• Air Warfare

  Why is the US Air Force refuelling tanker fleet under scrutiny?

  16th June 2026

  In a recent report, the GAO warns that delays, availability issues and operational pressure could create gaps in the USAF refuelling inventory while the branch transitions to the KC-46 Pegasus.

• Land Warfare

  AUSA 2025: Moog unveils lighter weapons platform for smaller vehicles

  13th October 2025

  Moog’s Reconfigurable Integrated-weapons Platform base module has been displayed integrated on a range of platforms to meet air defence requirements and is in use as part of the US Army’s SGT Stout programme.

• Air Warfare

  E-3 Sentry encryption equipment no longer meets US security requirements, says USAF

  29th September 2026

  The US Air Force says the Sentry fleet’s DAR-400 encryptor can no longer keep pace with changing security requirements and warns that a failure could affect US operations and data security.

• 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.

• Naval Warfare

  Can the West keep up with China’s “XXL” uncrewed submarines?

  12th January 2026

  The UK, the US and Australia have all been working on “extra-large” uncrewed underwater vehicles, but China’s reported development of a significantly larger capability demonstrates the country’s rapid advancement in underwater warfare.

• Air Warfare

  Eurosatory 2026: L3Harris prepares ground for future Polish AEW&C replacement

  17th June 2026

  L3Harris is positioning its AERIS X aircraft and a planned Polish industrial partnership as it anticipates a competition to replace Poland’s Saab 340 fleet.

• Land Warfare

  Sweden looks to commercial world to meet military UGV needs

  20th May 2026

  Stockholm is exploring commercial avenues to provide a small uncrewed ground vehicle capable of carrying 500kg with a focus on challenging terrains and C2 systems.

• Land Warfare

  DroneShield signs agreements and US contract in the face of surging demand

  30th June 2026

  DroneShield has been at the forefront of CUAS capability despite being founded only 12 years ago. The company’s early move into the counter-drone arena has put it on the crest of the rapidly expanding technology field.

• Air Warfare

  AFA 2026: Swarm Aero eyes 2027 Gamera flight as Textron/Merlin reveal SkyCourier UX

  15th September 2026

  Two new uncrewed aircraft concepts target very different US military requirements, from massed long-range strike to autonomous logistics. Shephard spoke with executives from Swarm Aero, Textron Aviation and Merlin Labs at this year's AFA Air, Space & Cyber conference to learn more about their capabilities.

• Defence Notes

  NATO experiments with solutions to integrate networks, AI and uncrewed systems

  2nd December 2025

  During the latest edition of the NATO DiBaX, the alliance tested multiple capabilities to inform requirements for future efforts.

• Air Warfare

  India’s rotary-wing capability gap grows as IMRH programme delays persist

  16th September 2026

  With IMRH and DBMRH potentially years from service, India faces a widening rotary-wing capability gap that could drive further foreign purchases even as HAL and Safran build the foundations of an indigenous successor.

• Naval Warfare

  US Navy prepares next steps of in-service missile modernisation

  21st July 2025

  The Naval Air Systems Command recently issued notices outlining the upcoming phases of the Tomahawk and Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW) upgrades as well as the Harpoon Weapon Service (HWS) Life Extension Programme (LEP).

• Air Warfare

  SOF Week 2026: DroneShield moves to double its production capacity in the US

  16th May 2026

  The DroneShield US subsidiary is rapidly expanding its manufacturing footprint in the country and has expedited the process to double its domestic production capacity in at least four months.

• Air Warfare

  AUSA 2025: US Army and Bell squeeze MV-75 programme

  17th October 2025

  The MV-75, previously V-280, was originally designed as an assault aircraft which would replace some of the Black Hawk helicopters and add speed as a tilt-rotor platform. It is now envisioned to add a greater multirole capability reminiscent of the Black Hawk fleet.

• Land Warfare

  Companies looking to develop integrated, mobile CUAS systems for frontline troops

  22nd July 2025

  Systems to detect and counter uncrewed aerial systems (CUAS), like drones and loitering munitions, are being integrated into tactical and light armoured vehicles to protect frontline units in a race to keep up with threats.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Short Range Missile Defence Systems: 0 to 20 km range

  Marine Air Defence Integrated System [US]

  Background The Marine Air Defence Integrated System (MADIS) is a US Marine Corps (USMC) programme to counter UAVs, low-flying, high-speed fixed-wing aircraft, and helicopters using a mobile ...

• Self-propelled rocket launchers

  HIMARS [Canada]

  Background The Canadian army does not currently operate any MLRS systems. Following the effectiveness of MLRS in Ukraine, many militaries have begun investing in their ...

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

  Uplift SHORAD UOR [Canada]

  Background The Canadian Army's future GBAD system "will provide tactical air defence protection to friendly forces and vital installations during expeditionary and domestic operations against the ...

• Self-propelled rocket launchers

  HIMARS [Sweden]

  Background Following the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, Sweden began a process of military modernisation, in line with trends across much of Europe.  The war ...

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

  Medium Range Air Defence [Canada]

  Background The Canadian Army's future GBAD system "will provide tactical air defence protection to friendly forces and vital installations during expeditionary and domestic operations against ...

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

  NASAMS [Australia]

  Background The Australian Department of Defence (DoD) initiated the LAND 19 Phase 7b programme, which intends to replace the Bofors RBS 70 VSHORAD system with ...

