• Land Warfare

  Sweden’s recent air defence spend tips to $6 billion with 2026 procurement planned

  12th January 2026

  Procurement of various short-range systems will begin in the first quarter of 2026, with additional procurements to be made later in the year.

• Land Warfare

  India’s high-altitude logistics drone push drives demand as BonV Aero positions Air Orca

  5th May 2026

  The Indian Army's major drone procurement programme has drawn attention from BonV Aero which has developed its heavy-lift platform for extreme terrain missions.

• Air Warfare

  India confronts widening military helicopter gap as border demands intensify

  5th February 2026

  India’s major helicopter programmes are under the spotlight as the country turns to global partners to replace legacy helicopters with growing urgency.

• Naval Warfare

  Thales wins DE&S contract for portable autonomous command centres

  29th December 2025

  The agreement to provide portable autonomous command centres to the UK Royal Navy will enhance the service’s Mine Counter Measure operations and further integrate autonomous and uncrewed systems into its fleet.

• Land Warfare

  UK plans to adopt “phased approach to restarting” British Army Ajax programme

  28th April 2026

  The introduction of Ajax vehicles into British Army service was stopped after health issues during an exercise. However, an investigation reported “no single causal mechanism of the symptoms reported by our soldiers but rather a combination of multiple factors”.

• Air Warfare

  Focus on economy over capability highlights the cost imperative for CCA success

  20th February 2026

  Striking the right balance between cost and capability is likely to become more crucial in the increasingly competitive collaborative combat aircraft market. Shephard’s special CCA market report examines where the opportunities lie for suppliers.

• Air Warfare

  NATO needs to plug its drone gap to meet modern warfare requirements

  28th October 2025

  Despite shared goals, NATO’s counter-uncrewed aerial system efforts remain fragmented, with parallel initiatives lacking a unified doctrine or integrated deployment strategy.

• Naval Warfare

  A closer look at the US Navy’s $268 billion investment in shipbuilding by 2031

  14th May 2026

  The recently released USN 2026 Shipbuilding Plan anticipates the procurement of 185 crewed and uncrewed platforms in the next five years.

• Land Warfare

  Australia backs up investment promises with US$2.1 billion for Bushmaster and HIMARS

  28th April 2026

  The Australian government is ordering another 268 Thales Bushmaster medium protected mobility vehicles along with HIMARS for a second long‑range fires regiment.

• 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.

• Naval Warfare

  UK’s Type 31 frigate balances cost pressure with long-term export ambition

  24th June 2026

  The UK shipbuilder’s full-year results to the end of March revealed the impact of the £140 million charge linked to design changes and rework on the Royal Navy’s Type 31 frigate programme.

• Naval Warfare

  Can the West keep up with China’s “XXL” uncrewed submarines?

  12th January 2026

  The UK, the US and Australia have all been working on “extra-large” uncrewed underwater vehicles, but China’s reported development of a significantly larger capability demonstrates the country’s rapid advancement in underwater warfare.

• Naval Warfare

  Thales’ new Sonar 76Nano could equip UK Royal Navy on anti-submarine warfare missions

  15th December 2025

  The new sonar is designed to equip uncrewed underwater vessels, with the potential to be used by the Royal Navy for its Atlantic Bastion and Atlantic Net missions.

• Land Warfare

  UK hits pause on deployable mortar system procurement as US begins search

  24th July 2026

  The US Army's market survey into available 81mm and 120mm mobile mortar systems was launched only a few days after the UK suspended Project Stokes, an almost identical plan, “pending future decisions on prioritisation, resourcing and funding”.

• Naval Warfare

  Future Canadian Continental Defence Corvette will provide “Halifax-equivalent capabilities”

  22nd December 2025

  Although the CDC project is still in its early stages, the Canadian Department of National Defence already has some requirements for the future platforms.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - micro, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Multidomian Micro Drones [USSOCOM]

  Background Special Notice On 14 November 2024, a Special Notice was released that informed the industry that the US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) was looking for ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Massed Modular Aircraft (MMA) [USAF]

  Background MQ-9A Reaper Since 2007, the USAF has operated General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) MQ-9 Reaper, with the first order being placed in 2002. Over ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, 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 ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Multipurpose Modular Patrol Vessels (MMPV) (3-4) [Bulgaria]

  The Bulgarian Navy is procuring two multi-functional modular patrol vessels to replace four ageing Soviet-made vessels. In 2020, NVL Group was awarded the contract for the ...

• UAS: communication systems

  UAS: communication systems | MQ-9 Next [USAF]

  In May 2026, requirements were outlined for the USAF’s medium- to long-term replacement for the General Atomics (GA-ASI) MQ-9 Reaper, which it acquired in large ...

