• Air Warfare

  South Korea considers cancellation of second AH-64E Apache helicopter purchase

  8th July 2025

  The likely scrapping of Boeing’s Apache helicopter comes after a huge budget cut approved by the South Korean National Assembly. The helicopter procurement had already been reconsidered by the country’s Joint Chiefs of Staff earlier in the year.

• Land Warfare

  Thales to modernise Netherlands TACTIS combined arms trainer

  30th April 2025

  Thales will modernise the Royal Netherlands Army’s TACTIS simulation system over eight years with enhanced synthetic environments, new simulators for the CV9035NL, Boxer and Leopard 2 tanks.

• Air Warfare

  Royal Thai Air Force moves forward with Gripen E/F selection

  4th June 2025

  The deal has a Phase 1 budget of US$596 million for the acquisition of four Gripen E/F aircraft, according to the RTAF.

• Land Warfare

  Germany to increase artillery capability

  23rd May 2025

  Germany has substantially reduced its artillery capability since the end of the Cold War but is now looking to substantially boost numbers in the face of a changed geopolitical environment across the continent.

• Air Warfare

  DSEI 2025: Saab unveils new CUAS missile solution to defeat UAS swarms

  28th August 2025

  The Nimbrix missile has been developed and tested over the last year and is Saab’s latest cost-effective answer to help armed forces counteract escalating numbers of uncrewed aerial threats on the battlefield.

• Naval Warfare

  US Navy receives final Independence-class Littoral Combat Ship

  14th July 2025

  The delivery acceptance of the future USS Pierre marks the conclusion of the construction phase for the Independence-variant.

• Air Warfare

  US Navy acquires additional anti-submarine warfare kits for P-8A Poseidon aircraft

  8th July 2025

  The contract modification, awarded to Boeing, is worth $61.2 million and will support the US Navy’s (USN's) evolution of its P-8 Poseidon aircraft as continued upgrades are made to boost its capabilities and lethality.

• Air Warfare

  Leonardo’s Proteus structural tests “nearing completion” ahead of first flight

  30th June 2025

  The company has tested over 15 mission sets for the drone, with the rotorcraft used to demonstrate the viability of armed forces utilising large uncrewed aerial systems’ (UAS) for autonomous missions in the future.

• Air Warfare

  Collins prepares expansion of the US Navy/Marine Tactical Combat Training System Inc II

  14th April 2025

  The company has been negotiating the supply of TCTS II to US allies and partners.

• Naval Warfare

  Euroatlas brings Greyshark AUV to Asia for its maiden visit

  9th May 2025

  Euroatlas displayed its Greyshark autonomous underwater vehicle outside Europe for the first time, highlighting variant specifications and development progress at IMDEX 2025.

• Land Warfare

  DSEI 2025: DroneShield sets sights on Europe thanks to surge in CUAS demand

  9th September 2025

  The Australian-based CUAS technology specialist is responding to a marked shift in global appetite as it looks to branch out to an unspecified western European country early next year.

• Naval Warfare

  Australia’s A$12 billion Perth shipyard upgrade offers positive sign for AUKUS

  16th September 2025

  While the Australian government insists the investment is predominantly aimed at strengthening the country’s defence capabilities, the upgrade also bodes well for the AUKUS pact which Australia’s defence minister said “is going well”.

• Land Warfare

  Canada lines up over-the-horizon radar purchase from Australia

  7th April 2025

  Ottawa is planning to procure a version of Australia’s Jindalee Operational Radar Network (JORN), which gives an over-the-horizon radar (OTHR) capability reaching approximately 3,000km for detection of air and sea targets.

• Land Warfare

  Norway and Sweden invest in further military support for Ukraine

  26th August 2025

  Both Sweden and Norway have committed further financial aid to the country in a bid to help boost their air defences and airborne early warning capabilities, which included commitments to replace donated Patriot Air Defence systems.

• Defence Notes

  UK releases security strategy and plans for future defence spending boost

  24th June 2025

  The UK’s National Security Strategy brings together the recently released Strategic Defence Review (SDR), Strategic Security Review, AUKUS Review and Industrial and Trade Strategies. At the same time, the UK made a commitment to reach defence spending of 5% of GDP by 2035 and Germany committed to 3.5% by 2029.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military helicopters - light/training

  Future Aircrew Training Program [Canada]

  Background The FAcT requires to graduate 120 pilots, 40 combat systems officers and 36 airborne electronic sensor operators per year with 15% fluctuation. Training services are ...

• Trainer

  Future Aircrew Training Program [Canada]

  Background Requirement The new procurement will result in one contract covering all the requirements, including maintenance and infrastructure services. Canada’s Industrial and Technological Benefits Policy ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  AW101-Norway

  AgustaWestland is also providing initial support and training services, including spares at each of the operating bases and aircrew training. It will then provide performance ...

• Short Range Missile Defence Systems: 0 to 20 km range

  V-SHORAD [Canada]

  Background The Canadian Army's future GBAD system "will provide tactical air defence protection to friendly forces and vital installations during expeditionary and domestic operations against ...

• Loitering munitions

  Switchblade 300/600 [Canada]

  Background Contract award In February 2025, the Canadian government finalised a $67-million deal with AeroVironment (AV) to acquire the Switchblade 300 and Switchblade 600 to equip ...

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

  Uplift SHORAD UOR [Canada]

  Background The Canadian Army's future GBAD system "will provide tactical air defence protection to friendly forces and vital installations during expeditionary and domestic operations against the ...

