• Uncrewed Vehicles

  BVLOS, the next frontier for commercial UAVs

  17th November 2017

  Demand for range and endurance capabilities commonly associated with military UAVs is increasingly coming from the commercial sector. Beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) was …

• Digital Battlespace

  Dubai Airshow 2017: Orbital focus the Eliminator in Middle East

  8th November 2017

  The latest version of Orbital ATK’s AC-208 Armed Caravan will take centre stage for the US company at the Dubai Airshow, with the Middle East …

• Training

  I/ITSEC 2017: FoxGuard Solutions enters T&S market

  15th November 2017

  Christiansburg, Virginia-based FoxGuard Solutions, best known for its industrial computing capabilities, has branched out into the military training and simulation market with the launch of …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  MQ-9 shows off ASW capabilities

  15th November 2017

  General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) has announced that its MQ-9 Predator B UAS has demonstrated the remote detection and tracking of submerged contacts, such as …

• Digital Battlespace

  Harris develops fully digital GPS III payload

  13th November 2017

  Harris Corporation has completed development of a fully digital Mission Data Unit designed for its navigation payload for Lockheed Martin’s Global Positioning System (GPS III) …

• Land Warfare

  Lithuania boosts JLTV export prospects

  8th November 2017

  Lithuania’s Ministry of National Defence has announced its intention to purchase the US Army’s new Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV), marking yet another export success …

• Defence Helicopter

  Russian Navy receives modernised Ka-29s

  14th November 2017

  The Russian Navy’s Pacific Fleet has received six modernised Ka-29 ship-based combat transport helicopters, the Russian Ministry of Defence announced on 9 November. The helicopters …

• Land Warfare

  D&S 2017: Ukraine showcases amphibious APC (video)

  7th November 2017

  The Ukrainian defence holding group, Ukroboronprom, showcased its amphibious APC at Defense and Security 2017 as it targets the Thai marine requirement. Speaking to Shephard, Yuriy …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Indian Army launches hunt for 60 UAVs

  19th November 2017

  The Indian Army is seeking a short-range UAV to boost the ISR capabilities of combat units deployed along the country’s borders with China and Pakistan. …

• Land Warfare

  IDF orders Spike LR II missiles

  26th October 2017

  Rafael Advanced Defense Systems has received a contract from the Israel Defense Force (IDF) to supply more than 1000 Spike LR II precision-guided missiles, the …

• Land Warfare

  MBDA partners with Safran for MMP

  9th November 2017

  MBDA has entered into a global strategic partnership with Safran Electronic and Defense as part of its bid to supply the Missile Moyen Portee (MMP) …

• Land Warfare

  China to deliver Thai VN1s next year

  13th November 2017

  The Royal Thai Army (RTA) will receive its first batch of 34 VN1 8x8 IFVs from Norinco next year, and it has plan to procures …

• Defence Notes

  D&S 2017: Shephard's hot topics (video)

  6th November 2017

  On the first day of Defense and Security 2017 in Thailand Shephard's Asia-Pacific Editor, Gordon Arthur, highlights some of the new platforms present at the show and …

• Defence Helicopter

  Mexican Navy roaring to go with more Panther deliveries

  22nd November 2017

  The Mexican Navy received its seventh and eighth Airbus Helicopters AS565MBe Panther aircraft on 13 November at Naval Air Base Minatitlán, Veracruz. The aircraft was …

• Land Warfare

  D&S 2017: DTI presents new marine vehicle (video)

  6th November 2017

  Thailand's Defence Technology Institute (DTI) presented its new 8v8 amphibious vehicle for the Thai Marine Corps at Defense and Security in Bangkok.  Shephard spoke with Col. …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military helicopters - multirole

  UH-2 (Japan)

  Programme Background The UH-2 is a Japanese militarised version of Bell’s civilian 412EPX, with the two OEMs cooperating on this particular programme. The Acquisition, Technology ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  UH-2 Forecast (Japan)

  Programme Background The UH-2 is a Japanese militarised version of Bell’s civilian 412EPX, with the two OEMs cooperating on this particular programme. The Acquisition, Technology ...

• Trainer

  T-6C [Thailand]

  Programme Background The contract is for 12 Beechcraft T-6C Texan II advanced military training aircraft, ground-based training systems for pilots and maintenance professionals, a mission ...

• ISR/special mission

  ISTAR Aircraft (South Korea)

  Programme Background South Korean Defense Acquisition Program Administration stated that Seoul is planning to procure additional aircraft to minimize potential surveillance gaps amid growing security ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  Surion Marine Attack Helicopter [South Korea]

  Programme Background The ROKMC has planned to obtain 24 attack helicopters for the first time. When bidding opened in January 2019, there were five contenders: Bell ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - small

  KUS-FT (South Korea)

  Programme Background Requirement The ROKA had identified a need for tactical UAVs that can be employed at the divisional level to carry out ISTAR missions ...

