• Digital Battlespace

  Thales to replace Royal Navy V/UHF systems

  2nd January 2019

  Thales has received a contract from the UK Ministry of Defence for the design, manufacture, installation and in-service support of V/UHF communications replacements (VCR) across …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  RT LTA secures SkyStar 180 order in India

  2nd January 2019

  RT LTA Systems has been selected to provide its SkyStar 180 aerostat system, together with a small tactical UAS, to a state police service in …

• Military Logistics

  US Army explores new watercraft solutions

  8th January 2019

  The US Army is exploring potential new solutions to meet its watercraft logistics requirements, with an indication that commercial solutions could be considered for the …

• Digital Battlespace

  Singapore inducts artillery C2 system

  3rd January 2019

  The Singapore Army has quietly introduced an artillery C2 system that digitises target acquisition and the calling of artillery fires. The Defence Science and Technology …

• Defence Helicopter

  Japan’s UH-X achieves maiden flight

  7th January 2019

  A prototype of the UH-X medium multipurpose helicopter, slated to equip the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF), successfully completed its maiden flight in Japan in …

• Land Warfare

  Lithuania looks to NATO to deter Russia, dismisses European Army

  6th December 2018

  The idea of a European Army was dismissed by a Lithuanian defence official who said that NATO nations should continue to increase spending within the …

• Naval Warfare

  HMS Mersey joins patrol for Channel migrant dinghies

  4th January 2019

  A UK Royal Navy ship was patrolling the Channel on 4 January in response to a wave of mostly Iranian asylum seekers risking the crossing from …

• Training

  ADECS 2019: PLA emphasises force-on-force training

  22nd January 2019

  The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) is investing a lot of effort to improve the training of personnel, with the overarching goal to make combat training …

• Defence Notes

  North Korea tests new 'ultramodern tactical weapon'

  16th November 2018

  North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has overseen the testing of a ‘newly developed ultramodern tactical weapon’, Pyongyang's state media reported 16 November, a move …

• Land Warfare

  Poland requests HIMARS and related equipment

  5th December 2018

  The US State Department has made a determination approving a potential foreign military sale of M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) launchers to Poland, …

• Defence Notes

  US intel chief to brief NATO on US withdrawal from INF treaty

  28th November 2018

  US Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats said on 27 November that he is heading to Europe to explain to allies Washington's decision to pull …

• Defence Notes

  EDEX 2018: Egypt eyes JF-17 Thunder Block 3s

  5th December 2018

  The Egyptian Air Force (EAF) is currently reviewing the progress of the PAC/Chengdu JF-17 Thunder.  At EDEX 2018 in Cairo, Shephard has learnt that representatives …

• Naval Warfare

  USS Detroit begins testing of SSMM

  5th December 2018

  The US Navy has begun initial operational test and evaluation (IOT&E;) of the Surface-to-Surface Missile Module (SSMM) on Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) USS Detroit. The …

• Land Warfare

  Bolsonaro open to discussing future US military base in Brazil

  4th January 2019

  Brazil's new far-right President Jair Bolsonaro said Thursday he was open to discussing his country hosting a US military base ‘in the future,’ underlining his …

• Defence Helicopter

  Insight: Awards and delays dominate air power in 2018

  27th December 2018

  A number of key military contract awards and programme delays throughout 2018 showed that the air domain continues to move along a series of peaks …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Long Range Missile Defence Systems: > 90km range

  Long Range Air Defence [Luxembourg]

  Background In August 2026, Luxembourg announced that it was cancelling a previously announced joint procurement of NASAMS with Belgium. In its place, Luxembourg announced in ...

• Long Range Missile Defence Systems: > 90km range

  Arrow 3 Expansion [Germany]

  Background In 2023, Germany ordered three Arrow 3 long-range air defence systems from Israel-based IAI to provide an anti-ballistic missile capability.  In July 2026, an ...

• Long Range Missile Defence Systems: > 90km range

  Arrow 3 [Germany]

  Background In 2023 Germany ordered three Arrow 3 long-range air defence systems from Israel-based IAI to provide an anti-ballistic missile capability. At $3.89 billion it ...

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

  ASTER / VL MICA Multi-layer [France]

  Background The Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation, acting on behalf of France, awarded EUROSAM a contract on April 30th, 2026, for the development of the ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Columbia Class Submarine (SSBN 828 - 837) (3-12) [USN]

  The Columbia (SSBN-826) class program is to design and build a new class of 12 ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs) to replace the Navy’s current force of 14 ...

