• Defence Helicopter

  AgustaWestland strengthens Indonesian market ties

  13th November 2014

  AgustaWestland has signed a cooperation agreement with Indonesia’s Indopelita Aircraft Service (IAS) that will see in-country support and maintenance services established for AgustaWestland customers. The …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Airshow China: UAV development shows few signs of abating

  13th November 2014

  A regular feature at the biennial Airshow China is the wide range of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) on show.  The latest event, held from 11-16 …

• Military Logistics

  Airshow China: Y-20 transport aircraft debuts

  12th November 2014

  The developmental Chinese Y-20 transport aircraft debuted at the 10th China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition in Zhuhai on 11 November. The aircraft made its …

• Land Warfare

  Airshow China: NORINCO brings heavy armour

  11th November 2014

  China North Industries Corporation (NORINCO) is exhibiting at the 10th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition in Zhuhai for the first time this year.  Among …

• Defence Notes

  Airshow China: FC-31 fighter makes debut

  11th November 2014

  The FC-31 fighter, a developmental platform from the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC), is participating in flying displays at Airshow China 2014 in Zhuhai.  Widely known …

• Military Logistics

  Hesco awarded US DLA force protection IDIQ contract

  10th November 2014

  Hesco Bastion will supply force protection expeditionary barrier systems to the US Defense Logistics Troop Support Agency (DLA) under an indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) …

• Digital Battlespace

  BAE shipbuilding steps into the future

  7th November 2014

  BAE Systems has constructed a network of ‘visualisation suites’ at its sites in Glasgow, Portsmouth and Bristol, as it overhauls its approach to the design …

• Land Warfare

  Warrior CSP gets additional test vehicle but trials pushed back

  7th November 2014

  The UK’s Warrior IFV capability sustainment programme (CSP) will use an extra twelfth vehicle for demonstrations. A spokesperson from Lockheed Martin told Shephard that a …

• Naval Warfare

  Swiftships launches private security fleet

  6th November 2014

  Swiftships LLC has announced the launch of a new subsidiary known as Swift Maritime Security (SMS), which is creating a private fleet to provide maritime …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  FCAS programme feasibility phase launched

  6th November 2014

  The two-year feasibility phase of the joint French-UK Future Combat Air System (FCAS) programme has been launched by the UK and French governments, with the …

• Digital Battlespace

  Thales unveils Searchmaster ‘5-in-1’ (video)

  5th November 2014

  Thales launched its new Searchmaster multirole surveillance radar with active electronic scanning antenna (AESA) technology at the Euronaval exhibition in Paris. Speaking to Shephard Media, …

• Naval Warfare

  AEUK wins underwater countermeasures research contract

  5th November 2014

  Atlas Elektronik UK (AEUK) will conduct underwater defensive aids research under a new three-year £3.5 million contract with UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) agency, Defence …

• Land Warfare

  BAE secures follow-on M109 upgrade contract

  5th November 2014

  BAE Systems has received a $142 million follow-on contract from the US Army to continue low-rate initial production (LRIP) on the M109A7 self-propelled howitzer and …

• Land Warfare

  EDA C-IED training facility opens in the Netherlands

  4th November 2014

  A European Defence Agency (EDA)-facilitated initiative to develop joint counter-improvised explosive device (C-IED) capabilities has opened the Joint Deployable Exploitation and Analysis Laboratory (JDEAL) facility …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Euronaval: TANAN UAS set for surface vessel integration

  31st October 2014

  Airbus Defence and Space (D&S) has teamed with DCNS to target the ship-based UAS market with the TANAN vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) UAS. The …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - MALE

  Future Vertical Lift Maritime Strike (FVL-MS) [USA]

  Programme Background Requirement The FVL-MS programme seeks to develop and acquire a family of systems, including crewed and uncrewed aircraft, to replace rotary life aircraft utilised ...

• Loitering munitions

  Launched Effects - Short Range (LE-SR) [US]

  Background Air-launched effect (ALE) In 2022, the US sought a family of systems comprising an air vehicle, payload, mission systems applications and support equipment to ...

• Loitering munitions

  Launched Effects - Medium Range (LE-MR) [US]

  Background Air-launched effect (ALE) In 2022, the US sought a family of systems comprising an air vehicle, payload, mission systems applications and support equipment to ...

• Military UAS - small

  Future Tactical UAS (FTUAS) (Increment 1) [USA]

  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 ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Aerial Logistics Connector (ALC) [USMC]

  Background US Marine ULS-A programmes The US Marines are seeking a family of Unmanned Logistics Systems-Air (ULS-A) that will provide logistics and ground units with their ...

• Military helicopters - maritime

  MH-60R Seahawk [Saudi Arabia]

  Background Requirement The FMS is aimed at improving Saudi Arabia’s capability to meet current and future threats from enemy weapon systems, provide the capability to identify, ...

