• Naval Warfare

  US Navy takes delivery of New Jersey SSN

  26th April 2024

  The USN’s Virginia-class SSNs are replacing the old Los Angeles-class SSNs. The Virginia-class SSNs are fitted with the latest sensors and weapons and around 48 submarines are planned, with a total of 38 currently ordered.

• Naval Warfare

  Ecuador turns to local shipyard and international suppliers for military platforms

  15th February 2024

  As Ecuador attempts to combat so-called “terrorist networks”, the country has turned to the US and Turkey for equipment, while domestic construction and acquisition of new naval platforms has remained a slow process.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Specialist solutions: the growing importance of niche UAS in defence

  31st July 2024

  DARPA and Northrop Grumman outline plans for the XRQ-73 uncrewed aerial system with hybrid-electric power, which will join the growing ranks of highly specialist UAV designs.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Strategic overview: The Ukraine conflict’s robotic armies

  12th September 2024

  Kiev and Moscow have been competing over who can better harness the ongoing revolution in military affairs caused by AI-controlled and human-operated robots and drones.

• Land Warfare

  US approves support of Ukrainian Hawk missile systems

  10th April 2024

  The decades-old HAWK system has undergone substantial improvements since its introduction into service.

• Naval Warfare

  Brazilian Navy looks to ‘homemade’ solutions to replace decommissioned ships

  18th January 2024

  A “Made in Brazil” mantra has been adopted by the Brazilian Navy to secure the future of its fleet following the decommissioning of approximately 40% of the service’s ships.

• Air Warfare

  Air Warfare Preview 2025: A pressure-filled year ahead will see decisions made on major platforms and programmes

  18th December 2024

  Looming government decisions on major defence programmes in the US and UK will colour much of 2025, while manufacturers and their orderbooks look on.

• Naval Warfare

  Royal Navy’s new Dreadnought SSBNs to be equipped with OSI’s ECPINS

  11th April 2024

  The contracts between OSI Maritime Systems (OSI) and BAE Systems Submarines will encompass continued support for the Astute-class nuclear-powered submarines (SSN) and the future Dreadnought-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines (SSBN).

• Naval Warfare

  Peruvian Navy boosted by shipyard SIMA’s progress

  9th January 2024

  SIMA has been manufacturing vessels and modernising submarines to expand the capabilities of the Peruvian Navy’s fleet.

• Air Warfare

  KAI proposes Surion variants to fill Malaysian helicopter capability gaps

  10th May 2024

  Despite previous challenges in unifying procurement efforts across the Malaysian Armed Forces services, KAI has aimed to offer tailored Surion variants to fulfil specific requirements.

• Air Warfare

  Air Warfare Review 2024: Budget cuts and delays fail to dampen modernisation efforts in 2024

  10th December 2024

  From major platform upgrades, high-value contract wins and programme delays, Shephard reported on a mixed year for air warfare in 2024, as geopolitical tensions rose across Europe and the Middle East.

• Training

  First US Navy T-54A training aircraft delivery arrives

  23rd April 2024

  Arrival of the first two T-54A multi-engine training system aircraft will allow the US Navy to begin the decommissioning process of its ageing T-44C Pegasus aircraft on schedule.

• Land Warfare

  ‘A true force multiplier’ – where AI can make the most impact in defence

  3rd October 2024

  In Conversation... ST Engineering’s Ravinder Singh talks to Shephard's Gerrard Cowan about how AI can enhance human performance, the best ways to build trust in the technology among defence customers, and the areas where AI can transform military operations

• Digital Battlespace

  Orbital Overwatch: The Crucial Role of Lasers in Space-Based Intelligence

  8th May 2024

  Amidst escalating global tensions, cutting-edge laser technology and expansive space domain awareness are vital for military operations. Orbital intelligence is transforming the landscape of global security, demonstrating its critical role in contemporary warfare.

• Training

  How US marines and sailors trained for humanitarian assistance in Indo-Pacific region

  11th July 2024

  US Marine Corps and US Navy personnel enhanced their humanitarian assistance and disaster relief capabilities during a training exercise in Papua New Guinea.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Frigates

  Constellation Class - FFG(X) (1-10)

  Programme Background The FFG (X) programme was first announced with a Request for Information (RFI) released by the US Navy in July 2017 with a ...

• Destroyers

  Next-Generation Large Surface Combatants (LSC) - DDG(X) [USN]

  Programme Background Requirements The US Navy (USN) is acknowledging a need to move away from the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer design, which is slowly outgrowing. Flight III ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Tier 2 Frigates Procurement [Australia]

  The February 2024 Enhanced Lethality Surface Combatant Fleet review recommends that the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) acquire at least seven, and optimally 11, Tier 2 ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Tier 2 Frigates Procurement [Australia]

  The February 2024 Enhanced Lethality Surface Combatant Fleet review recommends that the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) acquire at least seven, and optimally 11, Tier 2 ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Project SEA 3000 [Australia]

  The February 2024 Enhanced Lethality Surface Combatant Fleet review recommends that the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) acquire at least seven, and optimally 11, Tier 2 ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Project SEA 3000 [Australia]

  The February 2024 Enhanced Lethality Surface Combatant Fleet review recommends that the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) acquire at least seven, and optimally 11, Tier 2 ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Joint Future Surface Combatant - FSC (3) [Belgium]

