• Land Warfare

  US Army receives first 20 IVAS headset prototypes from Microsoft

  3rd August 2023

  The IVAS embedded training tool provides soldiers with objective-based scenarios and battle drills through holographic and mixed-reality (MR) imagery.

• Digital Battlespace

  Comtech wins $30 million contract for next-gen Troposcatter systems

  17th July 2023

  Comtech has secured a $30 million contract to provide its next-generation Troposcatter Family of Systems (FoS) to Fairwinds Technologies, enhancing US Army tactical communications capabilities and JADC2 operations.

• Land Warfare

  Rising Anti-Armour Threats in Ukraine Spotlight Need for Active Protection Systems (Studio)

  6th September 2023

  Amid the evolving threats in modern warfare, active protection systems (APS), like Rafael’s Trophy, offer advanced defence for armoured vehicles.

• Defence Helicopter

  US approves AH-64 Apache attack helicopters for Poland

  23rd August 2023

  Poland is poised to enhance its military might through acquiring AH-64 Apache attack helicopters from the US.

• Land Warfare

  As the Ukraine war passes the 18-month mark, how are NATO’s factories meeting the artillery challenge?

  18th September 2023

  NATO is rapidly increasing its supply of equipment to Ukraine in a number of key areas including tube artillery and, crucially, its ammunition. Shephard analyses how the alliance's members are stepping up to this challenge after years of industrial neglect.

• Land Warfare

  Indian Army seeks ATGMs for BMP-2s and machine guns

  20th July 2023

  The Indian Army is hunting for medium-calibre machine guns, plus anti-tank guided missiles for its fleet of BMP-2 vehicles.

• Naval Warfare

  The Philippines has ended its flirtation with China – so what next for the country’s navy?

  11th September 2023

  For decades, largely as a result of historical ties, the US was the only Western country with a strong interest in the Philippines and its navy. Over the past year, other nations have turned their attention to the archipelago. The question is why now? And what is the impact of this shift on the Philippine Navy?

• Land Warfare

  Why the British Army may be doomed to fail in high-intensity conflicts

  13th July 2023

  Former Chiefs of Defence Staff warn that capability gaps as well as budget and stockpile issues are putting the readiness of the UK armed forces in jeopardy.

• Air Warfare

  Insight: Is the Bayraktar TB2 UAV living up to expectations?

  15th September 2023

  Sold to well over 20 countries and combat-proven in Nagorno-Karabakh, Ukraine and elsewhere, the Bayraktar TB2 has been an export success for its Turkish manufacturer. Shephard Defence Insight analyses the aircraft's design and capabilities and reviews in depth who is buying it and why.

• Air Warfare

  Ukraine lessons: is bringing an attack helicopter to a missile fight too dangerous?

  15th September 2023

  According to multiple OSINT sources, Russian forces have lost possibly as many as 200 rotary-wing aircraft since February 2022. Some of these occurred in early high-profile operations, but most have been attrition casualties during the ongoing fighting. Shephard analyses the nature of these losses, and what lessons NATO attack helicopter operators should draw.

• Land Warfare

  Galvion releases upgraded MAX-8 charging station for tactical forces

  1st August 2023

  Galvion has enhanced its MAX-8 Mission Adaptive Charging Station, boosting power output, AC/DC supply, and enabling faster firmware upgrades. The upgrade meets customer demands for more charging power without compromising ruggedness.

• Land Warfare

  Why US Army artillery needs a new Precision Guidance Kit

  14th July 2023

  Northrop Grumman has secured a $40.6 million US Army contract for M1156E4 Precision Guidance Kit development, expanding capabilities for new artillery systems. Learn more about this major upgrade.

• Training

  Adacel and SkyWarrior win $7m deal for US Army simulators

  6th July 2023

  Adacel and SkyWarrior have been awarded a subcontract by GDIT to replace the US Army's Enhanced Tower Simulator and Aviation Radar Training Simulator as part of the Flight School Training Support Services program.

• Land Warfare

  German Army to field Australian-made Boxer vehicles in export reversal

  12th July 2023

  Germany, the designer and builder of the Boxer, will turn to Australia for new 8x8 vehicles. Meanwhile, Hanwha continues to march forward with Australia's AS9 155mm SPHs.

• Land Warfare

  RTX wins $117.5 million US Army deal for 3Gen FLIR B-Kit sensors

  7th July 2023

  RTX will produce B-Kit sensors for the US Army under a LRIP contract for installation on main battle tanks and other combat vehicles as well as potentially uncrewed platforms.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• MPVs - 4x4

  Titan-B [Colombia]

  Background Colombia is understood to have a requirement for as many as 100 APCs capable of carrying up to 20 troops and protecting their occupants ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Titan-C [Colombia]

  Background Colombia is understood to have a requirement for as many as 100 APCs capable of carrying up to 20 troops and protecting their occupants ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  M1117 Guardian ASV [Colombia]

  Background The Colombian Army requested surplus M1117s to assist with counter-insurgency and counter-narcotics operations. Due to a lack of armoured vehicles suitable for troop transport, ...

