• Defence Notes

  Companies post mostly rosy results but warn of potential dark clouds

  25th April 2025

  First quarter 2025 results have been dropping for companies in the past week but many of the US results come with a health warning in their forward-looking aspects about the potential impact of actions by the Trump administration.

• Naval Warfare

  US Coast Guard sets sail in search of robotics and CUAS capabilities

  22nd August 2025

  The USCG has been increasing efforts to accelerate the process to develop, procure, deploy and sustain autonomous and counter-uncrewed systems across its fleet.

• Air Warfare

  Will Canada and Latin America seek new sources for combat aircraft?

  6th May 2025

  US-made combat aircraft are being passed over in favour of European types, as Latin America and Canada question their ageing fleet replacement choices.

• Defence Notes

  Unfolding the Golden Dome for America: Seven things you should know about the programme

  3rd June 2025

  Shephard talked to multiple experts about the most pressing concerns and considerations regarding the air defence system advocated by President Trump.

• Air Warfare

  Paris Air Show 2025: Airbus and France sign framework agreement for VSR-700

  17th June 2025

  The framework agreement is for the future acquisition of the system under the French Navy’s SDAM programme. The agreement also paves the way for cooperation with other nations via government-to-government agreements.

• Naval Warfare

  Edge and CMN Naval create multi-billion dollar joint venture to build high value niche naval vessels

  20th March 2025

  The new company will take possession of the existing non-NATO order pipeline, said to be worth billions of dollars.

• Naval Warfare

  Anduril awarded $642 million counter-drone contract with US Marine Corps

  11th March 2025

  The contract will see counter-small uncrewed aerial systems (CsUAS) installed at bases, with the initial contract covering site survey and engineering services as well as some system procurement. Work is expected to be completed over the next ten years.

• Land Warfare

  QinetiQ awarded contract for further work on lasers, future systems and energy weapons

  6th May 2025

  Notable projects under the Weapons Sector Research Framework (WSRF) contract include the British Army determining the impact of a vehicle-mounted laser weapon on drones and testing a vehicle-mounted Radio Frequency Directed Energy Weapon (RFDEW).

• Air Warfare

  Germany looks to upgrade KEPD 350 missiles and Sweden begins purchase process

  4th March 2025

  The Taurus KEPD 350 is an air-launched cruise missile developed by Taurus Systems, a joint venture between MBDA Deutschland and Saab Dynamics. The German contract is for maintenance and modernisation of German Air Force missiles.

• Naval Warfare

  US Navy tests Aegis combat system for hypersonic missile defence

  3rd April 2025

  The Arleigh Burke destroyer USS Pinckney undertook the tests against a simulated SM-6 missile.

• Naval Warfare

  New mine countermeasures vessel enters service in Japan

  19th March 2025

  The new vessel, JS Nomi, is the fourth countermeasures vessels in the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force's Awaji class, and a fifth and sixth have been costed.

• Air Warfare

  US Navy's next-gen aircraft contract award expected this week

  25th March 2025

  The F/A-XX programme is the US Navy’s answer to improving air superiority against the rising threat of China in the Indo-Pacific.

• Naval Warfare

  L3Harris expands footprint across Europe via Everest NL and new contracts

  25th April 2025

  L3Harris is targeting European naval modernisation with new uncrewed surface vessels, SATCOM partnerships, and regional investments including defence exercises and facility openings.

• Air Warfare

  Italy boosts UAV fleet with Jump-20 procurement and ScanEagle additions

  22nd April 2025

  The Jump-20 uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) procurement will replace Italy’s RQ-7 Shadow UAS fleet.

• Air Warfare

  Denmark looks to join NATO multi-role transport tanker pool

  28th March 2025

  The country sees the Netherlands and Luxembourg-led pool as a way to strengthen its air defence capabilities and support its combat fighter fleet.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• AEW&C

  E-7 Wedgetail (737) - UK

  Programme Background Seeking to replace its six ageing Boeing E-3 Sentry AEW&C;, the British Royal Air Force awarded Boeing a £1.89 billion contract in 2019 covering the ...

• AEW&C

  E-7 Wedgetail (Second Order) [U.K.]

  Programme Background Seeking to replace its six ageing Boeing E-3 Sentry AEW&C;, the British Royal Air Force awarded Boeing a £1.89 billion contract in 2019 ...

• AEW&C

  E-7A Wedgetail (1-2) [USA]

  Programme Background Shephard notes that this entry covers the two rapid-prototype E-7 aircraft, whose contract was signed in August 2024. A second programme entry covers the ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | E-7 Wedgetail - UK (Second Order)

  The UK MoD signed a £1.51 billion ($1.98 billion) deal to purchase five E-7 Wedgetail aircraft from Boeing for the Royal Air Force (RAF) in ...

• Data links

  Data links | E-7 Wedgetail - UK (Second Order)

  The UK MoD signed a £1.51 billion ($1.98 billion) deal to purchase five E-7 Wedgetail aircraft from Boeing for the Royal Air Force (RAF) in ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | E-7 Wedgetail - UK (Second Order)

  The UK MoD signed a £1.51 billion ($1.98 billion) deal to purchase five E-7 Wedgetail aircraft from Boeing for the Royal Air Force (RAF) in ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | E-7 Wedgetail - UK (Second Order)

  The UK MoD signed a £1.51 billion ($1.98 billion) deal to purchase five E-7 Wedgetail aircraft from Boeing for the Royal Air Force (RAF) in ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | E-7 Wedgetail (Second Order) [U.K.]

