• Air Warfare

  Saab receives new missile pylon for testing and evaluation on Gripen E

  20th July 2023

  Saab has taken delivery of MELP5 hardware for test-firing Meteor missiles on the Gripen E fighter aircraft.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Updated: Türkiye unveils Ulaq Kama, an armed expendable USV

  28th July 2023

  Ares Shipyard and Meteksan Defence showcase Ulaq Kama, an armed expendable USV featuring explosive payload and ISR capabilities. The vessel's swift production hints at its potential role in asymmetric warfare, with graphics resembling Ukrainian systems.

• Air Warfare

  Final flight test of latest AMRAAM missile successful

  11th July 2023

  The USAF and Raytheon have concluded testing of the AIM-120D-3 AMRAAM variant, ensuring increased functionality, performance, and production capabilities for warfighters.

• Land Warfare

  Slovakia to buy Oshkosh JLTVs in modernisation push

  17th July 2023

  The Slovak Armed Forces will acquire 160 Oshkosh 4x4 Joint Light Tactical Vehicles (JLTVs), enhancing their capabilities and advancing modernisation efforts.

• Land Warfare

  Polaris adds remote weapon station to MRZR Alpha light vehicle

  28th June 2023

  Polaris displayed an MRZR Alpha vehicle fitted with a Kongsberg Protector RS2 remote weapon station (RWS) at the Modern Day Marine (MDM) expo in Washington DC.

• Air Warfare

  Azerbaijan's integral role in Turkish TF-X Kaan fighter programme strengthens defence capabilities and strategic ties

  2nd August 2023

  'By involving Azerbaijan [in the TF-X Kaan programme], Türkiye can potentially share the financial burden of the project, leading to cost savings and economic advantages for both countries,' team lead for government contracting at Tusas Engine Industries tells Shephard.

• Digital Battlespace

  Leonardo DRS to provide new infrared sights for US Army snipers

  12th June 2023

  Under a new five-year contract Leonardo DRS will supply US Army infantry units with its Family of Weapon Sights-Sniper, Improved Night/Day Observation Device Block III.

• Naval Warfare

  Italy signs up for Anglo-French future cruise missile programme

  26th June 2023

  France, the UK and Italy have signed a letter of intent paving the way for Rome to join the Anglo-French effort to develop a new future cruise and anti-ship missile.

• Naval Warfare

  Lockheed Martin's PAC-3 MSE missile successfully communicated with Aegis radar

  11th July 2023

  Lockheed Martin's PAC-3 MSE interceptor has successfully communicated with the AN/SPY-1 radar, a significant step towards integrating the missile into the Aegis Weapon System for enhanced maritime defence capabilities.

• Air Warfare

  Clear skies ahead: Royal Air Force Typhoons to receive advanced radar and EW upgrade

  5th July 2023

  The ECRS Mk2 radar brings advanced electronic warfare capabilities and potential weapon integration opportunities to the Royal Air Force's multi-mission fighter.

• Naval Warfare

  Insight: Gowind 2500 corvette enjoys strong export business despite Romanian rejection

  5th September 2023

  France's Naval Group's Gowind 2500 corvette, designed for multiple naval missions, has gained popularity worldwide. Shephard Defence Insight provides detailed analysis of its export contracts, armament and technical specifications.

• Training

  US Navy anti-sub exercise puts crewed-uncrewed teaming to the test

  22nd May 2023

  Operating in concert with US Navy MH-60R Seahawk helicopters, an MQ-9B SeaGuardian UAV participated in the constructive 'kill' of a simulated submarine target.

• Naval Warfare

  How serious a threat is North Korea's nuclear-armed navy?

  8th September 2023

  As well as splurging on ballistic weapons, North Korea has been developing submarines and surface combatants capable of firing nuclear-tipped missiles. Largely based on outdated designs, do they nonetheless pose a serious regional threat?

• Land Warfare

  Germany, Netherlands place €1.9 billion order for Caracal airmobile vehicles

  11th July 2023

  Germany and the Netherlands have signed a contract with Rheinmetall for the supply of Caracal airmobile platforms, worth €1.9 billion.

• Defence Helicopter

  Bell H-1 fleet achieves half a million flight hours

  30th June 2023

  The current fleet of AH-1Z Vipers and UH-1Y Venoms have surpassed the 500.000-flight hour mark.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• OPVs

  Kingston Class Replacement [Canada]

  Programme Background Requirements Under the second pillar of its shipbuilding strategy, Canada is seeking to procure an undisclosed number of small vessels (below 1000t). Part ...

• CANSOFCOM Next Generation Fighting Vehicles [Canada]

  Several platforms are known to have been proposed for the NGFV programme. In 2015, it was reported that General Dynamics Land Systems - Canada (GDLS-C) ...

• Tanks

  NGCV: DLP

  Programme Background Requirement The DLP is one of five vehicle families being developed for the US Army's NGCV programme. Expanded to include five programmes in ...

• Destroyers

  Type 83 Future Air Defence System (FADS) [UK]

  Programme Background Requirements The Daring-class (Type 45) consists of six ships, although the original plan was to have 12 destroyers. This was cut to eight in ...

• Destroyers

  Next-Generation Large Surface Combatants (LSC) - DDG(X) [USN]

  Programme Background Requirements The US Navy (USN) is acknowledging a need to move away from the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer design, which is slowly outgrowing. Flight III ...

