• Defence Notes

  Eurosatory 2026: Iran’s attacks on UAE have “accelerated” Edge’s plans, says company

  25th June 2026

  The UAE’s Edge has undergone massive changes since it was formed in 2019, from acquisitions to partnerships, and has now set up a European division in Paris.

• Naval Warfare

  US Navy bets on radio frequency to increase vessel protection against aerial threats

  10th April 2026

  A Northrop Grumman RF-based defensive capability will equip USN destroyers and aircraft carriers to enhance their survivability against missile and drone attacks.

• Air Warfare

  Eastern European helicopter modernisation could open doors for Western manufacturers

  19th March 2026

  With some Eastern European countries already upgrading their helicopter fleets to incorporate Western technology, the region presents potential future opportunities for defence companies.

• Air Warfare

  AIM-260 JATM deal puts Australia’s missile-industrial ambitions in focus

  17th August 2026

  While a potentially accelerated acquisition timeline could strengthen the RAAF’s long-range air combat capability, Canberra’s continued reliance on US missile production is also put under the spotlight in parallel to its push to build a sovereign industry.

• Naval Warfare

  US Navy’s MUSV programme could lay the USV procurement blueprint for NATO allies

  2nd July 2026

  The programme’s structure as a marketplace will allow multiple companies to compete for ongoing procurements; an approach which could be replicated across the Atlantic.

• Naval Warfare

  Ireland releases maritime strategy as it looks to new naval bases and stronger partnerships

  27th February 2026

  Ireland has a maritime area ten times the size of its land mass but has a limited naval capacity and faces an ongoing threat to critical underwater infrastructure. A new strategy is looking to address the challenge.

• Naval Warfare

  How the Golden Fleet will change the US Navy acquisition process

  24th February 2026

  The procurement of the future USN Golden Fleet is planned to be less bureaucratic than previous strategies, involving AI-enabled designs and scheduling tools to increase productivity and avoid delays.

• Naval Warfare

  AUKUS settles into steadier waters as industrial pathways widen

  15th April 2026

  Sessions at UDT 2026 signalled that the AUKUS programme is pressing ahead at a steady pace – with trilateral commitment reaffirmed, Australian industrial capacity expanding and additive manufacturing emerging as an opportunity for suppliers.

• Naval Warfare

  Asia-Pacific emerges as the largest export market for US-made USVs

  12th August 2026

  Asian customers have placed one of the largest known international purchases of US-built uncrewed surface vessels, highlighting accelerating regional demand for autonomous maritime capabilities and distributed naval operations.

• Land Warfare

  Australia backs up investment promises with US$2.1 billion for Bushmaster and HIMARS

  28th April 2026

  The Australian government is ordering another 268 Thales Bushmaster medium protected mobility vehicles along with HIMARS for a second long‑range fires regiment.

• Land Warfare

  Japanese wheeled combat vehicles: procurement driven by operational realities

  16th April 2026

  Japan’s armoured forces are currently undergoing a doctrinal shift from tracked to wheeled vehicles. This represents a major change in the country’s force structure and armoured capabilities.

• Naval Warfare

  Canada’s selection of TKMS for its new patrol submarines reflects rising Arctic competition

  8th July 2026

  The decision points to deepening NATO cooperation and mounting competition in the Arctic and North Atlantic, as Canada opts for a European-designed solution despite interest from South Korea.

• Land Warfare

  Ireland targets improved anti-drone capability before mid-year ahead of EU presidency

  22nd April 2026

  With Ireland's EU presidency set to commence from July this year, the ramped-up efforts to procure a counter-uncrewed aerial system and radar capability under its Military Radar Programme are on track to meet targeted roll-out dates.

• Air Warfare

  Singapore Airshow 2026: Rafael highlights tailored effector solutions for different operational needs

  10th February 2026

  Shephard spoke with Rafael’s CEO about the company’s effector offerings as well as his perspective on one-way attack drones.

• Naval Warfare

  Japan’s first warship sale opens door to future exports but comes with strings attached

  24th April 2026

  Australia’s selection of an upgraded Mogami-class frigate marks Japan’s first-ever export of a major surface combatant. With an ambitious 2029 delivery target, the deal could open the door to further naval exports – but inexperience and geopolitical friction with China loom large.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Additional OPVs (2-3) [Philippines]

  Following the delivery of OCEA's OPV 270, BRP Gabriela Silang (8301), to the Philippine Coast Guard in 2020, the service are planning to acquire a further two OPVs ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Additional OPVs (2-3) [Philippines]

  Following the delivery of OCEA's OPV 270, BRP Gabriela Silang (8301), to the Philippine Coast Guard in 2020, the service are planning to acquire a further two OPVs ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  A-29 [Nigeria]

  Earlier on 3 August 2017, the US State Department announced that it has approved a possible FMS of 12 A-29 Super Tucanos to Nigeria for ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Navio Polivalente Logistico (NAVPOL) (Portugal)

  The Portuguese Prime Minister António Costa announced plans for a locally constructed multipurpose ship for the Portuguese Navy in July 2018. The ship is to be ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Navio Polivalente Logistico (NAVPOL) (Portugal)

  The Portuguese Prime Minister António Costa announced plans for a locally constructed multipurpose ship for the Portuguese Navy in July 2018. The ship is to be ...

