• Naval Warfare

  Keel laid for Royal Navy’s next-generation nuclear submarine

  25th March 2025

  HMS Dreadnought will be the first of the four Dreadnought class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs) scheduled to enter service in the early 2030s. Following its keel-laying ceremony last week, Shephard takes a deeper dive into the class which will eventually replace the Royal Navy's long-standing Vanguard class of boats.

• Naval Warfare

  The Philippines strengthens maritime defences amid rising tensions in South China Sea

  28th April 2025

  The Philippine Navy is fast-tracking its maritime modernisation with new warships, unmanned platforms, and international shipbuilding partnerships to bolster its regional deterrence posture.

• Air Warfare

  India unveils rebranded armed Hermes 650 UAS for tactical operations

  21st March 2025

  India advances indigenous UAV integration with Akshi 7 and Drishti 10.

• Air Warfare

  Philippines approved for potential $5.5 billion F-16 aircraft purchase

  2nd April 2025

  The potential sale, approved by the US to the Philippines, is for 20 F-16 Block 70/72 jets, days after US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth visited the country.

• Naval Warfare

  Denmark places $184 million contract for Naval Strike Missiles

  7th March 2025

  The missiles are being purchased through a government-to-government sale with Norway and will be operated from Iver Huitfeldt-class frigates.

• Defence Notes

  Rheinmetall reports “boom” as results hit new records with orders for vehicles, ammunition and weapons

  13th March 2025

  Rheinmetall is riding high as Europe scrambles to boost its defence forces and replenish spent stockpiles sent to Ukraine.

• Air Warfare

  TAI and Airbus collaborate on Hurjet trainer for Spain

  15th May 2025

  The Hurjet is pitched as the front runner for the Spanish Air Force’s Advanced Jet Trainer replacement programme for its ageing F-5M aircraft.

• Land Warfare

  Canadian tech firm makes promise to increase precision and longevity of weapons

  14th November 2024

  Supplied by Paradigm Shift, EPVD technology has undergone trials with the US and Canadian services.

• Land Warfare

  Sweden and Ireland to send air defence radars to Ukraine

  25th February 2025

  Sweden has committed to donating Tridon Mk2 air defence systems to Ukraine while Ireland is looking to send older Giraffe 4 radar systems mounted on Bv206 carriers. The two systems can be integrated with RBS70 surface-to-air missile systems.

• Air Warfare

  UK MoD awards Ascent with eight-year contract to upgrade RAF and Royal Navy flight training

  20th May 2025

  Funding of £300 million will go towards training personnel on the FIRCTS programmes to meet a growing demand for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, and uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) platforms.

• Land Warfare

  Bids in for Canadian Bv206 replacement

  17th June 2025

  If all goes to plan, initial delivery of the selected vehicle could take place in 2029/2030 with final delivery in 2031/2032. The Bv206 were supplied to Canada many years ago and are in urgent need of replacement. More than 11,000 Bv206 were built for worldwide sale.

• Land Warfare

  Pearson Engineering remote mine-clearance system ploughs on

  10th April 2025

  The Weevil system is built around the Beacon remote control and a Pearson mine-plough. It is being evaluated on a British Army Warrior infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) but could be used for other platforms.

• Land Warfare

  Technology transfer: how well does it work?

  21st April 2025

  Technology transfer is trumpeted by many companies as a way to tap into new markets, win contracts and expand supply and manufacturing capability. It is often used in the area of armoured fighting vehicles (AFVs) and these requirements are a way to see how – and if – they work.

• Air Warfare

  Co-operation continues as tri-national F-35s break new ground in Pacific exercise

  22nd April 2025

  The February exercise marked a milestone in multinational cooperation with fifth-generational air warfare capabilities, but will it continue considering shifting US politics?

• Naval Warfare

  Raytheon, Nammo and Northrop Grumman join forces to produce MK72 solid rocket motors

  8th April 2025

  MK72 is a crucial capability for the SM-3 interceptors and the Aegis BMD system.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | European Patrol Corvette (EPC)/Buques de Protección Marítima (BPM) [Spain]

  The European Patrol Corvette (EPC) is being developed by a joint venture between Italy's Fincantieri, France's Naval Group (named Narviris), and Spain's Navantia. The corvette ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | European Patrol Corvette (EPC)/Buques de Protección Marítima (BPM) [Spain]

  The European Patrol Corvette (EPC) is being developed by a joint venture between Italy's Fincantieri, France's Naval Group (named Narviris), and Spain's Navantia. The corvette ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | European Patrol Corvette (EPC) [France]

  The European Patrol Corvette (EPC) is being developed by a joint venture between Italy's Fincantieri and France's Naval Group (named Narviris) and Spain's Navantia. The corvette ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | European Patrol Corvette (EPC) [France]

  The European Patrol Corvette (EPC) is being developed by a joint venture between Italy's Fincantieri and France's Naval Group (named Narviris) and Spain's Navantia. The corvette ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | European Patrol Corvette (EPC) [Italy]

  The European Patrol Corvette (EPC) is being developed by a joint venture between Italy's Fincantieri, France's Naval Group (named Naviris), and Spain's Navantia. The patrol-type vessel ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | European Patrol Corvette (EPC) [Spain]

  The European Patrol Corvette (EPC) is being developed by a joint venture between Italy's Fincantieri and France's Naval Group (named Narviris) and Spain's Navantia. The corvette ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | European Patrol Corvette (EPC) [Italy]

  The European Patrol Corvette (EPC) is being developed by a joint venture between Italy's Fincantieri, France's Naval Group (named Naviris), and Spain's Navantia. The patrol-type vessel ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | European Patrol Corvette (EPC) [Spain]

  The European Patrol Corvette (EPC) is being developed by a joint venture between Italy's Fincantieri and France's Naval Group (named Narviris) and Spain's Navantia. The corvette ...

