• 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.

• Land Warfare

  How Patria TREMOS redefines battlefield mobility

  17th November 2025

  The war in Ukraine has made it clear: the battlefield waits for no one. Military operations now take place in fast-paced environments, and speed is not just about the fight itself – it is about the entire ecosystem of warfare.

• Land Warfare

  Team LionStrike fleshes out UK Land Mobility Programme bid

  13th May 2026

  At an industry press day this week, Shephard's Christopher Foss looked more closely at Team LionStrike's line-up.

• Air Warfare

  Boeing prepared to go fast on CxR uncrewed tiltrotor concept

  3rd November 2025

  The Collaborative Transformational Rotorcraft is designed with the potential to meet a range of mission requirements, from reconnaissance, surveillance and target acquisition to contested logistics.

• Land Warfare

  Textron unveils a smaller, low-cost variant of the Ripsaw family of UGVs

  29th April 2026

  Ripsaw M1 has been designed to support the US Marine Corps’ littoral missions by carrying diverse types of payloads and performing multiple missions. Shephard spoke with Textron to find out more.

• Land Warfare

  EuroTrophy systems contracted for Leopard 2A8 tank buyers as demand rises

  20th January 2026

  Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, the original designer and manufacturer of the system, states that more than 1,800 have been sold and, while not all customers are known, more than 1,000 of these have been bought by the US and Israel.

• Land Warfare

  Next-generation Franco-German tank under threat as France opts for interim solution

  14th April 2026

  The French Army’s upgraded Leclerc main battle tank is expected to begin retiring before the end of the 2030s and the government is looking to adopt an interim solution ahead of a next-generation tank.

• Naval Warfare

  First Canadian River-class destroyer to have its keel laid in June

  12th May 2026

  Currently at the block fabrication and construction stage, the HMCS Fraser’s keel-laying ceremony is scheduled to take place next month as a step towards increasing the Royal Canadian Navy's anti-submarine and air defence capabilities.

• Land Warfare

  Fischer KEYSTONE™ Hub: Enabling Next-Gen Command and Control

  6th October 2025

  KEYSTONE delivers modular soldier connectivity for NGC2 – customizable with Fischer Connectors’ online configurator.

• Naval Warfare

  What the rise of interoperability between Western allies means for defence procurement

  16th March 2026

  Major naval initiatives including the European Patrol Corvette programmes and Norway’s UK partnership-focused purchase of Type 26 frigates point to the growing interest in the advantages of commonality across allied navies.

• Land Warfare

  Is the RCH 155 self-propelled wheeled howitzer for the British Army finally on the way?

  30th April 2026

  The Remote-Controlled Howitzer 155mm self-propelled gun is making strong progress, with contracts being placed and production capacity being boosted for the base Boxer vehicle.

• Air Warfare

  FIA 2026: Malloy eyes NATO expansion and Australia for T-150 as it scales up technology

  23rd July 2026

  BAE Systems’ Malloy Aeronautics is seeking to expand the international customer base for its T-150 heavy-lift UAV, with NATO users beginning to adopt the platform and Australia identified as a key prospective market.

• Land Warfare

  Bulgaria to receive first Strykers in February as part of force equipment refresh

  15th January 2026

  The delivery of the Stryker infantry fighting vehicles will form one piece of the country’s effort to re-equip its forces, which includes F-16 fighter jets and new air defence systems.

• Land Warfare

  US Army moves towards calls for bids for medium UGV as competitors warm up

  26th March 2026

  The US Army’s Medium Modular Equipment Transport Trailer (M-METT) programme is planned to provide a platform between Increment II of Small Multipurpose Equipment Transport and the Palletized Load System.

• Land Warfare

  DroneShield signs agreements and US contract in the face of surging demand

  30th June 2026

  DroneShield has been at the forefront of CUAS capability despite being founded only 12 years ago. The company’s early move into the counter-drone arena has put it on the crest of the rapidly expanding technology field.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - micro, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Multidomian Micro Drones [USSOCOM]

  Background Special Notice On 14 November 2024, a Special Notice was released that informed the industry that the US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) was looking for ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Massed Modular Aircraft (MMA) [USAF]

  Background MQ-9A Reaper Since 2007, the USAF has operated General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) MQ-9 Reaper, with the first order being placed in 2002. Over ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - small

  Future Tactical UAS (FTUAS) (Increment 2) [US Army]

  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 intended to ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Multipurpose Modular Patrol Vessels (MMPV) (3-4) [Bulgaria]

  The Bulgarian Navy is procuring two multi-functional modular patrol vessels to replace four ageing Soviet-made vessels. In 2020, NVL Group was awarded the contract for the ...

• UAS: communication systems

  UAS: communication systems | MQ-9 Next [USAF]

  In May 2026, requirements were outlined for the USAF’s medium- to long-term replacement for the General Atomics (GA-ASI) MQ-9 Reaper, which it acquired in large ...

