• Land Warfare

  Chinese light tank now comes with active protection

  8th August 2019

  Norinco’s VT5 light tank, a platform dedicated to the export market, is set to receive a hard-kill active protection system (APS).  Such a system detects …

• Digital Battlespace

  Podcast: Five Eyes Connectivity - SATCOM

  26th September 2019

  Welcome to Shephard Studio’s special series on Five Eyes Connectivity, sponsored by our partner Viasat.  Listen on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify and more. In the Five Eyes Connectivity podcast …

• Naval Warfare

  Philippines commissions second-hand ASW corvette

  9th August 2019

  The Philippine Navy (PN) formally took receipt of its new – or rather, second-hand – corvette from South Korea on 5 August. The 32-year-old Pohang …

• Land Warfare

  Thales assures future of Hawkei engines

  26th July 2019

  To ensure ongoing production of the Thales Australia Hawkei 4x4 light protected mobility vehicle for the Australian Army, the Thales conglomerate has acquired the vehicle's engine …

• Land Warfare

  BAE Systems awarded M109A7 extended range work

  17th July 2019

  BAE Systems is to carry out work to increase the range and rate of fire on current and future M109A7 self-propelled howitzers under a contract …

• Training

  Storm clouds arise for Pilatus in India

  18th July 2019

  The Indian Air Force’s (IAF) plans to acquire 38 additional PC-7 Mk II aircraft are in tatters after the country’s MoD imposed a one-year trading …

• Naval Warfare

  Japan launches eighth and final BMD destroyer

  18th July 2019

  Japan Marine United launched a new 8,200t escort warship at its Yokohama shipyard on 17 July – christened Haguro and bearing the pennant number 180 …

• Training

  USAF trains Nigerien Armed Forces

  15th July 2019

  As the threat from extremist groups in Africa continues to be felt, many nations from around the world are offering military support to the affected …

• Digital Battlespace

  Singapore rolls out SATCOM VAMTAC and MAN SX45 wrecker

  9th July 2019

  The Singapore Army unveiled a new SATCOM variant of the URO VAMTAC ST5, as well as MAN SX45 8x8 wreckers, in Singapore’s National Day mobile …

• Naval Warfare

  Barracuda launch sees France open new nuclear chapter

  12th July 2019

  The product of a generation of intellectual and physical labour from French industry, government and military agencies, the first of the French Navy’s Suffren-class nuclear-powered …

• Defence Helicopter

  South Korean LAH takes off for first time

  6th July 2019

  The Light Armed Helicopter (LAH) took to the air for the first time during a flight that lasted 20 minutes, this milestone being announced on …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Weaver selects UX11 UAV for surveying and mapping

  5th July 2019

  Weaver Consultants Group has selected Delair’s UX11 unmanned aerial vehicle to assist with its large-scale volumetric surveying and topographic mapping.  Commercial UAV manufacturer Delair along …

• Defence Notes

  L3 and Harris merger completes

  2nd July 2019

  Harris and L3 Technologies have completed the all-stock merger of the two companies, now operating as L3Harris Technologies. L3Harris will be headquartered in Melbourne, Florida, …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Thai navy fields new small UAV

  2nd July 2019

  Thailand’s Naval Research and Development Office (NRDO) has developed a small UAV called the Narai 3.0. So far, than 80 units have been produced for …

• Digital Battlespace

  Augmented reality aiding IDF’s situational awareness

  2nd July 2019

  New technology offers evolving methods of bringing visual, night vision, geographical and enemy location data together in an overlaid 3D visual augmented reality format, so …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Logistics Vessels (3-4) [Peru]

  In April 2024, Hyundai Heavy Industries was awarded a US$463 million contract to work alongside SIMA to construct and deliver four naval vessels; one frigate, one ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Logistics Vessels (3-4) [Peru]

  In April 2024, Hyundai Heavy Industries was awarded a US$463 million contract to work alongside SIMA to construct and deliver four naval vessels; one frigate, one ...

• Sealift/replenishment vessels

  Great Lakes Icebreaker [USCG]

  Background The US Coast Guard is seeking to procure a second Great Lakes Icebreaker (GLIB) to accompany its existing USCGC Mackinaw in operations in the ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  UH-60M - Jordan

  On 7 July 2020, the US State Department announced that it has approved a possible FMS of one UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter and related equipment ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Offshore Patrol Cutters (OPC 10 to OPC 25)

  The US Coast Guard (USCG) is planning on having up to 25 Offshore Patrol Cutters (OPC's) to replace the aging 29 medium-endurance cutters.The OPC programme ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Offshore Patrol Cutters (OPC 10 to OPC 25)

  The US Coast Guard (USCG) is planning on having up to 25 Offshore Patrol Cutters (OPC's) to replace the aging 29 medium-endurance cutters.The OPC programme ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Offshore Patrol Cutters (OPC 16 - 25) [USCG]

  The US Coast Guard (USCG) is planning on having up to 25 Offshore Patrol Cutters (OPC’s) to replace the ageing 29 medium-endurance cutters. The OPC ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Offshore Patrol Cutters (OPC 16 - 25) [USCG]

  The US Coast Guard (USCG) is planning on having up to 25 Offshore Patrol Cutters (OPC’s) to replace the ageing 29 medium-endurance cutters. The OPC ...

