Air Warfare

Insight: What does the future hold for the Eurofighter Typhoon combat aircraft?

11th September 2023

The Eurofighter Typhoon Tranche 3A has been adopted by Middle Eastern air forces as well as the European partner nations. Shephard Defence Insight analyses its next-generation radar, cockpit technology and future upgrade plans.

Defence Notes

The Imperative of Collaborative Innovation in European Defence (Opinion)

7th September 2023

The dynamics of global defence are shifting, and isolated endeavours are increasingly giving way to collaborative innovation, joint ventures, and partnerships. Steve Griessel, CEO of Paramount, argues that as Europe navigates its defence priorities, the pressing question is not what we must create but with whom we must join hands.

Air Warfare

Elbit Systems completes delivery of self-protection suite for Dutch VIP aircraft

7th September 2023

Elbit Systems has completed installation of an advanced self-protection suite, including a Direct Infra-Red Counter Measures (DIRCM) system and Infra-Red-based Passive Airborne Warning System (IR MWS) on the Royal Netherlands Air Force's Gulfstream G-650ER VIP aircraft.

Land Warfare

Patria MUSCL – Enabling covert airspace surveillance

7th September 2023

Airspace surveillance is like playing hide and seek. Except you are both hiding and seeking at the same time, and you are doing it in multiple domains – on land, in the air, and in the electromagnetic spectrum.

Land Warfare

How to assure secure & resilient tactical communications in the new era

6th September 2023

Bittium’s handheld and vehicle-mounted Tough SDR radios support game-changing connectivity for real-time situational awareness

Naval Warfare

DSEI 2023: New FN Herstal multi-weapon mount for naval and land platforms to be unveiled

4th September 2023

FN Herstal has released details of its Multi Weapon Mount (MWM) which has been fully MIL-STD certified and is suitable for a range of weapons.

Air Warfare

USAF and Raytheon complete successful AIM-120C-8 missile firing test

4th September 2023

The USAF and Raytheon conducted successful flight test of the AIM-120C-8 missile, the latest variant of AMRAAM, which included downing an aerial target.

Land Warfare

General Dynamics and Rheinmetall team up to offer new bridge-laying solution

1st September 2023

General Dynamics European Land Systems – Bridge Systems and Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles have debuted the former's Anaconda tactical bridge system installed on the latter's 8x8 HX2 truck platform.

Air Warfare

Sentient's ViDAR sensors successfully integrated on Edge Autonomy's VXE30 UAS

30th August 2023

Sentient Vision Systems has completed live demonstrations of its AI-enabled Visual Detection and Ranging (ViDAR) sensor on Edge Autonomy's VXE30 VTOL UAS.

AEW&C

Alliance Future Surveillance and Control (NATO)

Programme Background NATO’s E-3A AWACS fleet is set to retire in 2035, after 50 years of service. To plan for the required follow-on capability, NATO's ...

Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - small

Small VTOL UAV (Denmark)

Programme Background 2020 Tender In January 2018, Denmark's three main political parties signed the Danish Defence Agreement, a cross-party defence white paper covering the period ...

Military helicopters - multirole

EU Next Generation Rotorcraft Technologies Project (ENGRT) - (Greece)

Programme Background EU Next Generation Rotorcraft Technologies Project (ENGRT) EU Next Generation Rotorcraft Technologies Project (ENGRT) was announced in early 2022 and the project contract was awarded ...

Military helicopters - multirole

EU Next Generation Rotorcraft Technologies Project (ENGRT) - (Italy)

Programme Background EU Next Generation Rotorcraft Technologies Project (ENGRT) EU Next Generation Rotorcraft Technologies Project (ENGRT) was announced in early 2022 and the project contract was awarded ...

ISR/special mission

EC-37B Compass Call [USAF]

Programme Background The retirement of the EF-111A in 1990 left the USAF largely out of the operational and tactical level radar jamming business. Lockheed Martin EC-130H ...

Fighter - multirole

MiG-35 (Russia)

The MiG-35 is a new-generation derivative of the twin-engine MiG-29 (NATO code-name ‘Fulcrum’) featuring multi-role combat capabilities, significantly reworked airframe and a vastly expanded arsenal ...

APCs/IFVs - 4x4

JLTV (Romania)

Programme Background  The Oshkosh Defence Joint Light Tactical Vehicle is a 4x4 armoured vehicle manufactured in the United States. Originally intended to supplement to Humvee ...

Trainer

Future Aircrew Training Program (Fixed-wing Aircraft Procurement) - Canada

Programme Background The new procurement will result in one contract covering all the requirements, including maintenance and infrastructure services. Training services are currently provided through ...

