• Uncrewed Vehicles

  SOFIC 2015: UAS potential for Hatchet

  3rd June 2015

  Orbital ATK is exploring UAS applications for its Hatchet miniature precision strike weapon. Hatchet’s compact stowage design allows for compressed carriage on all sizes of …

• Defence Helicopter

  Airbus Helis wins H145M services

  3rd June 2015

  Airbus Helicopters has won a full-service contract from the German armed forces for the H145M helicopter, due to enter service with the German Air Force …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  China advances UAV tech

  3rd June 2015

  China's UAV industry is emerging in both military and civilian sectors, employing 3D-printed UAVs and a new military UAV. A Chinese Antarctic Expedition Team has …

• Defence Helicopter

  CAE updates RCAF Griffon simulator

  2nd June 2015

  CAE has been awarded a contract to update the CH-146 Griffon helicopter full-motion flight simulator of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). The $7.5 million …

• Defence Helicopter

  Flight test date set for SB>1 Defiant

  2nd June 2015

  The SB>1 Defiant Joint Multi-Role Technology Demonstrator (JMR-TD) will complete its first flight test in the third quarter of 2017, it was confirmed by Boeing …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  France receives third MQ-9 Reaper

  2nd June 2015

  General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA‑ASI) has delivered a third Predator B/MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to the French Ministry of Defense, the company …

• Digital Battlespace

  Airbus launches RedKite camera

  1st June 2015

  Airbus Defence and Space has launched RedKite, a new short-wave infrared technology (SWIR) camera, designed to give a clear view in spite of mist, fog …

• Defence Helicopter

  BAE completes CIRCM bridge

  1st June 2015

  BAE Systems has completed its technology development bridge programme for the US Army's Common Infrared Countermeasure (CIRCM) programme. CIRCM is a modular laser-based aircraft protection …

• Digital Battlespace

  Ultra acquires Kratos' EPD division

  1st June 2015

  Ultra Electronics has acquired Kratos Defense & Security Solutions' Electronic Products Division (EPD), a producer of RF and microwave subsystems and systems for electronic warfare …

• Naval Warfare

  USN to operate latest aircraft launcher

  1st June 2015

  Select sailors from the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) Pre-Commissioning Unit (PCU) have completed training and are ready to operate and maintain the newest …

• Land Warfare

  Rheinmetall/PGZ targets Polish LOTR

  29th May 2015

  Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles (RMMV) has signed a cooperation agreement with Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa (PGZ) and its subsidiary Obrum to develop a new wheeled armoured …

• Digital Battlespace

  Canadian Navy receive 85 721S radios

  29th May 2015

  Rockwell Collins has completed the delivery of all 85 contracted 721S radios to the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) fleet, it announced on 27 May. The …

• Land Warfare

  STK bullpup rifle advances

  29th May 2015

  ST Kinetics has developed a third prototype of its new 5.56mm Bullpup Multirole Combat Rifle (BMCR) that incorporates a moulded deflector. Briefing Shephard at its …

• Land Warfare

  Cambridge Pixel upgrades RTAF radar

  29th May 2015

  The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) has selected Cambridge Pixel to upgrade its air defence capabilities at select strategic sites, including training facilities and air …

• Land Warfare

  SOCOM call for TALOS tech

  28th May 2015

  US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) has released the latest technology solicitation of its five-year long TALOS (Tactical Assault Light Operator Suit) programme. A series of …

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 ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  Next-Generation Air-Refueling System (NGAS) [USA]

  Background The U.S. Air Force originally planned the KC-Y programme as a follow-on acquisition of an estimated 179 tankers to bridge the gap between the delayed ...

• 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 (Batch 1) [Germany]

  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 Wolf ...

• 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 ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  Wolf 2 (Batch 2) [Germany]

  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 Wolf ...

• 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 ...

• AEW&C

  GlobalEye [Canada]

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

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  Puma IFV (Batch 1) [Germany]

  Background The Puma tracked IFV was developed by PSM, a joint venture between KMW and Rheinmetall, to replace the German Army's legacy Marder IFVs. In ...

• 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 ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  KC-46A (USA)

  Programme Background The first five Low Rate Initial Production lots were contracted for a total of 67 aircraft for $10.94 billion. The initial contract signed ...

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 ...

• Directed energy weapons

  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 ...

• 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 ...