• Special Operations

  AUSA 2018: Smart Shooter debuts tactical drone eliminator

  15th October 2018

  Smart Shooter unveiled a tactical drone-elimination variant of its SMASH 2000 fire control system at last week’s AUSA annual meeting and exposition.  The basic SMASH 2000 …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Second MQ-9B SkyGuardian flies

  8th October 2018

  General Atomics Aeronautical Systems’ (GA-ASI's) second MQ-9B SkyGuardian RPA (aircraft YBC02) has completed its first flight at Laguna Army Airfield in Yuma Proving Grounds, Arizona, …

• Training

  CAE USA receives C-130H ATS contract

  1st October 2018

  CAE USA has received a US Air Force contract to provide comprehensive C-130H aircrew training services (ATS), CAE announced on 26 September. The eight-year, $200 …

• Defence Notes

  Washington toys with ways to steer India, Turkey away from S-400

  12th September 2018

  Trump administration officials are looking for incentives to steer allies and partners away from buying Russia's S-400 Triumf long-range, surface-to-air missile system and toward US …

• Defence Notes

  Mattis makes unannounced visit to Afghanistan

  7th September 2018

  US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis landed in Kabul on 7 September for an unannounced visit to war-torn Afghanistan, adding his weight to a flurry of …

• Digital Battlespace

  Finland to order Bittium Tough Comnode terminals

  9th October 2018

  Bittium Wireless and the Finnish Defence Forces Logistics Command are set to enter into a framework agreement on the purchase of Bittium Tough Comnode terminals …

• Military Logistics

  RFA Tidesurge to begin sea trials

  8th October 2018

  The Royal Navy’s third Tide-class tanker, Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) Tidesurge, is ready to begin military trials, the navy announced on 3 October. RFA Tidesurge …

• Digital Battlespace

  US Army to trial 'radio-over-satellite' communications

  10th September 2018

  Spectra Group’s Slingshot appliqué kit has been selected to support the US Army Expeditionary Warrior Experiments (AEWEs) in 2019, company officials have disclosed to Shephard. …

• Special Operations

  New Malaysian government disbands NSOF

  5th October 2018

  Sources have confirmed that the Malaysian government has disbanded the National Special Operations Force (NSOF) that had only been established on 27 October 2016 as …

• Training

  Contractor operations: Service central

  4th October 2018

  Military forces around the world are increasingly turning to outsourced training service provision. How far this industry-delivered learning is accepted is a matter of degree, …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  AUSA 2018: Textron sees the light on Nightwarden

  6th October 2018

  The prospect of a first sale for Textron's Nightwarden tactical UAS is one that the company remains confident about, despite the fact that more than …

• Digital Battlespace

  Airbus tests stratospheric 4G/5G defence comms

  1st October 2018

  Airbus has successfully tested stratospheric 4G/5G defence applications with a high-altitude balloon demonstration, the company announced on 25 September. Supported by the French and Canadian …

• Land Warfare

  AUSA 2018: Show preview (video)

  4th October 2018

  As AUSA gets set to begin in Washington DC, Shephard discuss the various modernisation strands the US Army are prioritising and how the service will likely concentrate …

• Defence Helicopter

  Iraq requests armed Bell 407GX helicopters

  8th October 2018

  The US State Department has made a determination approving a potential foreign military sale of armed Bell 407GX helicopters to Iraq, the Defense Security Cooperation …

• Digital Battlespace

  AUSA 2018: US Army selects Thales for Leader Radio IDIQ

  3rd October 2018

  Thales has received a ten year IDIQ contract for the US Army’s 2-Channel Leader Radio programme, the company announced on 27 September. The programme will …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Fighter - multirole

  Combat Fighter Jet [Ireland]

  Programme Background  In February 2025, the Irish Minister for Defence and Tánaiste Simon Harris highlighted Irelands need to procure a new combat fighter jet to combat ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  C-390 Options [Portugal]

  Programme Background Leadership from Embraer and the Portuguese Air Force formalised a contract that includes 10 aircraft options that can be utilised by any NATO ...

• AEW&C

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

  Programme Background NATO’s E-3A AWACS fleet is set to retire in 2035, after 50 years of service. To plan for the required follow-on capability, NATO's ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  C-390 [Portugal]

  Programme Background Leadership from the Portuguese Air Force and Embraer signed a contract for a sixth C-390, with the option for ten additional aircraft for ...

• Military UAS - HALE

  MQ-4C Triton [NATO]

  Background NATO Summit Defence Industry Forum During the July 2026 NATO Summit Defence Industry Forum in Ankara, Türkiye, NATO announced that Denmark, Finland, Germany and Norway ...

• OPVs

  Samarth Class (Batch 2)

  Programme Background The Samarth class Advanced Offshore Patrol Vessels (AOPVs) are a class of six in service with the Indian Coast Guard with a further five vessels ...

• Fighter - multirole

  MiG-35 (Russia)

  The MiG-35 is a new-generation derivative of the twin-engine MiG-29 (NATO code-name ‘Fulcrum’) featuring multi-role combat capabilities, significantly reworked airframe and a vastly expanded arsenal ...

