Land Warfare

Lockheed Martin awarded contract to support rocket system manufacture in Australia

16th January 2024

Australia received approval from the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) in 2023 to buy 60 M30A1 Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) Alternative Warhead (AW) pods and 40 M31A1 GMLRS Unitary (GMLRS-U) high-explosive (HE) pods.

Air Warfare

Lithuania orders three Airbus H145 helicopters for various roles

4th December 2023

Lithuania has secured a deal with Airbus Helicopters for three H145M multi-mission aircraft for special forces operations and other roles, as part of the country's attempt to strengthen its defence capabilities.

Air Warfare

Eurofighter Typhoon electronic combat aircraft set to replace German Tornadoes

30th November 2023

Germany has given the green light to replace its Tornado ECR aircraft with Eurofighter Typhoon EK, a dedicated variant for electronic combat and SEAD.

Air Warfare

Lockheed Martin tests Multi-Function Electronic Warfare pod

19th October 2023

Lockheed Martin's Multi-Function Electronic Warfare-Air Large (MFEW-AL) airborne electronic pod payload has been designed to be platform agnostic and detect a variety of threats.

Land Warfare

Oshkosh Defense wins contract for more uncrewed JLTV anti-ship rocket systems

5th October 2023

Oshkosh delivered six of the JLTV-based anti-ship systems to the USMC earlier this year as part of of the USMC's modernisation plans of Force Design 2030.

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.

Air Warfare

Initial F130 engine tests for USAF B-52J bomber due to complete by end 2023

8th September 2023

Rolls-Royce is on track to complete initial testing of the F130 engine for the B-52J Stratofortress by year-end. The testing programme has achieved success and gathered significant data, de-risking the integration process.

Military helicopters - scout/light attack

MD 530F -Kenya

Crew transition training took place at the MD Helicopters headquarters in Mesa, Arizona, with field service support, armament, and gunnery training scheduled to occur at ...

Military helicopters - scout/light attack

MD 530G Lebanon

The Armed MD 530G Scout Attack Helicopter features next-generation all-glass cockpit that includes: two Genesys Aerosystems IDU-680 6” x 9” LCD primary displays, Tek Fusion ...

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 ...

APCs/IFVs - 4x4, Mine-protected vehicles

CLRV

Programme Background Requirement The Luxembourg MoD wants to replace the Luxembourg Army's fleet of 42 AM General M1151 HMMWV Up-Armoured (UA) and 48 KMW Dingo ...

Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

Indonesian Navy PC-60M

Programme Background Local Indonesian shipyard PT Caputra Mitra Sejati has designed and developed a class of fast patrol boats that have been ordered by the ...

Fighter - multirole

Eurofighter Typhoon Tranche 3A [Kuwait]

Programme Background The capability packages granted to Kuwait will include the integration of Storm Shadow and Brimstone and other air-to-surface weapons, the integration of a ...

Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

CH-47F Chinook (Singapore)

Programme Background In July 2020, photos have emerged on the internet of the first Boeing CH-47F Chinook destined for the Republic of Singapore Air Force ...

Fighter - electronic warfare

Jamming and Escort Electronic Attack Aircraft (luWES) [Germany]

Programme Background According to earlier reports, Berlin had earlier decided to procure 15 EA-18G Growlers over the Eurofighter Typhoon ECR concept, which is expected to be ...

Military helicopters - scout/light attack

Light Combat Helicopter (India - Air Force)

Programme Background Requirement India's requirement for light attack helicopters capable of operating at high altitudes became apparent during the 1999 Kargil War. Originally planned to reach ...

Military helicopters - scout/light attack

Light Combat Helicopter (India - Army)

Programme Background Requirement India's requirement for light attack helicopters capable of operating at high altitudes became apparent during the 1999 Kargil War. Originally planned to reach ...

Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

MQ-9A Reaper (First Batch) [Netherlands]

Programme Background Acquisition Decision The Netherlands cancelled a project to procure a MALE UAV in 2007. Six years later, in 2013, it was revealed the Dutch ...