• Trainer

  Hawk 127 Replacement (Future Lead-In Fighter Training System- Project Air 6002 PH1) [Australia]

  Programme Background Requirements The RAAF is seeking a future solution that provides a ‘relevant, adaptable, affordable and safe LIFTS out to 2050’ for training pilots ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-15EX (2020) [USA]

  Programme Background The F-15EX is based on the 2-seat F-15QA (Qatar) configuration upgraded with USAF-only capabilities, including the Eagle Passive Active Warning and Survivability System (EPAWSS) ...

• Loitering munitions

  Loitering munitions [Canada]

  Background Switchblade acquisition In February 2025, the Canadian government finalised a $67 million deal with AeroVironment (AV) to acquire the Switchblade 300 and Switchblade 600 ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Inkas M1 MRAP (Batch 2) [Canada]

  Background In 2026, Canada acquired 10 Inkas M1 MRAPs. The M1 was developed by Inkas to provide a domestic Canadian armoured 4x4 capability.  Shephard understands ...

• Destroyers

  Canadian Surface Combatant/River Class (1-3) [Canada]

  Background Requirements Fifteen frigates are being procured to replace the Royal Canadian Navy's 12 ageing Halifax-class frigates and the now-retired Iroquois-class destroyers with next-generation surface ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) [Canada]

  Background Programme inception The Royal Canadian Air Force’s (RCAF) Joint Unmanned Surveillance and Target Acquisition System (JUSTAS) project was established to procure a UAS for the ...

• Short Range Missile Defence Systems: 0 to 20 km range

  RBS-70 NG [Canada]

  Background In February 2024 Canada announced its intention to urgently procure the RBS-70 NG short-range air defence system (SHORAD).  Saab was awarded a $227 million ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Armoured Combat Support Vehicle (Ukraine Aid) [Canada]

  Background The ACSV will meet the Canadian Army's requirement for a new armoured vehicle with greater mobility, operating range, protection and operational versatility than the ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  HH-60W - Combat Rescue Helicopter (CRH)

  Background In 2010, the USAF announced the replacement of the HH-60G with a new Combat Rescue Helicopter (CRH), and in 2012, the request for proposals ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Trainer

  Phenom 100

  Phenom 100 is a very light jet originally developed for single owner-pilot operation but later gained popularity as a jet trainer aircraft. The platform first ...

• Trainer

  T-6A/B Texan II

  The T-6 Texan II is a single-engine trainer aircraft, which was developed from the Pilatus PC-9 to meet the training requirements of USAF and USN ...

• EW test systems

  EWITR

  The EW Instrumented Training Range (EWITR) provides threat radar simulators and master control stations for aircrew training in tactics development using modelling and simulation, and ...

• Air: fixed-wing flight simulators

  T-38C Talon

  FlightSafety supports nearly 40 T-38 training devices as part of its contract for logistics support for the T-38. The T-38C is a converted T-38A/B that ...

• Air: helicopter flight simulators

  HATS

  In October 2014, the Australian government approved a A$700 million (US$530 million) contract award to Boeing Defence Australia, teamed with Thales Australia, to provide the ...

• Air: transport/tanker simulators

  USAF KC-135 ATS

  The KC-135 Aircrew Training System (ATS) programme delivers initial qualification, requalification, continuation and upgrades training for USAF KC-135 aircrews, including pilots, co-pilots and boom operators. ...

• Air: fixed-wing flight simulators

  USN T-44C Training Services

  In late 2013, CAE USA received a contract to provide the USN with comprehensive T-44C aircrew training services at NAS Corpus Christi, Texas. CAE USA ...

• Trainer

  Beechcraft King Air 260 (T-54A)

  The Beechcraft King Air 260 is a twin-engine turboprop which the USN has selected as part of the Multi-Engine Training System (METS) programme. Ten aircraft were ...

• Air: transport/tanker simulators

  C-130J MATS

  Lockheed Martin’s C-130J Maintenance and Aircrew Training System (MATS) programme provides a range of training devices and support services including aircrew instruction, operations, contractor logistics ...

• Air: air combat simulators

  HITS-A

  Collins Aerospace is the prime contractor designing and developing the first integrated aircrew training systems for the E-2D, leading the Hawkeye Integrated Training System for ...

• Air: transport/tanker simulators

  KC-46A ATS

  FlightSafety supports the USAF aircrew training program for the KC-46A Pegasus tanker aircraft. The program delivers a multi-faceted training package to the USAF from design, ...

• Air: fixed-wing flight simulators

  RCAF CC-130J Training Services

  CAE is the prime contractor for the Operational Training Systems Provider (OTSP) programme to support the 17-strong CC-130J fleet in RCAF service. The first OTSP ...

• Air: helicopter flight simulators

  Tiger Aircrew Training

  Thales provides Tiger aircrew training solutions for the armed forces in Australia, France and Germany. Thales is currently upgrading the systems under the Tiger aircrew training ...

• Air: helicopter flight simulators

  US Army Flight School XXI OFT/RCTD

  L3Harris Technologies is a major subcontractor to CSC on the US Army’s Flight School XXI (FSXXI) programme. L3Harris Technologies has built or is under contract ...

• Air: fixed-wing flight simulators

  NVTS/NVGTS

  The Night Vision Training System (NVTS) combines academic instruction with interactive demonstrations to optimise a pilot's ability to see at night without the use of ...