• Air Warfare

  Singapore Airshow 2024: Singapore’s Apache upgrade among plans to renew RSAF capabilities

  20th February 2024

  Singapore’s air force chief has confirmed plans to extend the life of the RSAF’s Apaches to beyond 2030, as well as revealing the next steps for future purchases of F-35s, replacements for its UAV fleet and updates to its ground-based air defence systems.

• Digital Battlespace

  DSEI 2023: OneWeb launches soldier-portable terminal for frontline tactical SATCOM

  11th September 2023

  Global Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite communications network company, OneWeb, is unveiling a new soldier-portable, lightweight user terminal (UT) which is designed to be carried in a backpack for operations close to the tactical edge.

• Air Warfare

  Bayraktar TB3 carrier-based UAS flies for 32 hours

  21st December 2023

  Baykar’s Bayraktar TB3 has demonstrated its endurance with a 32-hour flight test, covering 5700km, underscoring the US potential utility in maritime surveillance and combat operations,

• Naval Warfare

  Are ‘kamikaze’ USVs a game changer in naval warfare?

  20th March 2024

  The use of uncrewed surface vehicles (USVs) by Ukraine in strike operations against the Russian Navy in the Black Sea has been extremely successful. But it is likely that the long-term impact could be limited.

• Digital Battlespace

  Indian military drafts wish list for space technologies to counter Chinese developments

  9th February 2024

  India has ambitious plans to develop its ISR capabilities in space but has a fight on its hands if it wants to keep in touch with competing nations.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Dubai Airshow 2023: Chinese AR-2000 large ship-borne UAV makes debut

  16th November 2023

  CATIC have displayed its new AR-2000 drone at Dubai Airshow 2023, emphasising ship-based capabilities with PLA already purchasing.

• Digital Battlespace

  Orbiting the Future: How New Satellite Technologies are Revolutionising Global Communications

  26th September 2023

  With the satellite industry at a pivotal juncture, Intelsat is investing in advanced technologies like 5G and optical communications, striving to enhance worldwide connectivity and address emerging governmental needs.

• Land Warfare

  US Army seeks industry input to progress with the CPI2 programme

  17th November 2023

  The service issued a request for white papers to demonstrate interest in solutions that meet CPI2’s power and communication requirements.

• Digital Battlespace

  DSEI 2023: OneWeb plans for next-generation satellites as constellation nears global coverage

  11th September 2023

  Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite communications company OneWeb will provide a global system from early next year with all 634 first-generation satellites in orbit and plans are under way to put next-generation satellites into space in three or four years’ time.

• Digital Battlespace

  NATO adopts high-data-rate waveform for tactical communications

  23rd November 2023

  NATO member countries can now access to the ESSOR HDR Base Waveform which can offer secure and high-speed tactical communications.

• Digital Battlespace

  Collins Aerospace awarded contract for BLoS satellite communications pod

  11th August 2023

  Collins Aerospace has been awarded a $36 million contract to develop and demonstrate a platform-agnostic BLoS satellite communications pod for the USAF Research Laboratory (USAFRL).

• Air Warfare

  Bombardier delivers seventh Global 6000 for Battlefield Airborne Communications Node programme

  26th October 2023

  BACN aircraft serve as high-altitude communications gateways, relaying or bridging voice and data between air and surface forces, surmounting traditional obstacles such as mountains, rough terrain or distance.

• Land Warfare

  The HF Renaissance – The Evolving Electronic Warfare Threats and the Need for Resilient Waveforms (Studio)

  14th September 2023

  Amid modern warfare’s complexity and electronic warfare threats, NATO and its allies are balancing legacy systems with new technologies. With the importance of resilient waveforms underscored, High Frequency (HF) technology has emerged as a robust solution, leading to an “HF renaissance”.

• Digital Battlespace

  DSEI 2023: First Azalea satellite cluster set for launch in early 2025

  14th September 2023

  The first four multi-sensor Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites forming the first cluster of Azalea will be launched in early 2025 as part of a BAE Systems effort to demonstrate capability to the UK government and other potential customers.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Ocius expands Bluebottle USV capabilities

  10th November 2023

  A growing number of uncrewed systems have been on show at Sydney's Indo-Pacific Maritime exhibition with a select few currently being trialled to see if they can enhance the Royal Australian Navy's surveillance levels.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Loitering munitions

  Medium-Range Loitering Munition with LEO Satellite Data Link [South Korea]

  Background New Project In April 2025, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) and the Agency for Defense Development (ADD) announced a new project titled “Development of Medium-Range ...

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

  Dominator XP [Thailand]

  Programme Background Purchase As reported by Shephard, in September 2023, the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) inducted three Dominator XPs. The RTAF purchased the trio ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  CH-47F Chinook (Singapore)

  Programme Background In July 2020, photos have emerged on the internet of the first Boeing CH-47F Chinook destined for the Republic of Singapore Air Force ...

• Loitering munitions

  Loitering Munitions (Special Mission Brigade) [South Korea]

  Programme Background Drone Ambition As reported by Shephard, South Korea has ambitions to possess a large arsenal of drones. In May 2024, the presidential office ...