• Military UAS - small

  VTOL UAV [New Zealand]

  Background Defence Capability Plan (DCP) In April 2025, the New Zealand government published the DCP, a document that is essentially a blueprint for what procurements ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  MQ-8C Fire Scout (USA)

  Programme Background Timeline According to the Naval Air Systems Command, having first ordered the MQ-8B in 2009, the UAV has become a pillar of the ...

• Military UAS - small

  Shipborne Small UAV [Portugal]

  Background Shipborne UAV trials In August 2026, during the Iniciativa Mar Aberto 2026 mission, the Portuguese Navy conducted shipborne flight trials of uncrewed aircraft from ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  Japanese Future Amphibious Vehicle

  Programme Background The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force's (JGSDF) Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade currently operates a fleet of 58 BAE Systems Armored Amphibious Assault Vehicle 7A1s (AAV7A1s) ...

• Military UAS - small

  Light Tactical Support Intelligence Drone Systems (SDLRAT) (1-30) [France]

  Background Aftermath of SDT To fill the capability void left by the cancellation of the second section of the Tactical Drone System (SDT) programme, the French ...

• 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 ...

• Military UAS - small

  ALTIUS (US)

  Programme Background Testing The US Army has tested the platform since March 2020. It was launched from a US Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter that ...

• Military UAS - small

  Light Tactical Support Intelligence Drone Systems (SDLRAT) (31-140) [France]

  Background Aftermath of SDT To fill the capability void left by the cancellation of the second section of the Tactical Drone System (SDT) programme, the French ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Shipborne MALE UAV [Portugal]

  Background Shipborne UAV trials In August 2026, during the Iniciativa Mar Aberto 2026 mission, the Portuguese Navy conducted shipborne flight trials of uncrewed aircraft from the Gama-class frigate NRP Álvares ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - MALE

  V-247 Vigilant

  The V-247 Vigilant is a tiltrotor UAV from Bell. Officially introduced in 2016, it features an open modular architecture and can host several payloads. These include ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  SB-1 Defiant

  The SB-1 Defiant is a Joint Multi-Role Technology Demonstrator (JMR-TD) aircraft. Sikorsky and Boeing announced in February 2013 that they would submit a joint proposal ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Korean Future Vertical Lift (KFVL)

  Unveiled at KADEX 2024, the Korean Future Vertical Lift (KFVL) is a family of uncrewed helicopters from Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI). Despite being in the ...

• Air: Displays

  F-15 Replacement Vertical Situation Display

  BAE Systems Replacement Vertical Situation Display (RVSD) replaces the legacy VSD units on F-15E aircraft. The AMLCD display offers a larger display size and is compatible ...

• 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 helicopters - multirole

  S-97 Raider

  The S-97 Raider helicopter is based on the five-year, company-funded X2 Technology Demonstrator project. Like the X2, the S-97 Raider will feature twin coaxial, counter-rotating ...

• Surface-to-air missiles, Surface-to-surface missiles

  RIM-174 Standard ERAM SM-6 Block I/IA

  The SM-6 (RIM-174 Standard ERAM) is a surface-to-air supersonic missile launched from cruisers and destroyers, capable of successfully engaging crewed and uncrewed, fixed- or rotary-wing ...

• Helicopter engines

  T901

  The Improved Turbine Engine Program (ITEP) is the US Army's effort to build a 50% more powerful and 25% more fuel-efficient engine for its Black ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  AVX JMR

  AVX Aircraft proposed a compound helicopter with coaxial rotors, small wings and dual ducted-fan propulsors for the US Army’s JMR-TD FVL programme. In April 2015, ...

• Helicopter engines

  T900

  The Improved Turbine Engine Program is the US Army's effort to build a 50% more powerful and 25% more fuel-efficient engine for its Black Hawk ...

• EO/IR systems

  Pan-Tilt-Zoom Camera with Laser Rangefinder

  Pan-Tilt-Zoom Camera with Laser Rangefinder is a surveillance system with a laser rangefinder. Performance includes 1/3in charge-coupled device colour sensor, NTSC or PAL format. Resolution ...

• Air: AEW/fire control radar

  Super Komar

  The Super Komar is an upgraded version of the Komar, featuring digital signal processing. Air-to-air modes include boresight, head-up display search, look-up/down, range-while-search, track-while-scan (TWS) and vertical manoeuvre. ...

• Military - UUVs

  Roving Bat

  The Roving Bat is a multipurpose, hybrid ROV and crawler built by Exail. It is designed for close inspection and cleaning operations of immersed vertical structures ...

• Long Range Missile Defence Systems: > 90km range

  Sylver A-50

  The SYstème de Lancement VERtical (Sylver) A-50 is a vertical launching system (VLS) developed by DCNS (now Naval Group) to deploy medium- to long-range surface-to-air ...

• Long Range Missile Defence Systems: > 90km range

  Sylver A-70

  The SYstème de Lancement VERtical (Sylver) A-70 is a vertical launching system (VLS) developed by DCNS (now Naval Group) to deploy medium- to long-range surface-to-air ...