• Defence Notes

  IDEF 2015: New ammo R&D company for Turkey

  7th May 2015

  Rheinmetall and MKEK will set up a new ammunition research and development company in Turkey within one year. The companies signed a Memorandum of Understanding …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Textron expands unmanned training options

  7th May 2015

  Textron announced the introduction of its new unmanned systems training course catalogue on 4 May, with a comprehensive range of unmanned systems coursework. The company …

• Defence Notes

  IDEF 2015: Gunship solution heading for Italian SF

  7th May 2015

  A six-barrelled variant of Oto Melara’s 20mm Gatling Gunship system for cargo aircraft is destined for the Italian Special Forces. Roberto Rossi, project manager at …

• Digital Battlespace

  Curtiss-Wright introduces SVDU1800 mission display

  6th May 2015

  Curtiss-Wright has announced the introduction of its SVDU1800 7-inch rugged LCD mission display, designed for use in ground vehicle environments, as well as helicopter and …

• Digital Battlespace

  Future Soldier 2025: Power Technology (video)

  6th May 2015

  A new battery pack has been created by Communications-Electronics Research, Development and Engineering Command (CERDEC) to replace the large and bulky batteries currently used by …

• Military Logistics

  USAF selects Array to support DCAPES requirements

  6th May 2015

  The US Air Force (USAF) has selected Array Information Technology to support its Deliberate and Crisis Action Planning and Execution Segments (DCAPES) system sustainment and …

• Digital Battlespace

  IDEF 2015: Fotoniks and BAE to deliver Turkish digital displays

  6th May 2015

  Turkish electronics company Fotoniks will deliver 16 new LiteHUD (Heads Up Display) systems to the Turkish Air Force with the assistance of BAE Systems. The …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  AUVSI 2015: Common USV headed to critical design review

  5th May 2015

  The Textron Systems Common Unmanned Surface Vehicle will head to the critical design review in the next six months in a bid to finalise the …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  AUVSI 2015: NASA moves like Greased Lightning

  5th May 2015

  NASA's Langley Research Center is moving its Greased Lightning GL-10 electric VTOL prototype into endurance testing after proving it can successfully transition from vertical to …

• Digital Battlespace

  Curtiss-Wright introduces MPMC-9331 mission computer

  5th May 2015

  Curtiss-Wright's defence solutions division has introduced the MPMC-9331 multi-platform mission computer, it announced on 29 April. The MPMC-9331 is fully qualified for a Program of …

• Land Warfare

  Lockheed Martin opens missile seeker lab

  5th May 2015

  Lockheed Martin has opened a new laboratory in Silicon Valley for the development of next-generation seekers for the US Missile Defense Agency, as announced by …

• Digital Battlespace

  Exelis, L-3 team for Commando II EW protection

  4th May 2015

  Exelis and L-3 Platform Integration have partnered to develop electronic self-protection capabilities for the US Air Force Special Operations Command’s (AFSOC) AC/MC-130J Commando II aircraft. …

• Defence Notes

  Raytheon wins DARPA TBG contract modification

  4th May 2015

  The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has awarded Raytheon a contract modification for the Tactical Boost Glide (TBG) programme, it was announced on 29 …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  AUVSI 2015: Four new payloads for Indago

  4th May 2015

  Lockheed Martin Procerus Technologies will showcase four additional payloads and a new hand-held controller for the Indago quadcopter at the AUVSI conference in Atlanta. The …

• Land Warfare

  ITEC 2015 (video): New features to expand opportunities for Masa Sword

  3rd May 2015

  Masa Group showcased new After Action Review (AAR) features as part of the MASA Sword 6.0 training system at ITEC in Prague.  Shephard spoke to …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - micro

  eBee Vision [US]

  Background Multiple orders In November 2025, the US Army acquired three eBee Vision systems to enhance training operations at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Germany. A ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Invincible Class (Type 218SG) (5-6) [Singapore]

  In March 2025, the Singapore Ministry of Defence (Mindef) announced it would acquire two more submarines to complement its four Type 218SG Invincible-class submarines. Speaking to ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Invincible Class (Type 218SG) (5-6) [Singapore]

  In March 2025, the Singapore Ministry of Defence (Mindef) announced it would acquire two more submarines to complement its four Type 218SG Invincible-class submarines. Speaking to ...

• Loitering munitions

  Small-Sized Suicide Drones [South Korea]

  Programme Background Drone Ambition As reported by Shephard, South Korea has ambitions to possess a large arsenal of drones. In May 2024, the presidential office ...

• AEW&C

  GlobalEye [Canada]

  Programme Background Canada and Sweden have been strengthening ties, particularly in defence, as middle powers continue to diversify their relationships due to increasingly strained relations ...

• Sealift/replenishment vessels

  Type 707 (1-2) [Germany]

  Programme Background Requirements The German Navy approved an acquisition to start replacing the two ageing Rhön-class (Type 704) class single-hulled tankers, which were constructed in the ...