  The Belgian Navy and the Royal Netherlands Navy (RNLN) are undertaking a joint Future Surface Combatant (FSC) project to replace their existing M-class Karel Doorman-class ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Joint Future Surface Combatant - FSC (3) [Belgium]

  The Belgian Navy and the Royal Netherlands Navy (RNLN) are undertaking a joint Future Surface Combatant (FSC) project to replace their existing M-class Karel Doorman-class ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Luleå Class [Sweden]

  According to the Swedish Defence White Paper for the 2021-2025 period, the Navy will need to replace the existing two ageing Gävle-class corvettes with new surface ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Luleå Class [Sweden]

  According to the Swedish Defence White Paper for the 2021-2025 period, the Navy will need to replace the existing two ageing Gävle-class corvettes with new surface ...

• Loitering munitions, Military UAS - small

  Maritime Drones (Ukraine Aid) [UK]

  Programme Background October 2024 In October 2024, the UK Government announced £120 million ($152 million) of funding for Ukraine’s Navy and maritime capabilities, which will fund uncrewed surface ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Joint Future Surface Combatant - FSC (3) [Netherlands]

  The Belgian Navy and the Royal Netherlands Navy (RNLN) are undertaking a joint Future Surface Combatant (FSC) project to replace their existing M-class Karel Doorman-class ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Joint Future Surface Combatant - FSC (3) [Netherlands]

  The Belgian Navy and the Royal Netherlands Navy (RNLN) are undertaking a joint Future Surface Combatant (FSC) project to replace their existing M-class Karel Doorman-class ...

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

  Project Vixen [UK]

  Programme Background Project Goal The Royal Navy uses Leonardo crewed Merlin (AW101) helicopters fitted with CROWSNEST pods to provide airborne early warning capabilities for carriers. An early ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Joint Future Surface Combatant - FSC (3-4) [Netherlands]

  The Belgian Navy and the Royal Netherlands Navy (RNLN) are undertaking a joint Future Surface Combatant (FSC) project to replace their existing M-class Karel Doorman-class ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Ship-launched torpedoes

  UMGT-1 torpedo

  The UMGT-1 is a Soviet-designed universal small-sized homing torpedo with a 400 mm caliber, developed for engaging both surface ships and submarines. Its compact size ...

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

  Ghost

  Developed to be versatile, Ghost is a manoeuvrable, rotary-wing mini-UAV designed for performing ISR missions in urban warfare, observation stakeout missions and covert special operations ...

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

  Loki

  Loki is a Ukrainian mini fixed-wing drone designed by the National Association of Ukrainian Defence Industries (NAUDI). The drone is launched from a pneumatic launcher ...

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

  Thor

  Thor is a Ukrainian fixed-wing small drone manufactured by the National Association of Ukrainian Defence Industries (NAUDI). Powered by a lithium polymer or lithium-ion battery, ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  SCOMBA

  SCOMBA is a combat management system developed by Navantia for the Spanish Navy. It has been in service with the Spanish Navy since 2010 across ...

• Military - USVs

  Bluebottle

  Bluebottle is a persistent, autonomous, uncrewed surface vessel from Ocius Technology in service with the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).

• Sea: procedural training

  IMAT

  DAS supports the development and deployment of the Interactive Multisensor Analysis Training (IMAT) system for the US Navy, used at navy schoolhouse and training centres, ...

• Sea: naval surveillance radar

  Sea Giraffe 4A

  The Sea Giraffe 4A is a medium-to-long-range surveillance radar produced by Swedish manufacturer Saab. The radar is designed to provide automatic and simultaneous air and ...

• Military - USVs

  Marlin

  Marlin is a Turkish uncrewed surface vessel (USV) equipped with electronic warfare and other equipment that has been used on exercises with the Turkish Navy.

• EO/IR systems, Sea: ship surveillance and fire control systems

  SeaFLIR 380-HD

  The SeaFLIR 380-HD is a long-range, multispectral surveillance system for surface vessels. Manufactured by Teledyne FLIR, the system combines HD IR, colour or SWIR spectral information. According to ...

• Fighter - air superiority

  F-47

  President Donald Trump announced that the F-47 is the next American fighter. The programme, which started in 2014, is part of the U.S. Air Force's Next ...

• Military - USVs

  Sentinel - Patrol Boat Autonomy Trial (PBAT)

  Sentinel is an autonomous uncrewed surface vessel (USV) built from the decommissioned HMAS Maitland , a former Royal Australian Navy (RAN) Armidale-class Patrol Boat.

• Sea: procedural training

  SEWTT

  The Surface Electronic Warfare Team Trainer (SEWTT) is a software application developed by EWA GSI as a next-generation tactical training application for US Navy surface ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  JTRS Later Increment Waveforms

  A number of waveforms are scheduled for implementation in later JTRS increments: WNW with low probability of intercept/detection and bandwidth-efficient advanced modulation; SRW with LPI/LPD; ...

• Sea: naval surveillance radar

  Surface Scout

  The Surface Scout is a two-dimensional, medium-range naval surveillance radar manufactured by Thales Netherlands. The radar is designed to automatically detect and track small surface objects in heavy ...