• Military UAS - micro, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  FPV Drones [Israel]

  Background Reported Programme According to the Globes media outlet, reporting in March 2025, the Ministry of Defense Department of Production and Procurement was publishing the ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  KUS-FS (ROKA) [South Korea]

  Programme Background Inception The Aerospace Division of Korean Air (KAL-ASD) commenced developing the MUAV in 2008 in response to a ROKAF requirement for a MALE ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  Bayraktar TB2 [Croatia]

  Background Contract Award As reported by Shephard in November 2024, Croatia's government approved the purchase of six Bayraktar TB2 drones, a training package in Türkiye, a command-and-control centre, ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  KUS-FS (ROKAF) [South Korea]

  Programme Background Inception The Aerospace Division of Korean Air (KAL-ASD) commenced developing the MUAV in 2008 in response to a ROKAF requirement for a MALE UAV ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - HALE

  RQ-4 Global Hawk (South Korea)

  Programme Background Requirments Seoul required UAS assets to help monitor its neighbour to the north and, increasingly, Chinese activities in waters and in the air near ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - HALE

  RQ-4 Global Hawk (Japan)

  Programme Background Selection & Contract AwardIn 2015, Northrop Grumman's RQ-4 Global Hawk UAS and E-2D Advanced Hawkeye airborne early warning aircraft were selected by Japan to ...

• Loitering munitions

  Long Range One-way Platforms [US]

  Solicitation In October 2024, the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) released a solicitation for long-range, one-way platforms. The DIU noted recent conflicts highlighted the asymmetric impact of low-cost, ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  Eurodrone (Forecast) [Czechia]

  Programme Background Eurodrone Programme For context, the European MALE RPAS, or Eurodrone, is a quad-nation effort from some of Europe's most prominent defence manufacturers to ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  Eurodrone (Forecast) [Japan]

  Programme Background Japan's Application The Letter of Approval (LOA) for observer status in the programme was presented to the Japanese Ambassador to Germany, Hidenao Yanagi, by Joachim ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Land: COMINT and ELINT systems

  GenCOM Defense Ground

  GenCOM Defense Ground provides an automatic multi-layered situational awareness picture to the decision-maker, based on external signal data (metadata) gathered in real time. Integrating with ...

• Major networking projects

  DCGS

  The Distributed Common Ground System (DCGS) is the Defense Airborne Reconnaissance Office plan for the integrated architecture of all ground and surface computing and communications ...

• EO/IR systems

  CM262

  Manfuaucted by AVT Australia, the CM262 is a ground-based imaging system combining four sensor configurations into a compact and ruggedised system for C-UAS and ISR ...

• Land: air defence radar

  KRONOS Power Shield Land

  This system is an L-band digital AESA anti-TBM radar. It is the land-based version of the naval KRONOS Power Shield, also known as KRONOS Ground ...

• Surface-to-air missiles

  AMRAAM-ER

  The AIM-120 AMRAAM-ER is essentially an upgraded version of the AIM-120 AMRAAM tailored for extended range and enhanced performance in ground-based air defense systems like ...

• Short Range Missile Defence Systems: 0 to 20 km range

  Initial Maneuver - SHORAD

  Unveiled at AUSA 2019, Initial Maneuver Short Range Air Defense (IM-SHORAD) is a multipurpose platform, based on the Stryker IFV, which moves and maneuvers in ...

• Parvus DuraCOR 312

  The Parvus DuraCOR 312 is an Ultra-Small Form Factor (USFF) modular mission computer unveiled by Curtiss-Wright Defense Solutions in November 2016. The DuraCOR 312 is ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  Type 87

  The Type 87 is a 6x6 armoured reconnaissance vehicle developed by the now defunct Defense Division of Komatsu to meet the specific requirements of the ...

• AEW&C

  P600 AEW&C

  In June 2019, Embraer and IAI/Elta signed a cooperation agreement aimed at developing an AEW&C; aircraft based on the business jet Praetor 600, namely the ...

• Land: battle management systems

  AMDWS

  AMDWS (Air and Missile Defense Work Station), is a collaborative battlespace awareness information management system developed by Northrop Grumman to meet the requirements of the ...

• Long-range Video and Data Downlinks

  BMS airborne and ground-based equipment enables long-range, real-time HD video and broadband data links. Products include cockpit control panels, airborne antennas, real-time encoders, compact high-power ...

• Land: battle management systems

  FAAD/C-RAM C2

  The Forward Area Air Defense (FAAD) Command and Control (C2) system was developed by Northrop Grumman to provide command and control (C2) for the US Army ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing

  Airborne Launching and Attack System (AirLAS)

  The Airborne Launching and Attack System (AirLAS) is a system that pairs Diehl Defence's IRIS-T air-to-air missile with a reusable carrier UAV developed by POLARIS. The companies ...

• Data links

  Universal Link System

  Developed by Scytalys, the Universal Link System (ULS) is a modular, scalable multi data link processor. It supports all NATO and US standard data links ...

• Surface-to-air missiles

  MIM-72 Chaparral

  The MIM-72 Chaparral is a short-range, low-altitude, surface-to-air missile produced for the M48 Chaparral fire unit. It was produced as a replacement for the cancelled MIM-46 Mauler ...