• Defence Notes

  ADECS 2018: Show highlights (video)

  31st January 2018

  Simon Williams speaks with Shephard about ADECS 2018 show highlights and looking forward to next year's event.

• Military Logistics

  RAF opens new Atlas aircraft hangar

  7th February 2018

  The Royal Air Force (RAF) has opened a new hangar for its A400M Atlas aircraft at RAF Brize Norton, the UK Ministry of Defence announced …

• Digital Battlespace

  West 2018: The data centre in a briefcase

  14th February 2018

  Mercury Systems - Trusted Mission Systems Division (formerly Themis Computer), working in conjunction with Acumentrics, has developed what they characterise as ‘the autonomous data centre …

• Naval Warfare

  Singapore Airshow 2018: Maritime patrol paramount in Asia-Pacific

  7th February 2018

  With procurement opportunities for maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) ongoing in the region companies present at the Singapore Airshow jockeyed to shine the spotlight on their …

• Defence Notes

  US power not in decline across Asia-Pacific: Dunford

  6th February 2018

  US commitment to the Asia-Pacific remains unwavering even though rivals falsely depict its influence as waning, the country's top general said on 6 February. The …

• Military Logistics

  USMC’s P-19R achieves IOC

  9th February 2018

  The US Marine Corps’ (USMC) P-19 Replacement (P-19R) Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting vehicle programme has achieved initial operating capability (IOC), Oshkosh Defense announced on 6 …

• Digital Battlespace

  Singapore Airshow 2018: Growler likely a no-show after Red Flag fire

  2nd February 2018

  The Royal Australian Air Force’s (RAAF) EA-18G Growler electronic warfare aircraft looks to have been withdrawn from the static display line-up at the Singapore Airshow, …

• Defence Helicopter

  The bell tolls for Philippine helicopter deal

  14th February 2018

  Bringing to an end one of the Philippines’ shortest ever military deals, the government has formally cancelled its contract for 16 Bell 412EPI helicopters for …

• Naval Warfare

  Naval Group floats Normandie frigate

  6th February 2018

  Naval Group has floated the French Navy’s future FREMM multi-mission frigate, Normandie, at its Lorient site, the company announced on 1 February. The launch of …

• Land Warfare

  US Army orders eighth JLTV batch

  7th February 2018

  Oshkosh Defense has received a $106 million order from the US Army to supply 416 Joint Light Tactical Vehicles (JLTV), the company announced on 5 …

• Land Warfare

  SHOT Show 2018: Commercial market supports army ammunition readiness

  25th January 2018

  Operators of the US Army’s Lake City Army Ammunition Plant, Orbital ATK Small Caliber Systems, Defense Systems Group, made its SHOT Show debut in 2018. The …

• Defence Helicopter

  Lithuanians seek Hip replacement

  5th February 2018

  The commander of Lithuania’s Šiauliai Air Base, Lt Colonel Antanas Matutis, has outlined the Lithuanian Air Force’s (LAF) plans to introduce a new utility helicopter …

• Defence Notes

  Turkey urged to refocus its Syria fight against IS

  15th February 2018

  US Defence Secretary, Jim Mattis, has appealed to Turkey to concentrate its fight in Syria against the Islamic State (IS) group as tensions mount between …

• Defence Notes

  West 2018: DoD acknowledges ‘risk imbalance’

  6th February 2018

  In his opening keynote address at West 2018, co-sponsored by AFCEA International and the US Naval Institute, Patrick Shanahan, Deputy Secretary of Defense, acknowledged what …

• Defence Notes

  Singapore Airshow 2018: Aircraft on display (video)

  31st January 2018

  The Shephard team will be out in full force at Singapore Air Show 2018. In this latest video we take a look at some of the aircraft …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Landing platform docks/dock landing ships

  Landing Platform Docks [Saudi Arabia]

  Programme Background Requirements The Royal Saudi Naval Forces (RSNF) is in the process of a fleet transformation plan (SNEP II) which, so far, has seen the procurement ...

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

  Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) [UAE]

  Background Saudi Arabia Speaking to Breaking Defense at the Dubai Airshow 2025, GA-ASI President David Alexander stated that Saudi Arabia was working to sign a procurement ...

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

  Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) [Qatar]

  Background Saudi Arabia Speaking to Breaking Defense at the Dubai Airshow 2025, GA-ASI President David Alexander stated that Saudi Arabia was working to sign a procurement ...

• Frigates

  Frigates Procurement Programme [Saudi Arabia]

  Programme Background Requirements The Royal Saudi Navy urges to enhance its combat capabilities and to replace older vessels. Riyadh has recently embarked on major naval ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  Surion Marine Attack Helicopter [South Korea]

  Programme Background The ROKMC has planned to obtain 24 attack helicopters for the first time. When bidding opened in January 2019, there were five contenders: Bell ...

• Loitering munitions

  HERO-120 [Argentina]

  Programme Background Initial Purchase As reported by Janes, on 27 December 2022, the Argentine MoD announced it had signed a contract with Israeli MoD's Directorate ...

