• Land Warfare

  DSEI 2025: Teledyne takes wraps off autonomous launch recovery box for drones

  9th September 2025

  Teledyne FLIR Defense revealed the SkyPad fully autonomous quadcopter launch and recovery box at AUSA in Washington DC last year. The SkyCarrier is the production version of the system and is designed for the launch and recovery of the company’s SkyRaider and SkyRanger uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs).

• Air Warfare

  What will the replacement of A-10s by F-35s mean for the US Air Force?

  9th March 2026

  The USAF plans to phase out its 162 in-operation A-10 Thunderbolt II Warthogs by the end of FY2026, replacing them with F-35As which will bring a leap in capabilities in terms of lethality, survivability and speed.

• Land Warfare

  Rheinmetall’s Lynx XM30 to go to “shakedown testing” ahead of its delivery to the US Army

  8th May 2026

  The first Lynx XM30 platforms are in the final stages of construction and integration, to be handed over to the US Army in the coming months. Shephard caught up with Rheinmetall to find out more about the programme's progress.

• Air Warfare

  November drone digest: GA-ASI eyes Middle East for Gambit, Edge Group unveils new UAVs

  1st December 2025

  In November 2025, GA-ASI unveiled a new Gambit variant, the Gambit 6, and appears to be pitching the aircraft series to various customers in the Middle East, which is a fast-emerging CCA market. The Dubai Airshow also saw the unveiling of various Emirati aircraft from Edge Group.

• Land Warfare

  Precision Strike Missile engine successfully tested from M270A2 launcher

  9th June 2025

  Lockheed Martin’s Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) is a next-generation surface-to-surface missile with the solid rocket motor (SRM) provided by Northrop Grumman. The company is working to boost its SRM production capability.

• Air Warfare

  US Navy acquires additional anti-submarine warfare kits for P-8A Poseidon aircraft

  8th July 2025

  The contract modification, awarded to Boeing, is worth $61.2 million and will support the US Navy’s (USN's) evolution of its P-8 Poseidon aircraft as continued upgrades are made to boost its capabilities and lethality.

• Air Warfare

  AFA 2025: CUAS solutions demonstrate modularity and portability focus

  3rd October 2025

  Aerovironment, Epirus and SNC displayed their counter-uncrewed aerial systems, with both non-kinetic and kinetic options for military services.

• Air Warfare

  October drone digest: Growing desire for CCAs and new VTOL technology unveiled

  30th October 2025

  During October 2025, several countries and organisations signalled their intention to acquire loyal wingman uncrewed aircraft systems — designated by the US Air Force as Collaborative Combat Aircraft — or to study the capability further, while various new uncrewed helicopters were showcased.

• Naval Warfare

  US Navy prepares next step of the F-35 Block 4 upgrade while GAO predicts acquisition delays

  9th September 2025

  The US Navy published a pre-solicitation notice of intent for the third phase of the F-35 Reprogramming Verification & Validation System. Meanwhile, with a five-year delay in its schedule, GAO foresees more postponements in the completion of the Block 4 effort.

• Air Warfare

  Teledyne FLIR upgrades Black Hornet 4 UAS

  9th May 2025

  Integration and expanding capabilities are among the objectives for Teledyne FLIR to further develop its family of uncrewed systems.

• Land Warfare

  Lockheed Martin successfully fires latest Precision Strike Missile as programme progresses

  15th April 2025

  Lockheed Martin’s Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) is a next-generation surface-to-surface missile system designed as a replacement and significant upgrade over legacy systems. A key role for PrSM will be for operations from M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) and Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) M270A2 launcher.

• Air Warfare

  Poland air focus: Drones, transport aircraft and tankers dominate potential procurement plans

  19th December 2025

  With a rising defence budget and equipment list, Poland’s air market is set to grow as the country continues to modernise its transport and helicopter fleets while seeking out uncrewed aerial vehicles and loitering munitions.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  SOF Week 2025: Teledyne FLIR white paper provides guidance on reusable loitering munitions

  6th May 2025

  Teledyne FLIR is highlighting the emerging requirements for 'recoverable and re-usable' loitering munitions across the contemporary operating environment during this week’s SOF Week conference in Tampa, Florida.

• Land Warfare

  Lockheed nets $4.9 billion US Army contract to build more precision strike missiles

  1st April 2025

  The PrSM missiles, known as Increment 1 weapon systems, will eventually replace the US Army’s Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS).

• Land Warfare

  Avalon 2025: Australia receives first two HIMARS as Lockheed Martin outlines rocket plans

  26th March 2025

  Lockheed Martin’s High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) weapon has been designed to use a range of different sized missiles and rockets from the same container which can be quickly switched out.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

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

  Future Tactical UAS (FTUAS) (Increment 1) [USA]

  Programme Background Programme Objective The Future Tactical UAS (FTUAS) was to provide a tactical ISTAR capability for US Army Brigade Combat Teams (BCTs). It was ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) (Increment 2) [USAF]

  Background Increment 1 In January 2024, during the first increment of the USAF’s CCA effort, the USAF awarded contracts to Anduril, Boeing, General Atomics (GA-ASI), ...

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

  Future Tactical UAS (FTUAS) (Increment 2) [US Army]

  Programme Background Programme Objective The Future Tactical UAS (FTUAS) was to provide a tactical ISTAR capability for US Army Brigade Combat Teams (BCTs). It was intended to ...

• UAS: flight control systems

  UAS: flight control systems | Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) (Increment 1) [USAF]

  The USAF’s collaborative combat aircraft (CCA) programme aims to acquire a family of attritable UAVs with significant autonomous capabilities and the ability to work closely ...