• OPVs

  Vikram Class

  Programme Background The Vikram class Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) for the Indian Coast Guard are being built at the Kattupalli shipyard by Larsen and Toubro (L&T;)  Shipbuilding. ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | C-390 [Portugal]

  During the Paris Air Show 2025, Embraer and the Portuguese Air Force formalised the procurement of Portugal's sixth C-390 aircraft with the option for ten ...

• Data links

  Data links | C-390 [Portugal]

  During the Paris Air Show 2025, Embraer and the Portuguese Air Force formalised the procurement of Portugal's sixth C-390 aircraft with the option for ten ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | C-390 [Portugal]

  During the Paris Air Show 2025, Embraer and the Portuguese Air Force formalised the procurement of Portugal's sixth C-390 aircraft with the option for ten ...

• ISR/special mission

  EC-37B Compass Call (1-10) [USA]

  Programme Background Requirement The retirement of the EF-111A in 1990 left the USAF largely out of the operational and tactical level radar jamming business. Lockheed Martin ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | Jamming and Escort Electronic Attack Aircraft (luWES) [Germany]

  Under the Luftgestützte Wirkung im Elektromagnetischen Spektrum (luWES) programme, Germany is committed to NATO to provide 15 electronic warfare escort aircraft to support its aerial jamming capability, ...

• Data links

  Data links | Jamming and Escort Electronic Attack Aircraft (luWES) [Germany]

  Under the Luftgestützte Wirkung im Elektromagnetischen Spektrum (luWES) programme, Germany is committed to NATO to provide 15 electronic warfare escort aircraft to support its aerial jamming capability, ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  Air: Helmet-mounted displays | Jamming and Escort Electronic Attack Aircraft (luWES) [Germany]

  Under the Luftgestützte Wirkung im Elektromagnetischen Spektrum (luWES) programme, Germany is committed to NATO to provide 15 electronic warfare escort aircraft to support its aerial jamming capability, ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Major networking projects

  Air Policing

  Air Policing is a collective peacetime mission that requires NATO to take action against all violations and infringements of its airspace using agreed procedures. Supreme ...

• Land: battlefield and ground surveillance radar

  O-PEN Wall Penetration Radar

  SRC’s O-PEN sense-through-the-wall radar system, previously known as SOMISR II, was developed to address urban warfare requirements under a US Army Technology Objective programme. The ...

• Major networking projects

  Air and Missile Defence

  NATO Air and Missile Defence comprises all measures aimed at monitoring and reacting to potential air threats in NATO airspace, as well as countering hostile ...

• Counter-UAS systems

  Blackbird

  The Blackbird UAV detection and geolocation system detects and locates both the UAV and its controller, using signal processing technology. It can be deployed interactively ...

• Major networking projects

  NATO SATCOM

  Leonardo has been awarded a turnkey contract to rationalise and upgrade NATO’s SATCOM systems and associated infrastructure. The company will design, build, test, commission and ...

• Major networking projects

  NATO DCIS

  Airbus is delivering the NATO Deployable Communication and Information System (DCIS). The project represents a major upgrade in the capability of NATO Response Forces (NRF) ...

• Land: RWS

  Qimek NATO

  Rheinmetall's RWS family includes the Qimek single-weapon RWS and the Nanuk dual-weapon RWS. The Qimek NATO combines full stabilisation, long-range day/night all-weather sights and a ...

• Land: RWS

  Nanuk NATO

  Rheinmetall's RWS family includes the Qimek single-weapon RWS and the Nanuk dual-weapon RWS, which was introduced in 2008. The Nanuk NATO combines full stabilisation, long-range ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  V-RAPTOR

  Unveiled at LAAD 2023 in Rio de Janeiro, the V-RAPTOR is a tactical police armoured vehicle from domestic manufacturer Combat Armor Defense do Brasil.

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  SDR-H Special Role Radio

  In February 2018, Domo Tactical Communications (DTC) announced the development of the SDR-H Special Role Radio (SRR), designed for tactical and special operations. The SRR ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

  Interceptor DV15

  The Interceptor DV15 is a sea-proven ultra-high-speed boat designed by CMN. According to the manufacturer, the vessel is capable to perform maritime policing, anti-smuggling patrols ...

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

  Phoenix

  The Phoenix UAV is a delta-wing platform designed largely for civilian applications such as policing, border patrol, coast guard, fire-fighting and surveillance, as well as ...

• Air-to-air missiles

  Vympel R-27

  The Vympel R-27 (NATO reporting name AA-10 Alamo) is a Soviet air-to-air missile. It remains in service with the Russian Air Force and is also ...

• Destroyers

  Tepe Class (TF-2000)

  The Tepe-class (TF-2000 class) Air Defence Warfare (ADW) destroyers are part of Turkeys Milgem project to revitalise the fleet. The ships are intended to be NATO compatible ...

• Naval guns

  Seahawk DS

  The Seahawk DS naval gun is available in two variants- the DS A1 and the DS A2. The Seahawk DS A1 can be integrated onto minor ...