• Special Operations

  SOFIC 2017: The week in Tampa (video)

  19th May 2017

  Over the last few days, the Shephard team has had several opportunities to speak to top officials from US Special Operations Command, as well as leading figures …

• Naval Warfare

  RAN’s third AWD takes shape

  22nd May 2017

  The Royal Australian Navy's (RAN's) third Air Warfare Destroyer (AWD) is taking shape, with the mast now loaded onto the hull of the vessel, the …

• Naval Warfare

  IMDEX Asia: iXblue offers autonomous navigation capabilities

  18th May 2017

  France-based iXBlue promoted its Marins series of naval inertial navigation systems at IMDEX Asia. Guillaume Dandrieux, naval business development manager, highlighted the company’s M7 as its …

• Training

  ITEC 2017: Argon Delivers PlumeSIM

  11th May 2017

  The Austrian MoD's CBRN Defence Command based in Korneuburg has taken delivery of Argon Electronics' PlumeSIM live instrumented CBRN field and virtual table-top CBRN and …

• Digital Battlespace

  Hensoldt details Spexer radar orders

  11th May 2017

  Hensoldt has received orders worth around $43 million for the Spexer 2000 ground surveillance radar from unnamed customers in the Middle East and North Africa …

• Military Logistics

  IMDEX Asia: JS Kaga commissioned into JSMDF

  12th May 2017

  The Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF) has commissioned the second Izumo-class helicopter-carrier JS Kaga (DDH 184).The warship was commissioned at the Japan Marine United Corporation …

• Naval Warfare

  IDEF 2017: Concept submarine offer for Turkish MiLDEN

  12th May 2017

  A new diesel-electric submarine design from Turkish shipbuilder STM for the Turkish Navy's National Submarine (MiLDEN) has been displayed at IDEF.The model on the stand …

• Digital Battlespace

  IDEF 2017: Turkey frigate radar prepares for live-fire

  11th May 2017

  Turkey's indigenously-designed ÇAFRAD multi-function phased array radar, which will be integrated on the navy's upcoming TF-2000 anti-air warfare frigate, will go through live fire trials …

• Land Warfare

  IDEF 2017: Nurol unveils modular 4x4

  11th May 2017

  The latest Turkish company to develop a new armoured vehicle is Nurol Makina.It has put on display its NMS 4x4 vehicle at IDEF 2017 for …

• Special Operations

  ​SOFIC 2017: In the 'werx

  8th May 2017

  US Special Forces are continuing to collaborate closely with industry to optimise emerging C4ISTAR technologies on the battlefield.One way this is being explored is through …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  AUVSI 2017: FAA evaluates UAS detection systems

  3rd May 2017

  The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and its partners are continuing to conduct detection research into UAS with a number of recent evaluations of detection systems …

• Naval Warfare

  USCG receives 23rd FRC

  24th April 2017

  The US Coast Guard (USCG) has accepted delivery of its 23rd Sentinel class Fast Response Cutter (FRC), Benjamin Dailey, the agency announced on 20 April.The …

• Naval Warfare

  HMAS Sydney taking shape

  25th April 2017

  The Royal Australian Navy's (RAN's) third Air Warfare Destroyer (AWD) is taking shape, with the vessel's Aegis block now consolidated, the RAN announced on 23 …

• Defence Notes

  Analysis: Where could Trump strike North Korea?

  21st April 2017

  A virtual 'hit list' of viable targets the US military could strike if it ever decided to employ force against North Korea, which Shephard has …

• Digital Battlespace

  Typhoon Captor-E integration continues

  11th April 2017

  The first Eurofighter Typhoon fitted with the Captor-E active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar has completed power-on flights, with trials continuing for launch customer Kuwait.Speaking …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military helicopters - multirole

  UH-60M - Jordan

  On 7 July 2020, the US State Department announced that it has approved a possible FMS of one UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter and related equipment ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Offshore Patrol Cutters (OPC 10 to OPC 25)

  The US Coast Guard (USCG) is planning on having up to 25 Offshore Patrol Cutters (OPC's) to replace the aging 29 medium-endurance cutters.The OPC programme ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Offshore Patrol Cutters (OPC 10 to OPC 25)

  The US Coast Guard (USCG) is planning on having up to 25 Offshore Patrol Cutters (OPC's) to replace the aging 29 medium-endurance cutters.The OPC programme ...

• Corvettes

  Merkuriy Class (Project 20386)

  Programme Background Requirements The Russian Navy has been streamlining the number of new ship classes to reduce logistic and maintenance costs, meaning around two to ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  4x4 Vehicles [Dominican Republic]

  Programme Background Requirement The Dominican Republic shares a border with Haiti, whose security situation has worsened since the 2010 earthquake. In order to improve border ...

• Loitering munitions

  Attack & Surveillance Drones (Ukraine Aid) [UK]

  Programme Background 1000th Day On 19 November 2024, the UK Government announced a new military support package for Ukraine, which would supply £7.5 million ($9.4 ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  KC-130J [Saudi Arabia]

  Programme Background On 20 May 2017, President Donald Trump signed a Memorandum of Intent for a $109.7 billion arms deal with Saudi Arabia, including $5.8 ...

