• Defence Notes

  South Korea boosts spending, ISR and retaliatory measures

  11th December 2017

  South Korea has created new units – including an ISR formation and a special forces decapitation brigade – in response to the threat from its …

• Digital Battlespace

  Viasat, USAF complete Mini Crypto PPR

  11th December 2017

  Viasat has completed a production readiness review (PPR) of the Mini Crypto programme, for the development of an embeddable cryptographic module for military handheld devices …

• Naval Warfare

  Malaysia seeks to improve maritime domain awareness

  19th December 2017

  Amidst the Royal Malaysian Navy’s (RMN) goal of boosting the ability to monitor its waters, the Boustead Naval Shipyard held a keel-laying ceremony on 18 …

• Digital Battlespace

  Raytheon's GPS receiver tested aboard B-2

  7th December 2017

  The US Air Force (USAF) has tested its next-generation military-code Global Positioning System (GPS) using a Raytheon receiver aboard a B-2 Spirit aircraft, the company …

• Land Warfare

  Russian airborne troops continue recapitalisation

  21st December 2017

  Russia’s airborne troops, an elite and highly-mobile independent branch of country’s military numbering 45,000 personnel, has continued a comprehensive recapitalisation in 2017.  Col Gen Andrey …

• Land Warfare

  Bangladesh issues requirement for 4x4 LAV

  20th November 2017

  The Bangladesh Army is seeking a new 4x4 light armoured vehicle (LAV) in several variants, according to an RfP document issued by the Directorate General …

• Special Operations

  Singapore hones SF capabilities in joint exercise

  12th December 2017

  Commandos of the Singapore Armed Force (SAF) maximised their training opportunities at Arizona’s Barry M. Goldwater Range alongside air force counterparts in Exercise Forging Sabre …

• Defence Helicopter

  Pakistan and USMC to procure AH-1Z gun turrets

  18th December 2017

  The Pakistan government and USMC are set to procure an arsenal of 41 A/A49E-7 (V4) gun turrets for their respective Bell AH-1Z Viper attack helicopter fleets. Contractor General …

• Naval Warfare

  D&S 2017: Leonardo torpedoes into Thailand (video)

  9th November 2017

  Leonardo showcased its A224MOD3 underwater torpedo at Defense and Security 2017 as the company pursues opportunities with the Royal Thai Navy.  Shephard spoke with Marco Rossi, …

• Military Logistics

  Transport Command demonstrates new management system

  20th December 2017

  United States Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM) recently completed a successful proof of principle (PoP) logistics effort that fused a commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) Transportation Management System (TMS) capability …

• Defence Helicopter

  LifePort’s BPS approved for Bell 412EP

  14th December 2017

  Sikorsky company LifePort has received a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) from the FAA to equip Bell 412EP aircraft with Ballistic Protection Systems (BPS), Lockheed Martin …

• Special Operations

  GDA 2017: US and Kuwaiti military police conduct partnership academy

  6th December 2017

  The US and Kuwait is looking to expand its partnership and enhance shared knowledge between its military police battalions, with a five week training programme …

• Training

  MASS to continue UK MoD training support

  15th December 2017

  The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has approved the take up of a two year extension to MASS’ existing Joint Warfare Support contract, the company …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Shadow UAS sustainment continues for Italy, US

  8th December 2017

  Italy will look to maintain its current Shadow V2 fleet through the next decade after awarding an $8.1 million sustainment contract to Textron Systems Unmanned …

• Digital Battlespace

  Ukraine to field new air defence radar

  18th December 2017

  The Ukrainian government has announced the go-ahead for testing of the new Iskra 80K6T 3D air surveillance radar for the country’s armed forces.  Offered by …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  BMPT Terminator

  Despite having earlier rejected the BMPT vehicle, the Russian MoD tested BMPT prototypes in Syria, where the vehicles performed well in combat conditions. This culminated ...

• KamAZ-63968 Taifun-K

  Programme Background The first 30 KamAZ-63968 Taifun-K vehicles were handed over to the Russian Armed Forces at the end of 2014. By the end of ...

• KamAZ-53949 Taifun-K

  Programme BackgroundThe Kamaz-53949 Taifun-K was initially deemed unsuitable for Russian requirements on account of its reliance on a large number of Western-manufactured components. However, it ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | E-2D Advanced Hawkeye [Taiwan]

  According to a Taiwanese national newspaper, the Central News Agency, the Republic of China is planning to purchase six E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft to replace ...

• Data links

  Data links | E-2D Advanced Hawkeye [Taiwan]

  According to a Taiwanese national newspaper, the Central News Agency, the Republic of China is planning to purchase six E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft to replace ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | E-2D Advanced Hawkeye [Taiwan]

  According to a Taiwanese national newspaper, the Central News Agency, the Republic of China is planning to purchase six E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft to replace ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | E-2D Advanced Hawkeye [Taiwan]

  According to a Taiwanese national newspaper, the Central News Agency, the Republic of China is planning to purchase six E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft to replace ...

