• Naval Warfare

  DSEI 2023: Can the Royal Navy's submarine fleet handle the pressure?

  12th September 2023

  The third and final instalment of Shephard’s focus on the UK Royal Navy (RN) examines the state of the submarine force. The SSN fleet is still in transition as the last Trafalgar-class boats retire and Astute-class boats struggles to get into service, and pressure on Vanguard-class SSBNs is increasing as the Dreadnought successor project gets under way following long delays.

• Land Warfare

  Brazilian Army outlines future acquisitions under Land Forces 2040 programme

  15th August 2023

  The army is interested in procuring C2, EW, ISR and communication solutions as well as helicopters. It also plans to invest in AI, automation and 3D printing as well as in bio, cyber and quantum technologies.

• Naval Warfare

  ROK Navy receives two LCACs to boost amphibious capacity

  30th June 2023

  In a boost for amphibious warfare forces, the ROK Navy has received an additional couple of hovercraft.

• Training

  Self-help or off-the-shelf – when does developing your own simulator make sense?

  1st August 2023

  Buy simulators commercially or build your own? That is the dilemma facing some countries when it comes to expanding their training capability.

• Defence Helicopter

  South Korean marines receive final Marineon helicopters

  19th July 2023

  The ROK Marine Corps now has a full complement of indigenously built MUH-1 Marineon helicopters.

• Naval Warfare

  DSEI 2023: Has the Royal Navy cut back its support vessel fleet too far?

  11th September 2023

  This second in Shephard’s three-part series examining the state of the UK RN analyses the fleet of support ships. These important vessels sustain naval forces at sea for long durations and at vast distances, but cuts to the Royal Fleet Auxiliary's fleet have left crucial ships retired or sold, prompting concerns for future missions.

• Land Warfare

  K9 Self-Propelled Howitzer : Delivering a Capability Growth Pathway: Now; Next; Future.

  28th August 2023

  At the heart of Hanwha Aerospace’s global success is the innovative way it delivers military capability solutions, with a forward vision around capability sustainment and spiral development

• Land Warfare

  RTX wins $117.5 million US Army deal for 3Gen FLIR B-Kit sensors

  7th July 2023

  RTX will produce B-Kit sensors for the US Army under a LRIP contract for installation on main battle tanks and other combat vehicles as well as potentially uncrewed platforms.

• Air Warfare

  Paris Air Show: NATO brokers Greek deal to acquire Safran UAVs

  21st June 2023

  The Greek Army has chosen Safran Electronics & Defense to modernise its UAV inventory, adding four new Patroller tactical drones to its current Sperwer fleet.  The …

• Air Warfare

  Elbit Systems to equip Philippine maritime patrol aircraft

  11th July 2023

  The Israeli company will integrate maritime patrol mission systems onto an ATR 72 turboprop for the Philippine Air Force.

• Air Warfare

  Insight: What does the future hold for the Eurofighter Typhoon combat aircraft?

  11th September 2023

  The Eurofighter Typhoon Tranche 3A has been adopted by Middle Eastern air forces as well as the European partner nations. Shephard Defence Insight analyses its next-generation radar, cockpit technology and future upgrade plans.

• Air Warfare

  UK takes delivery of two new F-35B fighter jets

  26th June 2023

  RAF Marham has taken delivery of two new Lockheed Martin F-35B short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) fighter aircraft.

• 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.

• Air Warfare

  Malaysian Army leases Black Hawk helicopters

  7th June 2023

  Malaysia is leasing a quartet of Black Hawks, giving the army its first taste of operating the American-built helicopter.

• Defence Notes

  US lawmakers to fund nearly $12 billion multi-year contracts for weapons

  3rd August 2023

  Authorisation of the US Senate Committee on Appropriations to progress with long-term acquisitions acquisition would benefit eight programmes.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Mine-protected vehicles, MPVs - 4x4

  4x4 Protected Mobility Vehicles [Malaysia]

  Programme Background Malaysia already operates a fleet of 20 AV4 Lipan Bara 4x4 vehicles delivered between 2016 and 2017, 18 of which are assigned to ...

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

  TUAS [Malaysia]

  Programme Background Tender & Requirments The Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) issued a tender in May 2020 to provide a new Tactical Uncrewed Aerial System (TUAS). ...

• Special operations vehicles

  Special Operations Vehicles [Malaysia]

  Forecast Methodology Malaysia's SOV tender calls for a vehicle that 'is capable of conducting special operations deep in enemy-held territory' and 'capable of manoeuvring in hostile ...

• Submarines: conventional, attack

  Submarines Procurement [Malaysia]

  Programme Background Requirements In 2015, the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) issued the so-called 15 to 5 Transformation Plan, which envisioned the service to be standardised ...

• Landing platform docks/dock landing ships

  Multi-Role Support Ship (MRSS) (1-2) [Malaysia]

  Programme Background Requirements The Royal Malaysian Navy are in the process of a fleet transformation plan known as the 15 to 5 Transformation Plan, which ...

