• Air Warfare

  Airbus Helicopters is deepening its European reach as NATO orders climb

  16th February 2026

  Airbus has delivered more than 2,000 helicopters to nations across Europe, and continues to solidify its position at the heart of the region’s defence industrial base.

• Land Warfare

  Portugal set to join Boxer team as it progresses its army transformation

  22nd January 2026

  The Portuguese Army is undergoing an overhaul of its platforms with the latest move towards Boxer 8x8 vehicles marking a major step in reforming and modernising its brigades.

• Naval Warfare

  Future frigate programme highlights broader RNZN replacement challenge

  28th August 2026

  New Zealand’s evaluation of the Mogami and Arrowhead 140 frigate designs reflects a wider push for alliance interoperability, and points to a larger recapitalisation of the Royal New Zealand Navy fleet beyond the current programme.

• Air Warfare

  FY2027 budget request highlights shift in USAF’s future aerial refuelling priorities

  23rd April 2026

  The USAF’s Next-Generation Aerial Refuelling Programme is coming under scrutiny in the wake of the Pentagon’s FY2027 budget request, signalling a change in how the force could prioritise the modernisation of its tanker fleet.

• Land Warfare

  Fourth company looks to Texelis Celeris chassis to develop a new 4x4 vehicle

  17th March 2026

  Finnish company SCATA will use the Texelis Celeris chassis for a new vehicle similar to the Serval 4x4 which Texelis is building with KNDS France for the French Army.

• Land Warfare

  Raytheon unveils land version of the Next Generation Jammer

  20th April 2026

  The ground-based NGJ is designed to work as an “invisible shield” to protect land structures and assets. Shephard spoke with Raytheon to find out more.

• Air Warfare

  UK air focus: Drone spending trails European frontline states despite $10.46 billion valuation

  16th July 2026

  Despite the UK having the third-largest military UAV market in Europe, the country appears to be underinvesting in the capability relative to the size of its economy, particularly when compared with Baltic and eastern European states.

• Land Warfare

  Leopard MBT: Alpha beast gets a reboot (updated 2026)

  6th April 2026

  Leopard MBTs are German-made main battle tanks that have been in service since the Cold War and have undergone several upgrades to remain competitive in modern warfare. This article traces the history and development of the Leopard 1 and 2 as well as its variants, operational service and future prospects.

• Naval Warfare

  Industry agreements point to growing interest in Danish hybrid fleet concept

  26th August 2026

  Babcock’s new Danish industry agreements have reignited debate over whether Copenhagen is edging towards a hybrid fleet blending crewed frigates with autonomous systems.

• Naval Warfare

  Gulf tensions force Western navies to confront mine warfare shortfalls

  2nd April 2026

  The conversion of RFA Lyme Bay comes during signs that European navies may once again need to cooperate on Gulf mine clearance operations.

• Air Warfare

  Edge and Indra to form manufacturing entity to meet European loitering munition demand

  15th January 2026

  Once approved by shareholders, the newly established manufacturing company will be developed in Spain and will look to address the burgeoning demand for loitering munitions from Spain and the rest of Europe.

• Air Warfare

  Lockheed assesses possible engine options for Vectis CCA development

  24th November 2025

  The Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) was unveiled in September, with Lockheed pursing an accelerated roadmap to first flight in 2027.

• Naval Warfare

  Thinning Arctic ice reveals naval capability gaps and new opportunities

  23rd April 2026

  As sea ice extent hits a record low and geopolitical tensions increase in the High North, navies are contending to adopt the technologies needed to operate beneath an increasingly unpredictable Arctic Ocean.

• Naval Warfare

  US weighs offshore warship production due to industrial limits

  12th June 2026

  A Pentagon push to procure warships from Japanese and South Korean shipyards could reshape allied naval industrial strategy, but critics warn the approach risks hollowing out the domestic base Washington is seeking to restore.

• Air Warfare

  DSEI 2025: Ukrainian drone aimed at British Army Watchkeeper replacement programme

  9th September 2025

  Skyeton Prevail Solutions, a Ukrainian and British JV, has designed its Raybird UAV to meet the needs of defence, civilian and industrial industries.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Submarines: conventional/attack

  Next Generation Submarines [Japan]

  Programme Background Requirements Japan typically only keeps submarines in service for around 20 years, a relatively short time for modern warships. The Next Generation Submarine is, ...

• Military helicopters - scout/light attack

  Light Combat Helicopter (India - Army)

  Programme Background Requirement India's requirement for light attack helicopters capable of operating at high altitudes became apparent during the 1999 Kargil War. Originally planned to reach ...

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

  NASAMS Lease to Denmark [Norway]

  Background As part of an urgent effort to reestablish a GBAD capability for Denmark in July 2025, it was announced that Norway would lease Denmark ...

• Military UAS - small

  Z1 [US Army]

  Methodology PGO The programme has been assigned a PGO of 75%, indicating that it is likely a contract will be awarded. A factor contributing to ...

• Main battle tanks

  Leopard 2A4 [Czech Republic]

  Programme Background  The Czech Republic currently operates a small fleet of T-72s, which, while undergoing upgrades and life extension programmes, are increasingly obsolete. In October ...

