• Land Warfare

  Ireland targets improved anti-drone capability before mid-year ahead of EU presidency

  22nd April 2026

  With Ireland's EU presidency set to commence from July this year, the ramped-up efforts to procure a counter-uncrewed aerial system and radar capability under its Military Radar Programme are on track to meet targeted roll-out dates.

• Naval Warfare

  European navies line up $105.8 billion in unawarded contracts for 2026

  6th February 2026

  France, Germany and Italy lead the way on unawarded naval defence opportunities that could be awarded this year, but across Europe countries are ramping up their spending efforts to face geopolitical challenges.

• Naval Warfare

  UK and France signal shift to autonomous helicopters to boost naval power

  16th January 2026

  Recent developments in France and the UK highlight how autonomous helicopters are becoming central to naval force design as navies seek to integrate crewed and uncrewed systems at sea.

• Land Warfare

  The C-UAS challenge: Finding the threat before it finds you

  18th May 2026

  How Teledyne FLIR Defense C-UAS solutions – and sensors optimized for third-party systems integrators – deliver early drone detection and decision advantage for UAS threat response

• Defence Notes

  Australia’s new defence industry strategy targets development, procurement and exports

  3rd July 2026

  Australia is investing in weapons and missile manufacture and shipbuilding as part of a long-term plan that involves restructuring procurement and export systems under its 2026 Defence Industry Development Strategy.

• Air Warfare

  SOF Week 2026: DroneShield moves to double its production capacity in the US

  16th May 2026

  The DroneShield US subsidiary is rapidly expanding its manufacturing footprint in the country and has expedited the process to double its domestic production capacity in at least four months.

• Naval Warfare

  Has France quietly become Europe’s real naval power?

  8th April 2026

  The Marine nationale’s consistent deployments, healthy shipbuilding drumbeat and growing export portfolio are forcing a reassessment of where European naval capability now resides.

• Air Warfare

  AFA 2026: Swarm Aero eyes 2027 Gamera flight as Textron/Merlin reveal SkyCourier UX

  15th September 2026

  Two new uncrewed aircraft concepts target very different US military requirements, from massed long-range strike to autonomous logistics. Shephard spoke with executives from Swarm Aero, Textron Aviation and Merlin Labs at this year's AFA Air, Space & Cyber conference to learn more about their capabilities.

• Naval Warfare

  Can the US Navy ask Indo-Pacific allies to do more while training with them less?

  15th September 2026

  As the Iran War draws US ships and marine corps units away from the Indo-Pacific, curtailed exercises and a temporary carrier gap are exposing tensions between Washington’s demand for more self-reliant allies and the joint training needed to realise that ambition.

• Air Warfare

  US Air Force lays the groundwork to move the F-15EX acquisition to lots 7 and 8

  7th July 2026

  Procurement of the Eagle Passive Active Warning Survivability System for future production lots signals the air force's commitment to an expanded 267-aircraft Eagle II fleet while sustaining full electronic warfare capability on every fighter.

• Naval Warfare

  Could Asia and the Middle East offer growth opportunities for Italy’s Fincantieri?

  18th February 2026

  Export campaigns for Fincantieri’s submarines and frigates are central to the company’s ambitions as billions of dollars in unawarded contracts come into focus.

• Land Warfare

  Uncrewed ground vehicles put to the test as NATO eyes autonomous shift

  2nd July 2026

  The European Land Robot Trials are influenced by NATO researchers seeking to create uncrewed ground vehicle standards for allied Western forces working in multinational task forces.

• Defence Notes

  India’s strategic defence footprint expansion could be accelerated by Iran-Israel conflict

  4th March 2026

  The latest escalation between Iran and Israel could shape New Delhi’s next-generation shield as India deepens cooperation with Israel on missile defence and drone production.

• Naval Warfare

  Ireland’s strategic cable role grows as naval capacity falls behind

  21st August 2026

  Around 75% of the northern hemisphere’s undersea cables transit Irish waters, but personnel shortfalls and a stalled multirole vessel programme leave patrol capacity in question.

• Naval Warfare

  Autonomy gives Turkey a chance to outflank established naval shipbuilders

  26th October 2026

  Turkish shipbuilders have sold ships from Asia to Europe, but autonomy and swarm technology could give them a fairer fight against Western European rivals.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - mini

  Mini Intelligence Drone System (SMDR) [France]

  Background Requirement The French Army identified a need for a new tactical UAS to replace the Drac, which entered service in 2008. The Mini Reconnaissance ...

• Minehunters

  Tripartite Class Replacement Programme (1-6) [Belgium]

  Programme Background A joint Dutch-Belgian procurement programme is procuring 12 new Mine Countermeasures Vessels (MCMV) to replace the ageing Tripartite-class MCM, which are due to ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  Skeldar V-200 [Netherlands]

  Background Joint Programme For the joint MCM programme between Belgium and the Netherlands, the Dutch Ministry of Defence issued a notice in 2018, calling for ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  Skeldar V-200 [Belgium]

  Background Joint Programme For the joint MCM programme between Belgium and the Netherlands, the Dutch Ministry of Defence issued a notice in 2018, calling for ...

• Minehunters

  Tripartite Class Replacement Programme [Netherlands]

  Programme Background A joint Dutch-Belgian procurement programme is procuring 12 new Mine Countermeasures Vessels (MCMV) to replace the ageing Tripartite class MCM's which are due ...

