• Naval Warfare

  Dutch warships' mid-life upgrade to de-risk systems for future air defence frigate

  13th September 2023

  The Royal Netherland’s Navy (RNLN’s) four De Zeven Provincien-class (LCF) frigates are near to completing a series of upgrades that will enable the ships to operate effectively until replacements are delivered, with the refit informing future requirements.

• Land Warfare

  Insight: Why the CV90 infantry fighting vehicle is making a clean sweep of Nordic markets

  19th September 2023

  Shephard Defence Insight explores the evolution of BAE Systems Hägglunds’ CV90 IFV from its inception in the late 1980s to the latest CV90 MkIV, detailing the order history and upgrade packages of its ten European customers.

• Air Warfare

  Saudi Arabia's bid to join GCAP: divisions, financial clout and geopolitical stakes

  17th August 2023

  Saudi Arabia could only bring money to GCAP at this stage as it has 'no aircraft industry, let alone a technological base, so involving [it] as a prime partner generates considerable risk and potential delays', experts tell Shephard.

• Air Warfare

  B-2 stealth bomber receives new digital communications system

  10th August 2023

  Northrop Grumman and the USAF have completed an integrated airborne mission transfer (IAMT) demonstrator with the B-2 Spirit at Whiteman Air Force Base.

• Defence Helicopter

  Hungary receives first two H225M multipurpose helicopters from Airbus

  25th July 2023

  The Hungarian Defence Forces have taken delivery of the first two H225M multi-purpose helicopters from Airbus.

• Land Warfare

  Turkish air-portable howitzer targets exports as local production line rolls on

  16th August 2023

  Turkey’s MKEK has set its sights on export opportunities for its 105mm Boran Air Portable Light Towed Howitzer (APLTH) now that it is in production for the home market.

• Land Warfare

  Black Knight identifies US opportunities for expeditionary fuel cell

  28th June 2023

  Black Knight Group sees the US Marine Corps' expeditionary light vehicles as an application for the SFC Energy EMILY 3000 fuel cell.

• Air Warfare

  Lockheed calls for ‘forward-looking approach’ on F-35 engine at Paris Air Show

  22nd June 2023

  Lockheed Martin emphasises the need for more power and cooling, suggesting a potential requirement for an Adaptive Engine Transition Program (AETP) performance-related improvement, a programme that was recently revived by the House Armed Services Committee.

• Naval Warfare

  India gifts missile corvette to Vietnam amidst deepening ties

  17th July 2023

  Cementing the two countries' defence partnership, India has donated a second-hand warship to Vietnam.

• Land Warfare

  Poland orders more Spike LR anti-tank missiles

  7th August 2023

  Poland has ordered more Spike LR anti-tank guided missiles under a deal worth PLN400 million ($99.2 million) with deliveries to begin almost immediately through local manufacturer of the system, Mesko.

• Land Warfare

  Saab wins A$56 million contract for Carl-Gustaf M4 weapons

  4th July 2023

  Saab Australia has been awarded an A$56 million contract by the Australian Department of Defence to supply additional Carl-Gustaf M4 weapons for delivery in 2024-2025.

• Air Warfare

  C-27J Spartan contract to strengthen Italy and Azerbaijan relations

  8th June 2023

  Italy and Azerbaijan have signed a contract for the supply of the C-27J Spartan transport aircraft

• Land Warfare

  New Russian 8x8 armoured vehicle breaks cover at Army-2023 event

  21st August 2023

  Russia's VPK (Military Industrial Company) presented a new 8x8 platform during the Army-2023 show near Moscow earlier in August. While the vehicle was displayed under the designation BTR-82A (Advanced), Shephard has established that it is not an upgraded version of the venerable BTR-82 platform, but a completely new design.

• Air Warfare

  South Korea seeks extra F-35A fighters

  15th September 2023

  South Korea is looking for more F-35A fighters to bolster its fleet, as development of the KF-21 Boramae continues apace.

• Land Warfare

  How the US Army is getting ready to succeed in contested multidomain scenarios

  24th July 2023

  The service has been working on the improvement of strategy, inventory and training in addition to conducting several acquisition, development and modernisation efforts.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• OPVs

  Kingston Class Replacement [Canada]

  Programme Background Requirements Under the second pillar of its shipbuilding strategy, Canada is seeking to procure an undisclosed number of small vessels (below 1000t). Part ...

• Special operations vehicles

  CANSOFCOM Next Generation Fighting Vehicles [Canada]

  Several platforms are known to have been proposed for the NGFV programme. In 2015, it was reported that General Dynamics Land Systems - Canada (GDLS-C) ...

• Tanks

  NGCV: DLP

  Programme Background Requirement The DLP is one of five vehicle families being developed for the US Army's NGCV programme. Expanded to include five programmes in ...

• 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 ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | Combat Fighter Jet [Ireland]

  In February 2025, Simon Harris, the Irish Minister for Defence and Tánaiste, emphasised the importance of acquiring a new combat fighter jet to address aerial ...

