• Land Warfare

  Doubt shrouds Czech IFV procurement programme

  2nd April 2020

  The Czech Republic might delay or even cancel its programme to procure 210 new IFVs, which the country’s armed forces require urgently if they are to …

• Defence Notes

  European militaries continue to fight COVID-19

  13th March 2020

  EU Battlegroup (EUBG) 2020-2 has cancelled planned training exercises as the continent grapples with the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus. The European 2020 exercise was …

• Defence Notes

  Germany admits ‘not all talks’ are over on Tornado replacement

  31st March 2020

  The coronavirus crisis has prevented the German Ministry of Defence from concluding discussions on the fate of its Tornado replacement acquisition, despite a report that …

• Training

  Inzpire delivers in Estonia

  24th March 2020

  Following two EW courses previously delivered on behalf of the European Defence Agency, UK-based Inzpire has just completed a further two-week EW course held at …

• Air Warfare

  Germany shows tentative interest in Apache

  27th March 2020

  Shephard understands that the German federal government has asked its US counterpart for information about the Boeing AH-64 Apache attack helicopter. Over the years, Boeing …

• Defence Notes

  Germany tells of no ‘substantial’ changes to future procurement targets

  24th March 2020

  The German MoD and industrial base are reporting that key domestic procurements continue to run as scheduled, although the outbreak of COVID-19 is causing catastrophic international operational …

• Defence Notes

  Defence awakens to European COVID-19 nightmare

  18th March 2020

  The impact of COVID-19 has caused widespread disruption to the European defence industry which has introduced exceptional operational measures to protect the health of armed forces personnel, …

• Defence Notes

  DoD expands COVID-19 measures

  12th March 2020

  US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper has announced new travel restrictions for serving members of the armed forces, civilian DoD staff and their families. The …

• Digital Battlespace

  Netherlands acts fast on cyber

  12th March 2020

  The Dutch Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced on 11 March that it is setting up a rapid response cyber security team comprising experts from a …

• Naval Warfare

  Russia keeps calm and carries on

  13th March 2020

  Russia has conducted a number of large scale live-fire exercises in recent weeks, in stark contrast to Western militaries that have downsized or cancelled their …

• Defence Notes

  Saab not feeling ‘immediate consequences’ of coronavirus crisis

  26th March 2020

  Manufacturer Saab has said that it will not speculate on how the unfolding COVID-19 pandemic will disrupt company plans or financial expectations, but confirmed that the Gripen …

• Naval Warfare

  Murky waters for future European Med maritime mission

  28th February 2020

  With just over a month remaining on the mandate of Operation Sophia, the European maritime security and humanitarian assistance mission to the Mediterranean, doubts persist …

• Naval Warfare

  As Operation Irini starts, the question is who will benefit?

  3rd April 2020

  The EU’s new maritime security mission, created to aid enforcing the UN arms embargo on Libya, officially stood up this week as the bloc shifts …

• Naval Warfare

  Russian naval revamp to continue unabated

  20th March 2020

  Representatives of the Russian MoD and the General Staff have insisted to Shephard that the country’s naval modernisation programme will proceed as planned, despite a …

• Land Warfare

  Slovakia selects Spike LR2 ATGM

  5th March 2020

  Slovakia signed a contract with Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defense Systems for delivery of an unspecified number of fifth-generation Spike LR2 ATGMs and dismounted advanced integrated …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  A330 MRTT Follow-On (NATO)

  Following operations in Libya and extensive analyses by the European Defence Agency (EDA), it was agreed at the NATO Summit in 2012 that the EDA ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  A330 MRTT (1-9) [NATO]

  Programme Background Following operations in Libya and extensive analyses by the European Defence Agency (EDA), it was agreed at the NATO Summit in 2012 that ...

• Landing craft and hovercraft

  EDA-S [France]

  Programme Background Following the announcement of the 14-ship contract, the DGA approved the design of the first two standard amphibious landing craft (EDA-S) in October 2019, ...

• Tanks

  New MBT [Romania]

  Programme Background Requirement The Romanian Army's MBT fleet is composed of T-55 variants that are due to be retired in the mid-2020s. Although Romania's TR-85 ...

• Tanks

  M1A2 Abrams SEPv3 [Romania]

  Programme Background Requirement The Romanian Army's MBT fleet is composed of T-55 variants that are due to be retired in the mid-2020s. Although Romania's TR-85 ...

• OPVs

  Third Hamilton Class Cutter [Sri Lanka]

  Programme Background Timeline In mid-2017, Sri Lanka was considering purchasing a Gepard 5.1-class (Project 1166.1) frigate from Russia. The delivery was planned based on an ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  Tanker Aircraft [Greece]

  Programme Background Requirement Procurement of tanker aircraft is aligned with a broader 2021-approved Hellenic National Defence General Staff (GEETHA) plan to enhance the HAF's reach and ...

