• Special Operations

  SOFIC 2018: SOCOM looks to next gen communications

  26th May 2018

  The US Special Operations Command’s (USSOCOM’s) Program Executive Office for Command and Control, Communications and Computers (C4) has confirmed to Shephard it is still interested …

• Special Operations

  USSOCOM announces ISOF Range Day

  14th June 2018

  United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) has outlined plans to hold an International Special Operations Forces (ISOF) Range Day in January 2019. The event, which was …

• Military Logistics

  AECOM receives J-Tech II contract from USAF

  24th May 2018

  AECOM’s subsidiaryJT4 has received a 15-year contract from the US Air Force (USAF) for Joint Range Technical Services (J-Tech II), the company announced on 23 …

• Digital Battlespace

  EW Europe 2018: Patria revving up EW capabilities

  7th June 2018

  Finnish company Patria is probably best known for its work making highly-protected armoured vehicles, but it also has another lesser known specialisation in its repertoire; …

• Land Warfare

  JGSDF unveils new NBC decontaminating set

  12th June 2018

  The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) unveiled a new decontaminating set at Camp Oomiya on 27 May, the home base for the Central Nuclear Biological …

• Land Warfare

  Eurosatory 2018: Fire control system developed for 60mm mortars

  13th June 2018

  Austrian-based Hirtenberger Defence Systems has unveiled a new digital fire control system (FCS) optimised for 60mm commando mortars at Eurosatory this year. The Grid Aiming …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  General Dynamics completes SAT of Knifefish UUV

  7th June 2018

  General Dynamics Mission Systems has completed all stages of formal sea acceptance testing (SAT) of the US Navy's Knifefish surface mine countermeasure (MCM) UUV system, …

• Land Warfare

  Soviet-era BMP-1 upgrade revealed

  6th June 2018

  A prototype of the upgraded Soviet-era BMP-1 IFV was displayed in public for the first time at HEMUS 2018 defence exhibition in Sofia, Bulgaria. Promoted …

• Military Logistics

  US Army looks to fill another boot gap

  12th June 2018

  In the wake of the identification of several ‘boot gaps’ in both US Army and US Marine Corps combat environments, as well as the ongoing …

• Digital Battlespace

  Japan’s AWACS fleet to receive upgrades

  23rd May 2018

  The US Air Force (USAF) Life Cycle Management Center has awarded a $208 million contract to Boeing to upgrade the Japan Air Self Defense Force’s …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  GA-ASI, P&W carry out MQ-25 engine test

  5th June 2018

  General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI)  has carried out a successful powered run of the Pratt & Whitney (P&W;) PW815 engine that will power its proposed …

• Training

  ITEC 2018: FlightSafety wins prestigious USN TH-57 contract

  18th May 2018

  FlightSafety Services Corporation has been awarded the US Navy’s TH-57 Contracted Instructional Service (CIS) programme for the TH-57 Sea Ranger training helicopter by the Orlando-based …

• Military Logistics

  Asia-Pacific is perfect testbed for USN’s EFP programme

  16th May 2018

  The USN is using the Pacific region to exploit the capabilities of the Spearhead-class Expeditionary Fast Transport (EFP) and to possibly develop a new concept …

• Digital Battlespace

  Space clean-up efforts intensify

  27th April 2018

  A wide range of experimental technologies and regulations aimed at tackling the increasing threat posed to critical satellites by thousands of pieces of debris orbiting …

• Land Warfare

  Eurosatory 2018: Franco-German industry unveils new Euro tank

  11th June 2018

  French and German industry have unexpectedly unveiled a new Euro Main Battle Tank (EMBT) concept at Eurosatory, their first attempt at combining national technologies to …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

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

  Long-Endurance UAV [US AFRICOM]

  Programme Background Ageing MQ-9A Reapers In November 2022, Shephard reported that GA-ASI would continue supporting contractor SMX with its MQ-9A after winning a $2.3 billion task ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  HH-60W - Combat Rescue Helicopter (CRH)

  According to the FY2021 Base funding, the HH-60W helicopter unit cost is $43.2 million. The HH-60W will be capable of employment day or night, in ...

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

  Bayraktar TB2 [Pakistan]

  Programme Background Requirement Following a 2019 skirmish with India, Pakistan placed newfound importance on EW and ISR, primarily due to the significant advantage gained during that ...

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

  Long-Range Drones [Norway]

  Background Andøya Ambition On 3 April 2023, the Norwegian MoD released a statement confirming its plans for Andøya, the northernmost island in its Vesterålen archipelago. In addition to ...

• 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 - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  MQ-9B SkyGuardian [Denmark]

  Programme Background Arctic Capability Package In February 2021, Denmark published the Arctic Capability package, a commitment to invest in new technologies, particularly uncrewed systems, to improve ...