• OPVs

  Viana do Castelo-class (Batch II - NPO3S) (5-10) [Portugal]

  Background Requirements The Viana do Castelo class offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) are used for maritime patrol and surveillance, fisheries protection, SAR, anti-drug and anti-arms trafficking, illegal immigration ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  KUH-1 Surion [Iraq]

  Programme Background Iraq's purchase of two KUH-1 Surion helicopters from Korea Aerospace Industries represents another step in increased defence cooperation between Korea and Iraq after ...

• Sealift/replenishment vessels

  Navio Polivalente Logistico (NAVPOL) (Portugal)

  Programme Background Requirements The NAVPOL is expected to feature a flexible and modular LPD design capable of amphibious operations and HADR tasks. Timeline The plans for ...

• Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  Camcopter S-100 [Greece]

  Background Trials On 2 August 2021, Schiebel's press release announced that the company had demonstrated the Camcopter S-100's capabilities to the Hellenic Navy. The UAV was ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  Mi-26T2 Halo [Russia]

  Programme Background The original Mi-26 was initially revealed to the West at the Paris airshow in June 1981. In terms of carrying capacity (weight and ...

• OPVs

  Additional OPVs (2-3) [Philippines]

  Programme Background The Philippine Coast Guard has set its sights on having a fleet of five new OPVs in its quest to sustain monitoring of ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

  New Water Jet Fast Attack Craft (NWJFAC) (1-31) [India]

  Programme Background Requirements The Indian Navy is seeking replacements for a large proportion of its 19 46-49m-long waterjet-powered fast attack craft, several of which are approaching ...

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

  Anka-S (Nigeria)

  Programme Background Domestic Production Possibility As reported by TurDef, a defence news outlet focussing on Turkey, in March 2023, İsmail Yusuf Abba, Nigeria's ambassador to Ankara, stated at ...

• Maritime patrol

  Maritime Patrol Aircraft [Singapore]

  Programme Background Deployed from Changi West airbase, and jointly operated by the RSAF and Republic of Singapore Navy, the ageing Fokker 50 fleet is primarily ...

• Frigates

  Daegu Class (FFX Batch II) [South Korea]

  Programme Background The Incheon and Daegu classes are part of a re-capitalisation effort to replace the older Pohang-class corvettes and Ulsan-class frigates with a new FFX class ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  RF-300H

  The Falcon III RF-300H is Harris’s next-generation Falcon radio. The manpack solution was first presented at the AFCEA West conference on 21 February 2017. The ...

• Military - UUVs

  Lamprey MMAUV

  The Lamprey Multi-Mission Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (MMAUV) is a UUV designed by Lockheed Martin. The UUV is intended as an autonomous companion submersible to a ...

• OPVs

  Kingston Class

  The Kingston-class undertakes a minehunter and coastal patrol roles with the Royal Canadian Navy. A total of 12 were built by Halifax Shipyards and commissioned ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  Bo 105

  The Bo 105 was developed in West Germany by manufacturer Messershmitt-Bölkow-Blohm (MBB). MBB has since been incorporated into Eurocopter/Airbus Helicopters. The helicopter was the first light ...

• OPVs

  Viana do Castelo Class

  The Viana do Castelo class currently consists of four OPVs in service with the Portuguese Navy. The vessels entered service between 2011 and 2019, while ...

• Sea: procedural training

  IMAT

  DAS supports the development and deployment of the Interactive Multisensor Analysis Training (IMAT) system for the US Navy, used at navy schoolhouse and training centres, ...

• Fighter - electronic warfare

  Tornado ECR EW

  The Panavia Tornado Electronic Combat Reconnaissance Aircraft (ECR) is a twin-engine, multi-role combat aircraft developed and manufactured jointly by the governments and industry bases of Italy, ...

• Naval guns

  RPK-8/ RBU-6000

  RPK-8, also known as Zapad (West), is a rocket launcher system designated to provide protection against surface ships, enemy submarines and torpedoes. At the core ...

• Main battle tanks

  Leopard 1

  The Leopard 1 was developed from 1956-65 to meet the requirement of the West Germany Army for a new MBT to replace the US-supplied M47s ...

• Land: fire control systems

  Fieldguard

  Fieldguard is an active all-weather fire control system used to improve the accuracy of field artillery and multiple rocket launchers. Originally developed by Oerlikon Contraves ...

• Submachine guns

  MP5

  The MP5 is one of the most prolific 9mm SMGs in production, with more than 100 variants developed to meet the requirements of military, paramilitary ...

• Helicopter engines

  T58

  The T58 is a US turboshaft helicopter engine. Development commenced with a 1953 USN requirement for a helicopter turboshaft to weigh under 180kg while delivering ...

• Air: helicopter flight simulators

  UH-60 Black Hawk Training Devices

  FlightSafety offers UH-60A/L pilot training on their Black Hawk Level D simulator at West Palm Beach, Florida. The UH-60A/L pilot training features the company’s exclusive ...

• Patrol boats

  RPB 33

  The RPB 33 offshore patrol boat from France's Raidco Marine is designed for the use of naval forces to enhance maritime surveillance capabilities. This new ...

• OPVs

  OPV 190 MKII

  The OCEA OPV 190 MKII is descended from the OCEA OPVs range. This multipurpose vessel is designed for law enforcement and surveillance operations, anti-smuggling and illegal ...