• Land Warfare

  Land forces review: British Army vehicle programme stalls and company results land

  26th November 2025

  In the first monthly review of land forces stories, the Shephard team looks back to evaluate the major news events that have impacted the sector. The UK’s Land Mobility Programme was notable but another setback occurred when a market industry day was scrapped.

• Naval Warfare

  Newest US Coast Guard cutters go after Chinese vessels sailing in the Arctic

  9th September 2025

  Cutters Earl Cunningham and Storis have been monitoring five Beijing research vessels navigating in the North Pole.

• Air Warfare

  US Army cancels FTUAS and the MQ-1 Gray Eagle as part of the Army Transformation Initiative

  13th May 2025

  Last week, it was revealed that the US Army intended to cancel the long-running Future Tactical UAS (FTUAS). The revelation, no doubt part of the Army Transformation Initiative (ATI), came a week after the force highlighted that it would cancel the procurement of Gray Eagle aircraft.

• Naval Warfare

  US Coast Guard enhances Arctic protection with a new fast response cutter

  3rd July 2025

  After commissioning, FRC Frederick Mann will operate in Alaska and perform multiple missions.

• Land Warfare

  Ukraine’s ground robot army still finding its feet

  31st October 2025

  Ukraine’s quest to replace soldiers with robots is hitting technical snags. Shephard spoke with industry leaders about difficulties in the field and what solutions are in the pipeline.

• Naval Warfare

  US Navy may look to foreign suppliers to accelerate shipbuilding programmes

  1st July 2025

  The US Navy (USN) is currently reassessing its acquisition efforts and seeking ways to reduce the multiple delays across the shipbuilding initiatives.

• Land Warfare

  Avalon 2025: Hanwha signs engine deal with Penske for Redback IFVs

  1st April 2025

  Penske Australia will also carry out local assembly and testing of Allison X1100 series cross-drive transmission under licence using kits supplied by South Korea's SNT Dynamics.

• Land Warfare

  Light Reconnaissance Strike – enabling a vital mission set (Studio)

  11th December 2025

  A new system-of-systems concept will unlock digital integration of sensors and weapons for Light Forces, allowing them to shape the battlefield environment on their own terms and upgrade legacy platforms.

• Air Warfare

  Sweden procures third batch of Meteor missiles for Gripen aircraft

  20th March 2025

  This third order from the FMV for the long-range anti-aircraft missile system is part of the Swedish Armed Forces’ effort to increase its air defence capabilities.

• Naval Warfare

  Sweden’s decision on four new warships inches closer as it eyes UK, France and Spain

  27th November 2025

  Sweden decided last year that it wanted a significantly larger warship for its Luleå Class programme than originally planned, with three likely contenders that could potentially deliver within the country’s tight schedule.

• Air Warfare

  US lawmakers signal F-35 investment commitment of $10.7 billion in FY2026

  17th June 2025

  Although it remains unclear how the US DoD has advanced in fixing issues with the F-35 programme, the multi-billion dollar fund has been included in the FY2026 defence bill.

• Defence Notes

  Leonardo CEO urges “speed as important as money” as joint ventures progress picks up

  9th May 2025

  The company’s Q1 2025 results showed a 20% increase in new orders and a 15% increase in revenue across the business.

• Naval Warfare

  Euroatlas brings Greyshark AUV to Asia for its maiden visit

  9th May 2025

  Euroatlas displayed its Greyshark autonomous underwater vehicle outside Europe for the first time, highlighting variant specifications and development progress at IMDEX 2025.

• Air Warfare

  Trump’s drone directives win US industry support but questions remain over ability to challenge Chinese market dominance

  12th June 2025

  New presidential directives for UAV production are intended to remove bureaucratic barriers and support suppliers.

• Naval Warfare

  Japan orders first upgraded Mogami-class frigates for the JMSDF

  26th May 2025

  The JMSDF has commissioned the seventh Mogami-class ship as Mitsubishi Heavy Industries advances upgraded frigates and supply vessels.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

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

  Attritable Multirotor First Person View (AM-FPV) [US]

  Background SOF Week 2025 Speaking to Shephard at Special Operations Forces (SOF) Week 2025, Performance Drone Work's (PDW) CEO Ryan Gury, stated that the Attritable Multirotor First Person View (AM-FPV) was ...

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

  Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) [USAFR & ANG]

  Background USAFR & ANG In October 2025, Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach, a nominee to be the USAF’s next chief of staff, told the Senate Armed Services Committee during his ...

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

  Purpose Built Attritable System (PBAS) [US]

  Backrgound Requirments The Purpose Built Attritable System (PBAS) are intended to be commercially available, reconfigurable, and disposable. They will primarily be utilised for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance ...

• Loitering munitions

  Maritime Launched Effects (MLE) [US]

  Background Origin & Requirment The loitering munition effort dates back to at least 2018 and was previously called Maritime Precision Engagement (MPE). The US Special Operations ...

