• Air Warfare

  DSEI 2023: Striker II helmet programme for Typhoon fighter jet gets £40 million boost

  13th September 2023

  This development contract for the Striker II helmet system aims to enhance the capabilities of the Eurofighter Typhoon fleet, providing advanced technology and improved operational effectiveness.

• Naval Warfare

  New and improved landing craft to boost amphibious ops for Dutch marines

  19th September 2023

  The Royal Netherlands Navy (RNLN) is embarking on the upgrade and replacement of its existing amphibious landing craft to provide new capabilities for long-range transport and marine assault.

• Air Warfare

  Boeing gives F-15EX new lease of life with EW and weapons upgrade

  13th November 2023

  Boeing has expressed confidence in the F-15EX's appeal to both existing F-15 operators and potential new customers at the Dubai Airshow 2023.

• Naval Warfare

  Birdon selected for new Australian medium littoral craft with plans for the heavy element to follow

  23rd November 2023

  The Royal Australian Navy is developing a new amphibious capability that will allow it to forward position Australian Army units from shore-to-shore or ship-to-shore at long distances. This will enhance the Australian Defence Force’s (ADF’s) rapid deployment capability and ability to operate in a contested environment.

• Air Warfare

  UK set to host headquarters for GCAP sixth-generation fighter project, reports suggest

  22nd September 2023

  As discussions about the Global Combat Air Programme's headquarters location continue, Japan may lead the UK-based HQ to maintain programme balance.

• Naval Warfare

  DSEI 2023: does the Royal Navy's surface combatant recapitalisation go far enough after a decade of neglect?

  6th September 2023

  The UK Royal Navy (RN) operates one of the world’s premier fleets with the ability to deploy high-end warships globally and retains key competencies in carrier aviation, amphibious and undersea warfare that few can boast. It also provides the UK’s nuclear deterrent submarines. Despite this potential, it needs to recover from a decade of neglect to sustain these capabilities.

• Defence Notes

  Research paper points to a Russian ‘ghost navy’ providing logistical support

  19th October 2023

  Russia has been using commercial vessels to move military equipment to avoid controls, according to a report from NATO Defense College and RUSI.

• Land Warfare

  Insight: The UK's Challenger 3 tank programme gets ready for service in 2025

  4th September 2023

  Initially planned for service entry between 2027 and 2030, the British Army's first Challenger 3 tanks remain on track for accelerated delivery in 2025. Shephard Defence Insight provides full technical details and a programme update for this vital UK armoured capability.

• Naval Warfare

  India to speed up acquisition of further aircraft carrier

  28th September 2023

  India's first domestically built aircraft carrier was massively late by six years, but the country thinks it can do better with the next ship.

• Land Warfare

  AUSA 2023: Hanwha K9 Thunder becomes ‘best-selling’ 155mm SP artillery system

  18th October 2023

  Hanwha’s K9 Thunder customers are considering upgrading their equipment to the K9A2 following the South Korean Army’s example.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  DSEI 2023: UMS Skeldar and Marshall unveil containerised deployment system for V-200 UAS

  11th September 2023

  UMS Skeldar and Marshall Land Systems are unveiling the Battlefield Deployable Uncrewed Aerial System (BDUAS) at DSEI, a complete package for transporting, maintaining and controlling a Skeldar V-200 UAV.

• Air Warfare

  MBDA's Enforcer missile system gears up for full-scale production for Germany

  31st October 2023

  As the Enforcer system awaits approval from the Bundeswehr, the full-rate production has been scheduled to commence before the end of 2023. MBDA has also been exploring various Enforcer variants including an air-launched version.

• Training

  Elbit UK’s Joint Fires Synthetic Trainer delivers nearly 5,000 training hours

  21st September 2023

  Elbit Systems UK’s Joint Fires Synthetic Trainer (JFST) has officially achieved Initial Operating Capability (IOC).

• Naval Warfare

  New Italian Navy uncrewed systems receive initial funding

  3rd November 2023

  The Italian Navy has been notable for its significant lack of investment in uncrewed systems and has no operational capabilities in this domain, but the recent three-year Defence Programmes document has initiated two new projects.

• Air Warfare

  Dubai Airshow 2023: GA-ASI and Edge forge MQ-9B weapon integration partnership on future UAE drones

  13th November 2023

  The partnership between Edge and General Atomics aims to concentrate on incorporating precision-guided munitions and guided-glide weapon systems onto forthcoming MQ-9Bs, provided that the Gulf Country gains access to the platform.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Loitering munitions

  Nyan OWE [UK]

  Background Transparency Notice On 13 February 2026, the UK MOD published a transparency notice concerning OWE Nyan, specifically, the procurement of OWE drones for operational ...

• Military UAS - rotary-wing

  FPV & Attack Drones (Ukraine Aid) [UK & Norway]

  Background £450 million On 11 April 2025, the UK MoD announced a £450 million package for Ukraine, which included £350 million from the UK from this ...

• Loitering munitions

  Altius 600M & Altius 700M (Ukraine Aid) [UK]

  Programme Background Anduril On 6 March 2025, the UK MoD and John Healey, the Secretary of State for Defence, announced a package to help counter Russia's aggression against ...