• Maritime patrol

  Maritime Patrol Aircraft [Greece]

  Programme Background Requirement The Greek government issued a request for proposals in 2023, with a focus on acquiring modern, all-weather maritime surveillance aircraft. The intended ...

• Transport

  C-27 Spartan (Third Batch) [Peru]

  Programme Background In the early 2010s, the Peruvian Air Force started a transport aircraft programme to modernise its transport wing with a platform which can traverse ...

• Frigates

  Type 054A/P (Pakistan)

  Programme Background Contracts Pakistan has ordered four frigates from China under the Type 054AP programme, which refers to the vessels being based on the Peoples ...

• Light attack

  M-346 FA [Brazil]

  Programme Background Requirement Brazil operates several A-1 (AMX) light attack aircraft, which were produced by Embraer in partnership with Leonardo in the 1980s. Similarly, the ...

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

  Zefir [Poland]

  Programme Background Inception The Zefir programme concerns a MALE-class UCAV with an operating radius of up to 1000km. In 2018, Defence24 reported that Poland could ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Multirole Fighter (Taiwan)

  Programme Background Taiwan claims that Chinese fighter jets are often crossing into the island's air defence zone. The Republic of China Air Force is looking for options ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

  PKX-B Batch II (1-4) [South Korea]

  Programme Background Contracts Award On 24 November 2022, HJ Heavy Industries was awarded a contract worth KRW212 billion ($160 million) to build four PKX-B Batch-II fast attack ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors, Patrol boats

  Gun Boats (Pakistan)

  Programme Background Timeline The first steel cutting for these boats occurred on 6 October 2022. The PN is seeking 20 vessels; the first one should ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Air: Integrated Defensive Systems

  ACES

  Raytheon's Advanced Countermeasures Electronic System (ACES) is an Integrated Self-Protection System (ISPS) designed to equip Lockheed Martin F-16 series combat aircraft. The ACES architecture includes ...

• Air: air combat simulators

  Royal Moroccan Air Force F-16 ATD

  L3Harris Technologies continues to upgrade the fielded F-16C Block 52 Aircrew Training Devices to include updates to the current Morocco F-16 OFP Tape and replacement ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-16A/B Block 1, 5, 10, 15, 20

  The F-16 Fighting Falcon programme started as a low-cost, highly manoeuvrable day fighter to complement the higher-cost, heavier McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle air superiority fighter. ...

• Land: range systems and targets

  Table Top Trainer Family

  The Table Top Trainer family is driven by customer demand for cost-effective and mobile simulation solutions for training in special functions such as laying bridges ...

• Sea: naval surveillance radar

  Fregat M2EM / Top Plate

  The Fregat M2EM, part of the 'Top Plate' radar family, is a three-dimensional, naval air and surface surveillance radar manufactured in Russia. The system is known to ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  Ajban LRSOV

  The Ajban Long-Range Special Operations Vehicle (LRSOV) is an open-top 4x4 long-range reconnaissance vehicle based on Nimr's Ajban multipurpose vehicle. The LRSOV seats four crew ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  Patsas

  Unveiled at Eurosatory 2012, the 4x4 Bastion Patsas is an open-top variant of ACMAT's Bastion family developed for SF operations. In 2012, Chad became the ...

• Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - small

  STR-50

  The STR-50 is a rotary-wing UAV manufactured by Stromkind.  Little is known about the platform. It was seen displayed on top of a Boxer 8x8 ...

• Titan MkIV

  The Titan MkIV is an octorotor UAV designed for industrial and commercial applications, such as inspection, data collection and surveillance. It is capable of carrying ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  KG-255 INE

  The AltaSec KG-255 is an NSA-certified Type 1 inline network encryptor (INE) that supports the secure exchange of classified information, up to the Top Secret ...

• Land: vehicle simulators

  Convoy Table-Top Crew Station

  The Convoy Table-Top Crew Station simulates commander, driver and gunner positions of a HMMWV or tactical truck. The gunner position features a head-mounted display for ...

• Military - USVs

  Adaro

  Adaro is a rugged, man-portable, X-class USV. Its series-hybrid energy system allows for quiet operation, including at top speeds, while the heavy fuel-based range extender ...

• Individual grenade launchers

  LG4

  The LG4 is a six-chamber, revolving-cylinder, shoulder-fired, semi-automatic 40x46mm grenade launcher. It is fitted with a top rail for optical sights and a bottom rail ...

• Z-Boat 1800

  The Z-Boat 1800 is a remotely operated hydrographic survey boat which includes GNSS positioning, echo sounder and GPS. It has a typical survey speed of ...

• Z-Boat 1800-RP

  The Z-Boat 1800-RP is a remotely operated hydrographic survey boat, an upgrade of Teledyne’s Z-Boat 1800 variant. It has a typical survey speed of 3-3.5kt, ...