• LTTV

  Programme Background The LTTV is to equip the combat support and combat service support elements of the Belgian SOF and the Belgian Army's two Ranger ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  NH90 Special Forces [France]

  Programme Background In French service, advanced H225M Caracals with aerial refuelling capabilities are used by SOF units of the French Air Force (FAF) and French ...

• Pegaz Special Operations Vehicles

  Programme BackgroundRequirementThe Polish MoD has a long-standing requirement to procure a new 4x4 tactical vehicle to replace the M1165A1 HMMWVs and Oshkosh M-ATVs currently in ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  SOF Vehicles (Bulgaria)

  Programme Background The Bulgarian MoD is investing in the modernisation of the Bulgarian Armed Forces by procuring new equipment for all of its branches, including ...

• Zmag SOF Vehicle (Israel)

  Programme Background Originally designed by and marketed by Ido Cohen, the Zmag is part of a family of ATVs aimed at both civilian and military customers. In ...

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

  Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) (Increment 2) [USAF]

  Background Requirements The baseline requirements for Increment 2 of the CCA effort are similar to Increment 1, which is covered in a separate entry on Defence ...

• SOV-Cdo Replacement (Australia)

  Programme Background The Australian MoD plans to invest in new equipment for its SOF units to allow the ADF to respond more effectively and more ...

• Zmag SOF Vehicle (Batch 2) [Israel]

  Programme Background Originally designed by and marketed by Ido Cohen, the Zmag is part of a family of ATVs aimed at both civilian and military customers. In ...

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

  Multidomian Micro Drones [USSOCOM]

  Background Special Notice On 14 November 2024, a Special Notice was released that informed the industry that the US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) was looking for ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  Wolf 2 [Germany]

  Programme Background The Wolf 2 was designed by Mercedes-Benz to replace the German Bundeswehr's ageing fleet of Wolf utility vehicles. The Bundeswehr is currently replacing its ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | F-35A (Add-On) [Germany]

  The German newspaper Spiegel published a report in October 2025 citing a confidential report submitted to the Bundestag requesting approval for the procurement of an additional 15 ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

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

  Attritable Multirotor First Person View (AM-FPV)

  Unveiled in May 2025, the Attritable Multirotor First Person View (AM-FPV) is a low-cost, rapidly deployable platform for strike and ISR missions, inspired by battlefield lessons from ...

• Loitering munitions

  Red Dragon

  The Red Dragon is a loitering munition from AeroVironment. According to the company, it is designed for one-way attack missions in high-threat, GPS-denied and communications-degraded environments. Unveiled in ...

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

  Reliant

  The Reliant is a Quantum Systems VTOL-capable fixed-wing drone unveiled at the Special Operations Forces (SOF) Week Exhibition 2024. The hybrid drone is due to ...

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

  Razor P100

  The Razor, or Razor P100, is a jet-powered fixed-wing, VTOL-capable UAV from Mayman Aerospace. Unveiled in May 2024 at Special Operations Forces (SOF) Week, the ...

• Loitering munitions

  Hellhound S3

  The Hellhound S3 is a loitering munition from Cummings Aerospace. It is man-portable, turbojet-powered and is constructed using 3D printing technology.  The S3 variant is aimed at the US ...

• Loitering munitions

  Jackal

  The Jackal is a turbojet loitering munition designed by Northrop Grumman in partnership with AeroVironment.  It features an open architecture that provides the capability to support ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

  Thunder TM-1025

  The SOF Thunder comprises one variant in a wider family of TM-1025 RIBs currently in service with the Polish armed forces. The SOF Thunder is ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  VOS-APP

  The Arquus VOS-APP is a 6x6 support vehicle currently under trial with the French SOF. Acting as a replacement for the 1970s-vintage ACMAT VLRA, the VOS-APP is the ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

  ZH-753

  The Zodiac Hurricane 753 OB SAR is typically used as a shore-based boat operating independently in SAR, counterterrorism and law enforcement missions. The deep-V fibreglass ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - HALE

  Kaori-X

  The KUS-FC, also known as the Kaori-X, was a stealthy UCAV in joint development by the Agency for Defense Development (ADD) and the Korean Air Aerospace Division ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

  Ares 35 Harpoon

  The Ares 35 Harpoon has been designed for interception & interdiction operations, as well as anti-smuggling, SOF insertion and extraction, surveillance and patrolling missions.

• MPVs - 4x4

  Matador 4x4 APC

  The Matador 4x4 vehicle can be configured as an APC or a light infantry combat vehicle, with the addition of weaponry. It is designed to ...

• Swimmer delivery vehicles

  Shallow Water Combat Submersible (SWCS)​

  The USN has contracted Teledyne Brown to develop the Shallow Water Combat Submersible (SWCS) as part of a wider effort to develop new underwater transports for ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

  Ares 55 Harpoon

  The Ares 55 Harpoon is a fast interceptor craft by Ares Shipyard for interception & interdiction operations, as well as anti-smuggling, SOF insertion and extraction, ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

  Ares 65 Harpoon

  The Ares 65 Harpoon is a fast interceptor craft by Ares Shipyard for interception & interdiction operations, as well as anti-smuggling, SOF insertion and extraction, surveillance and ...