• Defence Helicopter

  LAAD 2017: Show highlights (video)

  7th April 2017

  The Shephard Media team talk through highlights of this week's show and discuss the region's economic problems that have implicated the progress of current and …

• Land Warfare

  Analysis: Israel makes inroads into Africa

  7th April 2017

  With high-end solutions, competitive pricing and expeditious delivery times, Israel is rapidly strengthening its position as one of the main players in weapons exports to …

• Land Warfare

  LAAD 2017: ASTROS artillery stays on target

  7th April 2017

  Brazil's rocket artillery modernisation and acquisition programme remains on track to meet its full entry into service in 2020.Jose Julio Dias Barreto, the ASTROS 2020 …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Rajant’s Kinetic Mesh selected for Intellos A-UGV

  7th April 2017

  Sharp Electronics will use Rajant's Kinetic Mesh wireless technology as the wireless communications infrastructure platform for its Intellos automated unmanned ground vehicle (A-UGV), the company …

• Land Warfare

  BAE signs Estonia CV90 support contract

  7th April 2017

  BAE Systems has been awarded contracts by the Estonian government to support the country's fleet of CV9035 infantry fighting vehicles (IFV). The company announced the …

• Digital Battlespace

  GDUK wins UK battlefield network contract

  7th April 2017

  General Dynamics UK will design and develop the UK's next-generation tactical communication and information system as the initial phase of the MORPHEUS programme. The company …

• Digital Battlespace

  Thales, PT Len extend MoU

  7th April 2017

  Thales' Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Indonesia's PT Len has been extended to include cooperation in combat management systems (CMS) in the country.The MoU was …

• Land Warfare

  India approves K9 artillery buy

  7th April 2017

  India approved an approximately $650 million procurement of 100 tracked self-propelled howitzers (SPH) of 155mm 52-calibre, with an option for 50 more, on 29 March.Larsen …

• Land Warfare

  LAAD 2017: Brazil FMS upgrades roll on

  6th April 2017

  Mistaken reports of the arrival of the first upgraded M109A5+ self-propelled howitzer to the Brazilian Army have been rebuffed by manufacturer BAE Systems.The company has …

• Military Logistics

  SOFINS: ​Airbus DS details A400M milestones

  6th April 2017

  Airbus Defence and Space used the recent SOFINS exhibition to detail the latest achievements of its A400M aircraft and the fact the tactical transporter is …

• Land Warfare

  LAAD 2017: Budget delays projects (video)

  6th April 2017

  Gen Div Guido Amin Naves of the Brazilian Army speaks with Shephard about current programmes and the economic challenges facing future projects.With budget restrictions influencing …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  SAS 2017: USCG envisions UAS blend

  6th April 2017

  The United States Coast Guard (USCG) has made no secret of its interest in small unmanned aircraft systems (SUAS) for shipboard operations aboard its new …

• Defence Notes

  Korea decisions - shutting down the DPRK's business

  6th April 2017

  With North Korea responding to international sanctions against its weapons of mass destruction (WMD) development programme with smirks, the US administration has a myriad of …

• Digital Battlespace

  Milipol Asia 2017: SuperneT U-Agile+ bridges comms gaps

  6th April 2017

  Seeing a gap between military and homeland security communication networks, ST Electronics has developed application-based software named SuperneT U-Agile+ to bridge the two systems.Its release …

• Land Warfare

  LAAD 2017: Turret developments for Guarani

  5th April 2017

  As Brazilian Army vehicle programmes begin to stall, there is still scope for the installation of new turrets.On the back of a contract to build …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• MPVs - 4x4

  Land 121 Phase 4 [Australia]

  Programme background Three suppliers were originally down-selected to meet the Land 121 Phase 4 requirement: Thales Australia, General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) and Force Protection ...

• Fighter - naval

  F-35C (FY2021-2025) [USA]

  Background In order to achieve their ultimate goal of 340 F-35C fighters, the U.S. Navy contracted a total of 101 platforms between FY2021 and FY2025. ...

• Fighter - naval

  F-35C (FY2026-2030) [USA]

  Background In order to achieve their ultimate goal of 340 F-35C fighters, the U.S. Navy contracted a total of 101 platforms between FY2021 and FY2025. ...

• Loitering munitions

  Project Instigator [UK]

  Background Prior Information Notice (PIN) On 21 October 2024, the MoD published a PIN in collaboration with the Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S;). The notice announced ...

• Loitering munitions

  Phoenix Ghost (Ukraine Aid) [US]

  Background Presidential Drawdown Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022, on 21 April 2022, President Biden announced an $800 million Presidential Drawdown security ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  Land 400 Phase 3 (Amphibious Vehicles) [Australia]

  Programme Background The Australian DoD released the initial RfI for the Land 400 Phase 3 programme in November 2015. Following consultations with local industry, the ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  Land 400 Phase 3 (Logistics, Ammunition Carrier and Mortar Carrier Variants) [Australia]

  Programme Background The Australian DoD released the initial RfI for the Land 400 Phase 3 programme in November 2015. Following consultations with local industry, the ...

