• Naval Warfare

  Latest Russian subsea standoff puts pressure on the UK’s seabed defence strategy

  14th April 2026

  UK defence secretary John Healey’s exposure of a covert Russian deep-sea operation against undersea infrastructure in the Atlantic validates the Royal Navy’s Atlantic Bastion concept but lays bare a capacity gap that autonomous systems, allied integration and sustained investment must close.

• Air Warfare

  New E-3 and T-38 awards expose US Air Force legacy fleet dependence

  1st September 2026

  Contracts for E-3 aircrew training through August 2029 and supplies for the T-38 engine until December 2028 reflect issues with replacement and retirement plans across the USAF inventory.

• Land Warfare

  World Defense Show 2026: DOK-ING working on MV-8 variants and reveals specs ahead of Eurosatory

  12th February 2026

  The Croatian company began the development of the MV-8 modular uncrewed platform in the early 2020s. Specifications for the vehicle were revealed to Shephard at World Defense Show 2026.

• Land Warfare

  February land forces roundup: ST Engineering and Russia lift the lid on new platforms

  27th February 2026

  This month we saw a major presence from Turkish, Russian and Chinese companies at the World Defense Show with new vehicles from major suppliers, while elsewhere there were evolving mortar programmes and artillery modernisation efforts.

• Land Warfare

  Trans-European iMUGS2 uncrewed systems programme set for three-day exercise in 2028

  11th August 2026

  The next stage of the Integrated Modular Unmanned Ground System (iMUGS) programme, dubbed iMUGS2, was launched in November 2025. Three major demonstrations are planned before the end of 2028.

• Land Warfare

  Land forces review: howitzers in the spotlight and Germany spends big to close the year

  5th January 2026

  December saw several milestones on the howitzer front with billions of dollars worth of orders placed and Germany committing to more 6×6 and 4×4 vehicles. Taiwan was also approved for equipment orders worth $11 billion even as the year came to an end with China encircling the country as part of an exercise.

• Naval Warfare

  As uncrewed naval systems advance, capabilities to counter them are emerging

  28th April 2026

  Research programmes and system procurement efforts to counter uncrewed surface and underwater vehicle threats are accelerating as naval drone uptake spreads.

• Naval Warfare

  Iran and the future of amphibious operations: crewed and uncrewed solutions

  1st April 2026

  Amphibious operations are a very unique type of military operation, and global defence industries are developing new solutions to enhance capabilities and efficiency.

• Land Warfare

  Norway opts for Hanwha’s Chunmoo for long-range fires under $2 billion deal

  29th January 2026

  The selection of Hanwha’s K239 Chunmoo long-range precision fires system, with a contract expected to be signed on 30 January, makes Norway the second European country to choose the system. It is expected an operational system will be in service within four years.

• Land Warfare

  World Defense Show 2026: Hanwha increases Middle East presence and reveals Tigon 6x6 sale

  13th February 2026

  Shephard sat down with Hanwha Middle East and Africa president Sung Il at World Defense Show 2026 to hear about the company’s plans for the region and how it plans to use local industry success to win deals.

• Land Warfare

  GM Defense teams up with NP Aerospace for British Army vehicle requirement

  23rd June 2025

  The UK’s Land Mobility Programme (LMP) has three types of vehicles: medium protected, light protected and light mobility (LMV). US company GM Defense and the UK’s NP Aerospace have teamed up to make an offering for the latter. The LMP will replace more than a dozen vehicle types with as few as three or four models.

• Air Warfare

  February drone digest: US manufacturers face the Gauntlet and find success abroad

  25th February 2026

  The US launched the Gauntlet test in February as part of its accelerated attack drone procurement effort while also exploring various naval capabilities that could lead to procurements down the line. Shield AI’s V-Bat, meanwhile, has been stirring up global interest.

• Land Warfare

  Oshkosh reboots British Army vehicle bid and displays JLTV with new weapons

  21st January 2026

  The British Army’s light protected mobility (LPM) requirement, part of the Land Mobility Programme, has taken on a new focus with the medium requirement bumped off to be replaced by heavy. The LPM may now need to fill some of the gap between light and heavy.

• Air Warfare

  AI-controlled F-16s advance towards autonomous multi-aircraft operations in US

  19th August 2026

  The US plans to progressively expand VENOM/AIR testing from single-aircraft flights to multi-platform autonomous operations over the next 12–24 months, generating data that could support future US military AI programmes, including Collaborative Combat Aircraft.

• Naval Warfare

  US Coast Guard’s Arctic Security Cutter ramp-up signifies turning point in Polar operations

  17th February 2026

  The USCG recently announced the award of a contract to Davie Defense for the supply of five ASCs, marking a major step in the acquisition programme as the US grows its presence in the Arctic.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• LTVs - 4x4

  Infantry Squad Vehicle (Heavy) [USA]

  Background The US Army has been operating the ISV since 2019. It currently serves alongside the JLTV and HMMWV in the Army's Mobile Brigade Combat ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  Infantry Squad Vehicle [USA]

  Background The JLTV, HMMWV, and ISV constitute the US Army’s Light Tactical Vehicle (LTV) fleet. The US Army has evaluated the ISV as part of ...

