• Defence Notes

  US cyber attack on Iran shrouded in digital 'fog of war'

  27th June 2019

  A claim by US officials that a retaliatory cyber-attack ordered by the White House crippled Iranian missile launching systems will remain almost impossible to substantiate, …

• Military Logistics

  Marshall contracted to support additional Bangladeshi Hercs

  27th June 2019

  Marshall Aerospace and Defence has signed a contract with the Bangladesh air force for the support of additional C-130J Super Hercules transports that are being …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Weaver selects UX11 UAV for surveying and mapping

  5th July 2019

  Weaver Consultants Group has selected Delair’s UX11 unmanned aerial vehicle to assist with its large-scale volumetric surveying and topographic mapping.  Commercial UAV manufacturer Delair along …

• Naval Warfare

  First Italian PPA vessel launched from shipyard

  1st July 2019

  The Italian navy’s first Pattugliatori Polivalenti d'Altura (PPA)-class multipurpose offshore patrol ship - the Paolo Thaon di Revel - has been launched from Fincantieri’s shipyard in Muggiano.  …

• Defence Notes

  Malaysian MPA and UAV programmes approved

  21st June 2019

  The Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) has confirmed to Shephard that the government has given approval for the service to prepare for the acquisition of …

• Land Warfare

  Rheinmetall’s ROSY system finds new customers

  24th April 2019

  Rheinmetall’s Rapid Obscuring System (ROSY) has been selected to protect armoured vehicles of the Portuguese and Belgian armed forces, the company announced on 17 April. …

• Naval Warfare

  Paris Air Show: Carry on Poseidon (video insight)

  20th June 2019

  Following AAR's recent overhaul completion of the US Navy's first P-8A Poseidon MPA, company officials are to push on with the seven-year ID/IQ contract and …

• Naval Warfare

  BAE aims to boost RAN Hunter frigate supply chain

  26th June 2019

  BAE Systems is offering A$20 million in contracts to suppliers to support Australia’s Hunter-class Type 26-derived frigate acquisition.  It is opening up opportunities to 150 …

• Naval Warfare

  Aegis Virtual Twin intercepts first target

  29th April 2019

  The US Navy successfully executed the first live-fire engagement with the new Aegis Virtual Twin system, prototype of the Aegis virtual combat management system, from …

• Land Warfare

  Poland considers next-generation tank development

  24th June 2019

  As Poland considers the development of its next-generation MBT, the European nation will look to open its doors to input from both domestic and international …

• Land Warfare

  DeepStrike passes critical test

  26th April 2019

  Raytheon’s new DeepStrike missile rocket motor passed a static test conducted at the Allegany Ballistics Laboratory in West Virginia, the company announced on 23 April. …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  AUVSI 2019: UAVOS pushing unmanned helicopters for lidar ops

  30th April 2019

  The future of lidar missions in oil and gas, mapping to power line inspections could very much be in the hands of unmanned helicopters, further …

• Naval Warfare

  US Navy stresses simplicity in unmanned vessel design

  25th June 2019

  The US Navy wants its future unmanned vessels to have simpler designs than manned ships to ensure they are relatively inexpensive and can therefore be …

• Training

  HAL re-commences flight testing of HJT 36

  29th April 2019

  HAL has re-commenced flight testing of the HJT 36 modified intermediate jet trainer at its facilities in Bengaluru, India. The flight testing of HJT 36 …

• Land Warfare

  MBDA and Lockheed submit bid for Germany's IAMD programme

  25th June 2019

  An MBDA Deutchsland/Lockheed Martin joint venture has submitted its proposal for Germany’s future integrated air and missile defence (IAMD) acquisition programme.  The tactical air defence …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Fighter - multirole

  J-10 [Pakistan]

  Programme Background A video clip released by the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) disclosed that a deal to acquire the J-10 from China was signed on 25 ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  CV90 [Czech Republic]

  Background The Czech Republic has been working on modernising its mechanised units at least since 2017, when the country launched its "Tracked IFV" programme to ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Boxer IFV (Schakal) [Netherlands]

  Background The Boxer is currently in service with both Germany and the Netherlands, having entered service in 2009 and 2013, respectively.  In October 2025, the ...

• Medium UGVs

  Mission Master (RPV Sprial 2) [UK]

  Background First announced in April 2017 and referred to in early MOD documents as the ‘last mile resupply’ initiative, the British Army is reportedly evaluating ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Boxer IFV (Schakal) [Germany]

  Programme Background The Boxer is currently in service with both Germany and the Netherlands, having entered service in 2009 and 2013, respectively.  In October 2025, ...

• AEW&C

  AEW&C Aircraft [India]

  Programme Background India is planning to increase its AEW&C; capabilities with indigenous radar systems.  A330 Bid In 2015, the IAF has requested to procure six ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  Anka-S (Second Batch) [Turkey]

  Programme Background First Batch Based on comments by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) and Turkish media in 2018, Shephard believes that Türkiye acquired 26 Anka-S drones ...

• Main battle tanks

  Viatura Blindada de Combate-Carro de Combate (VBC-CC) [Brazil]

  Programme Background Several key technical requirements have been outlined by the Brazilian MoD. Among the most important are that the platform should weigh less than ...

