• Land Warfare

  Russia's UVZ makes new push to convert outdated T-72 tanks to BMPT 'Terminators'

  1st September 2023

  Russia's UralVagonZavod (UVZ) is offering the conversion of older T-72 main battle tanks (MBTs) into BMPT-72 'Terminator'-style fire support vehicles. According to UVZ, this offering is primarily intended for international customers who possess ageing fleets of the tank.

• Defence Notes

  US to increase investment in deterrence in the Indo-Pacific theatre

  18th August 2023

  The Senate Committee on Appropriations recently proposed an additional $534 million above the $9.1 billion requested in Pentagon’s FY2024 budget proposal to be invested in military capacities in the region.

• Naval Warfare

  How the Canadian Surface Combatant programme can recover from COVID-19 delays

  23rd August 2023

  The Canadian Department of National Defence (DND) is working with Irving Shipyard to manage the lingering impact of COVID-19 on the Canadian Surface Combatant (CSC) project.

• Air Warfare

  Japan explores missile launching from cargo planes

  26th July 2023

  Japan is considering the use of cargo planes to launch missiles, aiming to diversify its launch platform options. The introduction of the Rapid Dragon system, tested by the USAF, could expand the capabilities of the JSDF's stand-off missile arsenal.

• Naval Warfare

  US Navy seeks help to fix submarine support network problems

  7th September 2023

  The US Navy has released a Request for Information (RFI) to gather information about developing capabilities to support its submarine programmes.

• Land Warfare

  Allison Transmission joins Team Lynx bid for US Army's XM30 combat vehicle programme

  28th July 2023

  Allison Transmission has partnered with Team Lynx, led by American Rheinmetall Vehicles, to provide the eGen Force electric hybrid system for the US Army's XM30 mechanised infantry combat vehicle.

• Air Warfare

  Double Dutch as Netherlands adds four more Reapers to first order

  22nd August 2023

  The Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) will increase its fleet of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) MQ-9A Block 5 Reapers UAS from four to eight under a deal announced on 21 August.

• Air Warfare

  Insight: How will the US Navy keep its EA-18G Growler EW aircraft flying until 2046?

  14th September 2023

  The carrier-based EA-18G Growler entered service in 2010 and is intended to remain in service until 2046. Shephard Defence Insight analyses the key operational technologies on the aircraft and the upgrade path needed to keep it flying and effective for another two decades.

• Naval Warfare

  Elbit completes sea trials of Deseaver Mk-4 countermeasure system

  1st August 2023

  Elbit Systems has successfully completed sea trials of the Dseaver Mk-4 counter measure dispensing system, enhancing the Israeli Navy's protection against complex missile threats in maritime environments.

• Land Warfare

  French paratroopers showcase new Grizzly tactical vehicles

  19th July 2023

  Supplied by Arquus, the platform is built to provide modularity, payload capacity, firepower and mobility in the most challenging terrains.

• Defence Notes

  Ukraine and Taiwan? What the US will spend Biden's extra 40.1 billion defence dollars on

  23rd August 2023

  The additional budget proposal addresses critical needs for emergency funding for the Pentagon, partners and allies.

• Naval Warfare

  France and Italy's Horizon-class destroyers to receive mid-life upgrade

  1st August 2023

  The Organization for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR) has awarded Naviris and Eurosam a €1.5 billion ($1.65 billion) contract for the mid-life upgrade (MLU) of the French Navy’s Forbin-class destroyers and Italian Navy’s Orrizonte-class destroyers.

• Naval Warfare

  Keel laid for USS Tang

  17th August 2023

  The keel was laid for the 32nd Virginia-class submarine USS Tang on 17 August, a Block V variant of the type and the third boat with this name for the USN.

• Digital Battlespace

  Aselsan to exhibit YILDIRIM-100 DIRCM for helicopters at IDEF 2023

  24th July 2023

  Aselsan has unveiled a new Directional Infrared Counter Measures (DIRCM) system, the YILDIRIM-100.

• Land Warfare

  Arma II gets more firepower with Aselsan turret

  26th July 2023

  At IDEF 2023, the private venture Otokar Arma II (8x8) vehicle is being shown fitted with the Aselsan Korhan remote-controlled turret (RCT) armed with a locally manufactured 35 mm dual-feed cannon that can also fire locally developed Air Bursting Munitions (ABM) originally designed for air defence applications.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Long Range Missile Defence Systems: > 90km range

  Long Range Air Defence [Belgium]

  Background In its Strategic Vision Defence 2025 Capability Investment Portfolio (CIP) document, Belgium announced that it has budgeted €1,981,590,000 ($2,287,101,638) for three long-range air defence systems. A decision is ...

• Land: air defence radar

  Lower Tier Air and Missile Defence Sensor [US]

  Background The US Army's Lower Tier Air and Missile Defence Sensor (LTAMDS) is being acquired from US-based Raytheon.  The United States Army is the primary customer ...

• Short Range Missile Defence Systems: 0 to 20 km range

  AIM-120D-3 [Finland]

  Background In September 2025 the US State Department approved a potential sale of 405 AIM-120D-3 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) manufactured by RTX (Raytheon). Note ...

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

  Patriot Air Defence System (2023) [Germany]

  Background In 2024 Germany placed two orders totalling $2.4 billion for eight Patriot surface-to-air missile systems. Although there were two contracts signed, they are dealt with ...

