• Air Warfare

  Sweden requests approval to pursue Gripen and GlobalEye sales to Peru and Denmark

  16th April 2025

  The Swedish Government has asked parliament to authorise two possible export sales as part of its 2025 Spring amending budget bill.

• Digital Battlespace

  Wave Relay devices cleared for security use on commercial systems in industry trend

  4th June 2025

  Persistent Systems has been cleared by National Security Agency (NSA) to transmit sensitive data on commercial networks. The devices are added to the NSA’s Commercial Solutions for Classified (CSfC) component list which also includes other companies’ products providing the same security.

• Land Warfare

  Australia inducts new QinetiQ EOD robots and 9mm pistols into service

  8th April 2025

  The new inductions will add significantly to the ADF’s infantry capabilities, especially during in-combat explosive ordnance disposal situations.

• Naval Warfare

  £30 million UK-New Zealand deal sends new uncrewed vehicles to Ukraine

  23rd April 2025

  Sam Vye, the CEO of SYOS Aerospace, which supplied the vehicles, explained the rapid development and deployment of assets in the uncrewed world.

• 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

  Expanded focus – unleashing the potential of commercial SATCOM for defence

  17th June 2025

  In conversation... Intelsat's Ray Lindenmayer talks to Shephard's Gerrard Cowan about the new capabilities advanced commercial SATCOM technologies can provide for military customers, and how industry and government can best work together to achieve maximum effect in orbit.

• Air Warfare

  Canada risks “bloodying its nose” should it forgo F-35 buy, says Canadian ex-defence chief

  19th March 2025

  Canada has stated its intention to reassess its acquisition of the F-35, amid the ongoing US-trade war, with Defence Minister Bill Blair saying it is “examining alternatives” with other aircraft manufacturers.

• Air Warfare

  Saab and Helsing hail world-first as Gripen E aircraft flies with ‘Centaur’ AI agent

  11th June 2025

  The flights, which pitted an AI-integrated Gripen E against a Gripen D in a Beyond Visual Range (BVR) combat scenario, marks a major milestone for Saab’s Project Beyond which looks to modernise the Gripen E platform.

• Naval Warfare

  Indian Navy’s next generation OPV fleet advances with keel-laying of third vessel

  17th April 2025

  The ship is the third in a fleet of 11, with the first vessel due to be delivered in 2026.

• Naval Warfare

  Helsing unveils new AI-enabled uncrewed underwater glider

  13th May 2025

  The glider, named SG-1 Fathom, has been designed to be scalable and affordable, and can be deployed for up to three months at a time, according to Helsing.

• Air Warfare

  Ireland to explore options for tactical UAS procurement

  14th March 2025

  The EU planning notice cited that the uncrewed aerial system (UAS) would be used for predominantly for reconnaissance purposes with a greater range and endurance than drones currently operated by the Irish Defence Forces.

• 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.

• Naval Warfare

  Interview: DSTA collaborates with Leonardo, Thales and Safran for naval C-UAS

  25th April 2025

  In an exclusive interview with Shephard, DSTA chief Ng Chad-son outlines how the agency is reshaping defence tech development through deeper collaboration with industry partners, from AI-enhanced radar to smart naval munitions.

• Naval Warfare

  As Australian resistance rises, is AUKUS in trouble?

  28th March 2025

  The tripartite submarine project is under political pressure from a grass-roots Australian Labor Party movement, but it could also have practical issues in its way.

• Land Warfare

  Polaris to unveil new MRZR Alpha base vehicle at Modern Day Marine

  29th April 2025

  The new platform was designed to provide 1KW of exportable power as standard and has been developed in partnership with the US Marine Corps (USMC).

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Light tanks

  Light Tank Programme (Tracked) [Philippines]

  Programme Background The decision to split the programme into a wheeled and a tracked element follows the belief of the Philippine Army that this will ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Combat Fighter Jet [Ireland]

  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 airborne ...

• Loitering munitions, Military UAS - mini

  Polish Drones (Ukraine Aid) [Sweden]

  Background Swedish Support Package On 31 March 2025, the Swedish Government presented its 19th and largest military support package to Ukraine to date, valued at almost SEK ...

• Loitering munitions

  IRIFI [Morocco]

  Methodology PGO and programme status Defence Insight has assigned this programme a PGO of 95%, since the bid has been selected.  Units required Since no ...

• Loitering munitions

  Sivrisinek (YIHA-III) [Azerbaijan]

  Background Development Two YIHA-III drones were seen during Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s inspection of drones in July 2024, prompting some publications to suspect that Azerbaijan ...

• Hybrid effector systems

  Skyranger 30 [Germany]

  Background The SPD-led approach Since the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, Germany has been under consistent pressure to increase its defence spending. In the immediate ...

• Long Range Missile Defence Systems: > 90km range

  Long Range Air Defence [Brazil]

  Background Brazil is in the process of expanding its medium-range air defence capabilities and is known to be interested in acquiring a long-range air defence ...

