• Defence Notes

  LAAD 2019: News round up from Rio (video)

  5th April 2019

  Across the land, sea and air domains the Shephard Media news team talk through some of the highlight's of this year's LAAD 2019 exhibition in Rio …

• Defence Helicopter

  Australia extends Tiger ARH support contract

  10th April 2019

  The Australian government has extended Airbus Australia Pacific’s through-life support contract for the Australian Army’s Tiger Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter, the Australian Department of Defence announced …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Unmanned Systems Asia 2019: Aselsan hits the ground running in Singapore

  10th April 2019

  Turkish first-time exhibitor Aselsan demonstrated its unmanned ground portfolio on the show floor at Unmanned Systems Asia 2019. On display was the company’s UKAP, a …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Unmanned Systems Asia 2019: Lockheed targeting Asia with Indago

  8th April 2019

  Lockheed Martin is targeting further growth in Asia for its Indago 3 UAS, having recently sold two of the systems to the Singapore Ministry of …

• Military Logistics

  INVISIO receives new US DoD order

  10th April 2019

  INVISIO has received an $11.93 million order from a new customer within the US Department of Defense for its communication and hearing protection systems, the …

• Defence Helicopter

  Quad A 2019: CH-47F Block II cancellation fears return

  16th April 2019

  The future of the CH-47F Block II programme is again in doubt, with Boeing admitting cancellation of the project remains a possibility. It was made …

• Digital Battlespace

  RADA receives $6 million in new orders

  10th April 2019

  RADA Electronic Industries has received new orders totalling more than $6 million from new and existing customers, the company announced on 8 April. The orders …

• Defence Helicopter

  Finishing touches for Spanish Navy’s AB-212 upgrades

  18th April 2019

  Whilst delivery of the seven modernised AB-212 helicopters for the Spanish Navy is complete, Sener, one of the parties on the upgrade programme, continues in …

• Digital Battlespace

  Elbit Systems to acquire Harris’ Night Vision business

  10th April 2019

  Elbit Systems of America has signed a definitive agreement with Harris Corporation for the acquisition of Harris’ Night Vision business, Elbit Systems announced on 5 …

• Defence Helicopter

  Quad A 2019:​ Bell makes V-280 FLRAA tri-service pitch

  18th April 2019

  Based on its recent Future Long Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) RfI submission, Bell is confident the company’s Joint Multi-Role-Technology Demonstrator (JMR-TD) the V-280 Valor tiltrotor can …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  AeroVironment receives FMS contract for Puma AE

  5th April 2019

  AeroVironment has received a $17.4 million contract to provide its Puma AE II small UAS, training and support to an allied nation, the company announced …

• Military Logistics

  Jacobs to renovate AFMC headquarters

  9th April 2019

  Jacobs has received an IDIQ contract for architect and engineering services to renovate the US Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC) headquarters buildings at Wright-Patterson Air …

• Defence Helicopter

  Quad A​ 2019: Defiant on track for full envelope expansion

  16th April 2019

  After a series of past development issues, the Sikorsky-Boeing SB>1 Defiant JMR-TD aircraft is now expected to complete its full flight test envelope before year end. …

• Military Logistics

  Canada orders Saab camouflage systems

  8th April 2019

  Saab has received a contract to produce multispectral static camouflage systems for the Canadian Army, the company announced on 3 April. The order completes a …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Triumph components for MQ-25

  9th April 2019

  Triumph Group has received a contract from Boeing to supply hydraulic system components for the MQ-25 unmanned aerial refuelling programme, the company announced on 4 …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - MALE

  Tactical Drone System (SDT) (15-28) [France]

  Background Tactical Drone System (SDT) programme The French Army launched the SDT programme to replace the Sagem (now Safran) Sperwer Intermediate Tactical Drone System (SDTI) ...

• Military UAS - micro

  French Operational Pocket Drone / DrOP (France)

  Programme Background French UAV Procurment / DrOP Under its 2019-2025 Military Programming Law (LPM), France aims to introduce 1,200 new UAVs into service with the ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  VBMR Griffon [France]

  Background Development of the Griffon commenced in 2014 when the consortium of Arquus, Nexter and Thales was awarded a development contract to design the VBMR ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  Future UAVs: Navy Aerial Drone System (SDAM) [France]

  Background Requirement The requirement for the SDAM programme was a rotary-wing VTOL-capable UAV with a modular configuration that can host a range of payloads. France ...

• CUAS - hybrid effector systems

  C-UAS [Portugal]

  Background Portugal's Military Programming Law 2023–2034 includes $8.8724 million (€8.2 million) to acquire counter-unmanned aerial systems (C-UAS) by 2034. It is assumed that this acquisition requires ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Land Mobility Programme (Light Protected Mobility) [UK]

  This programme briefly introduces the wider Land Mobility Programme and then focuses on the Light Protected Mobility (LPM) programme. Information on the LMV and HPM can ...