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

  V-Bat 128 [Canada]

  Programme Background Requirement Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC) was seeking a platform for the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) that would significantly expand its surveillance range ...

• ISR/special mission

  ISTAR Aircraft (South Korea)

  Programme Background South Korean Defense Acquisition Program Administration stated that Seoul is planning to procure additional aircraft to minimize potential surveillance gaps amid growing security ...

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

  M Solar-X [Thailand]

  Programme Background Roadmap In February 2024, the RTAF unveiled its White Paper 2024. Incorporating lessons from the Russo-Ukrainian War, the Israel-Hamas War, and other events ...

• Loitering munitions

  Long Range One-way Platforms [US]

  Solicitation In October 2024, the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) released a solicitation for long-range, one-way platforms. The DIU noted recent conflicts highlighted the asymmetric impact of low-cost, ...

• OPVs

  Next-Generation Offshore Patrol Vessels (1-12) [Japan]

  Programme Background Requirements The primary role of the OPVs will be ISR and patrol. The armament will be limited. One of the key features is a reduced ...

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

  Seeker 400 - First Batch (UAE)

  Programme Background The UAE has a long history of transactions with Denel Dynamics. The country has been purchasing various Seeker systems from as far back ...

• Military helicopters - maritime

  NH90 NFH-Italy

  Programme Background  The Italian Navy has taken delivery of its first NH90 NFH helicopter in Full Operational Capability (or Step B) configuration in November 2013. ...

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

  CH-4 (First Batch) [Pakistan]

  Programme Background First Batch According to the Pakistan Exim Trade Info website, five aircraft were delivered to the country on 15 January 2021. According to a ...

• 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 ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

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

  Caihong

  The Caihong (Rainbow), also known as the Cai Hong or CH, is a solar-powered HALE platform designed for near-space flight. It is suitable for military ...

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

  Morning Star

  Aviation Industry Corporation of China’s Morning Star is a quasi-satellite, near-space, solar-powered platform. It is designed for both military and civilian applications, including reconnaissance, navigation ...

• FL-3

  The FL-3 is a planned solar-powered, long-endurance, near-space platform with an 85,300ft ceiling. Speculated future uses include communication, ground observation, meteorological monitoring and operation as ...

• ISR/special mission, Maritime patrol

  A320neo M3A

  Currently under development by Airbus, the A320 M3A is the Maritime Patrol version of the civilian A320neo aircraft. The aircraft can be fitted with a wide ...

• Space: radar systems

  SARah

  SARah is the planned follow-on system for the SAR-Lupe radar satellite constellation operated by the German Armed Forces. In 2013, it was announced that OHB ...

• Major networking projects

  EAC

  The NATO Communications and Information Agency awarded ACTIA Sodielec a contract in June 2013 to provide NATO with an Extended Advanced SATCOM Network Monitoring and ...

• Space: radar systems

  ESA Sentinel-1

  Sentinel-1 is a planned constellation of four satellites with two already in orbit and two on order. They carry a payload of a C-band SAR ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  Vocality Pro Series

  The Pro Series includes the V25, V50, V150 and V20. These are designed to be used in a central communications hub or as part of ...

• Air: COMINT and ELINT systems

  FlyingFish Maritime

  The FlyingFish Maritime SIGINT system is one of several derivatives of the FlyingFish Airborne Satellite Monitoring System developed by Horizon Technologies. Designed to be mounted ...

• Air: COMINT and ELINT systems

  FlyingFish

  FlyingFish is an Airborne Satellite Monitoring System designed to detect and intercept SATCOM from airborne ISR platforms. As a passive system, it cannot be detected ...

• Guided munitions

  GP155B

  The GP155B is a 155mm artillery round developed by Norinco. The GP155B integrates satellite-based guidance systems that are compatible with both the Chinese Beidou Navigation ...

• Data links

  Space CDL

  The Space Common Data Link (CDL) system provides a wideband data link capability adaptable to a variety of space-based applications. It consists of separate transmitter ...

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

  ULTRA

  The Unmanned Long-endurance Tactical Reconnaissance Aircraft (ULTRA) is a fixed-wing drone from DZYNE Technologies.  It is described as a long-endurance, GPS-harded intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance platform with full ...

• Naval: COMINT and ELINT systems

  FlyingFish Naval

  The FlyingFish Naval SIGINT system is one of several derivatives of the FlyingFish Airborne Satellite Monitoring System (ASMS) developed by Horizon Technologies. Whereas the original ...

• Data links

  MiMMC

  Microsat Man-Packable Mission Command (MiMMC) is a satellite-based BLoS communications system providing the ability to extend mission command applications including voice, video and data transfer ...