• Loitering munitions

  HERO-30 [Argentina]

  Programme Background Initial Purchase As reported by Janes, on 27 December 2022, the Argentine MoD announced it had signed a contract with Israeli MoD's Directorate ...

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

  Hermes 900 [Brazil]

  Programme Background First Batch (2014) In 2014, Elbit reported supplying the Hermes 900 to the Brazilian Air Force (FAB). The drone is called the RQ-900 in ...

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

  Akinci [Saudi Arabia]

  Programme Background Erdogan Visit On 17 July 2023,  President Tayyip Erdogan arrived in Jeddah for the first stop of his Gulf tour. The following day, ...

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

  Watchkeeper X (Contracted) [Romania]

  Programme Background 2021 In mid-2021, the Romanian manufacturer Aerostar signed a collaboration with U-TacS to potentially produce the Watchkeeper X in Romania. U-TacS is a ...

• Loitering munitions

  Harop [Morocco]

  Programme Background In November 2021, Haaretz reported that a $22 million drone sale between Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and Morocco had occurred. That publication and ...

• 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 UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  Watchkeeper X (Uncontracted) [Romania]

  Programme Background 2021 In mid-2021, the Romanian manufacturer Aerostar signed a collaboration with U-TacS to potentially produce the Watchkeeper X in Romania. U-TacS is a ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  Heavy Lift Helicopter [Philippines]

  Programme Background Procurement from Russia In November 2021, Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana confirmed that a contract had been signed to acquire 16 Mi-171 heavy ...

• Loitering munitions

  Switchblade 300 [Australia]

  Programme Background Contract Award & Delivery On 8 July 2024, the Australian Government announced its soldiers would be equipped with Switchblade 300 following an acquisition ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

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

  Samoom

  Unveiled at the World Defence Show 2022, the Samoon is a Saudi Arabian UCAV manufactured by Intra Defence Technologies.  It is powered by Belgian ULPower Aero ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Cockerill i-X

  The Cockerill i-X is a wheeled armoured vehicle designed as a light armoured platform with a modular turret for intercepting enemy forces. John Cockerill Defense unveiled the new ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

  2800 ASW Patrol Boat

  The 2800 ASW Patrol Boat, developed by Couach, is a vessel designed for ASW operations. Unveiled at the 2022 World Defence Show, the vessel can be ...

• Land: battle management systems

  Mulhim

  Developed by Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI), Mulhim is a developmental Battle Management System designed for brigade-level and below formations. First unveiled in 2022, it ...

• UAS: communication systems

  SkyARX Ku-18

  CTech SkyARX Ku-18 is a lightweight, SATCOM-on-the-move terminal designed for air applications. The Ku-band terminal supports the secure transmission of full-motion video, data, and mission-critical ...

• EO/IR systems

  PT-8N

  The PT-8D is an IR system from Overwatch Imaging. It is fitted with multiple HD thermal cameras and has been designed to conduct missions at dusk ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - mini

  SKAT 350

  Based on the Supercam 350, the SKAT 350 is a mini fixed-wing UAV manufactured by Kalashnikov Concern JSC. The drone was revealed in early 2024, ...

• EO/IR systems

  PT-8D

  Marketed as a cost-effective solution, the PT-8D is a wide-area search and ISR payload from Overwatch Imaging. It features an RGB colour camera and a ...

• Air: Displays

  LAD2008DA

  Produced by Psion DSP, LAD2008DA is a 20"x8" Large Area Display for full-glass cockpit applications. It was showcased during the 2022 Farnborough Air Show and the 2023 ...

• Land: RWS

  TEBER-II 30/40

  The Teber II-30/40 is a remote-controlled turret developed by Turkish manufacturer FNSS. This RCT is designed to fit tracked or wheeled armour vehicle programs. FNSS ...

• EO/IR systems

  PT-8DN

  The PT-8DN is a versatile day-night payload from Overwatch Imaging.  It has dual RGB sensors of different focal lengths and an HD LWIR sensor. It also ...

• Air: Displays

  RDU-4208 LAD

  ScioTeq RDU-4208 is a 20"x8" Large-Area Display. It features a fully redundant, high-resolution screen with multitouch support. Unveiled in 2022, it was also demonstrated in ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  D-Tiger

  Thai Defense Industry (TDI) unveiled its D-Tiger 4x4 armoured tactical vehicle at Defense & Security 2022 in Bangkok. The D-Tiger is aimed at export sales, with ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Pars Alpha 8x8

  Unveiled at the World Defense Show 2024 in Riyadh, the Pars Alpha is the latest 8x8 Armoured Vehicle from Turkish manufacturer FNSS. Featuring improvements on ...

• Aircraft carriers

  Varan Aircraft Carrier

  At the Army 2022 defence exposition, Nevsky Design Bureau unveiled a new model for its light carrier design Varan. Varan is a non-nuclear powered ship capable ...