• Land Warfare

  Land forces review: howitzers in the spotlight and Germany spends big to close the year

  5th January 2026

  December saw several milestones on the howitzer front with billions of dollars worth of orders placed and Germany committing to more 6×6 and 4×4 vehicles. Taiwan was also approved for equipment orders worth $11 billion even as the year came to an end with China encircling the country as part of an exercise.

• Land Warfare

  July land forces roundup: UK outlines spending with details unveiled on Eurosatory vehicles

  31st July 2026

  Analysis of the long-awaited UK Defence Investment Plan, which was finally released on 30 June, revealed scant investment in platform replacement for the British Army. The bright spot in July, however, was a multibillion-dollar contract awarded for the British Army’s Collective Training System.

• Land Warfare

  Elbit bets on local content for US howitzer bid as it faces off against popular systems

  30th December 2025

  The Israeli company hopes that producing its Sigma artillery system wholly in the US will help it win a key US Army contract, but it will be up against the popular CAESAR Mk II wheeled weapon and the K9 tracked.

• Land Warfare

  World Defense Show 2026: Large vehicles and counter-drone systems take the limelight

  17th February 2026

  Visitors who attended the first World Defense Show four years ago continue to speak of the difficulties they faced with poor facilities and power problems. This year’s event emphasised its status as one of the major defence expositions and as a place where regional players and those less welcome at other shows could take centre stage.

• Land Warfare

  Eurosatory 2026: AM General’s Hawkeye gains traction as JLTV A2 targets 2027 FRP

  17th June 2026

  AM General’s Hawkeye adds a howitzer to a light vehicle as the company highlights strong interest in the system following an order from Kosovo, with demonstrations scheduled for a dozen countries.

• Land Warfare

  US Army pursues commercial routes to modernise cannon and mortar manufacturing

  16th October 2026

  Watervliet Arsenal’s digital manufacturing push opens opportunities for industry as the US Army modernises cannon production and its wider Organic Industrial Base.

• Land Warfare

  Eurosatory 2026: Rheinmetall launches new Caracal 6x6 variant

  16th June 2026

  The new Caracal 6x6 is heavier and designed to deliver greater versatility, building on the 4x4 platform that is already established and on order in Europe.

• Land Warfare

  Sweden seeks US HIMARS missile system to expand long-range strike capability

  13th March 2026

  The proposed $920 million deal would provide Sweden with a step up from its existing tube artillery and align the country with other northern European nations that have selected the HIMARS platform.

• Naval Warfare

  Ireland releases maritime strategy as it looks to new naval bases and stronger partnerships

  27th February 2026

  Ireland has a maritime area ten times the size of its land mass but has a limited naval capacity and faces an ongoing threat to critical underwater infrastructure. A new strategy is looking to address the challenge.

• Naval Warfare

  FNSS looks to put uncrewed vehicles at the front of amphibious assaults

  21st August 2026

  The new platform is designed to put reconnaissance, obstacle clearance and fire support ahead of the crewed force in a contested landing.

• Land Warfare

  UN “not fulfilling core tasks” for Ukraine, says Estonian defence secretary

  10th March 2026

  Estonia is looking for innovative ways to deal with its particular challenges but, according to the MoD’s permanent secretary, Kaimo Kuusk, technology still needs to be backed up by old-fashioned long-range punch.

• Defence Notes

  Estonia opts for smart, adaptable and cooperative solutions in the face of Russian threat

  20th March 2026

  Estonian-made equipment is being put through the toughest of evaluations in the hands of Ukrainian soldiers resisting the full-scale Russian invasion which began in 2022. The country has long seen the threat and is continuing to adapt for the future.

• Land Warfare

  Poland land systems focus: €31 billion spending drive boosts domestic production ambitions

  11th November 2026

  Poland’s potential €53 billion land procurement pipeline could give it one of Europe’s largest armoured vehicle fleets, with local production, technology transfer and future exports central to the strategy.

• Land Warfare

  AUSA 2025: Hanwha Aerospace reveals new wheeled artillery system

  20th October 2025

  The aerospace company showed a model of its new mobile howitzer at AUSA in Washington, where a representative told Shephard more about its design.

• Defence Notes

  Canada set to look away from its neighbour and across the Atlantic for partners

  5th December 2025

  While non-EU UK struggles to join the Security Action for Europe initiative, which provides loans for defence programmes, Canada has become the first country outside Europe to get access – and did so for a nominal fee.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Self-propelled rocket launchers

  K239 Chunmoo (Batch 1) [Estonia]

  Background Estonia currently operates the HIMARS as its primary MRLS. However, in an effort to expand its capabilities, as well as diversify its supply base, ...

• Self-propelled guns

  Eva [Slovakia]

  Background Slovakia currently operates the Zuzana and Zuzana 2 as its primary SPHs. As part of a wider effort to modernise and expand its armed ...

• Self-propelled guns

  Caesar [Croatia]

  Background Croatia currently operates the Soviet 2S1 Gvozdika, alongside a small number of German PzH 2000s.  Since the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, multiple ...

• Self-propelled rocket launchers

  K239 Chunmoo (Batch 2) [Estonia]

  Background Estonia currently operates the HIMARS as its primary MRLS. However, in an effort to expand its capabilities, as well as diversify its supply base, ...

