• 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.

• Naval Warfare

  Thales, Naval Group sign through-life support deal for France's FREMM frigates

  1st September 2023

  Thales and Naval Group have joined forces to ensure sustained operational availability of the French Navy's FREMM frigates through an integrated support contract.

• Air Warfare

  Edge Group deepens Brazil defence ties with new technology agreements

  25th August 2023

  The UAE's Edge Group has expanded its footprint in the Brazilian defence sector by signing cooperation agreements with the Brazilian Air Force’s Department of Aerospace Science and Technology and engine developer Turbomachine.

• Naval Warfare

  French Navy frigate gap closes as La Fayette-class upgrade programme nears completion

  17th October 2023

  The modernisation programme for three of the French Navy’s five La Fayette-class frigates will ensure the service maintains a minimum force of 15 frigates and destroyers ahead of the introduction of the new new Admiral Ronarc’h-class (FDI) frigates.

• Naval Warfare

  The Philippines has ended its flirtation with China – so what next for the country’s navy?

  11th September 2023

  For decades, largely as a result of historical ties, the US was the only Western country with a strong interest in the Philippines and its navy. Over the past year, other nations have turned their attention to the archipelago. The question is why now? And what is the impact of this shift on the Philippine Navy?

• Naval Warfare

  German Armed Forces successfully concludes laser weapon demonstrator trials

  22nd September 2023

  The German Armed Forces has successfully completed trials of the laser weapon demonstrator (LWD) at sea, proving its combat effectiveness against various targets in realistic operating conditions.

• Naval Warfare

  Royal Navy's Type 31 frigate programme moves to multi-ship build phase

  18th September 2023

  Babcock International Group has achieved a significant milestone in the Royal Navy's Type 31 frigate programme by laying the keel for HMS Active, the second ship in the Inspiration class.

• Digital Battlespace

  DSEI 2023: OneWeb launches soldier-portable terminal for frontline tactical SATCOM

  11th September 2023

  Global Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite communications network company, OneWeb, is unveiling a new soldier-portable, lightweight user terminal (UT) which is designed to be carried in a backpack for operations close to the tactical edge.

• Digital Battlespace

  DSEI 2023: Spectra Group breaks into Asian market with SlingShot sale to Indonesian Army

  7th September 2023

  UK company Spectra Group has received a significant order for its SlingShot SATCOM system for the Indonesian Army, marking a big step forward in the country's tactical communications capabilities.

• Naval Warfare

  Is the end in sight for Canada’s painful Joint Support Ship procurement journey?

  1st November 2023

  The launch of the second of two new Joint Support Ships for the Royal Canadian Navy has represented steps forward on a project that has suffered huge delays due to supply chain issues and the Covid-19 pandemic, according to Canada's DND.

• Defence Notes

  Ireland outlines short-term defence equipment targets

  3rd October 2023

  Irish government introduces strategic plans for its Defence Forces to tackle aging equipment, personnel issues and continuing threats.

• Training

  DSEI 2023: BAE Systems and Hadean continue to collaborate on military training

  12th September 2023

  Under a new enterprise licence, BAE Systems will be able to exploit modern AI and Large Language Model integrations of the Hadean Platform for Defence.

• Air Warfare

  Aeronautics wins order for Orbiter loitering munitions

  1st September 2023

  Aeronautics has secured a significant contract to supply its Orbiter 1K loitering munition UAS to a undisclosed international customer.

• Land Warfare

  BvS 10 all-terrain weapon platform bares its teeth at DSEI 2023

  14th September 2023

  BAE Systems is touting the high-mobility weapon-carrying capabilities of the BvS 10, showcasing an example of the tracked all-terrain vehicle fitted with Moog's Flexible Mission Platform at DSEI 2023.

• Air Warfare

  Poland's PZL Mielec completes first F-16 fighter rear fuselage for Lockheed Martin

  8th September 2023

  Lockheed Martin company PZL Mielec has completed its first F-16 Block 70/72 aft fuselage as the aircraft’s popularity continues to grow.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - mini

  Mini Intelligence Drone System (SMDR) [France]

  Background Requirement The French Army identified a need for a new tactical UAS to replace the Drac, which entered service in 2008. The Mini Reconnaissance ...

• Minehunters

  Tripartite Class Replacement Programme (1-6) [Belgium]

  Programme Background A joint Dutch-Belgian procurement programme is procuring 12 new Mine Countermeasures Vessels (MCMV) to replace the ageing Tripartite-class MCM, which are due to ...

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

  Skeldar V-200 [Netherlands]

  Background Joint Programme For the joint MCM programme between Belgium and the Netherlands, the Dutch Ministry of Defence issued a notice in 2018, calling for ...

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

  Skeldar V-200 [Belgium]

  Background Joint Programme For the joint MCM programme between Belgium and the Netherlands, the Dutch Ministry of Defence issued a notice in 2018, calling for ...

• Minehunters

  Tripartite Class Replacement Programme [Netherlands]

  Programme Background A joint Dutch-Belgian procurement programme is procuring 12 new Mine Countermeasures Vessels (MCMV) to replace the ageing Tripartite class MCM's which are due ...

