• Air Warfare

  Germany adds AI backbone to FCAS next-generation fighter jet

  1st September 2023

  A consortium of Helsing and Rohde & Schwarz has been selected by the German BAAINBw defence procurement agency to deliver an artificial intelligence (AI) backbone for the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) sixth-generation fighter jet.

• Naval Warfare

  Italian Navy overcomes delays in PPA ship deliveries

  29th September 2023

  Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri delivered the third of seven Pattugliatori Polivalenti d'Altura (PPA) Multipurpose Offshore Patrol Vessel to the Italian Navy during a ceremony on 27 September.

• Air Warfare

  Dubai Airshow 2023: How the MQ-9 Reaper UAS came to rule the skies

  10th November 2023

  Ahead of the 2023 edition of the Dubai Airshow, Shephard looks at the GA-ASI MQ-9A Reaper UAS, its role in shaping modern conflict dynamics, and its deployment for surveillance and precision strike throughout the Middle East.

• Land Warfare

  Patria MUSCL – Enabling covert airspace surveillance

  7th September 2023

  Airspace surveillance is like playing hide and seek. Except you are both hiding and seeking at the same time, and you are doing it in multiple domains – on land, in the air, and in the electromagnetic spectrum.

• Air Warfare

  Australia seeks sovereignly manufactured general-purpose UAS

  4th August 2023

  With Australia's military banning the use of commercially available UAS, the ADF is looking for sovereignly designed replacements for general-purpose use.

• Naval Warfare

  New Exocet variants secure anti-ship missile capability for the future

  16th October 2023

  MBDA and the French Navy have completed the test firing of a new Exocet MM40 Block 3c anti-ship missile (AShM) from Aquitaine-class frigate FS Alsace.

• Land Warfare

  Brazilian Army outlines future acquisitions under Land Forces 2040 programme

  15th August 2023

  The army is interested in procuring C2, EW, ISR and communication solutions as well as helicopters. It also plans to invest in AI, automation and 3D printing as well as in bio, cyber and quantum technologies.

• Air Warfare

  China and Iran look beyond Russian market for UAS and precision weapon exports

  6th September 2023

  Chinese and Iranian firms unveiled new UAS and smart munitions at Army-2023, claiming they reflected lessons from the Russo-Ukrainian conflict and were attracting international interest.

• Digital Battlespace

  BAE Systems awarded contract from USN for next-generation interrogator

  27th July 2023

  BAE Systems has secured a $15 million contract from the USN to deliver its advanced digital interrogator for maritime vessels, enhancing situational awareness and reducing friendly fire incidents.

• Defence Notes

  Indian defence purchases from Russia are in trouble

  30th August 2023

  Fearing sanctions, India needs to find an alternative mechanism as it continues to buy defence equipment from Russia.

• Naval Warfare

  Pakistan Navy renewal gathers pace as new OPV launched

  20th September 2023

  The launch of the first of a new pair of Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) for the Pakistan Navy (PN) on 12 September indicates an acceleration in the modernisation of the service as it introduces new ships into service.

• Air Warfare

  DSEI 2023: Teledyne FLIR draws on use of Black Hornet UAS in Ukraine to develop autonomous launch system

  12th September 2023

  Teledyne Flir Defense is developing the Black Recon Vehicle Reconnaissance System (VRS), which will hold multiple UAVs, with autonomous launch and recovery. The system is expected to be available in the second half of 2024 with deliveries possible in 2025.

• Training

  First US Air Force T-7 Red Hawk jet trainer poised to be delivered

  19th September 2023

  Boeing has completed crucial inspections of the T-7 Red Hawk, and five development aircraft are set to be delivered to the US Air Force, with hopes of completion by year-end. Despite setbacks, the programme is moving ahead, with further testing and detailed plans to replace the ageing T-38 Talon fleet.

• Defence Helicopter

  Czech Republic receives first AH-1Z Viper helicopters

  18th August 2023

  The Czech Republic has taken delivery of its first AH-1Z Vipers as part of a partnership with the USMC H-1 Light/Attack Helicopter programme.

• Naval Warfare

  Insight: How rising tensions have fuelled the Type 26 frigate's development

  12th September 2023

  Slated to enter service in the late 2020s, the Type 26 frigate addresses the pressing need for enhanced ASW capabilities, particularly in light of heightened tensions with Russia. Shephard Defence Insight analyses the design and its equipment fit.

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 ...

• 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

  Type 83 Future Air Defence System (FADS) [UK]

  Programme Background Requirements The Daring-class (Type 45) consists of six ships, although the original plan was to have 12 destroyers. This was cut to eight 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 ...

• Landing platform docks/dock landing ships

  Multi-Role Strike Ship (MRSS) Programme [UK]

  Programme Background Requirements According to the UK MoD's March 2021 Defence Command Paper, entitled 'Defence in a Competitive Age', the RN will invest in six ...

• 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 ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  A400M [Germany]

  Programme Background Germany originally said it would but 60 A400Ms, but when the program was re-baselined in 2010 reduced its planed off take to 53, ...

• 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 ...

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 ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  Kaplan Hybrid Carrier Platform

  Unveiled at IDEF 2025, the Kaplan Hybrid Carrier Platform (HCP) is a tracked vehicle with a hybrid propulsion system manufactured by FNSS. It is designed ...

• 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 ...

• Counter-UAS systems, Land: Electronic Attack - Jamming

  EJDERHA HPEM System

  The EJDERHA is a high power electromagnetic system manufactured by Aselsan. It generates high-amplitude electromagnetic fields and directs them to potential targets such as IEDs ...

• 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 ...