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

  ASTER / VL MICA Multi-layer [France]

  Background The Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation, acting on behalf of France, awarded EUROSAM a contract on April 30th, 2026, for the development of the ...

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

  Medium Range Air Defence [Portugal]

  Background Portugal's Military Programming Law 2023-2034 includes a requirement for medium-range air defence. In order to facilitate this, Portugal has joined the European Sky Shield Initiative ...

• Sealift/replenishment vessels

  Navio Polivalente Logistico (NAVPOL) (Portugal)

  Programme Background Requirements The NAVPOL is expected to feature a flexible and modular LPD design capable of amphibious operations and HADR tasks. Timeline The plans for ...

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

  ASTER / VL MICA Multi-layer (additional) [France]

  Background In October 2026, France ordered four additional firing units of the SAMP/T NG air and missile defence system. With this order, the total number of SAMP/T ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Eurodrone [France]

  Background Inception (Stage One) The European MALE RPAS programme was launched in September 2016. Germany, Spain, France and Italy had negotiated and agreed, in collaboration ...

• ISR/special mission

  Strategic Intelligence Aircraft [France]

  Background In February 2018, the Minister of the Armed Forces, Florence Parly, announced that the strategic intelligence aircraft program CUGE Universal EW Capability began to ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  A400M [France]

  Background Airbus formally delivered the first production A400M to the French Air Force in August 2013. The French Air Force took delivery of its 15th ...

• Self-propelled guns

  Serval LAD [France]

  Background France's Military Planning Law 2025-2030 committed it to purchasing 12 variants of the Serval MPVS specialised for counter-drone operations. Following Senate criticism, this figure was ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Land Mobility Programme (Medium Protected Mobility) [UK]

  This programme briefly introduces the wider Land Mobility Programme and then focuses on the Medium Protected Mobility (MPM) programme. Information on the LMV and MPM can ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Medium UGVs

  Centurio

  At Eurosatory 2024, KNDS unveiled the Centurio family of 4x4 UGVs. Based on the Phobos UGV by SOGECLAIR, Centurio has been developed in the 2024-30 ...

• Land: handheld NV devices

  O-NYX

  The Thales O-NYX is a Ultra-Compact Night Vision Goggle used by the French armed forces. They have an enlarged field of vision to 51° compared ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Patroller

  The Patroller is a long-endurance, multi-mission UAS manufactured by Safran Electronics & Defence. Designed for ISR operations, the platform hosts a Euroflir 410 EO/IR pod and can accommodate ...

• Land: range systems and targets

  Urban Ranges

  Cubic Range Design Solutions has provided facilities around the world for military and law enforcement training in urban terrain. It uses its previous experience, as ...

• Sniper rifles

  Model 95

  The Model 95 is a bolt-action 50cal sniper rifle in a bullpup configuration, which entered production in 1995. Its buttplate, magazine well and trigger housing ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  SandCat

  The 4x4 SandCat family of vehicles was designed by Israeli armour specialist Plasan Sasa in 2005 for a range of military, special operations, homeland security, ...

• Pistols

  P30

  The P30 is available in 9x19mm and .40 S&W; calibres with six variants of each. The grip of the P30 has exchangeable backstrap and grip ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  EK 001 Blue Whale

  The EK 001 Blue Whale is a large, rotary-wing UAV capable of carrying a payload of 23kg. It is in the early stages of development. ...

• Suppressors

  FA556-212

  The Fast Attach 5.56mm (FA556)-212 sound suppressor is designed for use on the AR-15, C8 SFW, HK416, M4, M16 and SA-80. Firearms with 266.7mm barrels ...

• Pistols

  Jericho Steel

  Designed for military and law enforcement users, the Jericho pistol in steel frame configuration is available in 9x19mm and .45 ACP calibres and in standard ...

• Pistols

  P Series

  The S120 pistol series has been used globally in law enforcement and military organisations, with the weapons initially designed as tactical and task force pistols ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  IA-12A Stark

  The IA-12A Stark is a small, rotary-wing UAV that features a dual propulsion system, swappable payload bay, retractable landing gear, single operator control, ground mission planning, ...

• Pistols

  Jericho Polymer

  Jericho pistols have been used for over three decades by military and police units, including law-enforcement entities in Israel and around the world. Designed for ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Tiger LPV

  The MDT Armor 4x4 Tiger Light Protected Vehicle (LPV) is designed to meet the requirements of military and law enforcement customers for a survivable, light ...

• Sniper rifles

  ALIAS CS5

  The ALIAS Concealable Subsonic/Supersonic Suppressed Sniper System (CS5) is designed for concealment in urban settings. With the buttstock and suppressor detached, the CS5 is 597mm ...