• OPVs

  LMS Batch IV (11-13) [Malaysia]

  Programme Background Requirements The current Keris-class (see separate entry) Littoral Mission Ship (LMS) has been introduced to replace many of the current classes of obsolete ...

• OPVs

  LMS Batch III (8-10) [Malaysia]

  Programme Background Requirements The current Keris-class (see separate entry) Littoral Mission Ship (LMS) has been introduced to replace many of the current classes of obsolete ships that ...

• Landing platform docks/dock landing ships

  Multi-Role Support Ship (MRSS) (3) [Malaysia]

  Programme Background Requirements The Royal Malaysian Navy are in the process of a fleet transformation plan known as the 15 to 5 Transformation Plan, which ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Floréal Class Replacement [France]

  The French Navy urges the replacement of the Floréal-class frigates with a new class of vessels that will mainly operate in French overseas territories.  Speaking to ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Floréal Class Replacement [France]

  The French Navy urges the replacement of the Floréal-class frigates with a new class of vessels that will mainly operate in French overseas territories.  Speaking to ...

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

  Anka-S (Additional Units) [Malaysia]

  Programme Background First Three Drones Following years of exploring MALE UAVs and a few failed efforts, the RMAF clarified it wanted to acquire the three ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Multi-Role Support Ship (MRSS) (1-2) [Malaysia]

  The Royal Malaysian Navy currently operates two ageing logistics ships that are not equipped to carry out amphibious missions and operate beyond their intended design ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Multi-Role Support Ship (MRSS) (1-2) [Malaysia]

  The Royal Malaysian Navy currently operates two ageing logistics ships that are not equipped to carry out amphibious missions and operate beyond their intended design ...

• Corvettes

  New Generation Patrol Vessels Batch II (7-12) [Malaysia]

  Programme Background Requirements Malaysia unveiled a plan in 2015 to restructure and recapitalise its navy. The plan is called the 15 to 5 Plan and ...

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

  ScanEagle 2 (Malaysia)

  Programme Background Maritime Security Initiative (MSI) programme The RMN received the ScanEagle 2's thought to be provided by the US under the Maritime Security Initiative ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Military - USVs

  High-Speed Intercept Boat

  Poly Technologies displayed its High-Speed Intercept Boat at DSA in Malaysia in 2016. 

• Military helicopters - scout/light attack

  MD 530G

  The MD 530G is the newest addition to the MD Helicopters line of light scout attack platforms. It has increased-capacity landing gear and a mission-configurable ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Condor

  At the DSA 2016 exhibition in Malaysia, DRB-HICOM DefTech displayed a prototype of an upgraded Malaysian Army Condor 4x4 APC. Thyssen-Henschel (now part of RMMV) ...

• EO/IR systems

  M-DSA

  M-DSA is the next step in the sensor modernisation of the M-TADS/PNVS system. Upgraded capabilities support more rapid target identification and coordination, as well as ...

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

  SR-10 VTOL

  Deftech showcased the SR-10 VTOL at DSA 2022. It has been locally designed in Malaysia to conduct aerial mapping, surveillance and line inspection missions. The hand-launched platform is powered ...

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

  Light-Weighted Close-Range UAV

  Seen by Shephard at DSA 2024, the Light-Weighted Close-Range UAV is from the Vietnamese company Viettel. According to Viettel's brochure, disseminated at DSA 2024, the ...

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

  CW-100

  The CW-100 is a small VTOL capable UAV manufactured byChengdu Jouav Automation Technology Co CW (JOUAV) in collaboration with Malvus Sense. Displayed at DSA 2022, it is ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  Black Fox 6x6

  Doosan’s Black Fox family of 6x6 and 8x8 AFVs was developed to compete for a Republic of Korea Army requirement. Although not selected for the ...

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

  CW-007

  The CW-007 VTOL UAS is part of the Chengdu Jouav Automation Technology Co CW (JOUAV) series and is the smallest of the fleet.  It is primarily ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Guardian

  IAG's Guardian 4x4 armoured personnel carrier has been designed to carry up to ten fully equipped personnel and their support equipment. While the vehicle is ...

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

  Tactical UAV

  Unveiled at DSA 2022, the Deftech Tactical UAV is an indigenously developed platform based on the Aldura Mk1. The platform is aimed at the Royal Malaysian ...

• EO/IR systems

  M-TADS/PNVS

  The Modernized Target Acquisition Designation Sight/Pilot Night Vision Sensor (M-TADS/PNVS) is the EO fire control system that US Army AH-64D/E Apache helicopter pilots use for ...

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

  CW-15

  The CW-15 is a mini VTOL capable UAV manufactured by Chengdu Jouav Automation Technology Co CW (JOUAV). Belonging to the CW series, the CW-15 is electrically powered ...

• Loitering munitions

  Todak

  Unveiled at DSA 2024, the Todak is a loitering munition from Mindmatics. The catapult-launched platform is powered by a Li-ion 25.2V battery, and it is ...

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

  MALE UAV

  As its name suggests, the MALE UAV is a male-class drone. It has been developed by Indo-Pacific Communication & Defence (IPCD) and certified by the Ministry of ...