• Self-propelled rocket launchers

  K239 Chunmoo [Norway]

  Programme Background Norway previously operated a fleet of 12 M270 MLRS, which were put into storage in 2005 before being donated to Ukraine, via the ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  A400M-Forecast [Indonesia]

  Programme Background The TNI-AU currently relies on 17 Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules and L-100-30 aircraft, including five C-130Hs transferred from Australia. Indonesian Air Force (TNI-AU) is ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Akinci [UAE]

  Background 120 Baykar UAVs In September 2022, the Middle East Eye (MEE) reported that the UAE had been engaged in lengthy discussions since March 2022 ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-35A add-on [Belgium]

  Background Order context In order to fulfil pressing operational requirements, at the end of April 2025 Belgian leadership announced a new procurement of F-35A fighters; officials emphasised ...

• ISR/special mission

  E-6 TACAMO Recapitalisation Programme (E-130J) [USN]

  Programme Background The E-6 Take Charge and Move Out (TACAMO) Recapitalisation Programme (E-XX) provides for air vehicle replacement and mission systems modernization to augment and eventually ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Buque de Acción Marítima - (7-8) [Spain]

  In May 2023, multiple Spanish media outlets reported that the Spanish Navy began the design studies for two new Buques de Acción Marítima (BAM) with ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Buque de Acción Marítima - (7-8) [Spain]

  In May 2023, multiple Spanish media outlets reported that the Spanish Navy began the design studies for two new Buques de Acción Marítima (BAM) with ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Fast Attack Vessel 250 (1-10) [Egypt]

  At NAVDEX 2023, Shephard understood that DIV M.E.S. and NVL are discussing with Egypt to supply the Egyptian Navy with up to ten FAV 250). ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Fast Attack Vessel 250 (1-10) [Egypt]

  At NAVDEX 2023, Shephard understood that DIV M.E.S. and NVL are discussing with Egypt to supply the Egyptian Navy with up to ten FAV 250). ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  A400M [Indonesia]

  Programme Background The TNI-AU currently relies on 17 Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules and L-100-30 aircraft, including five C-130Hs transferred from Australia. Indonesian Air Force (TNI-AU) is ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Data links

  IRB

  The Impact Rugged Baseband Kits (IRBs) are standalone or stackable ruggedised communications terminals enabling rapid configuration and deployment options across fixed and mobile platforms. The ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  IPS-250X

  The IPS-250X is an inline network encryptor that creates secure IP connections with US warfighters and government agencies, without the deployment limitations, logistics and lifecycle ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  LiteHUD

  BAE Systems' LiteHUD is a low-profile head-up display compatible with various aircraft ranging from conventional turboprops to next-generation fighter jets. 

• UAS: communication systems

  Black ICE Medium

  A member of Inmarsat's Black ICE family of SDR modems, Black ICE Medium provides secure BLoS communications for uncrewed and crewed aerial platforms. Notably, it is ...

• UAS: communication systems

  ORION X630

  The ORION X630 is a very small form-factor, two-channel MIMO tactical radio ideally suited for Vertical Height Antennas (VHA), uncrewed platforms, or any other application ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  R&S M3xR

  The R&S; M3xR family of radios is a generation of digital radios that can be used in mobile (manpack and vehicular form factor), stationary/shipborne (19in ...

• Data links

  Voyager

  The Klas Telecom Voyager system of systems is a modular scalable baseband product designed to meet the requirements of military communicators. It consists of a ...

• Land: battle management systems

  RPCS

  The Remote Payload Control Station (RPCS) is a third-level remote video terminal. It is designed for receiving real-time images directly from unmanned platforms (UAV, USV, ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  Flat Panel Manpack SATCOM

  Produced by ST Engineering, the Flat Panel Manpack SATCOM terminal provides Ku-band communications in a compact form factor. 

• UAS: Integrated systems - uncrewed

  MILOR

  The Miniature Integrated eLORAN Receiver (MILOR) is claimed to offer the smallest eLORAN location, timing and tracking solution available. Utilising the eLORAN system to provide ...

• Core systems: cameras and IR detectors

  Ophir IR optics optimised for 10-12µm LWIR detectors

  Ophir, addressing the new market shift in the direction of 10-12μm detectors, is offering a wide collection of lenses, optimised to meet the needs of ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Harris Airborne Multi-Channel Radio (HAMR)

  The Harris Airborne Multichannel Radio (HAMR) is a two-channel wideband radio designed to deliver voice, high-speed IP-networked data and full-motion video. It uses VHF/UHF networks ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  AN/ARC-232

  The AN/ARC-232(V) Starblazer is a single-channel radio that supports fixed- and rotary-wing applications. Designed by Raytheon, it is available in panel and remote mount variants.

• Air: Electronic Attack - Pod, Air: chaff/flare/decoy systems

  BOH

  Saab's BOH is a countermeasures self-protection pod for use on any fixed wing aircraft. BOH is an implementation of the Saab BOL countermeasures dispenser system ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  NEXIUM RuggSAT

  Thales' NEXIUM RuggSAT is a man-portable, on-the-pause SATCOM terminal that offers X- and Ka-band communications in a small form factor.