• Uncrewed Vehicles

  ECA to develop industrial UGV

  6th July 2017

  ECA Group has been selected by Rio Tinto Aluminium (RTA) to develop an unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) for industrial heavy load transportation. To be called MAX …

• Land Warfare

  Paris Air Show: Le Bourget under air defence ‘bubble’ (video)

  26th June 2017

  While most visitors at this year’s Paris Air Show were concerned with applying enough sun protection, the French Air Force had another more pressing concern; …

• Land Warfare

  Belgium aligns to France’s ‘Scorpion’ programme

  26th June 2017

  The Belgium government has approved plans that will see the country’s land forces recapitalise its armoured vehicle fleet through closer cooperation with France, in a …

• Training

  Paris Air Show: CAE sets a record

  21st June 2017

  On 31 May, CAE released its end of year financial results. By any standard, the results were significant and saw a record breaking CAD$7.5 billion …

• Naval Warfare

  DCNS’s F21 torpedo enters final development phase

  26th June 2017

  DCNS’s F21 torpedo has entered into its final development phase following the completion of a qualification round of firing off the Var coast in France, …

• Digital Battlespace

  Connect-D for German troops in Lithuania

  12th June 2017

  Airbus has rolled out Connect-D support communications to German military bases in Lithuania, the company announced on 7 June. Through Connect-D, Airbus now supplies internet, telephone …

• Defence Notes

  Paris Air Show: Preview (video)

  16th June 2017

  Shephard editors Helen Haxell and Richard Thomas discuss the main themes of the upcoming Paris Air Show at Le Bourget, France. While the show looks …

• Defence Notes

  MBDA seeks munition revolution

  22nd June 2017

  European missile house MBDA has unveiled a new family of gliding smart munitions, but officials played down suggestions it could compete as a Small Diameter …

• Training

  Paris Air Show: New target drone on target

  20th June 2017

  Leonardo has introduced its new Mirach 40 (M-40) aerial target system to the market at the Paris Air Show 2017. The company is looking to …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Paris Air Show: Patroller integration continues

  19th June 2017

  The French Army is continuing efforts to integrate the Patroller UAV into its force structure following the recent announcement that it will receive two systems …

• Digital Battlespace

  Paris Air Show: Upgraded Rafale set for trials

  13th June 2017

  The French Air Force is on track to carry out qualification trials of the new ‘F3R’ standard Dassault Rafale next year, which will include testing …

• Defence Helicopter

  Mexican Navy receives new Panthers

  13th June 2017

  The Mexican Navy has received a further two AS565MBe helicopters bringing the total of aircraft it now has in service to six. The two helicopters …

• Land Warfare

  India reboots CQB rifle tender

  14th June 2017

  This month the Indian Army launched a supplementary RfI to obtain 44,000 much-needed 5.56mm close-quarter battle (CQB) carbines.These are intended to replace its retired Sterling 1A1 9mm …

• Naval Warfare

  Patrol vessel bound for French Guiana

  9th June 2017

  The French Navy has taken command of its second and final Guyanese Light Patrol Vessel (PLG), P734 La Résolue, which was officially handed over by …

• Land Warfare

  New French Army rifle deliveries start

  31st May 2017

  The French armament procurement agency, the DGA (Direction Générale de l’Armement) has taken delivery of a first batch of new rifles. The first tranche of …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - MALE

  Bayraktar TB2 [Mali]

  Programme Background Six Drones On 22 December 2022, Joseph Dempsey, a research associate at IISS, tweeted photographs showing a Baytraktar TB2 adorned with the Malian ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  EBRC Jaguar [Luxembourg]

  Background Luxembourg currently operates a small military of just over 1,000 personnel. Despite its small size, Luxembourg has contributed troops to both NATO and EU missions in ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  VBMR-L Serval [Luxembourg]

  Background Luxembourg currently operates a small military of just over 1,000 personnel. Despite its small size, Luxembourg has contributed troops to both NATO and EU missions in ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  VBMR Griffon [Luxembourg]

  Background Luxembourg currently operates a small military of just over 1,000 personnel. Despite its small size, Luxembourg has contributed troops to both NATO and EU missions in ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Akinci [Mali]

  Background Presentation In December 2024, Akinci drones were presented to the Malian Armed Forces by transitional President General Assimi Goita during a ceremony in Bamako, confirming ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  Mi-171Sh [Burkina Faso]

  While the Burkinabe Armed Forces declined to discuss the deal when contacted by Shephard, a Burkinabe military source did acknowledge that the aircraft were being ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Surplus Maxxpro [Bangladesh - Batch 1]

  Programme Background The Bangladesh Army requires MRAPs to provide protected mobility to its troops deployed on UN peacekeeping missions in Mali and the Central African ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Surplus Maxxpro [Bangladesh - Batch 2]

  Programme Background The Bangladesh Army requires MRAPs to provide protected mobility to its troops deployed on UN peacekeeping missions in Mali and the Central African ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  UN Peacekeeping Vehicles [Bangladesh]

  Programme Background The Bangladesh Army requires 4x4 armoured vehicles to provide protected mobility to its troops deployed on UN peacekeeping missions in Mali and the ...