• Self-propelled rocket launchers

  K239 Chunmoo [Norway]

  Programme Background Norway previously operated a fleet of 12 M270 MLRS, which were put into storage in 2005 before being donated to Ukraine, via the ...

• Self-propelled guns

  Caesar [Portugal]

  Background The Portuguese army currently operates the M109 Paladin, alongside a number of traditional towed platforms. As part of the wider European trend towards modernising ...

• Self-propelled guns

  Mobile Tactical Cannon - Tracked [USA]

  Background The M109 entered US service in the 1960s. Since then it has served as the US Army's primary self-propelled howitzer (SPH). Over the course ...

• Loitering munitions

  Warmate 3.0 [South Korea]

  Programme Background Korean Reports On 3 September 2024, The Korea Economic Daily, nicknamed Hankyung, reported that the South Korean military was to introduce Polish loitering ...

• Self-propelled guns

  Mobile Tactical Cannon [US]

  Background The US Army began using the M777 in 1995. Since then, it has served as a field artillery piece providing fire support for American ...

• Self-propelled guns

  ATMOS [Colombia]

  Programme background The Colombian army currently operates a variety of towed artillery platforms. The acquisition of self-propelled platforms is intended to enhance the capabilities of ...

• Self-propelled guns

  K9 Thunder (Batch 1) [Poland]

  Background Poland began utilising the K9 in 2008, when it was selected as the basis for its domestically produced Krab self-propelled gun, with the K9 providing the ...

• Self-propelled guns

  Caesar (Batch 2) [Estonia]

  Programme Background Estonia procured its first 12 Caesars in June 2024, with deliveries taking place in 2025. This second contract, awarded in February 2026, mirrors ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Rosomak (Batch 2) [Poland]

  Background Requirement The Polish Army selected Patria's XC-360 Armored Modular Vehicle (AMV) to meet its requirement for a new 8x8 armoured vehicle to replace the ...

• Military UAS - small

  DT46 [France]

  Programme Background Reports Around Eurosatory 2024, multiple defence news outlets, notably Army Recognition and The Defence Post, reported that the French Army had acquired Delair's ...

• Self-propelled guns

  ATMOS [Denmark]

  Programme Background In 2016, the ATMOS was one of two systems shortlisted to meet a requirement from the Danish Army for up to 21 new ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Self-propelled guns

  Arpan

  The Arpan is a 155mm wheeled self-propelled howitzer (SPH), developed by ASFAT. It is a modification of the Panter towed howitzer, developed to provide a ...

• Self-propelled guns

  Morana

  Developed by Excalibur Army, the Morana is a 155mm self-propelled-howitzer capable of hitting targets up to 41km away. The howitzer is mounted on a Tatra Force ...

• Self-propelled guns

  PLZ-05/PLZ-52

  The PLZ-05 is a 155 mm tracked self-propelled howitzer developed for the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) to supplement and eventually replace its inventory of ...

• Land: battle management systems

  ATLAS

  An interoperable C4I system for artillery missions and resources deployed in the French Army. Commissioned in 2005, ATLAS represents a main element of battlespace digitisation, ...

• Self-propelled guns

  Mounted Artillery Gun (MArG)

  The Mounted Artillery Gun (MArG) is a wheeled self-propelled howitzer developed by Kalyani Strategic Systems Limited. It was first unveiled at Eurosatory 2026.

• Self-propelled guns

  Uran

  The Uran is a 105mm self-propelled howitzer (SPH) developed by MKE. First unveiled at SAHA 2026, the Uran is intended to provide a mobile fire ...

• Self-propelled guns

  SH3

  The SH3 (also referred to as WMZ322) is a 122 mm tracked self-propelled howitzer introduced by Norinco in 2008. Believed to be an updated version ...

• Self-propelled guns

  Attila

  The Attila is a wheeled 155mm self-propelled howitzer (SPH) developed by MKE. Unveiled at SAHA 2026, the Attila is intended to provide Turkey with a ...

• Self-propelled guns

  Gurhan

  The Gurhan is a tracked 155mm self-propelled howitzer (SPH) developed by MKE. First unveiled at SAHA 2024, the Gurhan is intended to provide a domestically ...

• Guided munitions

  GP155/GP155A

  The GP155 and its advanced variant, the GP155A, are precision-guided 155 mm artillery projectiles developed by Norinco.

• Unguided Artillery Ammunition

  XM1122E1 High Explosive Projectile

  The XM1122E1 High Explosive Projectile is a 155mm artillery round being developed by General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems. As of May 2025, it was undergoing testing with the US Army.

• Self-propelled guns

  VBM 155

  The Veicolo Blindato Medio (VBM) 155 is a self-propelled howitzer, currently being developed by CIO. The VBM 155 will provide the Italian army's wheeled armoured formations ...

• Self-propelled guns

  Type 99

  The Type 99 is a self-propelled howitzer developed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) and the Japan Steel Works to replace the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force's ...

• Self-propelled guns

  GCT

  The GCT 155 mm tracked self-propelled howitzer, also known as the AMX-30 AuF1, was developed as a replacement for the French Army's Mk F3 155 mm self-propelled ...

• Self-propelled guns

  SIGMA

  The SIGMA is the latest self-propelled howitzer (SPH) developed by Elbit America and Oshkosh Defense. Produced entirely in the US, the SIGMA is intended to ...