• Naval Warfare

  Is the health of Russia’s submarine fleet improving?

  14th February 2024

  The Russian Federation Navy submarine service has struggled to modernise in recent years, but progress on two main acquisition programmes could mean that it has turned a corner.

• Air Warfare

  UK P-8 Poseidons to get Sting Ray Mod 1 torpedoes

  1st December 2023

  The UK MoD has confirmed the selection of the BAE Systems Sting Ray Mod 1 torpedo as the future torpedo capability for its P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) fleet, alongside the US Navy's Mk54 weapon.

• Naval Warfare

  Better late than never: Spanish Navy commissions its first S-80A submarine more than 10 years behind schedule

  11th December 2023

  The S-80A Plus, a new class of ocean-going submarines, will enhance the Spanish Navy’s capabilities despite the challenges and delays experienced during their development and delivery.

• Air Warfare

  Kuwait receives four more Eurofighter Typhoons

  31st October 2023

  The Kuwait Air Force has taken delivery of four additional fighter jets from a fleet of 28 Tranche 3 Eurofighter Typhoons initially ordered back in 2016.

• Naval Warfare

  Singapore orders new OPVs for renewed maritime security force

  21st November 2023

  The Singapore Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) has ordered new Offshore Patrol Vessels from German shipbuilder Fassmer to modernise its maritime security forces.

• Land Warfare

  DSEI 2023: Australian companies launch rockets from Funnel Web robot, point to Ukraine potential

  7th September 2023

  Australian companies Black Sky Aerospace and Funnel Web Systems showcased a demonstration of rocket-firing from a UGV at Poland's MSPO, specifically pointing to potential in the war in Ukraine as a scenario where they could be used.

• Air Warfare

  Insight: Is the Watchkeeper UAV providing value for money for the British Army?

  8th September 2023

  The Watchkeeper UAS has garnered interest from countries like Poland and Romania, despite a chequered operational history in the UK. Shephard analyses the aircraft's capabilities and the cost they come at.

• Naval Warfare

  Freedom-class Littoral Combat Ship USS Marinette Littoral Combat Ship commissioned

  19th September 2023

  The latest USN Littoral Combat Ship (LCS), the Freedom-class USS Marinette (LCS 25) was commissioned on 16 September. It will be homeported at Naval Station Mayport, Florida.

• Land Warfare

  Oman to receive 301 TOW missiles

  4th October 2023

  Oman has had its $70 million purchase of Raytheon TOW 2B Radio Frequency missiles approved by the US State Department

• Naval Warfare

  Future of the South African Navy looks bleak despite new ships entering service

  29th November 2023

  The commissioning of SAS King Shaka Zulu, a Multi-Mission Inshore Patrol Vessel, into the South African Navy masks serious problems for the service as fleet availability falls dangerously low and capability atrophies.

• Naval Warfare

  Fourth US Navy TAO replenishment oiler launched despite cost concerns

  31st October 2023

  The fourth John Lewis-class (TAO-205) fleet replenishment oiler for the US Navy was launched in a ceremony at shipbuilder General Dynamics NASSCO’s San Diego facility on 28 October 2023.

• Air Warfare

  PLA shows off new UCAV, while CH-5 achieves sale to Iraq

  27th September 2023

  China's aerospace industry continues to develop and sell advanced UAVs both at home and on the international market and has displayed UCAVs at the China Helicopter Exhibition in Tianjin.

• Air Warfare

  Insight: How the P-8 Poseidon has conquered the maritime patrol aircraft market

  6th September 2023

  Shephard Defence Insight analyses the success story of the Boeing P-8 Poseidon, a multi-mission maritime patrol aircraft that has captured international interest, detailing its variants, operators and unit cost.

• Air Warfare

  Sweden accelerates Gripen E fighter jet delivery

  26th September 2023

  Adjustments to an existing contract aims to facilitate the continued development and operational use of Gripen C/D aircraft beyond 2030, in parallel with the introduction of the Gripen E next-generation fighter.

• Air Warfare

  Eurofighter Typhoon sales: what a difference a decade makes

  18th September 2023

  In the second week of August, BAE Systems released a statement confirming that 12 of 24 Typhoon Tranche 3 models had now arrived in Qatar. Despite this favourable export news, the aircraft’s industrial future remains somewhat clouded.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Main battle tanks

  Gepard Direct Support Vehicle

  Under the initial Gepard programme, the DSV was expected to enter service in 2021. It was to be operated in battalions, each consisting of four ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  Orlik (1-40) [Poland]

  Background Inception & Cancellation The Orlik programme was launched in early 2015 to procure a tactical UAV for short-range ISTAR missions for the Polish Army. Just one year ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - mini

  Wizjer [Poland]

  Programme Background Requirements In its Technical Modernisation Programme 2013-2022, the Polish Ministry of National Defense (MND) identified the need for several new types of UAVs ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing

  Gryf [Poland]

  Background Requirements The Polish Ministry of Defence (MoD) identified the need for several ingeniously produced UAVs to provide ISTAR and strike capabilities for its armed forces ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  S-70i (Philippines)

  The Black Hawk is believed to have been the most expensive of the aircraft that had been shortlisted for the PAF project, others being the ...