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

  Uplift SHORAD UOR [Canada]

  Background The Canadian Army's future GBAD system "will provide tactical air defence protection to friendly forces and vital installations during expeditionary and domestic operations against the ...

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

  Medium Range Air Defence [Canada]

  Background The Canadian Army's future GBAD system "will provide tactical air defence protection to friendly forces and vital installations during expeditionary and domestic operations against ...

• Military helicopters - maritime

  MH-60R [Australia]

  Programme Background Requirement The RAN already has 24 MH-60R Seahawks (the last delivered in September 2016), so this represents a 50% increase in fleet size. ...

• 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 ...

• ISR/special mission

  ISTAR Aircraft [South Korea]

  Programme Background 2018 - Issue of RfI The South Korean Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) stated that Seoul planned to procure additional aircraft to minimise potential surveillance ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Rafale [France]

  Background The 40 aircraft ordered as part of Tranche 4 are part of a wider French procurement of the Rafale. The order includes plans to ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  Project Sea 129 Phase 5 [Australia]

  Programme Background Requirement Project Sea 129 Phase 5 was intended to acquire a new ISR UAS capability for the RAN. The aircraft was required to perform ...

• Landing craft and hovercraft

  Littoral Manoeuvre Vessel - Medium (Project Land 8710 Phase 1A) [Australia]

  Programme Background Requirements Australia has set out requirements for a fleet of up to 18 Littoral Manoeuvre Vessels - Medium (LMV-M) with the release of ...

• Military UAS - small

  VTOL UAV [New Zealand]

  Background Defence Capability Plan (DCP) In April 2025, the New Zealand government published the DCP, a document that is essentially a blueprint for what procurements ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | ISTAR Aircraft [South Korea]

  The Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) has a requirement for up to four intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance (ISTAR) aircraft to supplement its ...

• Data links

  Data links | ISTAR Aircraft [South Korea]

  The Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) has a requirement for up to four intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance (ISTAR) aircraft to supplement its ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Surface-to-air missiles

  SM-2 Block IIIC/Block IIICU

  The SM-2 Block IIIC and Block IIICU are medium-range, surface-to-air missiles with active radio frequency seekers. Both missiles are modifications to legacy SM-2 Block III/IIIA/IIIB ...

• Man-portable missile systems

  FIM-92 Stinger

  The FIM-92 Stinger, passive-guided MANPADS, was developed by General Dynamics to meet the requirements of the US Army to defence against low-flying threats. It replaced ...

• Air: Integrated Defensive Systems

  ESTL

  The Enhanced Survivability Technology (ESTL) is an integrated self-protection pod with missile approach warning (MAWS) manufactured by Saab. It is designed to counter RF and IR ...

• Surface-to-air missiles

  SkyCeptor

  The SkyCeptor missile is a multi-mission interceptor developed collaboratively by Raytheon and Israel's Rafael Advanced Defense Systems. It is a derivative of the Stunner missile ...

• Surface-to-air missiles

  RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) Block 2

  The RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) Block 2 is a short-range, ship-launched missile designed primarily to defend naval vessels against incoming anti-ship missiles and aerial ...

• Surface-to-air missiles

  SM-1MR Block VI

  The RIM-66 Standard-1MR is a medium-range surface-to-air missile that can also take on the role of an anti-ship missile. It was developed as part of ...

• Multipurpose missiles

  BGM-71 TOW

  The BGM-71 Tube-launched Optically tracked Wire-guided (TOW) missile entered US Army service in 1970. As well as being integrated on vehicles and helicopters, TOW can be ...

• Sea: ship surveillance and fire control systems

  MK 99

  The MK 99 is a fire control system developed and produced by Raytheon.  The system works as an interface to connect a vessel's missiles and ...

• Sea: weapon training

  SM-1 and SM-2 Standard Missile and Harpoon Missile with Guided Missile Launcher Mk 13 Mod 4 Simulator

  Textron's SM-1 and SM-2 Standard Missile and Harpoon Missile simulator simulates a guided missile launching system and guided missile launcher, Mk 13 Mod 4, in ...

• Air-to-air missiles

  AIM-92 Stinger

  The Air-to-Air Stinger (ATAS), designated as the AIM-92 Stinger, is a short-range air-to-air missile developed as a helicopter-launched configuration of the FIM-92 Stinger MANPADS. It ...

• Surface-to-air missiles

  Raytheon Next Generation Short Range Interceptor

  Raytheon are competing for the US Army's Next Generation Short Range Interceptor (NGSRI) programme which seeks to manufacture an optically-guided short-range surface-to-air missile.

• Land: air defence radar

  LTAMDS

  The Raytheon Lower Tier Air and Missile Defense System (LTAMDS) is an active electronically scanned array Gallium Nitrade (GaN) radar. The use of GaN strengthens ...

• Surface-to-air missiles

  RIM-161 Standard Missile 3 Block IIA

  The SM-3 Block IIA is an advanced interceptor missile designed for exo-atmospheric engagements against intermediate-range ballistic missiles and limited intercontinental ballistic missile threats. The SM-3 Block ...

• Sea: naval surveillance radar

  AN/SPY-3

  The AN/SPY-3 is a multifunction naval radar developed and manufactured by Raytheon. Its intended uses include horizon and surface search, navigation, periscope detection, discrimination, and ...

• Long Range Missile Defence Systems: > 90km range

  Patriot Air Defence System

  The MIM-104 Phased Array Tracking to Intercept of Target (Patriot) is an American Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM) system designed for air-defence duties. The original Standard MIM-104A  ...