Air Warfare

Bombardier delivers seventh Global 6000 for Battlefield Airborne Communications Node programme

26th October 2023

BACN aircraft serve as high-altitude communications gateways, relaying or bridging voice and data between air and surface forces, surmounting traditional obstacles such as mountains, rough terrain or distance.

Digital Battlespace

Redefining Modern Warfare: Multi-Domain Operations and the Shift to Integrated Communications across the Force (Studio)

25th October 2023

The multi-domain operations (MDO) concept is now a core focus for the US and its allies. The paradigm has significant implications for communications technology as militaries seek to integrate platforms and systems across different networked communications domains.

Digital Battlespace

Interoperability: The Vital Ingredient for NATO’s Future Success (Studio)

10th October 2023

The lens of multi-domain operations is sharpening, and software-driven communication choices, deeper integration, and innovative technology are increasingly crucial. Companies like L3Harris are enabling a new age of international collaboration by emphasising NATO-standardised interoperability.

Land Warfare

The HF Renaissance – The Evolving Electronic Warfare Threats and the Need for Resilient Waveforms (Studio)

14th September 2023

Amid modern warfare’s complexity and electronic warfare threats, NATO and its allies are balancing legacy systems with new technologies. With the importance of resilient waveforms underscored, High Frequency (HF) technology has emerged as a robust solution, leading to an “HF renaissance”.

Digital Battlespace

Conversation with the CEO - Intelsat's David Wajsgras (video)

14th September 2023

David Wajsgras, CEO of Intelsat, speaks with Shephard Studio about the company's role as a global satellite operator focusing on defence and security, highlighting trends in geostationary (GEO) and low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites and emphasising the need for interoperability to enable seamless, global connectivity.

Digital Battlespace

DSEI 2023: OneWeb launches soldier-portable terminal for frontline tactical SATCOM

11th September 2023

Global Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite communications network company, OneWeb, is unveiling a new soldier-portable, lightweight user terminal (UT) which is designed to be carried in a backpack for operations close to the tactical edge.

Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

Dominator XP [Thailand]

Programme Background Purchase As reported by Shephard, in September 2023, the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) inducted three Dominator XPs. The RTAF purchased the trio ...

Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

MALE Combat Drones [Thailand]

Programme Background Roadmap In February 2024, the RTAF unveiled its White Paper 2024. Incorporating lessons from the Russo-Ukrainian War, the Israel-Hamas War, and other events ...

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 ...

Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - small

AdvaNced airCraft Infrastructure-Less Launch And RecoverY (ANCILLARY) [US]

Programme Background Aims & Timeline As stated by DARPA, the ANCILLARY programme aims to develop and fly an X-plane that will provide a "leap-ahead" in long-endurance, ...

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 ...

Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

New Water Jet Fast Attack Craft (NWJFAC) (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 - small

Mini RPAS (High Altitude)

Programme Background The Indian Army has initiated several tenders aiming to procure micro UAVs, but there has been little progress in following through with these ...

APCs/IFVs - 4x4

Portugal VTLB

Programme Background The Portuguese Army planned to allocate funds for the procurement of 167 VTLBs during the Military Programming Law running from 2015 until 2026. ...

Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

Akinci [Turkey]

Programme Background Unveiling & Testing Unveiled at TEKOFEST Istanbul Aviation, Space and Technology Festival in September 2019, the Akinci completed its first flight in December 2019. In June 2021, ...

Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - small

DTIF GUARD (Ireland)

Programme Background The Problem As stated by the project's website, Ireland is the "softest target in EU for smugglers" due to its 3171km of coastline, ...

Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - HALE

RQ-4 Global Hawk (Japan)

Programme Background Selection & Contract AwardIn 2015, Northrop Grumman's RQ-4 Global Hawk UAS and E-2D Advanced Hawkeye airborne early warning aircraft were selected by Japan to ...

Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

MQ-9B SkyGuardian - Forecasted Units (Belgium)

Programme Background Strategic Vision 2030  In 2016, the Belgian MoD published its Strategic Vision 2030 report. In this, it highlighted the need for MALE reconnaissance drones ...

Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

MQ-9B SkyGuardian (Belgium)

Programme Background Contract On 26 March 2019, the US State Department announced that it had approved a possible FMS of four MQ-9B SkyGuardians for an estimated cost ...

APCs/IFVs - 8x8

Boxer MIV (UK)

Programme Background History The UK MoD announced in March 2018 that it would re-join the Boxer programme and pursue a sole-source acquisition of the 8x8 ...

Military UAS - small

Heavy Lift Capability (UASHLC) [UK]

Programme Background Requirement & Objective The RN has identified a requirement to acquire an RPAS to transport cargo and supplies between ships and personnel. When mature, it ...

UAS: communication systems

Aviator UAV 200

Cobham’s UAV 200 is a satcom solution designed to enhance a tactical UAV’s performance, range and payload flexibility in a number of applications.This including SAR, ...

USV-450

The SeaRobotics USV-450 is a lightweight USV designed for survey/surveillance, hydrographic data-gathering and general-purpose sensor transport. 

Military - USVs

USV-550

The USV-550 can be used for shallow-water survey/surveillance, hydrographic data-gathering, general-purpose sensor transport and small ROV deployment. 

UAS: communication systems

BlackRay 1000

The BlackRay 1000 is a ruggedised two-way SATCOM terminal for the UAV market with built-in modem and ACU. It is customisable to meet most UAS ...

Military - USVs

USV-11000

The SeaRobotics USV-11000 is a long-endurance USV that can be used for military and civil missions. This includes coastal/offshore survey, hydrographic data-gathering, harbour security/surveillance, ROV ...

Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - tactical

Shadow M2

The Shadow M2 builds on the Shadow 200, but has greater endurance and payload capability, quieter and more reliable propulsion and an optional SATCOM capability ...

UAS: communication systems

LAISR ULW

Developed by Inmarsat Government, the Lightweight Airborne ISR System - Ultra Lightweight (LAISR ULW) is an L-Band SATCOM terminal providing beyond-line-of-sight (BLOS) connectivity for SWaP-constrained ...

Maritime patrol, Trainer

DA42 MPP Pandion

The DA42 MultiPurpose Platform (MPP) Pandion is a lightweight MPA, designed to carry out various missions, including coastal surveillance, training, anti-piracy, oil spill detection and ...

UAS: communication systems

Airborne Broadband SATCOM

ViaSat’s airborne SATCOM services offer worldwide access and a range of service levels, providing connectivity and performance options tailored to meet a variety of needs. ...

Air: Radio and SATCOM

ELK-1882T NC2

Produced by Elta Systems (a subsidiary of IAI), ELK-1882T NC2 SATCOM terminals provide secure BLOS communications for fighter and special mission aircraft. The terminals utilise software-defined ...

Land: battle management systems

SCC Titan

The server-based Situational Command and Control (SCC) Titan system is broken down into an HQ and a field-ready tactical satellite package, both designed to offer ...

Military - USVs

USV-5700

The USV-5700, which is also designated USV 5.7, is a catamaran that can be used for military and civil missions. This includes coastal/offshore survey, hydrographic ...

Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - small

Integrator ER

The Integrator Extended Range (ER) is a multi-mission modular small-UAV manufactured by Insitu. A variant of the Integrator, the ER is differentiated by its SATCOM BLOS communications ...

Land: Radio and SATCOM

RF-7800B-VU104

This land mobile broadband global area network (BGAN) SATCOM terminal provides a tactical radio network capability within the Falcon III multi-band radio family. The RF-7800B-VU104 ...

Military - USVs

USV-Collapsible

The USV-Collapsible can be used for surveying, hydrographic data-gathering, harbour security/surveillance and general-purpose sensor transport. It can also be collapsed into a small shipping crate ...