• Maritime patrol

  P-8 Poseidon [South Korea]

  Programme Background South Korea is facing an imminent submarine threat from North Korea. The Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN) is operating an aging fleet of P-3C ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Columbia Class Submarine (3-12)

  The Columbia (SSBN-826) class program is to design and build a new class of 12 ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs) to replace the Navy’s current force of 14 ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Columbia Class Submarine (3-12) [USN]

  The Columbia (SSBN-826) class program is to design and build a new class of 12 ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs) to replace the Navy’s current force of 14 ...

• Destroyers

  DDX Programme (1-2) [Italy]

  Background Requirements Destroyers are fundamental to Italy's blue water fleet and will be required to be capable of projecting capability at sea from the sea ...

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

  Cheongung Block II [South Korea]

  Background South Korea launched a plan to convert its Cheongung-I systems to the M-SAM Block II configuration. It was announced in July 2025 that it ...

• Destroyers

  Maya Class (27DDG) (1-2) [Japan]

  Programme Background The 27DD Maya class destroyers were previously known as the Improved Atago class because they are an addition to the existing two Atago-class destroyers that have entered service. ...

• Long Range Missile Defence Systems: > 90km range

  Long Range Air Defence [Norway]

  Background Following a 2023 report which bluntly stated that the Norwegian military was not ready for war and that particular gaps existed in air defence in ...

• Destroyers

  Joint Strike Ship [South Korea]

  Programme Background Requirements The third element of South Korea's "Three Axis System" - a complex of measures designed to track, detect, and eliminate an adversary’s ballistic missiles and ...

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

  Cheongung Block III [South Korea]

  Background South Korea's Defense Project Promotion Committee approved the basic strategy for the development of M-SAM Block III (Cheongung Block III). The system will modernise South Korea's ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  H-145M (Serbia)

  Serbia's aircraft will be equipped with a fast roping system, high-performance camera, fire support equipment, ballistic protection as well as an electronic countermeasures system. The ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• 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. 

• Submarines: nuclear/ballistic missile

  Arktur Next Generation SSBN

  At Army 2022 defence exposition, Rubin Design Bureau unveiled the next-generation ballistic missile submarine concept. Known as Arktur, the submarine features a stealth design and ...

• 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. ...

• Surface-to-air missiles

  SM-2 Block IV (RIM-156A)

  The SM-2 Block IV (RIM-156A) is an extended-range surface-to-air missile developed by the United States Navy for fleet area air defence and terminal phase ballistic ...

• Land: air defence radar

  AN/TPY-2

  The Army Navy/Transportable Radar Surveillance (AN/TPY-2) is an X-band missile defence radar that can detect, classify and track ballistic missiles. It uses an AESA antenna comprising 25.344 T/R ...

• Long Range Missile Defence Systems: > 90km range

  Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System

  The Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) System, developed by the United States, provides advanced sea-based and land-based protection against ballistic missile threats.  Using the AN/SPY-1 ...

• Surface-to-air missiles

  9M82M

  The 9M82M (NATO reporting name SA-23a 'Giant') is a Russian medium-range, surface-to-air missile designed to destroy tactical ballistic missiles. The development of the 9M82M missile, part of ...

• Long Range Missile Defence Systems: > 90km range

  Arrow Weapon System

  The Arrow air defence system was jointly developed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and Boeing under the oversight of Israel's Ministry of Defense and the ...

• Frigates

  GMF 140

  The GMF 140 is a concept frigate designed by Rheinmetall Naval Systems. It is initially being marketed towards North American procurement as a next-generation integrated air ...

• Major networking projects

  C2BMC

  Command, Control, Battle Management and Communications (C2BMC) is the integrating element of the US Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS) for global missile defence. C2BMC links ...

• Sea: naval fire control radar

  AN/SPY-1 air search radar

  Aegis isan integrated missile guidance system used on USN and allied ships to performanti-air and ballistic missile defence missions. The S-band phased-array AN/SPY-1D(V) radar acquires ...

• Destroyers

  Akizuki Class

  The Akizuki-class (19DD) destroyers are escort ships for the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF). They are designed to accompany Japan’s new Hyuga—and Izumo-class helicopter carriers ...

• Long Range Missile Defence Systems: > 90km range

  S-300V (SA-12 Gladiator)

  The SA-12 Gladiator, part of the S-300V air defence system, is a long-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) system developed by the Soviet Union in the late ...

• Surface-to-air missiles

  L-SAM ABM (Block I)

  The L-SAM system's anti-ballistic missile (ABM) interceptor is a three-stage missile designed to neutralize incoming ballistic missiles during their terminal phase. It employs a hit-to-kill ...

• Sea: naval surveillance radar

  KRONOS Power Shield

  The KRONOS Power Shield is an early warning naval radar manufactured by Leonardo. It is primarily designed for ballistic missile defence and surveillance. The main ...