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

  Aksungur [Kyrgyzstan]

  Programme Background In January 2023, Daiyrbek Orunbekov, the Central Asian country's Presidential Press Service head, stated that Kyrgyzstan had bought "modern military equipment such as ...

• Main battle tanks

  T-14 Armata [Russia]

  Programme Background The first contract for 132 Armatas was signed by the Russian MoD in 2015. This will comprise sufficient T-14, T-15 heavy IFV and ...

• 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 ...

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

  X10D [USAF]

  Background Contract Award On 8 April 2026, Skydio announced that it had been awarded a $9 million contract by the US Air Forces Central (USAFCENT), the air component ...

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

  SA2 & SA7 [New Zealand]

  Background Uncrewed Range As reported by Shephard, in February 2026, Syos Aerospace announced that it had been contracted by the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) to ...

• Main battle tanks

  T-14 Armata (Contracted)

  Programme Background The first contract for 132 Armatas was signed by the Russian MoD in 2015. This will comprise sufficient T-14, T-15 heavy IFV and ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  T-15 Armata [Russia]

  Programme Background The first contract for 132 Armatas was signed by the Russian MoD in 2015. This will comprise sufficient T-14, T-15 heavy IFV and ...

• Main battle tanks

  T-90M Proryv (New-Build)

  The first contract for the T-90M was disclosed in August 2017. Comprising 30 tanks in total, it covered the upgrade of 20 T-90As to T-90M ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Main battle tanks

  BMPT

  UVZ developed the BMPT Fire Support Combat Vehicle, nicknamed Terminator by the company, after studying the Russian Army's performance during the Chechen War. Designed to ...

• Land: air defence radar

  Protivnik-GE

  The Protivnik-GE is a mobile 3D surveillance radar distributed by Russian supplier Rosoboronexport and is currently used by the Russian Armed Forces and the Egyptian ...

• Land: COMINT and ELINT systems

  Borisoglebsk-2

  The vehicle-mounted Borisoglebsk-2 EW system performs frequency scanning for hostile RF emissions. Produced by JSC Sozvezdie, it can perform both electronic surveillance and RF suppression. ...

• Counter-UAS systems

  İhtar

  The İhtar is an anti-drone system manufactured by Aselsan. It is designed to counter mini and micro-UAS threats in urban and rural environments. It detects and tracks ...

• Self-propelled guns

  PLC-161

  The PLC-161 (also known as PLC161) is a 4x4 truck-mounted 122 mm self-propelled howitzer that was first identified in July 2020. Few specific details concerning ...

• Self-propelled rocket launchers

  TOS-2 Tosochka

  Russia unveiled the TOS-2 Tosochka MLRS at the 2020 Victory Day Parade. Like its TOS-1A predecessor, it is intended to neutralise and suppress enemy positions ...

• Surface-to-surface missiles

  Iskander-M/E/K

  The Iskander-M (NATO reporting name: SS-26 'Stone') is a short-range ballistic missile. It was the second attempt by Russia to replace the Skud after its ...

• Land: Electronic Attack - Jamming

  Palantin

  The Russian Army’s United Instrument Manufacturing Corporation Palantin is a truck-mounted COMINT and communications jamming (COMJAM) system. Official information released by Russia’s MoD states that ...

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

  Gnat

  The Gnat is a medium-altitude, long-endurance, multi-mission UAS that has been produced in several different variants. Although originally intended for export customers, the platform was ...

• Z-Boat 1250

  The Z-Boat 1250 is a portable remotely operated hydrographic survey vessel built around two lightweight outriggers and a main central hull, which can be compacted ...

• Long Range Missile Defence Systems: > 90km range, Self-propelled missile systems

  S-400 Triumf (SA-21 Growler)

  The S-400 Triumf (NATO reporting name: SA-21 Growler) long-range air defence system, previously known as the S-300PMU-3, was developed by the Almaz Central Design Bureau ...

• Major networking projects

  SITCEN

  The Situation Centre (SITCEN) is the central agency for providing situational awareness within NATO HQ. It is responsible for receiving, exchanging and disseminating political, economic ...

• Land: battle management systems

  ASOC

  Under a contract awarded to Lockheed Martin by the USAF Electronic Systems Center in May 1997, the company is providing Air Sovereignty Operations Centers (ASOCs) ...

• Land: manned turrets

  B05Ya01 Berezhok

  KBP Tula developed the B05Ya01 Berezhok turret (also referred to as a 'combat module') to provide an upgrade option for the legacy Soviet BMP-1 and BMP-2 ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Kamaz-53949 Taifun-K

  The Kamaz-53949 Taifun-K (Typhoon-K) is a 4x4 MRAP vehicle manufactured in Russia by Remdiesel, a subsidiary of Kamaz.  Originally developed in 2010 as a private ...