• UAS: flight control systems

  UAS: flight control systems | MQ-9 Next [USAF]

  In May 2026, requirements were outlined for the USAF’s medium- to long-term replacement for the General Atomics (GA-ASI) MQ-9 Reaper, which it acquired in large ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | European Patrol Corvette (EPC)/Buques de Protección Marítima (BPM) [Spain]

  The European Patrol Corvette (EPC) is being developed by a joint venture between Italy's Fincantieri, France's Naval Group (named Narviris), and Spain's Navantia. The corvette ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | European Patrol Corvette (EPC)/Buques de Protección Marítima (BPM) [Spain]

  The European Patrol Corvette (EPC) is being developed by a joint venture between Italy's Fincantieri, France's Naval Group (named Narviris), and Spain's Navantia. The corvette ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | European Patrol Corvette (EPC) [France]

  The European Patrol Corvette (EPC) is being developed by a joint venture between Italy's Fincantieri and France's Naval Group (named Narviris) and Spain's Navantia. The corvette ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | European Patrol Corvette (EPC) [France]

  The European Patrol Corvette (EPC) is being developed by a joint venture between Italy's Fincantieri and France's Naval Group (named Narviris) and Spain's Navantia. The corvette ...

• UAS: communication systems

  UAS: communication systems | Massed Modular Aircraft (MMA) [USAF]

  In May and July 2026, requirements were outlined for the USAF’s Massed Modular Aircraft (MMA), which appears to be the medium- and long-term replacement for the ...

• UAS: flight control systems

  UAS: flight control systems | Massed Modular Aircraft (MMA) [USAF]

  In May and July 2026, requirements were outlined for the USAF’s Massed Modular Aircraft (MMA), which appears to be the medium- and long-term replacement for the ...

• Corvettes

  Multipurpose Modular Patrol Vessels (MMPV) (3-4) [Bulgaria]

  Programme Background Timeline The Bulgarian Navy is procuring two multi-functional modular patrol vessels to replace four ageing Soviet-made vessels (see separate entry). German-based shipbuilder NVL ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | European Patrol Corvette (EPC) [Italy]

  The European Patrol Corvette (EPC) is being developed by a joint venture between Italy's Fincantieri, France's Naval Group (named Naviris), and Spain's Navantia. The patrol-type vessel ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | European Patrol Corvette (EPC) [Spain]

  The European Patrol Corvette (EPC) is being developed by a joint venture between Italy's Fincantieri and France's Naval Group (named Narviris) and Spain's Navantia. The corvette ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Air: Integrated cockpit systems, Land: Radio and SATCOM

  FlexLink

  FlexLink Adaptive Connectivity Solution is a developmental communications system that emphasises Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) design. Designed by Collins Aerospace, it can create cross-domain networks operating in ...

• Loitering munitions

  Damocles

  Unveiled in October 2025, the Damocles launched effect (LE) is a rotary-wing coaxial UAV designed to operate in peer warfare environments. Its primary role is as ...

• Loitering munitions

  S10s

  The S10s is a low-cost loitering munition from Pablo Air. The system is designed to operate as the strike platform, with the company's R10 operating alongside ...

• Data links

  FireNet

  FireNet is a tactical data link radio system that provides Link 16 capability in a small form factor. Produced by BAE Systems, it is offered in ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing

  Valiant

  The Vailent is a fixed-wing, VTOL-capable UAV from Griffon Aerospace. It has a modular open systems approach (MOSA), and various payloads can be fitted to ...

• EO/IR systems

  STAG8–MLD

  The STAG8-MLD is a stabilised gimbal system designed for ISTAR missions. Part of the STAG family, it features a Modular Open System Architecture (MOSA) for ...

• Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - small

  VAPOR CLE

  Unveiled at AUSA 2025, the VAPOR Combat Long Endurance (CLE) is the newest version of AeroVironment's (AV) rotary-wing VAPOR offerings. Compared to the older versions, VAPOR CLE ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  Gray Eagle 25M

  The Gray Eagle 25M (GE-25M) is a modernised variant of the Gray Eagle MALE fixed-wing UAV. The GE-25M features a Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA), advanced ...

• Loitering munitions

  Mayhem 10

  Introduced at AAAA 2026, the Mayhem 10 is, according to AeroVironment (AV), an autonomous, multi-role launched effect designed to deliver coordinated non-kinetic and kinetic effects. Deployable from air, ...

• Loitering munitions

  Switchblade 400

  At AUSA 2025, AeroVironment (AV) unveiled the Switchblade 400, a rocket-launched, medium-range, man-portable loitering munition. AV states the aircrat has been designed to defeat tanks and heavy ...

• Air: Electronic Attack - Jamming

  AN/ALQ-214 IDECM RFCM

  The ALQ-214 Integrated Defensive Electronic Countermeasures RF Countermeasures (IDECM RFCM) subsystem comprises an onboard technique generator developed by Harris integrated with an offboard fibre-optic towed ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - small

  ThunderB-NG VTOL

  The ThunderB-Next Generation VTOL, or ThunderB-NG VTOL, is a vertical take-off and landing capable version of the ThunderB. The fixed-wing UAV features a fully autonomous flight control system ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, 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 UAS - MALE, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  MQ-72C Lakota Connector

  The MQ-72C Lakota Connector is an uncrewed version of Airbus' UH-72B, primarily designed to provide contested logistics in austere expeditionary environments. Airbus has partnered with L3Harris, Shield AI, ...

• Military - USVs

  Variant 7

  The Variant 7 is a 7.8m autonomous unmanned surface vessel (USV) developed by Blue Ops, the maritime business unit of Red Cat Holdings.