• Military UAS - mini, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Switch V2 [India]

  Background June 2025 In June 2025, India’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced the signing of 13 contracts under the Emergency Procurement (EP) mechanism. The procurements, ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  Wolf 2 [Germany]

  Programme Background The Wolf 2 was designed by Mercedes-Benz to replace the German Bundeswehr's ageing fleet of Wolf utility vehicles. The Bundeswehr is currently replacing its ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Indonesian Interim Readiness Submarine Class (IRSC) Programme

  Following the sinking of KRI Nanggala in April 2021, the Indonesia Ministry of Finance (MoF) has granted approval to obtain up to $600 million in foreign loans ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Indonesian Interim Readiness Submarine Class (IRSC) Programme

  Following the sinking of KRI Nanggala in April 2021, the Indonesia Ministry of Finance (MoF) has granted approval to obtain up to $600 million in foreign loans ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  F-5E/F Adversary Trainer US Navy

  The F-5N is a single seat, dual engine supersonic land based fighter. It is designed to a service life of 9000 flight hours. The aircraft ...

• AEW&C

  E-7 Wedgetail (737) - UK

  Programme Background Seeking to replace its six ageing Boeing E-3 Sentry AEW&C;, the British Royal Air Force awarded Boeing a £1.89 billion contract in 2019 covering the ...

• Corvettes

  Ada Class Corvettes (1-2) [Ukraine]

  Programme Background Timeline In October 2020, the MoD of Ukraine and the President of the Turkish Defence Industries signed a memorandum of understanding. This outlined ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  CH-47F (Australia)

  Programme Background The government of Australia has requested to buy four CH-47F cargo helicopters with unique modifications: eight T55-GA-714A aircraft turbine engines, five AN/AAR-57 common ...

• AEW&C

  E-7 Wedgetail (Second Order) [U.K.]

  Programme Background Seeking to replace its six ageing Boeing E-3 Sentry AEW&C;, the British Royal Air Force awarded Boeing a £1.89 billion contract in 2019 ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Guided munitions

  LG-155

  Unveiled for the first time at Saha Expo 2024, the LG-155 is a 155 mm artillery round developed by Roketsan. This laser-guided projectile is engineered ...

• Deployable/static missile systems

  Oerlikon Laser Gun

  Rheinmetall showcased the applications for its High Energy Laser (HEL) guns for the first time at IDEX 2015 in Abu Dhabi. The Oerlikon Laser Gun ...

• Laser-directed energy weapons

  Locust

  BlueHalo's Locust is a laser weapon system. The system delivers a complete kill chain, providing a layered and broadband detection capability that is coupled with electronic ...

• Light machine guns

  LSAT LMG

  Textron Systems Unmanned Systems is developing and maturing a Lightweight Small Arms Technologies (LSAT) family of weapons and ammunition with the US Army that fires ...

• Loitering munitions, Military UAS - mini, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Attritable Multirotor First Person View (AM-FPV)

  Unveiled in May 2025, the Attritable Multirotor First Person View (AM-FPV) is a low-cost, rapidly deployable platform for strike and ISR missions, inspired by battlefield lessons from ...

• Land: COMINT and ELINT systems

  MEWS

  The Modular Electronic Warfare System (MEWS) is a land COMINT sensor that was jointly developed by L3 TRL and Qinetiq. Utilising L3 TRL compact receiver ...

• Land: fire control systems

  Oerlikon Skymaster

  Oerlikon Skymaster is the command and control unit of Rheinmetall's Skynex air defence system. The Skymaster is intended to support tactical and operational level air ...

• Land: air defence radar

  X-TAR 3D

  The X-Band Tactical Acquisition Radar 3D (X-TAR 3D) air surveillance and acquisition radar is the newest member of Rheinmetall’s X-TAR family. The fully coherent phased-array ...

• Land: COMINT and ELINT systems

  Smartscan- MEWS

  MEWS (Modular Electronic Warfare System) is a software-driven spectrum surveillance system covering two megahertz to three gigahertz. It is designed to detect, collect and geolocate ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  CM32/33/34 Yunpao

  The CM32 Yunpao (Cloud Leopard) family of 8x8 armoured vehicles has been developed to meet the requirements of the Republic of China Army to replace ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  SBTS

  The Shore-Based Sonar Training System (SBTS), launched in 2016, incorporates technology from the Model 997 Hull/Bow-Mounted Sonar Model 980 ALOFTS system to help support sonar ...

• Subsystems: visual

  Apogée 7

  Apogée 7 is an integrated COTS-based image generation system. It provides functions enhancing overall fixed- or rotary-wing simulation efficiency, image quality and supports large-area realistic ...

• Land: handheld NV devices

  NVS 7 Binocular Series

  Based on the NVS 7-3AG NVG, the NVS 7 Binocular Series uses Gen III auto-gated NV technology and is suitable for defence, marine and SAR ...

• Loitering munitions

  Lumberjack

  The Lumberjack is a one-way attack drone from  Northrop Grumman. The company describes the aircraft as a force multiplier. The drone follows an open systems architecture, ...

• Land: handheld NV devices

  Jaguar

  MKU's Jaguar 14 monoculars and Jaguar 7 binoculars have Gen III technology with military-grade Schott lenses. An automatic bright light cut-off sensor provides protection from ...