• Minehunters

  Project SEA 1905 - MMCMMS [Australia]

  Programme Background Requirements Australia is looking to acquire up to eight new advanced mine countermeasures/hydrographic survey vessels under the Project SEA 1905 Maritime Mine Countermeasures ...

• Submarines: conventional/attack

  Project Sea 1000 (Attack Class) - Cancelled [Australia]

  Programme Background The competition for Australia’s SEA 1000 Future Submarine project for 12 new SSKs was won by the French shipbuilder Naval Group in 2016 ...

• OPVs

  Patrouilleurs Hauturiers OPVS (formerly Patrouilleurs Océanique) [France]

  Background Requirements The programme aims to procure new OPVs that will replace the D'Estienne d'Orves-class and the Flamant-class vessels. The OPVs are intended to be armed with ...

• Corvettes

  Multirole Corvette Programme [Romania]

  Programme Background Timeline Romania, since 2014. has seen a significant increase in its defence budget, which has allowed for more room to procure modern platforms. In ...

• Military UAS - small

  HT-100 (January 2026) [UAE]

  Background January 2024 Order In January 2024, EDGE Group announced that the UAE Ministry of Defence (MoD) had signed a deal for 200 uncrewed helicopters ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  HT-750 (January 2026) [UAE]

  Background January 2024 Order In January 2024, EDGE Group announced that the UAE Ministry of Defence (MoD) had signed a deal for 200 uncrewed helicopters ...

• 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 ...

• Submarines: conventional/attack

  Orka class (WRES) (1-4) [Netherlands]

  Background Timeline The initial plan under the Walrus Replacement Programme (WRES) was to have new vessels in service by 2025. However, this date was first ...

• Minehunters

  Al Jawf Class Replacement [Saudi Arabia]

  Background Requirements The Royal Saudi Navy urges the replacement of three Al Jawf-class minehunters. Based on the Sandown-class design, the ships entered service in the early ...

• Submarines: nuclear/ballistic missile

  SNLE 3G (1-4) [France]

  Programme Background Requirements Included in the 2019-2025 Military Plan Law is the replacement of the four Le Triomphant-class SSBNs with four third-generation SSBNs (SNLE 3G) beginning ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Military - UUVs

  A9-M

  The A9-M is a light, man-portable AUV, enabling deployment from small craft and in shallow water as a hand-launched vehicle. It is developed Exail. This AUV ...

• Military - USVs, Military - UUVs

  UMIS

  UMIS (Unmanned MCM Information System), unveiled at Euronaval 2016, uses a collaborative system of surface and underwater robots. The UMIS MCM deploys AUVs carrying the ...

• Light UGVs

  Cobra Mk2

  The Cobra Mk2 is a 5kg UGV designed for EOD/IED disposal and CBRN operations. The modular architecture of the Cobra Mk2 E supports different types of ...

• Submarines: conventional/attack

  Scorpene Class

  The Chilean Scorpene-class were procured from the consortium composed of Naval Group and Navantia in the late 1990s. The submarines, which were delivered between 2005 and ...

• UAS: Integrated systems - uncrewed

  I4 Drone

  The I4 Drone is a multi-drone, multi-environment mission system for naval drones. It has been designed and developed by Naval Group (formerly DCNS) for an ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  IT180

  The Infotron IT180 VTOL mini-UAS is designed to perform a range of missions in civilian and military sectors, such as surveillance, site protection, inspection, pollution ...

• Military - USVs

  Inspector 90

  The Inspector 90 is a multipurpose USV designed by Exail, able to be operated in autonomous mode, remoted control or onboard steering. Its performances and ...

• Military - UUVs

  K-Ster C

  K-Ster C is a mine disposal system (MDS) equipped with a tiltable warhead. It is produced by Exail and in-service with navies in both Asia ...

• Military - UUVs

  K-Ster I

  K-Ster I is a lightweight, self-propelled ROV developed for mine warfare applications. It is designed by Exail to complement their K-Ster C model.

• Minehunters

  City Class

  Twelve new Mine Countermeasures Vessels (MCMVs) are being built to replace the ageing Tripartite-class MCMVs due to retire from service in 2023. The programme is ...

• Military - UUVs

  A18-M

  The A18-M AUV is a configuration of ECA Group’s A18 AUV family, dedicated to military applications. With magnetic and acoustic signatures compliant to STANAG 1364, ...

• Light UGVs

  TSR 202

  The TSR 202 is a UGV in service with French forces and other military and police forces around the world for EOD/IED detection and neutralisation, ...

• Military UAS - small, Military UAS - tactical

  Nomad (Group 3)

  In March 2025, Sikorsky unveiled an unnamed tail-sitter small UAV referred to as the Rotor Blown Wing. In October 2025, Sikorsky unveiled the Nomad family, which includes the ...

• Ground control stations

  MAMBA

  MAMBA is an IED and CBRN countermeasures system allowing the transport, deployment and control of UGVs or UAVs in hostile areas. A light manned vehicle ...

• Air: fixed-wing flight simulators

  ECA Flight Training Device

  ECA offers a range of Flight Training Devices (FTDs), each of which is a life-size 3D replica of the cockpit. They provide flexibility of training methods and ...