• Defence Notes

  US watching brief turns the screw on Russia’s Libyan foray

  28th May 2020

  A recent series of declassified intelligence images published by US Africa Command (AFRICOM) showing Russian fighter jets positioned in Libya looks to have unravelled consistent attempts …

• Training

  Delay looms for KC-135 ATS training

  11th June 2020

  Time is short for the USAF to assess proposals for the next five-year iteration of aircrew training for the KC-135 Stratotanker. Training for USAF multi-engine …

• Defence Notes

  Bloody violence explodes on Sino-Indian border

  23rd June 2020

  Chinese and Indian troops engaged in savage hand-to-hand fighting in the Galwan Valley on 15 June, just one location where a border dispute between the two …

• Defence Notes

  US pulls out of Treaty on Open Skies

  22nd May 2020

  President Donald Trump announced on 21 May that the US will withdraw from the Treaty on Open Skies, at least temporarily, citing alleged Russian violations …

• Defence Notes

  Russia eyes new bases to project global power

  26th May 2020

  Recent statements from senior military commanders, as well as insight gleaned by Shephard from military analysts, indicate that Russia is intent on expanding and reinforcing …

• Air Warfare

  Russia deploys MiG-29s to Libya

  27th May 2020

  US Africa Command (USAFRICOM) reported on 26 May that it believes Russian MiG-29 aircraft have been deployed to Libya in order to support private military …

• Naval Warfare

  Rolls-Royce to deliver MTU propulsion for RN Type 31 frigates

  1st June 2020

  Rolls-Royce announced on 29 May that it will deliver its complete MTU propulsion systems for five new RN Type 31 frigates (pictured). This includes 40 …

• Special Operations

  USSOCOM orders De Havilland Canada Dash 8

  29th May 2020

  US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) has placed a cost-plus-fixed-fee contract with Leidos for one De Havilland Canada Dash 8 aircraft. The contract is valued at …

• Land Warfare

  China deploys new vehicle types and is developing new 8x8 AFV

  17th June 2020

  The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has been busy introducing new artillery platforms, and China is currently developing a replacement for its existing 8x8 armoured vehicle. …

• Land Warfare

  ​US Army picks Raytheon to continue NASAMS services

  22nd May 2020

  Raytheon will continue to support the National Advanced Surface to Air Missile System (NASAMS) under a $92.37 million contract from the US Army. The deal …

• Land Warfare

  FAMAE to market new pistol from October

  9th June 2020

  Chilean state-owned company Fábricas y Maestranzas del Ejército (FAMAE) has developed a 9x19mm pistol called Vulcano and intends to sell it from October this year, …

• Defence Notes

  COVID-19 prompts RCAF to enhance medevac capabilities

  3rd June 2020

  The Canadian Department of National Defence (DND) is procuring a new isolation system to facilitate the transport of up to four highly infectious patients on …

• Land Warfare

  Nemo could find a home on US Army mortar carriers

  19th May 2020

  Patria is to conduct a joint feasibility study with the US Army into whether the Finnish company’s Nemo 120mm turreted mortar can be integrated into …

• Defence Helicopter

  Apache operators gain lifecycle support

  22nd May 2020

  Small US-based company Integration Innovation Inc was awarded a $8.31 million contract modification by the US Army on 21 May under the International Apache Technical …

• Naval Warfare

  Philippines completes Thitu landing ramp; next up is airstrip

  12th June 2020

  A recently upgraded landing ramp on Thitu Island (referred to as Pag-asa Island by its owner the Philippines) in the South China Sea was turned …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military helicopters - multirole

  UH-72 Follow-On [USA]

  Programme Background In March 2019, Airbus stated that it expected orders from the US Army for between 12 and 15 UH-72A helicopters. In March 2020, ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  JLTV (US Army) (Batch 1) [USA]

  Background As of January 2021, the US DoD had signed 15 contracts with Oshkosh Defense covering the delivery of approximately 17,731 JLTVs to all branches ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  UH-60M Black Hawk (Second Contract) [Croatia]

  Programme Background Western Technology With the help of the US, Croatia has attempted to improve its military technology, replacing Soviet equipment, such as the Mi-8/Mi-17. ...

• Military UAS - mini

  RQ-11 Raven (US Army)

  Programme Background The AeroVironment RQ-11 Raven began to be deployed by the US Army in 2004 and was selected as its sole small UAS in ...

