Tracked IFV" programme ...

• OPVs

  River Class Batch 2

  Programme Background BAE Systems developed an improved version at the River class Batch 1 ships (which first entered service in 2003), to be dubbed the ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Air: Integrated cockpit systems

  BAE Systems Avionics

  The avionics suite developed by BAE Systems, USA, is specifically designed for aircraft operating in harsh environments. The integrated suite includes caution and warning systems, ...

• Air: fixed-wing flight simulators

  F-35 Training System

  BAE Systems is involved in F-35 Lightning II Training System design and sustainment, working with prime contractor Lockheed Martin. BAE Systems leads the instructional systems ...

• Air: mission management systems

  BAE Systems Mission Computers and Display Systems

  The Mission Computers and Display Systems has been designed and developed by BAE Systems, UK, for military platforms. These systems are fully qualified to military, ...

• Land: air defence radar

  Celldar

  BAE Systems and Roke have developed the Celldar passive radar which detects disturbances to civilian Global System for Mobile Communications digital cellphone networks operating in ...

• Naval guns

  Bofors 40 mk4

  Bofors 40 Mk4 is a naval gun system developed and produced by BAE Systems. It was originally produced by Swedish Bofors, which was acquired by ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

  Fast Interceptor Craft

  The Fast Interceptor Craft (FIC) is a high-speed insertion craft developed and built by VT Halmatic, now part of BAE Systems Maritime. According to BAE ...

• Air: fixed-wing flight simulators

  Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Training Services

  Working in Saudi Arabia, BAE Systems is the prime contractor supplying training solutions. These include managing the design, development, delivery and integration of pilot and ...

• Major networking projects

  Defence Architecture Framework

  BAE Systems is developing a broad base of systems architecture expertise to execute network-centric warfare projects on behalf of the Australian Defence Force. This is ...

• Main battle tanks

  MPF Prototype

  In 1992, the US Army selected the M8 to meet its requirement for an air-transportable Armored Gun System, but the programme was cancelled for budgetary ...

• Air: air combat simulators

  Hawk Oman Training System

  In 2014, L3 Link (now L3Harris Technologies) received a contract from BAE Systems to develop the Hawk Oman Training System (HOTS). The training system will ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  RG33

  BAE Systems RG33 is a family of Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles available in both 4x4 and 6x6. The medium-weight class of BAE Systems MRAP ...

• Unguided Artillery Ammunition

  L21 High Explosive (HE)

  The L21 High Explosive (HE) is a 155mm artillery shell manufactured by BAE Systems. The British Army uses the L21 with its Archer artillery systems.

• Air: Head-up displays

  Wide-angle holographic HUD

  The wide angle holographic Head-up Display (HUD) was been developed by GEC Marconi (now BAE Systems). 

• Transport

  BAe 146M/Avro RJM

  BAE Systems is offering previously owned BAE 146 and Avro RJ aircraft to air forces operating ageing turboprop and jet airliners for transport and communications ...

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

  T-650

  Debuted at DSEI 2021, the T-650, or T650, is a multi-role quadcopter UAS manufactured by BAE Systems in collaboration with Malloy Aeronautics.  The electric-powered platform produces ...