• Medium UGVs

  Medium Modular Equipment Transport Trailer (M-METT) [USA]

  Background Whilst there are many medium UGV programmes developing concepts for last-mile resupply problems, the US Army's M-METT programme aims to provide an uncrewed logistics ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  Light Utility Vehicle (COTS) [Canada]

  Background The Canadian Army currently employs two platforms in what it terms its Light Utility Vehicle Wheeled (LUVW) fleet, the Mercedes G-Wagon and the Chevrolet Silverado. There ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  Anaconda replacement [Netherlands]

  Background The Netherlands procured the Anaconda to serve as a patrol vehicle for the Netherlands Marine Corps in the Dutch Caribbean. This role was previously filled ...

• Land: air defence radar

  GM 403M Air Defense Radar [Bangladesh]

  Background Bangladesh procured Ground Master 400 long-range radars for the protection of strategic points or forces deployed in external territories. The procurement is part of ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  Land Mobility Programme (Light Mobility Vehicle) [UK]

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

• LTVs - 4x4

  Light Forces Enhancement [Canada]

  Background The LFE programme was first launched in 2020 with the intention of providing the Canadian army with new light mobility platforms that could rapidly ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  G-Wagon Replacement [Norway]

  Programme Background The Norwegian Army began to acquire its fleet of 3,000 G-Wagons in the 1980s. They are currently used for a variety of roles, ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  G-Wagon Replacement [Sweden]

  Programme Background Sweden currently operates an estimated 400 G-Wagons across the Army and Air Force, where they are used in a logistics and support capacity.  ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  G-Wagon replacement [Germany]

  Background The G-Wagon, known as the Wolf in German service, has been operated by the Bundeswehr for decades. German forces also operate a number of ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  G-Wagon Replacement [Argentina]

  Programme Background Like many militaries around the world, the Argentine Army uses the G-Wagon as a logisitics and support vehicle. In keeping with other G-Wagon ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  G-Wagon Replacement [Belgium]

  Background Belgium is understood to have procured several hundred G-Wagons in the 1990s.  These were used for a range of functions, including logistics, command vehicles ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  G-Wagon Replacement [Latvia]

  Programme Background Latvia procured 240 G-Wagons from Norway in 2004. These vehicles had been kept in storage in Norway and had very low mileage. This ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  G-Wagon Replacement [Austria]

  Background Austria is understood to have procured over 1,000 G-Wagons, known as the Puch G in Austrian service. The Puch G-Class W461, currently operated by Austria, was ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• LTVs - 4x4

  Infantry Squad Vehicle

  The General Motors (GM) Defense Infantry Squad Vehicle (ISV) is a fully-integrated military platform based on the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 mid-sized truck chassis with Roll ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  Electric Military Concept Vehicle

  The Electric Military Concept Vehicle (e-MCV) is General Motors (GM) Defense's concept vehicle designed for the US Army's ongoing electric Light Reconnaissance Vehicle (eLRV) programme. Based on ...

• Land: air defence radar

  9S18M1E

  The 9S18M1E is a mobile, 3D, frequency-agile coherent pulse radar designed to detect and identify air threats and feed target data to the Buk-M1E AD ...

• Military vehicle engines

  6V53

  The 6V53 is a six cylinder, turbocharged diesel engine that stems from the GM Diesel Series 53 engine launched in 1957. The 6V53 has a ...

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

  2K12 Kub (SA-6 Gainful)

  The 2K12 Kub, known by its NATO reporting name SA-6 Gainful, is a Soviet-era mobile surface-to-air missile (SAM) system designed to provide ground forces with low ...

• Hybrid effector systems

  Tunguska

  KBP Instrument Design Bureau began development of the 2K22 Tunguska tracked self-propelled anti-aircraft gun and missile system in 1970 to provide the Soviet Army with ...

• Medium UGVs

  SURUS

  General Motors unveiled its Silent Utility Rover Universal Superstructure (SURUS) – a large, multipurpose, hydrogen-electric UGV – at the AUSA exhibition in Washington, DC, in ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  CombatGuard

  IMI Systems unveiled its new CombatGuard, a 4x4 armoured combat vehicle designed to provide a high level of off-road mobility, at Eurosatory 2014. It is ...

• Air: mission management systems

  TAIKS Fire Support C3 System

  TAIKS is the tactical element of AFSAS (see separate entry) that integrates fire support units and target acquisition systems with each other and other functional ...

• Subsystems: software

  Network Defense Trainer

  The Scalable Network Defense Trainer is an LVC simulation system for delivering realistic hands-on cyber training. It enables students to experience cyber attacks launched against ...

• Air: Electronic Attack - Jamming, Air: Electronic Attack - Pod

  Talisman [Defense Initiatives]

  The Talisman is an integrated self-protection system developed by Defense Initiatives of Belarus. It is designed to equip combat aircraft and is thought to be ...

• Land: COMINT and ELINT systems

  GenCOM Defense Ground

  GenCOM Defense Ground provides an automatic multi-layered situational awareness picture to the decision-maker, based on external signal data (metadata) gathered in real time. Integrating with ...

• Naval: COMINT and ELINT systems

  GenCOM Defense Naval

  GenCOM Defense Naval offers an automatic situational awareness picture achieved through integration with single or multiple CESM-DF arrival sensors deployed on an array of naval ...

• Air: COMINT and ELINT systems

  GenCOM Defense Air

  GenCOM Defense Air provides an automatic multi-layered situational awareness picture to the decision-maker, based on external signal data (metadata) gathered in real time. Integrating with ...

• Land: battle management systems

  ADC3

  IAI's Air Defense Command, Control and Communication (ADC3) was developed to meet the air defence mission requirements of Israeli Defense Forces.