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

  AR3 (Ukraine Aid) [UK]

  Background £270 Million investment On 15 September 2025, the UK MoD noted that, since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the UK ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Multi-Role Vehicle (Protected) (MRV-P) Package 1 (UK)

  Programme Background Requirement The MRV-P programme was intended to procure replacements for a diverse fleet of 4x4 and 6x6 vehicles purchased during the wars in Iraq ...

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

  30,000 FPV Drones (Ukraine Aid) [UK]

  Programme Background IDCC On 9 January 2025, the UK MoD announced that 30,000 FPV drones would be sent to Ukraine after the awarding of £45 million ...

• Sealift/replenishment vessels

  Fleet Solid Support (FSS) (1-3) [UK]

  Programme Background Requirement The 2015 Strategic Defence & Security Review (SDSR) highlighted the requirement for three Military Afloat Reach & Sustainability (MARS) Fleet Solid Support (FSS) ...

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

  Project Tiquila [UK]

  Programme Background Tender Notice On 18 September 2020, the MoD Combat Air Unmanned Air Systems (UAS) Team published a tender notice for a system integrator ...

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

  First Person View (FPV) Drones (Ukraine Aid) [UK]

  Programme Background 2024/2025 Military Aid Package On 12 January 2024, the UK government announced it would provide Ukraine with £2.5 billion ($3.2 billion) in military ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  New Medium Helicopter (NMH) [UK]

  Programme Background NMH Market Interest Day On 11 November 2021, the MoD communicated the requirements of the £1 billion ($1.34 billion) New Medium Helicopter (NMH) ...

• 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 ...

• Fighter - naval

  F-35B [United Kingdom]

  Programme Background The total cost of the currently funded programme as reported through the UK Major Projects Report is expected to be £10.5 billion ($13.5 ...

• Loitering munitions

  Project Brakestop [UK]

  Background Information Notice On 25 September 2024, the UK MoD published a prior information notice for Project Brakestop, informing industry of the upcoming competition. Requirements ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | AUKUS-SSNs/SSN(R) Astute Replacement Programme [UK]

  The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has begun the planning process for the Astute class replacement programme referred to as SSN-Replacement (SSN(R)). In September 2021, it was announced ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | AUKUS-SSNs/SSN(R) Astute Replacement Programme [UK]

  The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has begun the planning process for the Astute class replacement programme referred to as SSN-Replacement (SSN(R)). In September 2021, it was announced ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Major networking projects

  Project Marshall

  The Joint Military Air Traffic Services project was initiated by the UK MoD in November 2005 to identify and evaluate options for the future delivery ...

• Light UGVs

  T7

  The T7 is a multi-mission robotic system designed for military, police and hazardous missions. At DSEI 2017, the UK MoD awarded the Harris Corporation a ...

• Laser-directed energy weapons

  DragonFire

  DragonFire is a laser weapon system built for the UK MoD and manufactured by a consortium of manufacturers. The primary manufacturer is MBDA, though they ...

• Air: fixed-wing flight simulators

  ASTOR FBFCT

  The Fixed Base Flight Crew Trainer (FBFCT) is a Level 5+ FTD for the UK RAF’s Airborne Standoff Radar (ASTOR) platform. The ASTOR FBFCT is ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  Warthog

  The Warthog is based on the ST Kinetics Bronco all terrain tracked carrier (ATTC) and was developed to meet a UK MoD urgent operational requirement ...

• Standalone Field Generator

  HGI is a supplier of standalone field generators to the UK MoD. It has supplied systems for communications, C2, field hospitals and workshop facilities. The ...

• Major networking projects

  Skynet 6 SATCOM

  Skynet 6 is designed to replace Skynet 5. The PFI contract for Skynet 5,  held by Paradigm Secure Communications and Airbus DS, ends in 2022. As ...

• Air-launched ASW torpedoes, Ship-launched torpedoes

  Sting Ray Mod 1

  The Sting Ray Mod 1 is an air- and surface-launched, lightweight ASW torpedo. It can be deployed from frigates, helicopters and maritime patrol aircraft against ...

• Major networking projects

  DTT

  Raytheon UK is working with the UK MoD to deliver a Defence Targeting Toolset (DTT) capability. Aimed initially at land operations and eventually extending to ...

• Sealift/replenishment vessels

  RFA Proteus (Vard 3 08)

  RFA Proteus serves as the launchpad for remotely operated vehicles and is the newest UK seabed warfare vessel. The ship, bought by the UK MoD as MV ...

• Major networking projects

  Skynet 5 SATCOM

  Airbus is the service provider for the UK MoD Skynet 5 private finance initiative contract, signed in October 2003 and now worth $5.6 billion. Airbus ...

• Air: fixed-wing flight simulators

  UK MFTS

  The Military Flying Training System (MFTS) programme, is a private finance initiative involving the MoD and Ascent, a JV of Lockheed Martin and Babcock, which was ...

• Air-to-surface missiles

  SPEAR 3

  The Selective Precision Effects At Range (SPEAR) Capability 3 is being developed by MBDA for the UK MoD, which is seeking a new missile for ...

• Trucks and utility vehicles - 6x6

  Wheeled Tanker

  The Oshkosh Wheeled Tanker is a high-performance tactical vehicle, designed and built for the UK MoD in order to replace the existing fleet of legacy ...

• Air: helicopter flight simulators

  UK MSHATF

  The Medium Support Helicopter Aircrew Training Facility (MSHATF) opened for training at RAF Benson, England in July 1999. It provides training services to personnel from ...