• Loitering munitions

  K-LUCAS [South Korea]

  Background  Shahed influence Both the 2026 Iran War and the Russia-Ukraine War have demonstrated the effectiveness of deep-strike capabilities, such as the Shahed-136. As reported ...

• Man-portable missile systems

  RBS 70 NG [Czech Republic]

  Background The Czech Republic is acquiring the vehicle-mounted RBS 70 NG systems to increase the mobility and protection of its ground-based air-defence units. The systems ...

• Military UAS - mini

  Bayraktar Mini replacement [Qatar]

  Methodology PGO and programme status There has been no indication from Qatar that it seeks to replace its Bayraktar Mini UAV fleet; instead, this programme ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  Naval UAV [Chile]

  Background Unsuccessful evaluations  In the early 2010s, the Chilean Navy reportedly tested the ScanEagle. However, the force’s requirements appeared to change, due to the organisation’s ...

• Man-portable missile systems

  Mistral SHORAD [Croatia]

  Background Croatia announced the procurement of the Mistral for the Croatian Armed Forces. The procurement followed Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the crash of a Tu-141 ...

• Medium Range Missile Defence Systems: 20-90km range

  Medium Range Air Defence [Portugal]

  Background Portugal's Military Programming Law 2023-2034 includes a requirement for medium-range air defence. In order to facilitate this, Portugal has joined the European Sky Shield Initiative ...

• Military UAS - small

  Small UAV [Peru]

  Background UAV FAP UAV FAP is a family of Peruvian UAVs that have been developed by the Peruvian Air Force and the Centre for Research ...

• Loitering munitions

  Jaser [Saudi Arabia]

  Methodology PGO and programme status Serb Advanced Industries confirmed in 2026 that the Jeser loitering munition was being produced for the Saudi Armed Forces, with multiple ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  Anoa

  Pindad designed the 6x6 Anoa APC to meet the requirements of the Indonesian Army. Since the vehicle was publicly unveiled in November 2008, close to ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

  Antasena

  Antasena is an X-18 tank boat developed as a joint collaboration between CMI Defence and PT Lundin. The fast craft has been designed to support ...

• Wheeled assault guns

  Badak

  A prototype of the 90mm-armed 6x6 Badak (Indonesian for rhinoceros) direct fire support vehicle was unveiled at IndoDefence in November 2014 by Pindad and partner ...

• Core systems: cameras and IR detectors, EO/IR systems

  NightConqueror CMI

  The NightConqueror Compact Modular Imager (CMI) is the main component of a variety of thermal imaging systems. It is used in stabilised imaging turrets for ...

• Light tanks

  Tulpar Light Tank

  Otokar unveiled its tracked Tulpar Light Tank, which mounts CMI's Cockerill 3105 turret on Otokar's Tulpar IFV chassis, at the June 2018 Eurosatory exhibition. The ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  BTR-3

  Kharkiv Morozov Machine Building Design Bureau produced the first 8x8 BTR-3-series amphibious APC in 2001. The series includes the BTR-3U, the BTR-3U Guardian (variant for ...

• Land: manned turrets

  Cockerill CPWS 25-30

  The remotely-operated Cockerill Protected Weapon Station (CPWS) can be armed with 25 mm or 30 mm guns from various manufacturers and can be integrated on 4x4, ...

• Wheeled assault guns

  ERC 90 NG

  The ERC 90 Sagaie 6x6 armoured vehicles were acquired by the French Army to provide a well-armed vehicle for its rapid reaction armoured units. Capitalising ...

• Frigates

  Drazki Class

  The Bulgarian Navy's three Drazki-class frigates began life as four Wielingen-class (Type E-71) frigates with the Belgian Navy. The ships underwent a major refurbishment and ...

• Light tanks

  K21-105 Light Tank

  At IDEX 2013, Doosan and John Cockerill Defense presented the K21-105 Light Tank concept which integrates the Cockerill 105mm-armed XC-8 turret on the Doosan K21 ...

• Major networking projects

  Missile Defence

  In 2010, NATO rolled out an initial capability to protect alliance forces against missile threats and is now examining options for protecting territory and populations. ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Commando Select

  The Commando Select 4x4 APC, built on knowledge gained from the M1117 Armored Security Vehicle’s ten years of combat theatre use by the US Army, ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6, MPVs - 4x4

  Jais MRAP

  The Jais 4x4 and 6x6 are Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles from the UAE's NIMR. Formally known as both the RG35 and N35, the Jais ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  Anders Multirole Combat Platform

  The tracked WPB Anders multirole combat platform was designed to replace the BMP-1 IFV and other vehicles in Polish Army service. The Anders family is ...

• Land: RWS

  CPWS

  Building on the success of the Cockerill Protected Weapon Station (CPWS) 25-30, John Cockerill Defense introduced a new version of the CPWS at the June 2018 ...