• Minehunters

  Project SEA 1905 - MMCMMS [Australia]

  Programme Background Requirements Australia is looking to acquire up to eight new advanced mine countermeasures/hydrographic survey vessels under the Project SEA 1905 Maritime Mine Countermeasures ...

• OPVs

  Patrouilleurs Hauturiers OPVS (former Patrouilleurs Océanique) [France]

  Programme Background Requirements The programme aims to procure new OPVs that will replace the D'Estienne d'Orves-class and the Flamant-class vessels. The OPVs are intended to be armed ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Corvettes Procurement Programme (1-3) [Greece]

  The Hellenic Navy have a corvette requirement to replace the ten Elli-class frigates. Greece has joined as a partner of the European Patrol Corvette (EPC), which is ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Corvettes Procurement Programme (1-3) [Greece]

  The Hellenic Navy have a corvette requirement to replace the ten Elli-class frigates. Greece has joined as a partner of the European Patrol Corvette (EPC), which is ...

• Minehunters

  Al Jawf Class Replacement [Saudi Arabia]

  Programme Background Requirements The Royal Saudi Navy urges the replacement of three Al Jawf-class minehunters. Based on the Sandown-class design, the ships entered service in the ...

• Submarines: conventional, attack

  Project Sea 1000 (Attack Class) - Cancelled [Australia]

  Programme Background The competition for Australia’s SEA 1000 Future Submarine project for 12 new SSKs was won by the French shipbuilder Naval Group in 2016 ...

• Corvettes

  Multirole Corvette Programme [Romania]

  Programme Background Timeline Romania, since 2014. has seen a significant increase in its defence budget, which has allowed for more room to procure modern platforms. In ...

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

  HT-100 (January 2026) [UAE]

  Background January 2024 Order In January 2024, EDGE Group announced that the UAE Ministry of Defence (MoD) had signed a deal for 200 uncrewed helicopters ...

• Military UAS - MALE, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  HT-750 (January 2026) [UAE]

  Background January 2024 Order In January 2024, EDGE Group announced that the UAE Ministry of Defence (MoD) had signed a deal for 200 uncrewed helicopters ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Submarine Procurement [Indonesia]

  The Indonesian Navy has a long-standing desire for a larger submarine fleet. The TNI-AL currently has four SSKs in its inventory, including one Cakra-class submarine in ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Military - UUVs

  A9-M

  The A9-M is a light, man-portable AUV, enabling deployment from small craft and in shallow water as a hand-launched vehicle. It is developed Exail. This AUV ...

• Light UGVs

  Cobra Mk2

  The Cobra Mk2 is a 5kg UGV designed for EOD/IED disposal and CBRN operations. The modular architecture of the Cobra Mk2 E supports different types of ...

• Submarines: conventional, attack

  Scorpene Class

  The Chilean Scorpene-class were procured from the consortium composed of Naval Group and Navantia in the late 1990s. The submarines, which were delivered between 2005 and ...

• UAS: Integrated systems - uncrewed

  I4 Drone

  The I4 Drone is a multi-drone, multi-environment mission system for naval drones. It has been designed and developed by Naval Group (formerly DCNS) for an ...

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

  IT180

  The Infotron IT180 VTOL mini-UAS is designed to perform a range of missions in civilian and military sectors, such as surveillance, site protection, inspection, pollution ...

• Military - USVs

  Inspector 90

  The Inspector 90 is a multipurpose USV designed by Exail, able to be operated in autonomous mode, remoted control or onboard steering. Its performances and ...

• Military - UUVs

  K-Ster C

  K-Ster C is a mine disposal system (MDS) equipped with a tiltable warhead. It is produced by Exail and in-service with navies in both Asia ...

• Minehunters

  City Class

  Twelve new Mine Countermeasures Vessels (MCMVs) are being built to replace the ageing Tripartite-class MCMVs due to retire from service in 2023. The programme is ...

• Military - UUVs

  K-Ster I

  K-Ster I is a lightweight, self-propelled ROV developed for mine warfare applications. It is designed by Exail to complement their K-Ster C model.

• Military - UUVs

  A18-M

  The A18-M AUV is a configuration of ECA Group’s A18 AUV family, dedicated to military applications. With magnetic and acoustic signatures compliant to STANAG 1364, ...

• Light UGVs

  TSR 202

  The TSR 202 is a UGV in service with French forces and other military and police forces around the world for EOD/IED detection and neutralisation, ...

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

  Nomad (Group 3)

  In March 2025, Sikorsky unveiled an unnamed tail-sitter small UAV referred to as the Rotor Blown Wing. In October 2025, Sikorsky unveiled the Nomad family, which includes the ...

• Ground control stations

  MAMBA

  MAMBA is an IED and CBRN countermeasures system allowing the transport, deployment and control of UGVs or UAVs in hostile areas. A light manned vehicle ...

• Air: fixed-wing flight simulators

  ECA Flight Training Device

  ECA offers a range of Flight Training Devices (FTDs), each of which is a life-size 3D replica of the cockpit. They provide flexibility of training methods and ...

• Air: fixed-wing flight simulators

  ECA Touch Screen Trainer

  The Touch Screen Trainer (TST) is a modular training tool for full aircraft simulation, integrating hardware replicas for a representative cockpit layout. The main training ...