• Main battle tanks

  K2 (Phase 2, Batch 1) [Poland]

  Programme Background Requirement Poland's K2 purchase is the successor of the Wilk programme which aimed to replace the country's Soviet-era T-72 and PT-91 MBTs with a ...

• Pegaz Special Operations Vehicles

  Programme BackgroundRequirementThe Polish MoD has a long-standing requirement to procure a new 4x4 tactical vehicle to replace the M1165A1 HMMWVs and Oshkosh M-ATVs currently in ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  Heavy IFV [Poland]

  Programme Background Requirement Due to the perceived threat from Russia and the conflict in Ukraine, Poland has accelerated and expanded its plans to modernise its ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-35A (1-32) [Poland]

  Programme Background During MSPO 2021, Lockheed Martin announced details related to F-35A manufacturing for the Polish Air Force. According to J.R McDonald, Lockheed Martin’s VP, business ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  NBPWP Borsuk [Poland]

  Programme Background One of the highest priority equipment procurement programmes for the Polish MoD is the procurement of a new, NATO-standard platform to replace around ...

• Main battle tanks

  K2 (Phase 2) [Poland]

  Programme Background Requirement Poland's K2 purchase is the successor of the Wilk programme which aimed to replace the country's Soviet-era T-72 and PT-91 MBTs with a ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Rosomak [Poland - Third Batch]

  Programme Background The Polish Army selected the Rosomak 8x8 armoured vehicle (a version of Patria's Armored Modular Vehicle (AMV) 8x8 produced under licence by Rosomak) ...

• Submarines: conventional/attack

  Project ORKA [Poland]

  Programme Background Requirements The Orka-class submarine programme for the Polish Navy is intended to provide three new replacements for the remaining Kobben-class and Kilo-class SSKs. ...

• Loitering munitions

  Harop [Azerbaijan]

  Programme Background According to a December 2020 report by the Centre for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS), Azerbaijan acquired an estimated 50 Harop loitering munitions ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Rosomak [Poland - Fourth Batch]

  Programme Background The Polish Army selected the Rosomak 8x8 armoured vehicle (a version of Patria's Armored Modular Vehicle (AMV) 8x8 produced under licence by Rosomak) ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  Comp@n

  Comp@n software-defined radios were displayed at the MSPO exhibition in Poland in September 2016. Comp@n can be customised to the user’s requirements and features advanced ...

• Towed guns

  Hydra

  At MSPO 2016 in Poland, PIT-Radwar exhibited a prototype of the remote-controlled Hydra 35mm anti-aircraft gun developed for the Notec project to replace the Polish ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  Tadeas

  The Tadeas is a 6x6 APC developed by CSG Defence's Tatra Defence and first unveiled as MSPO 2024.

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - tactical, Military - USVs

  Drozd

  At MSPO 2025, the National Centre for Research and Development in Poland (NCBR) unveiled the Drozd, an uncrewed surface and air platform designed to support the logistic operations of ...

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

  Compact Multi-Mission Modular UAV (CMMAV)

  Unveiled at MSPO 2024, the Compact Multi-Mission Modular UAV (CMMAV) is a fixed-wing UAV and loitering munition being developed by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI). The ...

• Self-propelled mortars

  Rak

  HSW unveiled its Rak 120 mm SP mortar turret at MSPO 2008. It is designed to be integrated onto any suitable tracked or wheeled AFV ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  Ratel Heavy IFV

  The Ratel Heavy IFV is currently being developed by Huta Stalowa Wola (HSW). Sharing a base design with the NBPWP Borsuk, the Ratel trades amphibious capability ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  Anders Multirole Combat Platform

  The tracked WPB Anders multirole combat platform was designed to replace the BMP-1 IFV and other vehicles in Polish Army service. The Anders family is ...

• Surface-to-air missiles

  CAMM-MR

  The CAMM-MR (Common Anti-Air Modular Missile - Medium Range) is being developed collaboratively by MBDA and Poland's PGZ to enhance medium-range air defence capabilities, with ...

• Light tanks

  PL-01 DSV

  The PL-01 Direct Support Vehicle (DSV) is a technology demonstrator created by Polish company OBRUM in cooperation with BAE Systems.  First presented at the 2013 ...

• Air: aerial targets, Loitering munitions

  PLargonia

  The PLargonia is a delta-wing uncrewed aircraft that was showcased at MSPO 2025. It can operate as an aerial target and, when equipped with a ...

• Self-propelled guns

  Diana

  Konstrukta developed the Diana 155mm/52cal SPH, unveiled at MSPO in September 2015, to compete for the Indian Army’s tracked SPH requirement. Designed in accordance with ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Tur 7

  Unveiled in 2022, AMZ-Kutno's Tur 7 is the latest iteration of the company's Tur 4x4 armoured vehicles. The 12t vehicle is offered in several configurations ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  BOBR 3

  Developed by the Polish company AMZ, the BOBR 3 is an amphibious reconnaissance vehicle that aims to replace Poland's legacy BRDM-2 units. The latest variant ...

• Loitering munitions, Military UAS - fixed-wing

  HAASTA

  The HAASTA is a loitering munition and UAV revealed at MSPO 2023.  Designed by Łukasiewicz Institute of Aviation in collocation with Eurotech, the loitering munition is primarily designed ...