• Main battle tanks

  Main Battle Tank Upgrade [Australia]

  Programme Background Between 2006 and 2007, the Australian Army received 59 M1A1 AIM SA Abrams MBTs under Project Land 907 Phase 1. These vehicles were planned to ...

• Long Range Missile Defence Systems: > 90km range

  Land Ground Based Air Defence [UK]

  Background In November 2023, the UK published the Land Ground Based Air Defence (GBAD) Prior Information Notice, which informed industry of the future direction of the ...

• Loitering munitions

  Land Lethality Pipeline [UK]

  Background Defence Investment Plan (DIP) In late June 2026, the UK published its delayed Defence Investment Plan (DIP), which outlined plans to spend £298 billion ...

• 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 ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Bayraktar TB3 [Turkish Army]

  Background Land Forces Command Delivery In late October 2024, Haluk Bayraktar, Baykar's CEO, stated that the Bayraktar TB3 had entered mass production and could be exported ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  Light utility vehicle replacement [Portugal]

  Background The Portuguese Army currently operates several classes of light utility vehicle, including the Mercedes G-Wagon, Toyota Land Cruiser, Land Rover Defender and Mitsubishi L200. ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  ACV (Batch 2) [USA]

  Background The Armoured Combat Vehicle (ACV) programme is intended to provide a replacement for the USMC's fleet of Amphibious Assault Vehicle 7 (AAV7) tracked vehicles. ...

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

  NASAMS [Australia]

  Background The Australian Department of Defence (DoD) initiated the LAND 19 Phase 7b programme, which intends to replace the Bofors RBS 70 VSHORAD system with ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Trainer, Transport

  EMB-121 Xingu

  The EMB-121 Xingu is a twin-turboprop light transport and advanced multi-engine trainer aircraft developed by Embraer based on the EMB-110 Bandeirante. Its maiden flight was ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  Hawkei

  Thales Australia developed the 4x4 Hawkei for the Australian Army's Land 121 Phase 4 Protected Mobility Vehicle – Light (PMV-L) project.  The prototype was unveiled in ...

• Military UAS - mini

  Aertos 121

  The Digital Aerolus Aertos 121 ducted-fan quadrotor UAV is an improved version of the Aertos 120 infrastructure inspection platform. It is designed as an asset for ...

• Towed mortars

  Soltam K6 120mm Lightweight Towed Mortar

  The Soltam K6 120mm Lightweight Towed Mortar has a maximum range of 7,200m using conventional unassisted bombs. The K6 was selected for US Army service ...

• Land: air defence radar

  KRONOS Land

  KRONOS is a mobile multifunctional C-band radar system designed by Leonardo to support air and coastal defence tactical operations.  The system simultaneously performs surveillance, dedicated target ...

• Land: soldier modernisation systems - national programmes

  Land 125

  In 1994, Australia initiated Project Wundurra to develop an integrated soldier combat system, and by 2005 this had evolved into the multi-phase Land 125 programme ...

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

  Land Ceptor

  MBDA Land Ceptor is a medium-to-long range ground-based air defence missile system based on the Common Anti-Air Modular Missile (CAMM) family of surface-to-air missiles developed ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Superav Land

  The Superav Land 8x8 is a modular vehicle with a large diameter turret ring that can be adjusted to fit a wide variety of remote-controlled ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  ALADIN

  ALADIN is a miniature system consisting of a man-portable GCS and a hand-launched air vehicle with exchangeable sensor payloads.  The UAV, which can be operated ...

• Transport

  C-40 Clipper

  The USN began replacing its ageing fleet of 29 McDonnell Douglas C-9B Skytrain aircraft in 1997 with the C-40A Clipper, a military version of the ...

• Towed guns

  Boran

  Turkey’s Makina ve Kimya Endustrisi Kurumu (MKEK), working with Aselsan, has developed the 105mm Boran towed artillery gun to meet a Turkish Land Forces Command ...

• Land: vehicle surveillance/target acquisition systems

  T-VIEW-Land

  The T-VIEW-Land is a lightweight EO/IR, gyro-stabilised sensor, installed on vehicles for day/night observation. It incorporates two cameras: a thermal imager and a colour charge-coupled ...

• Naval guns, Land: RWS

  Naval/Land Rogue

  The Land Rogue is an RWS developed by Reutech for installation on armoured vehicles. Capable of being armed with a 7.62mm machine gun, a 12.7mm ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  G-Wagon

  Mercedes-Benz G-Wagons are designed to meet specific military needs and have been in production since 1979. The vehicle comes in several variants, including 4x4 and 6x6 versions. ...

• Military vehicle engines

  V903

  The V903 is a series of heavy-duty V8 diesel engines developed to power military vehicles. Production began in 1981 after the 500 hp VTA-903-500 variant ...