• UAS: flight control systems

  UAS: flight control systems | MQ-9 Next [USAF]

  In May 2026, requirements were outlined for the USAF’s medium- to long-term replacement for the General Atomics (GA-ASI) MQ-9 Reaper, which it acquired in large ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | European Patrol Corvette (EPC)/Buques de Protección Marítima (BPM) [Spain]

  The European Patrol Corvette (EPC) is being developed by a joint venture between Italy's Fincantieri, France's Naval Group (named Narviris), and Spain's Navantia. The corvette ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | European Patrol Corvette (EPC)/Buques de Protección Marítima (BPM) [Spain]

  The European Patrol Corvette (EPC) is being developed by a joint venture between Italy's Fincantieri, France's Naval Group (named Narviris), and Spain's Navantia. The corvette ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | European Patrol Corvette (EPC) [France]

  The European Patrol Corvette (EPC) is being developed by a joint venture between Italy's Fincantieri and France's Naval Group (named Narviris) and Spain's Navantia. The corvette ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | European Patrol Corvette (EPC) [France]

  The European Patrol Corvette (EPC) is being developed by a joint venture between Italy's Fincantieri and France's Naval Group (named Narviris) and Spain's Navantia. The corvette ...

• UAS: communication systems

  UAS: communication systems | Massed Modular Aircraft (MMA) [USAF]

  In May and July 2026, requirements were outlined for the USAF’s Massed Modular Aircraft (MMA), which appears to be the medium- and long-term replacement for the ...

• UAS: flight control systems

  UAS: flight control systems | Massed Modular Aircraft (MMA) [USAF]

  In May and July 2026, requirements were outlined for the USAF’s Massed Modular Aircraft (MMA), which appears to be the medium- and long-term replacement for the ...

• Corvettes

  Multipurpose Modular Patrol Vessels (MMPV) (3-4) [Bulgaria]

  Programme Background Timeline The Bulgarian Navy is procuring two multi-functional modular patrol vessels to replace four ageing Soviet-made vessels (see separate entry). German-based shipbuilder NVL ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | European Patrol Corvette (EPC) [Italy]

  The European Patrol Corvette (EPC) is being developed by a joint venture between Italy's Fincantieri, France's Naval Group (named Naviris), and Spain's Navantia. The patrol-type vessel ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | European Patrol Corvette (EPC) [Spain]

  The European Patrol Corvette (EPC) is being developed by a joint venture between Italy's Fincantieri and France's Naval Group (named Narviris) and Spain's Navantia. The corvette ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Air: Integrated cockpit systems, Land: Radio and SATCOM

  FlexLink

  FlexLink Adaptive Connectivity Solution is a developmental communications system that emphasises Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) design. Designed by Collins Aerospace, it can create cross-domain networks operating in ...

• Loitering munitions

  Damocles

  Unveiled in October 2025, the Damocles launched effect (LE) is a rotary-wing coaxial UAV designed to operate in peer warfare environments. Its primary role is as ...

• Loitering munitions

  S10s

  The S10s is a low-cost loitering munition from Pablo Air. The system is designed to operate as the strike platform, with the company's R10 operating alongside ...

• Data links

  FireNet

  FireNet is a tactical data link radio system that provides Link 16 capability in a small form factor. Produced by BAE Systems, it is offered in ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing

  Valiant

  The Vailent is a fixed-wing, VTOL-capable UAV from Griffon Aerospace. It has a modular open systems approach (MOSA), and various payloads can be fitted to ...

• EO/IR systems

  STAG8–MLD

  The STAG8-MLD is a stabilised gimbal system designed for ISTAR missions. Part of the STAG family, it features a Modular Open System Architecture (MOSA) for ...

• Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - small

  VAPOR CLE

  Unveiled at AUSA 2025, the VAPOR Combat Long Endurance (CLE) is the newest version of AeroVironment's (AV) rotary-wing VAPOR offerings. Compared to the older versions, VAPOR CLE ...

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

  Gray Eagle 25M

  The Gray Eagle 25M (GE-25M) is a modernised variant of the Gray Eagle MALE fixed-wing UAV. The GE-25M features a Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA), advanced ...

• Loitering munitions

  Mayhem 10

  Introduced at AAAA 2026, the Mayhem 10 is, according to AeroVironment (AV), an autonomous, multi-role launched effect designed to deliver coordinated non-kinetic and kinetic effects. Deployable from air, ...

• Loitering munitions

  Switchblade 400

  At AUSA 2025, AeroVironment (AV) unveiled the Switchblade 400, a rocket-launched, medium-range, man-portable loitering munition. AV states the aircrat has been designed to defeat tanks and heavy ...

• Air: Electronic Attack - Jamming

  AN/ALQ-214 IDECM RFCM

  The ALQ-214 Integrated Defensive Electronic Countermeasures RF Countermeasures (IDECM RFCM) subsystem comprises an onboard technique generator developed by Harris integrated with an offboard fibre-optic towed ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - small

  ThunderB-NG VTOL

  The ThunderB-Next Generation VTOL, or ThunderB-NG VTOL, is a vertical take-off and landing capable version of the ThunderB. The fixed-wing UAV features a fully autonomous flight control system ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  Aerosonde Mk 4.8 HQ FTUAS

  From the Texton family of Aerosonde UAS, the Aerosonde Mk 4.8 Hybrid Quad (HQ) FTUAS is a tactical drone purpose-built to meet the US Army's Future Vertical Lift ...

• Military UAS - MALE, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  MQ-72C Lakota Connector

  The MQ-72C Lakota Connector is an uncrewed version of Airbus' UH-72B, primarily designed to provide contested logistics in austere expeditionary environments. Airbus has partnered with L3Harris, Shield AI, ...

• Military - USVs

  Variant 7

  The Variant 7 is a 7.8m autonomous unmanned surface vessel (USV) developed by Blue Ops, the maritime business unit of Red Cat Holdings.