• 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 ...

• Main battle tanks

  Decisive Lethality Platform [USA]

  Background The DLP is one of five vehicle families being developed for the US Army's NGCV programme. Expanded to include five programmes in October 2018, ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  JLTV (USAF) (Batch 1) [USA]

  Baclground As of November 2020, the US DoD had signed 14 contracts with Oshkosh Defense covering the delivery of approximately 17,731 JLTVs to all branches ...

• 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 ...

• Maritime patrol

  P-8A Poseidon [UK]

  Background In July 2016, the UK government announced that it had ordered nine aircraft for service with the RAF. Under this frame, in January 2019, ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  UH-60M Black Hawk Add-on [Lithuania]

  Programme Background On 6 June 2020, the US State Department announced that it had approved a Foreign Military Sale (FMS) of six UH-60M Black Hawk ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Stryker DVH (March 2026) [US]

  Background The US Army has been operating the Stryker since 2002. The Stryker DVH is an upgraded variant that has additional armour on its underside ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  JLTV (USMC) (Batch 1) [USA]

  Background As of January 2021, the US DoD had signed 15 contracts with Oshkosh Defense covering the delivery of approximately 17,731 JLTVs to all branches ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Stryker DVH (September 2026) [US]

  Background The US Army has been operating the Stryker since 2002. The Stryker DVH is an upgraded variant that has additional armour on its underside ...

• 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 ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  AMPV [US]

  Background Platform development The US Army initiated the AMPV programme to acquire a replacement for several variants of the M113 tracked APC, which has been ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Maritime patrol

  US-2

  The ShinMaywa US-2 is an amphibious short take-off and landing aircraft used primarily by the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) for SAR. 

• Data links

  GNOMAD US Domestic

  The US domestic version of GNOMAD (see separate entry) is a ruggedised system comprising a satellite antenna and baseband modular chassis that can be installed ...

• Air: helicopter flight simulators

  US Army AVCATT PDSS

  L3Harris Technologies is the prime contractor for the US Army’s Aviation Combined Arms Tactical Trainer (AVCATT) Post Deployment Software Support (PDSS) programme. L3Harris Technologies is ...

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

  Indirect Fire Protection Capability [US]

  Leidos' Indirect Fire Protection Capability has been selected to provide medium-range Ground Based Air Defence (GBAD) to sit between SHORAD and the high-end Patriot. 

• Air: helicopter flight simulators

  US Army Flight School XXI OFT/RCTD

  L3Harris Technologies is a major subcontractor to CSC on the US Army’s Flight School XXI (FSXXI) programme. L3Harris Technologies has built or is under contract ...

• Directed energy weapons

  Leonidas High-Powered Microwave DEW

  Leonardo's US-based subsidiary Epirus has received funding from both the US and Singapore to develop its Leonidas High-Powered Microwave (HPM) directed-energy weapon (DEW).

• Towed mortars

  M120/M120A1

  The M120/M120A1 120 mm Towed Mortar System is a US-built version of the Soltam K6 mortar that was accepted into US Army service in 1990.

• Surface-to-air missiles

  Lockheed Martin Next Generation Short Range Interceptor

  US-based Lockheed Martin is competing for the US Army's Next Generation Short Range Interceptor (NGSRI) programme with its QuadStar missile.  The programme aims to replace ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  RG33

  BAE Systems RG33 is a family of Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles available in both 4x4 and 6x6. The medium-weight class of BAE Systems MRAP ...

• Military - USVs

  Voyager

  Voyager is an Uncrewed Surface Vessel (USV) built by US-based Saildrone. Voyager has been used by the US Navy (USN) and is one of three ...

• Military helicopters - light/training

  TH-119 (TH-73A Thrasher )

  The US Navy announced on 13 January 2020 that Leonardo had been awarded a US$176.5 million contract for the production of 32 TH-119 helicopters in ...

• Frigates

  Oliver Hazard Perry Class

  The Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided missile frigates (FFG) were initially designed for the US Navy in the mid-1970s as cost-efficient surface combatants. The robust design has ...

• 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 ...

• Land: Electronic Attack - Jamming

  AN/PLT-5 Thor-II

  Sierra Nevada Corporations’s (SNC's) AN/PLT-5 Thor-II Counter Improvised Explosive Device (CIED) system is designed to equip CIED teams and is used throughout the US armed ...

• 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 ...