• Air Warfare

  Insight: What future remains for the E-7 Wedgetail aircraft?

  2nd September 2025

  The surveillance aircraft from Boeing is deployed by various countries, most notably the Royal Australian Air Force; but ongoing setbacks for future customers, who cite rising costs and delays, have thrown the aircraft into the spotlight.

• Air Warfare

  How the MQ-9B’s interoperability is driving future market success

  8th September 2025

  With numerous nations, including the UK, committing a combined US$9.99 billion to acquiring the MQ-9B MALE UAV according to Shephard Defence Insight data, the capability now looks set to soar as UAV spending rises globally.

• Naval Warfare

  Japan accelerates naval shipbuilding with new OPVs, destroyers and amphibious craft

  23rd May 2025

  Japan Marine United has made advances in OPV construction, as it unveils next-gen DDGX concepts and expands fast-landing craft fleet for island defence.

• Land Warfare

  "The next industrial revolution": Pearson Engineering embraces autonomy and robotics

  1st September 2025

  In Conversation: Shephard’s Gerrard Cowan talks to Pearson Engineering group chief executive officer Ian Bell about how the company is turning to new technologies to provide critical protection and mobility for troops on the front line.

• Land Warfare

  Digital backbone: bringing new capabilities to the UK defence market

  29th August 2025

  In Conversation: Shephard’s Gerrard Cowan talks to Bittium’s newly appointed general manager for UK defence, Dean Aldridge, about how the company’s tactical communications technologies can empower the British armed forces, and its ambitions for the UK market.

• Air Warfare

  Indonesia inks deal for 48 Kaan aircraft

  29th July 2025

  While the Kaan aircraft is still in development, Indonesia is the first international customer to have committed to buy the aircraft, despite Jakarta’s lack of clarity over funds.

• Air Warfare

  Paris Air Show 2025: Boeing confirms “very early infancy” C-17 Globemaster III production restart discussions as European market opportunity looms

  17th June 2025

  The discussion of the C-17 comes off the back of Boeing’s focus on a growing European demand for defence equipment amid a growing threat on the continent.

• Naval Warfare

  Japan orders first upgraded Mogami-class frigates for the JMSDF

  26th May 2025

  The JMSDF has commissioned the seventh Mogami-class ship as Mitsubishi Heavy Industries advances upgraded frigates and supply vessels.

• Air Warfare

  US Navy’s FA-XX programme still an “option”, as FY2026 US defence budget outline proposed

  27th June 2025

  The US Navy’s answer to a sixth-generation fighter has experienced a range of setbacks and delays to the programme, with only $47 million in this latest proposed budget set aside for completing the aircraft.

• Land Warfare

  Europe looks to solve tank procurement challenges with upgraded and new platforms

  28th August 2025

  The UK government in 2019 reflected a common attitude towards main battle tanks (MBTs) across Western Europe as it moved to reduce its fleet from 227 Challenger 2 vehicles to 148, which would be upgraded under a plan that eventually produced the Challenger 3. Now, however, there is an increased interest in platforms new, upgraded and planned across the continent.

• Naval Warfare

  Final US Navy Independence-class Littoral Combat Ship concludes acceptance testing

  24th June 2025

  After troubled progress with the Littoral Combat Ship programme, the US Navy plans to commission USS Pierre (LCS 38) this autumn.

• Naval Warfare

  Defending the Fleet: Naval air defence in the drone era (Podcast)

  29th May 2025

  In an era of swarming drones, proliferating missiles and saturation attacks, naval air defence must combine cutting-edge effectiveness with low cost per intercept. Israel’s Rafael is applying its long expertise to help navies adapt to emerging threats, while looking to a future of laser technology – and beyond.

• Air Warfare

  MBDA backs British startup to continue development on heavy-lift drone

  29th April 2025

  The investment will bring together the Hybrid Drones and MBDA to enable the former to further develop its Hydra 400 UAV, previously showcased by the British Army.

• Defence Notes

  Industry welcomes UK Strategic Defence Review, but pressure remains on future defence investment plans

  2nd June 2025

  While industry reception to the SDR has been positive, questions still remain from analyst and trade associations about what this could mean for future investment and the future UK Defence Industrial Strategy.

• Naval Warfare

  South Korea pushes forward on unmanned surface vessel development for future fleet

  20th June 2025

  South Korean industry continues to evolve unmanned surface vessels as the ROK Navy targets future force needs and addresses manpower challenges.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  Land Mobility Programme (Heavy Protected Mobility) [UK]

  Background Requirement Serving in several iterations since 1963, the FV432 Mk3 'Bulldog' remains operational and deployed as command vehicles, ambulances, and recovery vehicles within the British Army. Although mostly ...

• Military UAS - small

  AR3 (Ukraine Aid) [UK]

  Background £270 Million investment On 15 September 2025, the UK MoD noted that, since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the UK ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Land Mobility Programme (Medium Protected Mobility) [UK]

  This programme briefly introduces the wider Land Mobility Programme and then focuses on the Medium Protected Mobility (MPM) programme. Information on the LMV and MPM can ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  Land Mobility Programme (Light Mobility Vehicle) [UK]

  This programme briefly introduces the wider Land Mobility Programme and then focuses on the Light Mobility Vehicle (LMV) programme. Information on the LPM and HPM can ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  Flexible Tactical Uncrewed Air System (FTUAS) [UK]

  Background Tender notice and timeline On 25 May 2021, the MoD published a tender notice for the urgent acquisition of a UAS and ancillaries under ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Land Mobility Programme (Light Protected Mobility) [UK]

  This programme briefly introduces the wider Land Mobility Programme and then focuses on the Light Protected Mobility (LPM) programme. Information on the LMV and HPM can ...

