• Land Warfare

  Japan refines armoured vehicle needs as Patria signs agreement for AMVxp production

  6th September 2023

  The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force is moving ahead with production of the AMV 8x8 armoured vehicle from Patria, as well as lining up new Type 16 MCV 8x8 variants from Mitsubishi.

• Defence Notes

  Poland announces multi-million acquisitions to boost air and missile defence capacities

  8th September 2023

  As part of the second phase of the WISŁA air defence programme, Poland will procure PAC-3 MSE missiles, 48 Patriot launchers and 12 LTAMDS sensors.

• Land Warfare

  Australia embarks upon a massive restructure of army

  3rd October 2023

  In response to strategic circumstances, the Australian Army is in for a massive overhaul and redistribution of units and equipment.

• Naval Warfare

  Romania cancels Gowind corvette buy, but needs swift new solution for Black Sea security

  22nd August 2023

  The Romanian Ministry of National Defence (MoND) has confirmed that plans to acquire four Gowind 2500 corvettes from French shipbuilder Naval Group have been cancelled.

• 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

  France and Italy's Horizon-class destroyers to receive mid-life upgrade

  1st August 2023

  The Organization for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR) has awarded Naviris and Eurosam a €1.5 billion ($1.65 billion) contract for the mid-life upgrade (MLU) of the French Navy’s Forbin-class destroyers and Italian Navy’s Orrizonte-class destroyers.

• Air Warfare

  A welcome observer? Workshare wrangles loom as Belgium joins SCAF future fighter effort

  12th September 2023

  Of the three major Western next-generation fighter programmes, the (arguably) French-led SCAF has received the least attention in English-speaking media. As Belgium gains observer status on the programme, what will this mean for the workshare arrangements between France, Germany and Spain?

• Air Warfare

  Somalia receives Bell 412 helicopters of unknown origin

  15th August 2023

  Somalia's counter-insurgency against Al-Shabaab receives a mysterious boost as Bell 412 helicopters and weaponry surface.

• Naval Warfare

  No easy options: Australia's navy faces complex surface fleet choices

  14th September 2023

  As part of Australia’s Defence Strategic Review (DSR), a report into the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN’s) future surface fleet force structure was directed to be completed separately. Shephard examines its likely outcomes and how Australia might balance capability with affordability

• Defence Notes

  How Brazil will invest over $10 billion in new defence programmes

  6th September 2023

  A special fund of $10 billion will cover Brazil's acquisition of combat vehicles, aircraft and helicopters, building new warships and submarines and modernisation of legacy systems.

• Naval Warfare

  Second Suffren-class nuclear submarine delivered to French Navy

  10th August 2023

  The second Suffren-class SSN for the French Navy, Duguay-Trouin, has been officially delivered after months of sea trials.

• Naval Warfare

  Why the durable MEKO warship design remains popular with navies

  8th September 2023

  The MEKO design from ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) can be found in many navies around the world and the number of countries that are purchasing MEKO ships is growing. Shephard provides an overview of the latest MEKO offerings and how this type of vessel has remained successful on the international markets over the decades.

• Land Warfare

  Poland continues army expansion with trio of armoured vehicle contracts

  17th August 2023

  The Polish Ministry of Defence has approved three new contracts for army vehicle procurement and development, covering wheeled and tracked infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) and tactical 4x4s.

• Defence Helicopter

  South Korean marines receive final Marineon helicopters

  19th July 2023

  The ROK Marine Corps now has a full complement of indigenously built MUH-1 Marineon helicopters.

• Naval Warfare

  French nuclear sub Perle returns to action after fire damage

  10th July 2023

  Following sea trials, Rubis-class nuclear-powered attack submarine (SSN) Perle has been delivered back to the French Navy following extensive repair works after a catastrophic fire in 2020.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• MPVs - 4x4

  Kalyani M4 (India)

  Programme Background In the wake of border clashes with the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) in 2020, the Indian Army has accelerated several of its ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | Sea Sultan [Pakistan]

  The Pakistani Navy (PN) had selected the Embraer Lineage 1000E to base its future long-range maritime patrol aircraft (MPA). Pakistan hired Leonardo as the prime contractor for the ...

• Data links

  Data links | Sea Sultan [Pakistan]

  The Pakistani Navy (PN) had selected the Embraer Lineage 1000E to base its future long-range maritime patrol aircraft (MPA). Pakistan hired Leonardo as the prime contractor for the ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | Sea Sultan [Pakistan]

  The Pakistani Navy (PN) had selected the Embraer Lineage 1000E to base its future long-range maritime patrol aircraft (MPA). Pakistan hired Leonardo as the prime contractor for the ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | Sea Sultan [Pakistan]

  The Pakistani Navy (PN) had selected the Embraer Lineage 1000E to base its future long-range maritime patrol aircraft (MPA). Pakistan hired Leonardo as the prime contractor for the ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  High Mobility Armoured 4x4 Tactical Vehicles [Latvia]

  Programme Background Requirement The procurement of high-mobility 4x4 armoured vehicles is part of an initiative to replace a diverse fleet of utility vehicles currently in ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Future Destroyers (13DDX) [Japan]

  At CNE 2024, Vice Admiral Shinichi Imayoshi, Director General of Naval Systems at the Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA), revealed that enhancing air defence ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Future Destroyers (13DDX) [Japan]

  At CNE 2024, Vice Admiral Shinichi Imayoshi, Director General of Naval Systems at the Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA), revealed that enhancing air defence ...