• UAS: communication systems

  UAS: communication systems | Tactical Drone System Light (SDTL) [France]

  The Système de Drone Tactique Léger (SDTL), or Tactical Drone System Light, is a French programme to equip the army and special forces with drones with a ...

• UAS: flight control systems

  UAS: flight control systems | Tactical Drone System Light (SDTL) [France]

  The Système de Drone Tactique Léger (SDTL), or Tactical Drone System Light, is a French programme to equip the army and special forces with drones with a ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  Hürkuş-C Advanced Armed Trainer (Turkey)

  The Hurjet-C development programme funding was included in the Hurkus-B procurement contract awarded by  the Turkish Undersecretariat for Defence Industries in December 2013.  The Hurjet will ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  NMS 4x4 [Qatar]

  Background Prior to the announcement that Qatar had signed a contract for 214 NMS, there were reports in 2017 that the Qatar Armed Forces were ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Tactical Drone System (SDT) (15-28) [France]

  Background Tactical Drone System (SDT) programme The French Army launched the SDT programme to replace the Sagem (now Safran) Sperwer Intermediate Tactical Drone System (SDTI) ...

• Land: air defence radar

  Lower Tier Air and Missile Defence Sensor [US]

  Background The US Army's Lower Tier Air and Missile Defence Sensor (LTAMDS) is being acquired from US-based Raytheon.  The United States Army is the primary customer ...

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

  Indirect Fire Protection Capability [US]

  Background The US Army's Indirect Fire Protection Capability (IFPC) is designed to sit between SHORAD capabilities and the high-end Patriot.  The IFPC System is a mobile, ground-based ...

• Long Range Missile Defence Systems: > 90km range

  PAC-3 MSE (T-Dome) [Taiwan]

  Background Taiwan is procuring PAC-3 MSE missiles forming its T-Dome multi-layered air and missile defense system. The PAC-3 MSE missiles will work work alongside Sky Bow III ...

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

  Medium Range Intercept Capability [US]

  Background The US Marine Corps' Medium Range Intercept Capability (MRIC) is a new medium-range air defence capability developed from the Israeli Tamir surface-to-air missile and Iron ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Surface-to-surface missiles

  Precision Strike Missile (PrSM)

  The Precision Strike Missile (PrSM), developed by Lockheed Martin, is a next-generation surface-to-surface missile system designed to provide the US Army with enhanced long-range precision ...

• Surface-to-surface missiles

  MGM-140 ATACMS

  The MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) is an American surface-to-surface missile. ATACMS is described as the US Army's primary 24/7, all-weather, and surface-to-surface artillery precision ...

• Land: battle management systems

  AMDWS

  AMDWS (Air and Missile Defense Work Station), is a collaborative battlespace awareness information management system developed by Northrop Grumman to meet the requirements of the ...

• Artillery rockets

  GMLRS

  GMLRS (Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System), an extended-range guided version of the MLRS,  is a GPS/INS-guided 227 mm artillery rocket for wheeled M142 HIMARS and tracked ...

• Surface-to-air missiles

  MIM-104E PAC-2 Guidance Enhanced Missile-Tactical ballistic missile (GEM-T)

  An upgrade to the PAC-2 missile, the Guidance Enhanced Missile TBM (GEM-T) is designed to defeat tactical ballistic missiles, cruise missiles or enemy aircraft in ...

• Land: infantry weapon simulators

  DX407 GT Simulator

  The DX407 is an indoor GT simulator for the Eryx short-range shoulder- and tripod-fired antitank missile. It is used for initial training and skill maintenance ...

• Surface-to-air missiles

  CAMM-ER

  The CAMM-ER, the Common Anti-air Modular Missile Extended Range, is part of MBDA's CAMM family of next-generation air defence missiles. The missile is conceived to provide ...

• Land: air defence radar

  LTAMDS

  The Raytheon Lower Tier Air and Missile Defense System (LTAMDS) is an active electronically scanned array Gallium Nitrade (GaN) radar. The use of GaN strengthens ...

• Air: Defensive Systems - MLDS, Air: Defensive Systems - Laser Warning Receivers

  LIMWS

  BAE Systems is leading the US Army’s Limited Interim Missile Warning System (LIMWS) initiative. This is intended to enhance the missile protection provided to US ...

• Major networking projects

  IBCS

  The Integrated Air and Missile Defense Battle Command System (IBCS) is a C2 system designed to integrate current and future sensors. The system also improves ...

• Surface-to-air missiles

  MIM-104 A/B Patriot (PAC-1)

  The MIM-104 Phased Array Tracking to Intercept of Target (Patriot) is an American Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM) designed for air defence duties. The original Patriot entered US ...

• Crew-served assault/anti-tank weapons

  Terminator

  The Jadara Terminator is a crew-served antitank missile launcher designed and manufactured by Jadara Equipment and Defence Systems in Jordan. It features a 107mm diameter ...

• Surface-to-surface missiles

  Iskander-M/E/K

  The Iskander-M (NATO reporting name: SS-26 'Stone') is a short-range ballistic missile. It was the second attempt by Russia to replace the Skud after its ...

• Surface-to-air missiles

  9M96E

  The 9M96 is a family of surface-to-air missiles that are designed to intercept a wide range of aerial threats. They were designed for the S-400 ...

• Short Range Missile Defence Systems: 0 to 20 km range

  MIM-23 Hawk

  The MIM-23 HAWK (Homing All the Way Killer) is an American medium-range surface-to-air missile system developed by Raytheon in the 1950s to provide mobile air ...