Trainer

MFI-395 Super Mushshak

The TAF deliveries will mark the first NATO customer operating the platform. The deal is believed to be worth more than $50 million. According to the ...

APCs/IFVs - 4x4, APCs/IFVs - 6x6

High Mobility Armoured 4x4 Tactical Vehicles

Programme Background Requirement The procurement of high-mobility 4x4 armoured vehicles is part of an initiative to replace a diverse fleet of utility vehicles currently in ...

APCs/IFVs - 8x8

Stryker (North Macedonia)

Programme Background In its Long-Term Defence Capabilities Development Plan (LTDCDP) published in 2019, the North Macedonian MoD outlined plans to acquire Light Armoured Vehicles (LAVs) ...

Military helicopters - light/training

Future Aircrew Training Program (Helicopter Procurement) - Canada

The new procurement will result in one contract covering all the requirements, including maintenance and infrastructure services. Training services are currently provided through two separate ...

Reconnaissance/patrol vehicles

VBR-MSR Medium Wheeled Armoured Reconnaissance Vehicle

Technical Requirements The Brazilian Army released two documents outlining the technical and operational requirements for the VBR-MR programme in early 2020. These outlined a number ...

Loitering munitions

Hero-30 [Italy]

Programme Background Italian Budget As revealed by the Italian MoD's Multi-Year Defence Programme Document for 2021-2023, a new procurement programme to acquire a loitering munition ...

AEW&C

Saab 340 AEW (Poland)

Programme Background Purported as a response to Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, the Polish Air Force is understood to have a requirement for an unspecified ...

Major networking projects

NATO DCIS

Airbus is delivering the NATO Deployable Communication and Information System (DCIS). The project represents a major upgrade in the capability of NATO Response Forces (NRF) ...

Land: RWS

Qimek NATO

Rheinmetall's RWS family includes the Qimek single-weapon RWS and the Nanuk dual-weapon RWS. The Qimek NATO combines full stabilisation, long-range day/night all-weather sights and a ...

Land: RWS

Nanuk NATO

Rheinmetall's RWS family includes the Qimek single-weapon RWS and the Nanuk dual-weapon RWS, which was introduced in 2008. The Nanuk NATO combines full stabilisation, long-range ...

Major networking projects

NATO SATCOM

Leonardo has been awarded a turnkey contract to rationalise and upgrade NATO’s SATCOM systems and associated infrastructure. The company will design, build, test, commission and ...

Major networking projects

EAC

The NATO Communications and Information Agency awarded ACTIA Sodielec a contract in June 2013 to provide NATO with an Extended Advanced SATCOM Network Monitoring and ...

Air: mission management systems

LC2IS

The contract to supply Land Command and Control Information Services (LC2IS) for the NATO Command Structure was awarded to Thales by NATO NC3A and achieved ...

Major networking projects

Ballistic Missile Defence

In early 2010, NATO acquired the first phase of an initial theatre ballistic missile defence capability to protect alliance forces. 

Major networking projects

Air Policing

Air Policing is a collective peacetime mission that requires NATO to take action against all violations and infringements of its airspace using agreed procedures. Supreme ...

Land: handheld day observation, surveillance and targeting systems

LRM 1500M/1800S/2200SI

Laser rangefinder monoculars combine laser measurement, optics and controls. The LRM 1500M is for users requiring basic functionality. It has a measurement range of 1,500m ...

Major networking projects

NCIRC

Leonardo, together with Northrop Grumman, has undertaken a contract for the NATO Consultation, Command and Control Agency to develop, implement and support the NATO Computer ...

Major networking projects

SCCOA

ThalesRaytheonSystems is providing the French Air Force with key components of the SCCOA (Système de commandement et de conduite des opérations aériennes) programme. This provides ...

Crew-served assault/anti-tank weapons, Multipurpose missiles

9M117 Bastion

The 9M117 Bastion is an antitank missile used in a number of separate weapon systems, such as the 9K116-1 Bastion (NATO reporting name: AT-10 Stabber) and the 9K118 ...

Fighter - ground attack

Su-22

The Su-22 (NATO designation Fitter) is a swing-wing ground-attack aircraft developed by Sukhoi as the export variant of Su-17 designed to meet the Soviet military ...

Major networking projects

Satcom Post-2000

The Satcom Post-2000 programme gives the alliance improved SATCOM capabilities, which is important as NATO forces take on expeditionary missions beyond their traditional area of ...

Major networking projects

Air and Missile Defence

NATO Air and Missile Defence comprises all measures aimed at monitoring and reacting to potential air threats in NATO airspace, as well as countering hostile ...