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

  Anka-S (Second Batch) [Turkey]

  Programme Background First Batch Based on comments by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) and Turkish media in 2018, Shephard believes that Türkiye acquired 26 Anka-S drones ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

  New Water Jet Fast Attack Craft (NWJFAC) (1-31) [India]

  Programme Background Requirements The Indian Navy is seeking replacements for a large proportion of its 19 46-49m-long waterjet-powered fast attack craft, several of which are approaching ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Portugal VTLB

  Programme Background The Portuguese Army planned to allocate funds for the procurement of 167 VTLBs during the Military Programming Law running from 2015 until 2026. ...

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

  Akinci [Turkey]

  Programme Background Unveiling & Testing Unveiled at TEKOFEST Istanbul Aviation, Space and Technology Festival in September 2019, the Akinci completed its first flight in December 2019. In June 2021, ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - HALE

  RQ-4 Global Hawk (Japan)

  Programme Background Selection & Contract AwardIn 2015, Northrop Grumman's RQ-4 Global Hawk UAS and E-2D Advanced Hawkeye airborne early warning aircraft were selected by Japan to ...

• Submarines: conventional, attack

  Submarines Procurement (1-2) [Greece]

  Programme Background Requirements As of 2025, the Hellenic Navy (HN) submarine force consists of four Type 214, four Type 209/1200 and two Type 209/1100. With ...

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

  MQ-9B SkyGuardian [Belgium]

  Programme Background FMS Contract On 26 March 2019, the US State Department announced that it had approved a possible FMS of four MQ-9B SkyGuardians for an estimated ...

• Military UAS - small

  Heavy Lift Capability (UASHLC) [UK]

  Programme Background Requirement & Objective The RN identified a requirement to acquire an RPAS to transport cargo and supplies between ships and personnel. When mature, it ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  Greenerwave LEO/GEO Terminal

  Greenerweave's LEO/GEO Terminal is a Ku-band SATCOM solution which benefits from the manufacturer's proprietary technology to reduce manufacturing costs and power requirements. Unveiled in March ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  MONDO Satellite Terminal

  The Multi Orbit Network, Dual Operation (MONDO) Satellite Terminal is a developmental SATCOM solution that provides continuous communication links on GEO, LEO and MEO networks. ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  Revolution 450mp

  Introduced in 2023, the 450mp is a small form factor SATCOM modem which supports multiple orbits and waveforms. Notably, the man-portable modem supports the manufacturer's Evolution ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  FoldSat LEo Ku OW Mil

  The FoldSat LEo Ku OW Mil is a ruggedised SATCOM terminal developed by OneWeb. Launched in September 2023, it provides person-portable communications with a foldable ...

• Naval: Radio and SATCOM

  King Cobra

  The Fleet 394 'King Cobra' is a 2m-class Naval SATCOM terminal designed by EM Solutions. It provides simultaneous Ka-Band and X-Band coverage. According to the manufacturer, it ...

• Towed guns

  105mm LEO

  Denel Land Systems began development of the 105mm Light Experimental Ordnance (LEO) in 1995 to meet a South African Army technical requirement for a 105mm ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  Osprey u8 HGL

  Launched in 2023, Kymeta Osprey u8 HGL is a hybrid Geostationary/Low-Earth Orbit terminal that provides satellite communications on the move. Notably, it can be mounted ...

• EO/IR systems

  LEO-II

  The LEO-II airborne observation system was a COTS, gyro-stabilised platform containing a multi-sensor payload and a laser pointer, which is available simultaneously in the turret. ...

• Space: radar systems

  TecSAR

  TecSAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar Technonology Demonstrator) is designed for LEO IMINT and carries an X-band radar payload with multi-beam electronic steering. The system is also ...

• EO/IR systems

  LEO-III

  The LEO-III, or LEO-III HD, was an airborne observation system with HD sensors and video outputs. It was a COTS, gyro-stabilised platform containing a multi-sensor HD ...

• Air: mission management systems

  LEO-III-HD

  The LEO-III-HD is an airborne observation system with HD sensors and video outputs. It is a COTS, gyro-stabilised platform containing a multi-sensor HD payload that ...

• Core systems: cameras and IR detectors

  Leo MW

  Leo MW is a compact detector designed for optimised SWaP mediumwave IR (3-5µm) applications. It features a digital output camera link.

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  Multi-Orbit Tactical Terminal

  Intelsat Multi-Orbit Tactical Terminal (MOTT) is a ruggedised terminal with a low-profile design. The vehicle-mountable terminal features an electronically steered array antenna, edge computing capabilities ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Vireo

  Produced by CesiumAstro, Vireo is a Ka-band, multi-beam payload communication system designed for commercial and military applications. The system enables uplink and downlink operations from ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  RESA L Ka

  Requtech's RESA L Ka is an integrated, electronically scanned array antenna terminal for Ka-Band LEO, MEO or GEO constellations for on-the-move and on-the-pause applications. Unveiled ...