• Medium UGVs

  THeMIS [Netherlands and Estonia]

  Background The Estonian Armed Forces had already been operating the THeMIS UGV in Mali for a year at the time the programme was announced in ...

• Medium UGVs

  THeMIS [Sweden]

  Programme Background Many countries have been acquiring small numbers of Milrem's THeMIS UGV since its success in the hands of Estonian Forces in Mali. The ...

• Self-propelled guns

  Caesar [France]

  Background France first procured the Caesar in 2004, when it ordered 72 vehicles. These were subsequently delivered by 2008. In July 2022, France ordered a ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  Anaconda replacement [Netherlands]

  Background The Netherlands procured the Anaconda to serve as a patrol vehicle for the Netherlands Marine Corps in the Dutch Caribbean. This role was previously filled ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  VBCI Replacement [France]

  Background The VBCI is currently France's primary IFV. As an 8x8 wheel vehicle, it fits within a French force structure that favours agile, manoeuvrable vehicles ...

• Minehunters

  Mine Warfare Vessels [France]

  Programme Background Requirements France’s Mine Warfare Vessels programme is aimed at replacing the ageing Eridan-class minehunters. The programme will follow the Future Naval Mine Action System ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Air: mission management systems

  FINDSAT - BFT System

  Using geo-satellite positioning, Nexter’s BFT system (FINDSAT) is capable of identifying and locating friendly personnel who are not equipped with networked information or radio systems. ...

• Medium UGVs

  THeMIS

  Milrem's Tracked Hybrid Modular Infantry System (THeMIS) is a modular, hybrid UGV.  The vehicle's modular design and open architecture allow it to be reconfigured to ...

• Land: indirect fire location radar

  GA10

  The Ground Alerter 10 (GA10), developed by Thales, is a portable Counter-Rocket, Artillery, and Mortar (C-RAM) early warning system. It provides 360° azimuth coverage with ...

• Air-to-surface missiles

  HOT 3

  Designed to destroy reactive armour, the HOT (Haut subsonique Optiquement Téléguidé Tiré d'un Tube, or High Subsonic, Optical, Remote-Guided, Tube-Launched) family has demonstrated its multipurpose capability. Tens ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  Mi-8/Mi-17

  The Mil Mi-8 (NATO reporting name Hip) is a twin-engine, multirole, medium helicopter developed from 1960 to meet Soviet military requirements. More than 18,000 examples of the ...

• Light UGVs

  Probot

  The 4x4 Professional Robot (Probot) is suitable for various applications, both indoor and outdoor, and is designed to carry a payload of up to 700kg. ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Heron Mk 1

  The Heron, now called the Heron Mk I, is a MALE UAS manufactured by Isreal Aerospace Industries' (IAI) Malat Division. Designed for various missions, including ISTAR and artillery fire ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  AS532

  The AS532 is a development of the SA 330 Puma, with a long fuselage and marketed for tactical transport and logistical support missions. It has ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Puma M36 Mk 5

  OTT developed the Puma M36 Mk 5 to meet the needs of African customers for a lower-cost vehicle that offers a greater payload than its ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  TopOwl

  The TopOwl binocular helmet-mounted sight and display has been chosen by 16 countries for their army, navy and/or air force attack and transport helicopters. It ...

• Land: air defence radar

  Protivnik-GE

  The Protivnik-GE is a mobile 3D surveillance radar distributed by Russian supplier Rosoboronexport and is currently used by the Russian Armed Forces and the Egyptian ...

• Air: Electronic Attack - Jamming

  SPREOS

  Bird Aerosystems’ SPREO is a Directional Infrared Countermeasure (DIRCM) designed to protect rotary and fixed-wing aircraft against incoming infrared (IR) guided surface-to-air and air-to-air missiles. ...

• Frigates

  La Fayette/Kang Ding Class

  The La Fayette-class frigates have a stealthy design and are in service with France and Taiwan, with some variance between the ships on length and ...

• Air-to-air missiles

  9M39 Igla-V

  The 9M39 Igla-V (‘needle’) is a Russian IR homing SAM adapted for helicopter use. It is an air-launched version of the Igla MANPADS, which the ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Storm

  The Storm is a light APC based on the Toyota Land Cruiser 79 commercial SUV developed by Qatari armoured vehicle manufacturer Stark Motors.  The Storm ...