• Main battle tanks

  Skyranger 35 (Leopard 1) [Ukraine]

  Programme Background Rheinmetall previously provided Ukraine with Skyranger 35s; however, these were mounted on truck chassis. The logic behind providing Ukraine with Skyranger 35 on ...

• Military UAS - mini

  RemoEye-002B [South Korea]

  Background Contract award The RemoEye-002B was adopted by the Republic of Korea Army (ROKA) as a battalion-level ISR asset in late 2013, when Uconsystem received ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  Patria 6x6 [Norway]

  Background The CAVS programme brings together Finland, Denmark, Germany, Latvia, Sweden, Norway and the UK to develop an armoured vehicle based on the Patria 6x6 ...

• Destroyers

  Future Destroyers (13DDX) [Japan]

  Programme Background Requirements At CNE 2024, Vice Admiral Shinichi Imayoshi, Director General of Naval Systems at the Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA), revealed that enhancing ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  Patria 6x6 (Batch 2) [Norway]

  Programme Background The CAVS programme brings together Finland, Denmark, Germany, Latvia, Sweden, Norway and the UK to develop an armoured vehicle based on the Patria ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Rafale Procurement (1-36) [Qatar]

  Methodology PGO As this programme is complete, the PGO is 100%. Units required A total of 36 units were required through this programme. This was ...

• Submarines: conventional/attack

  Taigei Class (29SS) (1-2)

  Programme Background The Taigei-class (29SS) is the latest class of submarines to be developed for the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF). The class, which has been developed ...

• Main battle tanks

  Challenger 3 [UK]

  Background Developed as a replacement for the Challenger 2 MBT, the UK Ministry of Defence initiated initial development under its Challenger 2 Life Extension Programme ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Dominator [Mexico]

  Background Confirmation In September 2015, the Mexican government purchased two Dominator XPs after the UAS completed a series of flight trials. Data from the Stockholm ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  BvS10 Beowulf

  BAE Systems Hägglunds launched the BvS10 Beowulf articulated tracked ATV at the September 2015 DSEI exhibition in the UK. The Beowulf is an unarmoured variant ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  VBCI-2

  Nexter unveiled the VBCI-2 IFV, the latest evolution of its 8x8 VBCI infantry fighting vehicle, at DSEI 2015 in London. Using company funds, Nexter has built ...

• Military vehicle engines

  TCD 2015

  The TCD 2015 is a modern water-cooled four stroke diesel V-engine that is currently integrated on the RG41 armoured vehicle.

• Land: vehicle surveillance/target acquisition systems

  Hawkeye Land Surveillance Systems

  Launched at DSEI 2015, the Chess Dynamics Hawkeye family of multi-sensor surveillance systems is designed to provide short- to extended-range optical surveillance and target acquisition ...

• Land: battle management systems, Naval: Combat Management Systems

  C-Flex Compact

  At DSEI 2015, Terma unveiled the C-Flex Compact, an EO and surveillance mission system for smaller vessels. Based on the C-Flex management system, C-Flex Compact ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  LRV 400 Mk2

  Designed for rapid intervention, patrol and strike operations in harsh environments, the LRV (Light Reconnaissance Vehicle) 400 Mk2, unveiled at DSEI 2015, is a further ...

• Air: mission management systems

  HALT

  At DSEI 2015, Collins Aerospace (formerly Rockwell Collins) unveiled a wearable version of the FireStorm family. High Accuracy Lightweight Targeter (HALT) is able to provide ...

• Towed rocket launchers

  SPARC

  Rafael unveiled the SPARC, a 360° remote-controlled towed launcher for its Spike non-line-of-sight (NLOS) missile, at the September 2015 DSEI exhibition in London. Spike NLOS ...

• Loitering munitions

  Crossbow

  MBDA unveiled Crossbow, a ground-launched One Way Effector Heavy (OWE(H)) at DSEI 2025. Equipped to carry kinetic or non-kinetic payloads up to 300kg, the turbojet-powered OWE(H) ...

• Loitering munitions

  Q-SLAM-100

  Unveiled at DSEI 2025, the Q-SLAM-100 is a man-portable loitering munition. Manufactured by Arquimea, the system is designed for medium-range missions with 120 minutes of flight autonomy ...

• Military UAS - small

  AR3

  The AR3, or AR3 Net Ray, is an autonomous small-UAS designed to support land-based and maritime missions.  In May 2025, the Royal Air Force announced ...

• Military UAS - small

  AR3 EVO

  Unveiled at DSEI 2025, the AR3 EVO is a small fixed-wing UAV from Tekever. The system is highly modular and can be configured in a ...

• Land: battle management systems

  FACNAV

  Developed by Teleplan, FACNAV is a battle management system designed for use at the battlegroup level and below. The software suite is designed to interact ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Hamadori 6000

  The Hamadori 6000 is the largest member of the Hamadori family, which Hama manufactures. Equipped with a turboprop engine, this large 14-meter-class UAV is designed ...

• Self-propelled guns

  Korkut

  The Korkut SPAAG was developed to meet a Turkish Land Forces Command (TLFC) requirement by a team led by Aselsan as prime contractor, with FNSS ...