• Loitering munitions

  Switchblade [Greece]

  Programme Background 10-Year Purchasing Plan In 2024, Athens drafted the multi-billion 10-year purchasing plan, which included acquiring F-35 jets, three frigates from France under the Hellenic ...

• Maritime patrol

  Sea Sultan [Pakistan]

  Programme Background On 10 January 2020, Pakistan issued a tender for a single unconfigured long-range twin-jet MPA. In October 2020, Adm Zafar Mahmood Abbasi, the PN’s soon-to-retire ...

• Maritime patrol

  Sea Sultan [Pakistan]

  Programme Background Initial Tender On 10 January 2020, Pakistan issued a tender for a single unconfigured long-range twin-jet MPA. In October 2020, Adm Zafar Mahmood Abbasi, the ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Jais 4x4 [Saudi Arabia]

  Programme Background The Saudi Arabian government is aiming to localise 50% of its investment into defence by 2030 in line with the country's Vision 2030 ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Pacha Kuyuchix (New 8x8 Armoured Vehicle) [Peru]

  Programme Background The Peruvian Army is reliant upon a range of ageing 4x4 APCs, including the UR-416, Type 6614 and Type 6616, all of which ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Project Hoefyster (South Africa)

  Programme Background History The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) first formulated operational requirements for a new ICV in 1995, but modernisation of South Africa's ...

• Submarines: conventional/attack

  Submarines Procurement (3-4) [Greece]

  Programme Background Requirements As of 2025, the Hellenic Navy (HN) submarine force consists of four Type 214, four Type 209/1200 and two Type 209/1100. With ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• MPVs - 4x4

  Mbombe 4

  The Mbombe 4 is the 4x4 variant of Paramount's Mbombe family of mine-protected vehicles.  Capable of carrying up to 11 personnel, the Mbombe 4 shares ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Marauder Mk 2

  Paramount Group unveiled the Marauder Mark 2 armoured vehicle in August 2022. The new platform can be configured as an APC or an infantry combat vehicle, and it ...

• Loitering munitions

  N-Raven

  The N-Raven is a loitering munition manufactured by Paramount Group's Paramount Aerospace Systems (PAS). Debuted at IDEX 2021, the platform has since been redesigned.  It has been ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Matador 4x4 APC

  The Matador 4x4 vehicle can be configured as an APC or a light infantry combat vehicle, with the addition of weaponry. It is designed to ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  Mbombe 6

  The Mbombe 6 is the 6x6 version of the Mbombe family of armoured vehicles developed by South Africa's Paramount Group. In order to drive down ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Marauder

  The Marauder 4x4 can be configured as a simple troop carrier or as a wheeled combat vehicle by the addition of a heavy machine gun ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Al-Masmak/Nyoka Mk 2

  The Al-Masmak ('Fortress' in Arabic) 4x4 mine-protected APC was developed by Saudi Groups in cooperation with IADSA (since acquired by Paramount Group). Saudi Groups unveiled ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

  8.5m Guardian

  Made by Paramount Group, the 8.5m Guardian is the smallest in its class. It is designed to be launched from a larger vessel and is ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Maatla 4x4

  Paramount's Maatla 4x4 is a Light Protected Vehicle (LPV) aimed at the African off-road armoured vehicle market. Announced at the African Aerospace and Defence Expo (AAD 2022) in ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Alan-2

  Developed by Kazakhstan Paramount Engineering, the Alan-2 is an armoured 4x4 tactical vehicle. It was demonstrated for the first time during the ADEX 2022 exhibition ...

• ISR/special mission, Maritime patrol

  Embraer Lineage 1000 (Sea Sultan)

  The Sea Sultan is the Maritime Patrol version of the Embraer Lineage 1000. The aircraft conducted a wide range of missions, such as ASuW, ASW, ISR, ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Mbombe 8

  Paramount unveiled the 8x8 member of its Mbombe family, the Mbombe 8, at the Kazakhstan Defence Expo on 2 June 2016.  Sharing more than 80% ...

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

  Vulture

  The Paramount Advanced Technologies Vulture is a fixed-wing TUAV designed for such missions as day/night reconnaissance and surveillance and target acquisition in support of brigade-level ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  MAC OWL

  The MAC OWL is a Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle designed by Paramount Greece and Ukraine's MAC HUB. It draws upon Ukrainian experiences in the ongoing Russo-Ukraine ...

• 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 ...