• Landing platform docks/dock landing ships

  Multi-Role Strike Ship (MRSS) Programme [UK]

  Programme Background Requirements According to the UK MoD's March 2021 Defence Command Paper, entitled 'Defence in a Competitive Age', the RN will invest in six ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | Combat Fighter Jet [Ireland]

  In February 2025, Simon Harris, the Irish Minister for Defence and Tánaiste, emphasised the importance of acquiring a new combat fighter jet to address aerial ...

• Data links

  Data links | Combat Fighter Jet [Ireland]

  In February 2025, Simon Harris, the Irish Minister for Defence and Tánaiste, emphasised the importance of acquiring a new combat fighter jet to address aerial ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  Air: Helmet-mounted displays | Combat Fighter Jet [Ireland]

  In February 2025, Simon Harris, the Irish Minister for Defence and Tánaiste, emphasised the importance of acquiring a new combat fighter jet to address aerial ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | Combat Fighter Jet [Ireland]

  In February 2025, Simon Harris, the Irish Minister for Defence and Tánaiste, emphasised the importance of acquiring a new combat fighter jet to address aerial ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | Combat Fighter Jet [Ireland]

  In February 2025, Simon Harris, the Irish Minister for Defence and Tánaiste, emphasised the importance of acquiring a new combat fighter jet to address aerial ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  A400M [Germany]

  Programme Background Germany originally said it would but 60 A400Ms, but when the program was re-baselined in 2010 reduced its planed off take to 53, ...

• Destroyers

  Sejong the Great Class (KDX-III) Batch 2 (1-3) [South Korea]

  Programme Background Requirements The Sejong the Great class (KDX-III) Batch 2 will consist of three improved Sejong the Great-class (KDX-III) batch 1 guided-missile destroyers, which ...

• Landing platform docks/dock landing ships

  Landing Platform Docks [India]

  Programme Background Requirements The LPD tender, although more akin to an LHD, specifies that the quartet of ships must be built within India, although collaboration ...

• Minehunters

  Mine Countermeasure Vessel [India]

  Programme Background Requirements In August 2023, the Indian MoD issued a new Request for Information (RfI) for the procurement of 12 Mine Countermeasures (MCM) Vessels. The ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Naval guns, Land: RWS

  DragonFire

  Dragonfire is a new laser weapon system built for the UK MoD, receiving £30 million of funding in early 2017. The design of the gun ...

• Counter-UAS systems

  DroneDefender

  DroneDefender is a directed-energy UAS countermeasure that disrupts the adversary's control of the aircraft, neutralising it so that no remote action (including detonation) can occur, ...

• Counter-UAS systems

  MEHEL 2.0

  The Mobile Expeditionary High-Energy Laser (MEHEL) is a C-UAS-capable vehicle that employs directed energy to neutralise targets. MEHEL 2.0 was first seen at AUSA 2016, ...

• Destroyers

  Flight III Destroyer

  During Indo Pacific 2023, Navantia Australia unveiled a 10200t destroyer design. Dubbed as Flight III Destroyer, the Spanish shipbuilder is pitching the ship for the ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  Kaplan Hybrid Carrier Platform

  Unveiled at IDEF 2025, the Kaplan Hybrid Carrier Platform (HCP) is a tracked vehicle with a hybrid propulsion system manufactured by FNSS. It is designed ...

• ISR/special mission

  AC-130J

  The AC-130J 'Ghostrider' is a fifth-generation gunship manufactured by Lockheed Martin to replace the AC-130U/W gunships for the USAF deployed in 2019. The Ghostrider is a highly modified C-130J ...

• Counter-UAS systems, Land: Electronic Attack - Jamming

  EJDERHA HPEM System

  The EJDERHA is a high power electromagnetic system manufactured by Aselsan. It generates high-amplitude electromagnetic fields and directs them to potential targets such as IEDs ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Bushmaster ePMV

  The electric Protected Mobility Vehicle (ePMV), also known as the 'electric Bushmaster,' is a prototype 4x4 armoured vehicle unveiled at the Chief of Army Symposium in ...

• Naval guns

  HELIOS

  HELIOS (High-Energy Laser and Integrated Optical-Dazzler with Surveillance) is a high-energy weapon system developed by Lockheed Martin. According to the producer, the system is specially ...

• Medium Range Missile Defence Systems: 20-90km range, Self-propelled missile systems

  Multi-Mission Launcher

  The Multi-Mission Launcher (MML) was developed by the U.S. Army's Aviation and Missile Research, Development, and Engineering Center (AMRDEC) as part of the Indirect Fire ...

• Land: RWS

  R800

  The R800 is a RWS developed by EOS for integration on heavy armoured vehicle platforms. It is designed to offer the capabilities of a medium ...

• Air: Electronic Attack - Jamming, Air: Electronic Attack - Pod, Air: EO/IR – Jamming Systems

  Miysis DIRCM

  Leonardo’s Miysis Directed Infrared Countermeasure (DIRCM) system provides high power, all aspect protection against modern and legacy Infrared Man-Portable Air Defence Systems (IR MANPADS) for ...

• Frigates

  Omega

  At IndoDefence 2018, Damen unveiled a 6000t Omega frigate design aimed at the Indonesian Navy's future frigate procurement. The Omega frigate design builds on the MKS180 ...

• Corvettes

  MEKO A210

  During Indo Pacific 2023, TKMS unveiled the MEKO A210 corvette. According to the manufacturer, the ship is an evolution of the existing MEKO A200 design. ...

• OPVs

  PPA/MultiPurpose Combat Ship (MPCS) EVO

  The PPA/MultiPurpose Combat Ship (MPCS) EVO is an enhanced version of the Thaon di Revel-class PPAs unveiled at Euronaval 2024. The PPA/MPCS EVO retains the core platform ...