• Light Tactical Vehicles [Colombia]

  Programme Background The Colombian MoD has not outlined how many new patrol vehicles will be needed to equip all seven of the light cavalry groups, ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  M113A3 [Colombia]

  Background The Colombian Army currently operates 54 M113A1 and M113A2 APCs, which are divided among two mechanised infantry battalions and a training school. Known as ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Secure Personnel Transport Vehicle [Colombia]

  Background Colombia is understood to have a requirement for as many as 100 APCs capable of carrying up to 20 troops and protecting their occupants ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  PETEF (LAV III) [Colombia]

  Background Since the replacement of the M113 is understood to be a priority for the Colombian Army, it is anticipated that a contract could materialise ...

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

  WanderB or ThunderB [Colombia]

  Programme Background Expodefensa 2019 During Colombia's Expodefensa 2019 exhibition, BlueBird Aero Systems displayed its ThunderB VTOL small UAV. Reportedly, the Colombian Army requested information on ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Secure Personnel Transport Vehicle [Colombia]

  Background Colombia is understood to have a requirement for as many as 100 APCs capable of carrying up to 20 troops and protecting their occupants ...

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

  Coelum (Colombia)

  Programme Background Testing Colombian Aeronautical Industry Cooperation (CIAC) was working on a project called Dron Coelum X-001. In late 2020, the CIAC tested a redesigned prototype of the ...

• Self-propelled guns

  ATMOS [Colombia]

  Programme background The Colombian army currently operates a variety of towed artillery platforms. The acquisition of self-propelled platforms is intended to enhance the capabilities of ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  PETEF (Tracked IFV) [Colombia]

  Background Since a programme to procure a tracked IFV has yet to be launched by the Colombian Army, it is unclear how many tracked IFVs ...

• Main battle tanks

  New MBT [Colombia]

  Background The Colombian Army has evaluated several offers for MBT platforms in the past, though none of these have progressed to the formal contract stage. ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | Kfir Replacement [Colombia]

  The Colombian Air Force has a long-standing requirement for 15 new fighter aircraft to replace its aging 23 Kfir aircraft in service. On 3 April ...

• Data links

  Data links | Kfir Replacement [Colombia]

  The Colombian Air Force has a long-standing requirement for 15 new fighter aircraft to replace its aging 23 Kfir aircraft in service. On 3 April ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• MPVs - 4x4

  Titan

  Blindex developed the Titan series of APCs to provide the Colombian Army with an affordable means of transporting large numbers of troops for internal security ...

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

  Quimbaya X-003

  The Quimbaya X-003 is a Colombian fixed-wing UAV designed and developed by the Colombian Aeronautical Industry Corporation (CIAC). Reportedly, following evaluation tests in late 2023, ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  M1117 Guardian ASV

  In December 1995, the US Army selected a design based on the Textron ASV 150 to provide the military police with a vehicle that combined ...

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

  Coelum

  Manufactured by Corporación de la Industria Aeronáutica Colombiana (CIAC), the Coelum is a mini UAV that is fitted with a 40x zoom EO/IR camera payload for ISR missions.  The ...

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

  Dragom

  Colombian Aeronautical Industry Corporation (CIAC) unveiled the Dragom in mid-2025 at F-AIR Colombia 2025.  The rotary-wing quadcopter is designed for reconnaissance and guided attack missions. 

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  PRC-710

  The PRC-710 is a VHF/FM voice and data handheld radio with COMSEC and ECCM capabilities. Designed in response to emerging combat requirements, the PRC-710 is ...

• Frigates

  SIGMA 10514

  The Martadinata-class frigates, also known as the Perusak Kawal Rudal-class (PKR), are based on Damen's Sigma 10514 design. Two frigates have been jointly built by PT ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

  LPR 40 MKII

  The LPR acts as a command boat for the group of tactical riverine combat boats operated by the Colombian Marine Corps. It is equipped with ...

• OPVs

  OPV 93C

  The OPV 93C is an offshore patrol vessel designed and developed by Cotecmar. The Colombian Navy ordered one platform in November 2022 and one in ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  SCTV

  The Survivable Combat Tactical Vehicle(SCTV), developed by Textron Marine & Land Systems and Granite Tactical Vehicles, is an upgrade solution for the AM General High ...

• Sea: optronic masts and periscopes

  SERO 250

  The SERO 250 is a compact submarine periscope that can be installed in both new-build and upgraded boats. Little or no structural modifications are required ...

• Surface-to-air missiles

  Barak MR (MRAD)

  The Barak Medium Range (MR) missile, developed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), is an advanced surface-to-air interceptor designed to counter a wide spectrum of aerial threats, ...

• Fighter - multirole

  J-10

  The J-10 (NATO reporting name Firebird) is a multirole fighter developed by China to replace second-generation J-7 and Q-5 aircraft. The aircraft is also known ...

• Submarines: conventional/attack

  Type 209/1200

  The Type 209/1200 diesel-electric submarine is a variant of the Type 209 submarine designed by the German company Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft exclusively for the export market. ...

• Naval guns

  OTO Strales/Davide

  The OTO Strales represents the second iteration of the OTO 76/62mm Super Rapido gun from Leonardo. The weapon, which is in service with the Italian ...