• Corvettes

  European Patrol Corvette (EPC) [France]

  Programme Background Requirements The European Patrol Corvette (EPC) is one of the new PESCO (Permanent Structured Cooperation on Defence and Security) projects. PESCO was established ...

• Corvettes

  European Patrol Corvette (EPC)/Buques de Protección Marítima (BPM) [Spain]

  Programme Background Requirements The European Patrol Corvette (EPC) is one of the new PESCO (Permanent Structured Cooperation on Defence and Security) projects. PESCO was established ...

• Corvettes

  European Patrol Corvette (EPC) [Italy]

  Programme Background Requirements The 2021-2023 Documento Programmatico Pluriennale (DPP) - a multi-year defence planning document from the Italian MoD - includes a plan to acquire eight "Patrol Ships", ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Second-hand LCS [Greece]

  In January 2024, Tasos Chatzivasileiou revealed that discussions are taking place with the US regarding the potential acquisition of four second-hand Freedom-class LCS. A letter ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Second-hand LCS [Greece]

  In January 2024, Tasos Chatzivasileiou revealed that discussions are taking place with the US regarding the potential acquisition of four second-hand Freedom-class LCS. A letter ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Third Hamilton Class Cutter [Sri Lanka]

  In 2017, Sri Lanka was considering acquiring a Gepard 5.1 class patrol frigate from Russia but reports from 2018 claim the purchase is not going ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Third Hamilton Class Cutter [Sri Lanka]

  In 2017, Sri Lanka was considering acquiring a Gepard 5.1 class patrol frigate from Russia but reports from 2018 claim the purchase is not going ...

• Mine-protected vehicles, MPVs - 4x4

  Surplus Maxxpro [Bangladesh - Batch 1]

  Programme Background The Bangladesh Army requires MRAPs to provide protected mobility to its troops deployed on UN peacekeeping missions in Mali and the Central African ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Land: air defence radar

  APIS

  APIS is a passive high-resolution primary radar system developed by Indra. It is the first passive system in the world capable of offering images using ...

• Landing craft and hovercraft

  EDA-S

  The Engins de Debarquement Amphibie - Standards (EDA-S) is an amphibious landing craft built by CNIM in partnership with Socarenam, Mauric and CNN MCO. It ...

• Landing craft and hovercraft

  EDA-R

  Four EDA-R (Engin de Débarquement Amphibie-Rapide) fast amphibious landing craft were ordered for the French Navy in 2009 after a 12-month evaluation. They are designed ...

• Patrol boats

  Marine Protector Class

  The Marine Protector-class of coastal patrol boats (CPBs) was ordered in 1996 to replace the USCG's Point-class vessels. Fifty boats were originally ordered, which was ...

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

  LOTUS

  The LOTUS, Low Observable Tactical Unnamed System, is a tactical UAV especially designed for border patrol ISR operations.  The development of the project is funded by ...

• Military helicopters - scout/light attack

  OH-58D Kiowa Warrior

  The OH-58D Kiowa Warrior is a two-person, light scout helicopter with a day/night mast-mounted sight, glass cockpit and four-bladed rotor system. Following the retirement of ...

• Air: helicopter radar, Air: surveillance and maritime patrol radar

  ENR

  The NH90 NATO Frigate Helicopter is equipped with the European Navy Radar (ENR) developed by Thales in conjunction with Airbus and Leonardo. 

• Frigates

  Aquitaine Class (FREMM)

  The Aquitaine-class frigates for the French Navy are based on the Franco-Italian, European, multipurpose frigate design FREMM (European multi-mission Frigate/Fregata Europea Multi-Missione). For France, the ships ...

• Patrol boats

  Reliance Class Cutters

  The Reliance-class cutters, also known as Medium Endurance Cutters, are in service with the US Coast Guard (USGC). They work alongside the Famous-class ships on ...

• Uncrewed aerial systems engines

  AE50R

  The AE50R is an aviation gasoline single rotary engine with an output of 40.4kW. The engine is certified according to European Aviation Safety Agency Part ...

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

  One 150

  The One 150 is a tactical UAV manufactured by Primoco UAV. The UAV is designed for commercial and military use and can be configured to ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing

  Sky-X

  The Sky-X UCAV was conceived for demonstration and research purposes and in 2005 became the first European-designed UAV over 1000 kg and with performance comparable ...

• Frigates

  Bergamini Class (FREMM)

  The Bergamini-class frigates for the Italian Navy are based on the Franco-Italian, European, multipurpose frigate design FREMM (European multi-mission Frigate/Fregata europea multi-missione). For Italy, the ...

• Patrol boats

  Island Class

  The Island-class patrol boat is in service with the US Coast Guard, which first entered service in early 1986, with the last of 49 entering ...

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

  AVE-C/D

  The AVE-C/D is a flight control system UAV demonstrator (AVE-C) and stealth UAV demonstrator (AVE-D), forming part of the R&D; programme initiated by the French ...