• UAS: communication systems

  UAS: communication systems | RangeHawk (RQ-4 Global Hawk) [US]

  Northrop Grumman received a US$325.5 million US Army contract in May 2026 to develop and acquire the RangeHawk HALE UAV, a modified RQ-4 Global Hawk designed ...

• UAS: flight control systems

  UAS: flight control systems | RangeHawk (RQ-4 Global Hawk) [US]

  Northrop Grumman received a US$325.5 million US Army contract in May 2026 to develop and acquire the RangeHawk HALE UAV, a modified RQ-4 Global Hawk designed ...

• Military UAS - mini

  Medium Range Tactical (MRT) [USMC]

  Background Request for Information (RFI) In February 2026, the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) issued an RFI for solutions for a Medium Range Tactical (MRT) ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  JLTV [Slovenia - 2nd Batch]

  Programme Background  Slovenia began its procurement of Oshkosh Defence's JLTV 4x4 armoured vehicle in 2018, although a US government FMS contract was not signed until ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  L-39NG Senegal

  The aircraft will feature five hard-points, two external fuel tanks with 350 lt capacity, Mk 81 and Mk 82 bombs, guided and unguided rockets, single ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  NH90 Special Forces [France]

  Programme Background In French service, advanced H225M Caracals with aerial refuelling capabilities are used by SOF units of the French Air Force (FAF) and French ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  MQ-9A Reaper [Spain]

  Programme Background First Contract The US State Department approved a Foreign Military Sale (FMS) of MQ-9 Block 5 aircraft and associated parts, equipment, and logistical ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Weapon sights for night use (thermal imaging)

  CRATOS

  The Clip-On Ruggedized Advanced Thermal Optical Sight (CRATOS) is a miniaturised all-in-one thermal weapon sight designed for handheld, clip-on or stand-alone use. 

• Weapon sights for night use (thermal imaging)

  HuntIR Mk 2

  The HuntIR Mk 2 thermal weapon and reconnaissance sight is designed for clip-on use on mid- and long-range small arms. The standalone weapon sight has ...

• Weapon sights for night use (thermal imaging)

  XACT th family

  The XACT thermal weapon sight product family includes: the XACT th64 short/medium-range weapon-mounted or handheld sight; the XACT th65 clip-on marksman sight; and the XACT ...

• Weapon sights for night use (thermal imaging)

  CNVD-T

  The Clip-On Night Vision Device-Thermal (CNVD-T) is a handheld or weapon-mounted thermal sight based on the military SU-232/PAS. 

• Weapon sights for night use (thermal imaging)

  UTCx

  The UTCx (Universal Thermal Clip-on) sight is a universal thermal clip-on to existing weapon sights, currently fielded by the US military and supporting long-range sniper ...

• Weapon sights for night use (thermal imaging)

  AN/PAS-13G(V)1 LWTS

  The AN/PAS-13G(V)1 Light Weapon Thermal Sight (LWTS) is a handheld or weapon-mounted thermal sight. The TI capability of the LWTS allows for longwave infrared observation ...

• Weapon sights for night use (thermal imaging)

  TISI-M

  Designed for assault and sharpshooter rifles, SMGs and machine guns, the TISI-M is a lightweight uncooled thermal day and night weapon sight which can be ...

• Weapon sights for night use (thermal imaging)

  AN/PVS-30

  The AN/PVS-30 is a long-range thermal clip-on sniper night sight. The sight is able to extend the range of engagement by up to 1,000m and ...

• Weapon sights for night use (thermal imaging)

  Lily-L

  The Lily-L clip-on thermal sight for long-range sniper weapons can be mounted on a Picatinny rail in front of a day scope. It is designed for ...

• Weapon sights for night use (image intensifiers)

  MilSight S135 MUNS

  The MilSight S135 Magnum Universal Night Sight (MUNS) AN/PVS-27 is a high-resolution clip-on weapon sight that mounts forward of an existing scope, adding NV capabilities ...

• Weapon sights for night use (thermal imaging)

  ThermoSight HISS-XLR

  The HISS extended long-range (XLR) clip-on thermal weapon sight allows snipers to detect and recognise man-sized targets at up to 2,000m, offering a 25% increase ...

• Individual grenade launchers

  UBGL

  The single-shot 40mm Under-Barrel Grenade Launcher (UBGL) can be attached to most modern assault weapons using a MIL-STD-1913 Picatinny rail system. The breech is swung ...

• Weapon sights for night use (thermal imaging)

  MUNSTI

  The MUNSTI uncooled thermal imaging clip-on sight is compact and lightweight, designed for use in front of a day optical sight. It is suitable for ...

• Sniper rifles

  Dan.338

  IWI launched the Dan.338, the first of a new family of bolt-action sniper rifles, at the Eurosatory 2014 exhibition. Chambered for .338 Lapua Mag ammunition, ...

• Weapon sights for night use (thermal imaging)

  TVC 60

  The TVC 60 is a clip-on thermal weapon sight designed to be used in conjunction with a magnified day optic. The shooter relies on the ...