  The UK MoD signed a £1.51 billion ($1.98 billion) deal to purchase five E-7 Wedgetail aircraft from Boeing for the Royal Air Force (RAF) in ...

• Data links

  Data links | E-7 Wedgetail (Second Order) [U.K.]

  The UK MoD signed a £1.51 billion ($1.98 billion) deal to purchase five E-7 Wedgetail aircraft from Boeing for the Royal Air Force (RAF) in ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | E-7 Wedgetail (Second Order) [U.K.]

  The UK MoD signed a £1.51 billion ($1.98 billion) deal to purchase five E-7 Wedgetail aircraft from Boeing for the Royal Air Force (RAF) in ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | E-7 Wedgetail (Second Order) [U.K.]

  The UK MoD signed a £1.51 billion ($1.98 billion) deal to purchase five E-7 Wedgetail aircraft from Boeing for the Royal Air Force (RAF) in ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | Alliance Future Surveillance and Control (1-6) [NATO]

  NATO is estimated to procure up to 18 AEW aircraft under the Alliance Future Surveillance and Control (AFSC) programme to replace the current E-3 Sentry fleet when ...

• Data links

  Data links | Alliance Future Surveillance and Control (1-6) [NATO]

  NATO is estimated to procure up to 18 AEW aircraft under the Alliance Future Surveillance and Control (AFSC) programme to replace the current E-3 Sentry fleet when ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | Alliance Future Surveillance and Control (1-6) [NATO]

  NATO is estimated to procure up to 18 AEW aircraft under the Alliance Future Surveillance and Control (AFSC) programme to replace the current E-3 Sentry fleet when ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | Alliance Future Surveillance and Control (1-6) [NATO]

  NATO is estimated to procure up to 18 AEW aircraft under the Alliance Future Surveillance and Control (AFSC) programme to replace the current E-3 Sentry fleet when ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Fixed wing aircraft engines

  T56-A-15

  The T56-A-15, a member of the T56 family of engines, powers C-130B/E/H and E-2 military aircraft. Other military versions of engines from the T56 family ...

• AEW&C

  737 Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C)

  The Boeing 737 AEW&C; is based on Boeing’s 737-700 commercial aeroplane. It is used for airspace surveillance and battle management. Three countries operate it: Australia ...

• Air: fixed-wing flight simulators

  E-7 Wedgetail Mission Simulator

  E-7 Wedgetail Mission Simulator was developed by Havelsan to meet the requirements of Turkey's Peace Eagle Airborne Early Warning and Control programme. The Mission Simulator ...

• ISR/special mission

  E-4B Nightwatch

  Developed by Boeing based on the 747-200 airliner, the E-4B Nightwatch is a special mission aircraft used as the US National Airborne Operations Centre and is ...

• Air: AEW/fire control radar

  MESA

  The MESA is an L-band active electronically scanned array radar system providing 360-degree coverage for airborne early warning and control missions. The system employs GaN ...

• ISR/special mission

  E-6B Mercury

  The E-6B Mercury is an airborne command post and communications relay for US nuclear forces, including submarine-launched ballistic missiles. The USN operates a fleet of ...

• Land: vehicle surveillance/target acquisition systems

  Savan 15

  Savan 15 is an FCS for tanks and other AFVs designed to provide fire-on-the-move capability. The system includes a day/night gunner’s sight; fire-control computer; gun ...

• ISR/special mission

  E-8C Joint STARS

  The E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (STARS) is an ISR aircraft based on the 707-300 airliner. It is fitted with an 8-meter-long, canoe-shaped radome ...

• Air: Defensive Systems - MLDS

  Elix-IR

  Thales’ Elix-IR is a Missile Approach Warning System (MAWS). It uses infrared sensors to detect the hot exhaust plumes of incoming air-to-air and surface-to-air missiles. ...

• AEW&C

  E-3 Sentry

  The E-3 Sentry, also known as AWACS, is an AEW&C; aircraft developed by Boeing based on the 707-320B airliner. It is powered by four Pratt & ...

• Air: AEW/fire control radar

  Grifo E

  The Grifo-E is an advanced fire-control radar developed by Leonardo, featuring Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) technology for enhanced situational awareness. It employs Active Electronically Scanned ...

• Submarine-launched torpedoes

  VA-111/Shkval

  Shkval is a supercavitation torpedo launched originally in 1977 by the Soviet Union. Today, it is deployed by the Russian Navy and produced by the ...

• EO/IR systems, Land: unattended sensor/surveillance systems, Sea: ship surveillance and fire control systems

  SHAPO

  SHAPO is a multi-sensor, gyro-stabilised observation payload. It is intended for UAVs, helicopters, light aircraft, patrol boats, aerostats, airships, armoured vehicles and masts. Sensors include a ...

• Air: AEW/fire control radar, Air: surveillance radar

  AN/APY-1/2

  The S-band AN/APY-1 radar is installed in a large rotodome above the fuselage of the Boeing KE-3A/E-3A/B Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft ...

• Land: handheld NV devices

  Sophie LITE

  The Sophie LITE is a handheld, integrated multifunction system that allows the user to detect, recognise, identify and locate targets. It can be used standalone ...