• UAS: communication systems

  UAS: communication systems | Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) (Increment 1) [USAF]

  The USAF’s collaborative combat aircraft (CCA) programme aims to acquire a family of attritable UAVs with significant autonomous capabilities and the ability to work closely ...

• Military UAS - micro, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Black Hornet 4 [Switzerland]

  Background Announcment Teledyne FLIR Defense announced on 2 February 2026 that it had received a $17.5 million contract from armasuisse, the Swiss Federal Office of ...

• UAS: communication systems

  UAS: communication systems | Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) (Increment 2) [USAF]

  The USAF’s collaborative combat aircraft (CCA) programme aims to acquire a family of attritable UAVs with significant autonomous capabilities and the ability to work closely ...

• UAS: flight control systems

  UAS: flight control systems | Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) (Increment 2) [USAF]

  The USAF’s collaborative combat aircraft (CCA) programme aims to acquire a family of attritable UAVs with significant autonomous capabilities and the ability to work closely ...

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

  RQ-7 Shadow Replacement / Post Future Tactical UAS (FTUAS) [US Army]

  Background Future Tactical UAS (FTUAS) The US Army planned to procure an FTUAS to replace the Textron Systems RQ-7Bv2 Shadow tactical UAV in service with ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) [USAFR & ANG]

  Background USAFR & ANG In October 2025, Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach, a nominee to be the USAF’s next chief of staff, told the Senate Armed Services Committee during his ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) [Netherlands]

  Background Netherlands & American Partnership On 16 October 2025, the Dutch MoD announced a letter of intent (LoI) had been signed to join the USAF's Collaborative ...

• Loitering munitions

  Organic Precision Fire - Light (OPF-L) (Uncontracted) [USMC]

  Background Force Design 2030 The USMC Force Design 2030 is a modernisation effort to create a lighter, more agile maritime force. In May 2022, an annual update ...

• Military UAS - small

  Black Hornet 3 PRS (UK)

  Programme Background The British Army operated approximately 160 first-generation Black Hornet PD-100 nano UAS between 2013 and 2017, when the decision was made to retire ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) Unmanned Expeditionary (MUX) (Increment 2) [USMC]

  Background MUX Since 2016, the USMC has sought to acquire a UAV that can be deployed from a vessel, used for various missions, and fly ...

• Military UAS - micro, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  French Operational Pocket Drone / DrOP (France)

  Programme Background French UAV Procurment / DrOP Under its 2019-2025 Military Programming Law (LPM), France aims to introduce 1,200 new UAVs into service with the ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Light UGVs

  Centaur

  The Centaur is a military UGV developed specifically for the US Army's Man Transportable Robotic System Increment II (MTRS Inc II), a requirement for a ...

• Light UGVs

  Andros Nomad

  Unveiled in 2017, the Andros Nomad is the latest UGV designed by Northrop Grumman to carry out civil and military applications. The platform, which is able ...

• Major networking projects

  WIN-T Increment 1

  WIN-T Increment 1 is defined as providing ‘networking at the halt’ and is divided into two sub-increments defined as Increment 1a (‘extended networking at the ...

• Major networking projects

  WIN-T Increment 2

  WIN-T Increment 2 ('networking on the move') adds soldier mobility and provides a communications network down to company level. Tactical communication nodes in Increment 2 ...

• 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 ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  MPU5

  The MPU5 (WR-5100) has been described as a smart MANET radio, designed for connectivity, interchangeable frequency module, stream HD video and integrated Radio over IP functionality. ...

• Land: air defence radar

  AN/TPS-80 G/ATOR

  AN/TPS-80 Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar (G/ATOR) is a multi-mission system designed to support worldwide expeditionary requirements. It provides detection and tracking capabilities and offers traffic ...

• EO/IR systems

  FLIR 111

  The FLIR 111 is a field-proven, high-performance, compact, and lightweight Forward Looking InfraRed (FLIR) system designed for utility and attack helicopters.  It is jointly produced ...

• EO/IR systems

  KUH FLIR

  The KUH FLIR is an IR system from Hanwha Systems for the Korean Utility Helicopter (KUH). Hanwha says it provides stable infrared images at night and/or under limited ...

• Unguided Mortar Ammunition

  M592A2

  The M592A2 is a UN-classified ammunition round containing smoke (SMK), white phosphorus (WP), a burster, and an expelling or propelling charge. The round creates a ...

• Unguided Mortar Ammunition

  M582A1

  The M582A1 is a UN-classified ammunition round containing smoke (SMK), white phosphorus (WP), a burster, and an expelling or propelling charge. The round creates a smoke ...

• Unguided Mortar Ammunition

  M532A2

  The M532A2 is a UN-classified bomb containing smoke (SMK), white phosphorus (WP), a burster, and an expelling or propelling charge. The round creates a smoke screen ...

• Unguided Mortar Ammunition

  M580A2

  The M580A2 high-explosive insensitive munition is a successor to the 120mm M580A1 produced by KNDS. It is designed for use against a wide range of targets, including ...

• Unguided Mortar Ammunition

  M533A2

  The 120mm illuminating (ILL) bomb is produced by KNDS. It is UN-classified as ammunition for illumination, with or without a burster, expelling charge, or propelling ...

• Unguided Mortar Ammunition

  M583A1

  The 120mm illuminating (ILL) bomb is produced by KNDS. It is UN-classified as ammunition for illumination, with or without a burster, expelling charge, or propelling ...