• Corvettes

  European Patrol Corvette (EPC) [France]

  Programme Background Requirements The European Patrol Corvette (EPC) is one of the new PESCO (Permanent Structured Cooperation on Defence and Security) projects. PESCO was established ...

• Corvettes

  European Patrol Corvette (EPC)/Buques de Protección Marítima (BPM) [Spain]

  Programme Background Requirements The European Patrol Corvette (EPC) is one of the new PESCO (Permanent Structured Cooperation on Defence and Security) projects. PESCO was established ...

• Corvettes

  European Patrol Corvette (EPC) [Italy]

  Programme Background Requirements The 2021-2023 Documento Programmatico Pluriennale (DPP) - a multi-year defence planning document from the Italian MoD - includes a plan to acquire eight "Patrol Ships", ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  EU Next Generation Rotorcraft Technologies Project (ENGRT) - (Greece)

  Programme Background EU Next Generation Rotorcraft Technologies Project (ENGRT) EU Next Generation Rotorcraft Technologies Project (ENGRT) was announced in early 2022 and the project contract was awarded ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  EU Next Generation Rotorcraft Technologies Project (ENGRT) - (Italy)

  Programme Background EU Next Generation Rotorcraft Technologies Project (ENGRT) EU Next Generation Rotorcraft Technologies Project (ENGRT) was announced in early 2022 and the project contract was awarded ...

• OPVs

  Polish Coast Guard OPVs

  Programme Background The Polish Coast Guard is acquiring a new offshore patrol vessel (OPV) intended for the control of the external borders of the European Union. ...

• Main battle tanks

  Main ARmoured Tank of Europe (MARTE) [Finland]

  Programme Background Participants MARTE was announced in July 2025 as a consortium led by KNDS Deutschland and Rheinmetall. This consortium, under the joint venture MARTE ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  ArmoURed Infantry Ground Assault (AURIGA)

  The ArmoURed Infantry Ground Assault (AURIGA) is an IFV being developed with funding from the European Defence Fund (EDF). It aims to develop a next-generation IFV ...

• Surface-to-air missiles

  IRIS-T SLM

  The IRIS-T SLM (Surface Launched Medium-Range) is a surface-to-air missile system developed by Diehl Defence as part of the IRIS-T family of missile systems. Several countries ...

• Laser-directed energy weapons

  Tryzub Laser

  Ukraine's Tryzub (Trident) laser was revealed during the European Defence Industry: Prospects for Cooperation with the Ukrainian Defence Industry conference in 2025. Video footage from ...

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

  LOTUS

  The LOTUS, Low Observable Tactical Unnamed System, is a tactical UAV especially designed for border patrol ISR operations.  The development of the project is funded by ...

• Air: chaff/flare/decoy systems

  Sky Buzzer

  Hensoldt’s Sky Buzzer is a towed anti-radar decoy originally developed by the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS). The system is designed to protect ...

• Major networking projects

  Ballistic Missile Defence

  In early 2010, NATO acquired the first phase of an initial theatre ballistic missile defence capability to protect alliance forces. 

• Land: air defence radar

  APIS

  APIS is a passive high-resolution primary radar system developed by Indra. It is the first passive system in the world capable of offering images using ...

• Major networking projects

  IABMS

  Integrated Air Battlespace Management System (IABMS) is a modular real-time air defence and C4I system of systems that has been fielded and implemented at fixed, ...

• Main battle tanks

  EMBT

  KNDS (KMW + NEXTER Defense Systems) presented its first joint product, the EMBT (European Main Battle Tank) demonstrator, at the June 2018 Eurosatory defence exhibition. The EMBT mounts ...

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

  Astero

  Manufactured by Nordic Wing, the Astero is a fixed-wing mini UAV designed for ISR missions. The drone is equipped with a NightHawk 2 camera. In the ...

• EO/IR systems

  NightHawk2-UZ

  The NightHawk2-UZ is a dual EO-IR stabilised camera turret from NextVision designed for long-range observation applications that demand low weight. The 350g sensor's IR camera has a 1280x720p ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  DRASS Combat Management System

  The Italian company DRASS is developing its proprietary combat management system for use in compact submarines. The development of this CMS suite was first unveiled in ...

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

  Linza 3.0

  The Linza 3.0 is a rotary-wing UAV from Quantum Frontline Industries (QFI), a German-Ukrainian joint venture from Quantum Systems and Frontline Robotics. The UAV was first delivered ...

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

  Talarion

  The Talarion is a next-generation MALE UAV for reconnaissance, detection, classification and tracking of targets (land and sea) as well as detection, recognition and identification ...

• Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  Skeldar V-200

  UMS Aero Group AG and Saab formed a joint venture, UMS SKELDAR, to produce the Skeldar V-200 UAV, which is used by various countries, including Belgium, Canada ...