• Data links

  Data links | Combat Fighter Jet [Ireland]

  In February 2025, Simon Harris, the Irish Minister for Defence and Tánaiste, emphasised the importance of acquiring a new combat fighter jet to address aerial ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  Air: Helmet-mounted displays | Combat Fighter Jet [Ireland]

  In February 2025, Simon Harris, the Irish Minister for Defence and Tánaiste, emphasised the importance of acquiring a new combat fighter jet to address aerial ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | Combat Fighter Jet [Ireland]

  In February 2025, Simon Harris, the Irish Minister for Defence and Tánaiste, emphasised the importance of acquiring a new combat fighter jet to address aerial ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | Combat Fighter Jet [Ireland]

  In February 2025, Simon Harris, the Irish Minister for Defence and Tánaiste, emphasised the importance of acquiring a new combat fighter jet to address aerial ...

• Destroyers

  Sejong the Great Class (KDX-III) Batch 2 (1-3) [South Korea]

  Programme Background Requirements The Sejong the Great class (KDX-III) Batch 2 will consist of three improved Sejong the Great-class (KDX-III) batch 1 guided-missile destroyers, which ...

• Landing platform docks/dock landing ships

  Landing Platform Docks [India]

  Programme Background Requirements The LPD tender, although more akin to an LHD, specifies that the quartet of ships must be built within India, although collaboration ...

• Minehunters

  Mine Countermeasure Vessel [India]

  Programme Background Requirements In August 2023, the Indian MoD issued a new Request for Information (RfI) for the procurement of 12 Mine Countermeasures (MCM) Vessels. The ...

• Transport

  C-27J [Azerbaijan]

  Programme Background The Azerbaijani Air Force signed a contract with Leonardo in June 2023 to procure the C-27J Spartan tactical transport aircraft. This move is ...

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

  MQ-9B (Tri-Service) [India]

  Programme Background Inception & The Indian Navy In 2016, reports suggested India was looking to acquire the MQ-9A Reaper. The two parties developed this requirement, and in June ...

• Military helicopters - maritime

  MH-60R Seahawk (Saudi Arabia)

  The sale is aimed at improving Saudi Arabia’s capability to meet current and future threats from enemy weapon systems, provide the capability to identify, engage ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Naval guns, Land: RWS

  DragonFire

  Dragonfire is a new laser weapon system built for the UK MoD, receiving £30 million of funding in early 2017. The design of the gun ...

• Counter-UAS systems

  DroneDefender

  DroneDefender is a directed-energy UAS countermeasure that disrupts the adversary's control of the aircraft, neutralising it so that no remote action (including detonation) can occur, ...

• Counter-UAS systems

  MEHEL 2.0

  The Mobile Expeditionary High-Energy Laser (MEHEL) is a C-UAS-capable vehicle that employs directed energy to neutralise targets. MEHEL 2.0 was first seen at AUSA 2016, ...

• Destroyers

  Flight III Destroyer

  During Indo Pacific 2023, Navantia Australia unveiled a 10200t destroyer design. Dubbed as Flight III Destroyer, the Spanish shipbuilder is pitching the ship for the ...

• ISR/special mission

  AC-130J

  The AC-130J 'Ghostrider' is a fifth-generation gunship manufactured by Lockheed Martin to replace the AC-130U/W gunships for the USAF deployed in 2019. The Ghostrider is a highly modified C-130J ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Bushmaster ePMV

  The electric Protected Mobility Vehicle (ePMV), also known as the 'electric Bushmaster,' is a prototype 4x4 armoured vehicle unveiled at the Chief of Army Symposium in ...

• Naval guns

  HELIOS

  HELIOS (High-Energy Laser and Integrated Optical-Dazzler with Surveillance) is a high-energy weapon system developed by Lockheed Martin. According to the producer, the system is specially ...

• Medium Range Missile Defence Systems: 20-90km range, Self-propelled missile systems

  Multi-Mission Launcher

  The Multi-Mission Launcher (MML) was developed by the U.S. Army's Aviation and Missile Research, Development, and Engineering Center (AMRDEC) as part of the Indirect Fire ...

• Land: RWS

  R800

  The R800 is a RWS developed by EOS for integration on heavy armoured vehicle platforms. It is designed to offer the capabilities of a medium ...

• Frigates

  Omega

  At IndoDefence 2018, Damen unveiled a 6000t Omega frigate design aimed at the Indonesian Navy's future frigate procurement. The Omega frigate design builds on the MKS180 ...

• Air: Electronic Attack - Jamming

  Miysis DIRCM

  Leonardo’s Miysis Directed Infrared Countermeasure (DIRCM) system provides high power, all aspect protection against modern and legacy Infrared Man-Portable Air Defence Systems (IR MANPADS) for ...

• Corvettes

  MEKO A210

  During Indo Pacific 2023, TKMS unveiled the MEKO A210 corvette. According to the manufacturer, the ship is an evolution of the existing MEKO A200 design. ...

• OPVs

  PPA/MultiPurpose Combat Ship (MPCS) EVO

  The PPA/MultiPurpose Combat Ship (MPCS) EVO is an enhanced version of the Thaon di Revel-class PPAs unveiled at Euronaval 2024. The PPA/MPCS EVO retains the core platform ...

• Man-portable missile systems

  Igla/SA-18

  The 9K38 Igla (US DoD designation SA-18, NATO reporting name Grouse ) IR-homing MANPADS was developed by KBM and entered service in 1983 to meet the requirements ...

• Counter-UAS systems, Land: air defence radar

  Retinar FAR-AD Drone Detection Radar

  Retinar FAR-AD Drone Detection Radar, developed by Meteksan Defence, is a radar system to enable security against mini/micro unmanned aerial vehicles. Retinar FAR-AD can automatically ...