• Corvettes

  Merkuriy Class (Project 20386)

  Programme Background Requirements The Russian Navy has been streamlining the number of new ship classes to reduce logistic and maintenance costs, meaning around two to ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  4x4 Vehicles [Dominican Republic]

  Programme Background Requirement The Dominican Republic shares a border with Haiti, whose security situation has worsened since the 2010 earthquake. In order to improve border ...

• Loitering munitions

  Attack & Surveillance Drones (Ukraine Aid) [UK]

  Programme Background 1000th Day On 19 November 2024, the UK Government announced a new military support package for Ukraine, which would supply £7.5 million ($9.4 ...

• Maritime patrol

  Maritime Patrol Aircraft [Greece]

  Programme Background Requirement The Greek government issued a request for proposals in 2023, with a focus on acquiring modern, all-weather maritime surveillance aircraft. The intended ...

• Frigates

  Type 054A/P (Pakistan)

  Programme Background Contracts Pakistan has ordered four frigates from China under the Type 054AP programme, which refers to the vessels being based on the Peoples ...

• Light attack

  M-346 FA [Brazil]

  Programme Background Requirement Brazil operates several A-1 (AMX) light attack aircraft, which were produced by Embraer in partnership with Leonardo in the 1980s. Similarly, the ...

• Maritime patrol

  P-3 Orion replacement [Argentina]

  Background Shephard estimates that Argentina will soon have a new requirement for a more advanced Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) towards 2030 as there current fleet of second-hand ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Air: Integrated Defensive Systems

  ACES

  Raytheon's Advanced Countermeasures Electronic System (ACES) is an Integrated Self-Protection System (ISPS) designed to equip Lockheed Martin F-16 series combat aircraft. It includes sub-systems from ...

• Air: air combat simulators

  Royal Moroccan Air Force F-16 ATD

  L3Harris Technologies continues to upgrade the fielded F-16C Block 52 Aircrew Training Devices to include updates to the current Morocco F-16 OFP Tape and replacement ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-16A/B Block 1, 5, 10, 15, 20

  The F-16 Fighting Falcon programme started as a low-cost, highly manoeuvrable day fighter to complement the higher-cost, heavier McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle air superiority fighter. ...

• Land: range systems and targets

  Table Top Trainer Family

  The Table Top Trainer family is driven by customer demand for cost-effective and mobile simulation solutions for training in special functions such as laying bridges ...

• Sea: naval surveillance radar

  Fregat M2EM / Top Plate

  The Fregat M2EM, part of the 'Top Plate' radar family, is a three-dimensional, naval air and surface surveillance radar manufactured in Russia. The system is known to ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  Ajban LRSOV

  The Ajban Long-Range Special Operations Vehicle (LRSOV) is an open-top 4x4 long-range reconnaissance vehicle based on Nimr's Ajban multipurpose vehicle. The LRSOV seats four crew ...

• Unguided Mortar Ammunition

  M720A1 60mm Mortar Bomb

  US-based Day and Zimmerman's M720A1 60mm Mortar Bomb is a conventional high-explosive round designed to counter dismounted troops, bunkers lacking top cover, and unarmoured vehicles. 

• Unguided Mortar Ammunition

  M720A2 60mm Mortar Bomb

  US-based Day and Zimmerman's M720A2 60mm Mortar Bomb is a conventional high-explosive round designed to counter dismounted troops, bunkers lacking top cover, and unarmoured vehicles. 

• LTVs - 4x4

  Bastion Patsas

  Unveiled at Eurosatory 2012, the 4x4 Bastion Patsas is an open-top variant of ACMAT's Bastion family developed for SF operations. In 2012, Chad became the ...

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

  STR-50

  The STR-50 is a rotary-wing UAV manufactured by Stromkind.  Little is known about the platform. It was seen displayed on top of a Boxer 8x8 ...

• Land: vehicle simulators

  Convoy Table-Top Crew Station

  The Convoy Table-Top Crew Station simulates commander, driver and gunner positions of a HMMWV or tactical truck. The gunner position features a head-mounted display for ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  KG-255 INE

  The AltaSec KG-255 is an NSA-certified Type 1 inline network encryptor (INE) that supports the secure exchange of classified information, up to the Top Secret ...

• Military - USVs

  Adaro

  Adaro is a rugged, man-portable, X-class USV. Its series-hybrid energy system allows for quiet operation, including at top speeds, while the heavy fuel-based range extender ...

• Individual grenade launchers

  LG4

  The LG4 is a six-chamber, revolving-cylinder, shoulder-fired, semi-automatic 40x46mm grenade launcher. It is fitted with a top rail for optical sights and a bottom rail ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Multi-role Armored System (MARS) 4x4

  The MARS 4x4 is a mobile air defence platform manufactured by the Czech company SVOS. Originally designed with an open top, soon after its unveiling, ...