Military UAS - fixed-wing

Family of UAVs [Bangladesh]

Programme Background RfP The Bangladesh Army released a 106-page tender document to gather information about different platforms that would enable the force to "standardise" its UAV ...

Fighter - multirole

Multirole Fighter (UAE)

Programme Background Abu Dhabi has a long-standing interest in two squadrons of F-35, which had been refused until 2017 when it was reported that the ...

Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

Tactical Drone System (SDT) [France]

Programme Background Tactical Drone System (SDT) programme The French Army launched the SDT programme to replace the Sagem (now Safran) Sperwer Intermediate Tactical Drone System ...

Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

Tactical Drone System (SDT) (Forecast) [France]

Programme Background Tactical Drone System (SDT) programme The French Army launched the SDT programme to replace the Sagem (now Safran) Sperwer Intermediate Tactical Drone System ...

Air: Integrated cockpit systems

FN D-PC

FN D-PC is a Digital Pod Controller capable of controlling two mission stores, either FN Herstal digital pods or up to 19 tubes rocket launchers ...

Helicopter guns

FN RMP

FN Herstal has designed and manufactured the FN RMP (Rocket Machine Gun Pod), a self-contained, all-in-one weapon system. The system includes a 50cal FN M3P ...

Air: Helmet-mounted displays

FN D-HUD

The FN Digital Head-Up Display (D-HUD) is a sighting system designed to improve the accuracy of axial-mounted rockets and machine guns on rotary-wing aircraft. It incorporates ...

Helicopter guns

FN M3P Machine Gun

The FN M3P is a 50cal single-barrel, high-rate-of-fire, fully automatic machine gun. It was designed, developed and manufactured by FN Herstal to be axially or ...

Heavy machine guns

FN M2HB-QCB

FN Herstal is the original designer and manufacturer of the Quick Change Barrel (QCB) version of the Browning M2HB 50cal HMG. FN Herstal has produced ...

Submachine guns

FN SCAR-SC

FN Herstal unveiled the 5.56mm FN SCAR-SC (Subcompact Carbine), the newest member of the SCAR (SOF Combat Assault Rifle) family originally developed for the US ...

Land: fire control systems

FN FCU Mk3

In February 2017, FN Herstal introduced the FN FCU Mk3 fire control unit for 40mm grenade launchers as a successor to the previous FN FCU-850N ...

Medium/general-purpose machine guns

FN MAG

FN Herstal is the original designer and manufacturer of the 7.62mm FN MAG (General Support Machine Gun). More than 230,000 have been produced since 1958, ...

Helicopter guns

FN MAG 58M on Pintle

The FN MAG 58M machine gun is a single-barrel, fully automatic 7.62x51mm NATO machine gun designed to be pintle-mounted on FN Herstal’s mounts in rotary-wing ...

Helicopter guns

FN HMP

The FN HMP (Heavy Machine Gun Pod) is a self-contained airborne weapon system armed with a 50cal FN M3P heavy machine gun. It is available ...

APCs/IFVs - 6x6

Varan

Streit unveiled the Varan 6x6 amphibious armoured vehicle at the IDEX defence exhibition in February 2013. The vehicle can be fitted with additional ballistic protection ...

Pistols

FN 509

FN Herstal launched its FN 509 pistol in 2018. The pistol was designed for commercial, law enforcement and military use. The semi-automatic FN 509 has ...

Helicopter guns

FN D-HMP 250

The FN D-HMP (Digital Heavy Machine Gun Pod) 250 is a self-contained airborne weapon system armed with a .50 cal FN M3P heavy machine gun, ...

Pistols

FN Five-seveN

FN Herstal developed the FN Five-seveN pistol in the 1990s to complement its FN P90 personal defence weapon – both fire a 5.7x28mm cartridge developed ...

Helicopter guns

FN D-HMP 400 LC

The FN D-HMP (Digital Heavy Machine Gun Pod) is a self-contained airborne weapon system armed with a .50 cal FN M3P heavy machine gun, compatible ...