• Naval Warfare

  Gulf tensions force Western navies to confront mine warfare shortfalls

  2nd April 2026

  The conversion of RFA Lyme Bay comes during signs that European navies may once again need to cooperate on Gulf mine clearance operations.

• Naval Warfare

  Hormuz mines reopen the MCM capability question

  20th April 2026

  The US-led mine clearance mission in the Strait of Hormuz is a reminder of the long-overdue reckoning among Western navies. With ageing fleets and uncrewed systems still maturing, the gap between rhetoric and investment is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.

• Naval Warfare

  How Canada is preparing the future River-class destroyers to endure uncrewed threats

  15th April 2026

  Designed in 2019, Canada's new River-class destroyers are planned to be handed over by the 2050s. The long procurement timeline has cast doubt on whether the platforms will be obsolete for tomorrow’s warfare.

• Naval Warfare

  Future Canadian Continental Defence Corvette will provide “Halifax-equivalent capabilities”

  22nd December 2025

  Although the CDC project is still in its early stages, the Canadian Department of National Defence already has some requirements for the future platforms.

• Defence Notes

  As the new year starts, the UK defence spending delay continues

  6th January 2026

  The UK’s defence spending commitments remain uncertain as the government’s Defence Investment Plan, which had been due by the end of 2025, is yet to be published.

• Naval Warfare

  US Navy advances with the Harpoon Service Life Extension Programme

  16th December 2025

  The US Navy plans to improve Harpoon’s anti-ship and land attack capabilities by equipping the missiles with sensors and technologies required for succeeding in future battlespace.

• Naval Warfare

  US Navy starts acquisition process for uncrewed maritime systems for support missions

  10th November 2025

  The USN is interested in uncrewed capabilities that can carry out explosive ordnance disposal, mine countermeasures, force protection, ISR and anti-submarine missions.

• Land Warfare

  Thales Storm 2 counter-drone system being evaluated by potential customers

  13th March 2026

  The attack drone threat from first-person view uncrewed aerial systems has been highlighted by recent conflicts and Thales has adapted its Storm 2 counter-improvised explosive device jammer to provide protection.

• Naval Warfare

  Can the West keep up with China’s “XXL” uncrewed submarines?

  12th January 2026

  The UK, the US and Australia have all been working on “extra-large” uncrewed underwater vehicles, but China’s reported development of a significantly larger capability demonstrates the country’s rapid advancement in underwater warfare.

• Naval Warfare

  Italy’s U212 Near Future Submarine production builds pace as upgrade plans mature

  21st April 2026

  Andrea Simone Pinna, OCCAR-EA combat system officer for the U212 NFS programme, outlined production progress, new capabilities and plans for the Italian Navy’s next-generation conventional submarine.

• Naval Warfare

  Royal Australian Navy sizes up modernisation plans for new and existing capabilities

  11th December 2025

  The Australian navy is pushing ahead with its efforts to modernise its workforce and capabilities while balancing risky submarine upgrades, ageing Collins-class boats and a shrinking minehunter fleet. Head of navy capability RAdm Stephen Hughes updated Shephard on the force’s progress.

• Land Warfare

  US Army seeks industry support to prepare acquisitions of Group 4+ UAVs

  2nd January 2026

  The US Army is keen to hear about vendor designs, strategies and potential hardware and software solutions to inform requirements for procurement efforts.

• Defence Notes

  Leonardo unveils plans for Michelangelo air defence dome

  28th November 2025

  The new multi-layered defence system will harness AI to neutralise airborne threats and protect Europe from Russian aggression.

• Naval Warfare

  Turkey targets Italian market with strategic partnership on USVs and hybrid platforms

  19th February 2026

  Havelsan, VN Maritime and Piloda Defence will collaborate to develop and integrate a range of maritime solutions with a view to secure a first procurement contract in Italy in the first half of this year.

• Naval Warfare

  US Navy SPY-6 approaches FRP with Raytheon already having “a hot production line”

  2nd March 2026

  Jen Gauthier, Raytheon’s VP of Naval Systems and Sustainment, told Shephard that the company is awaiting the US Navy’s green light to move “fully into full-rate production”.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Minehunters

  MCMV 47 [Brazil]

  The original plan for the Brazilian Navy to acquire two new mine countermeasures vessels to replace the aging Aratu-class vessels which were delivered from Germany ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Mine Countermeasures Vessels (MCMVs) [Malaysia]

  Under the 14th Malaysia Plan for 2031–35, the Royal Malaysian Navy hopes to acquire four new Mine Countermeasures Vessels (MCMVs). Malaysia currently operates four MCMVs, which ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Mine Countermeasures Vessels (MCMVs) [Malaysia]

  Under the 14th Malaysia Plan for 2031–35, the Royal Malaysian Navy hopes to acquire four new Mine Countermeasures Vessels (MCMVs). Malaysia currently operates four MCMVs, which ...

• Minehunters

  Project SEA 1905 - MMCMMS [Australia]

  Programme Background Requirements Australia is looking to acquire up to eight new advanced mine countermeasures/hydrographic survey vessels under the Project SEA 1905 Maritime Mine Countermeasures ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Mine Countermeasures Vessels (MCMVs) [Spain]

  In December 2024, the Spanish Navy released the "Armada 2050" plan, a strategic document that details the development and the long-term vision of the Navy. ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Mine Countermeasures Vessels (MCMVs) [Spain]

  In December 2024, the Spanish Navy released the "Armada 2050" plan, a strategic document that details the development and the long-term vision of the Navy. ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | P6359 Future Naval Mine Countermeasures system (NMCM) [Norway]

  Norway's current naval mine countermeasures (NMCM) inventory is reaching the end of its operational lifespan and is in need of replacement. The future project under ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | P6359 Future Naval Mine Countermeasures system (NMCM) [Norway]

  Norway's current naval mine countermeasures (NMCM) inventory is reaching the end of its operational lifespan and is in need of replacement. The future project under ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  H-145M (Serbia)

  Serbia's aircraft will be equipped with a fast roping system, high-performance camera, fire support equipment, ballistic protection as well as an electronic countermeasures system. The ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | New Generation Minehunters/Offshore (NGM/A) (1-4) [Italy]

  The Italian Navy is procuring twelve new multi-purpose mine countermeasures (MCM) vessels under the Cacciamine Nuova Generazione (CNG) programme. The programme includes coastal-going units (NGM/C) ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | New Generation Minehunters/Offshore (NGM/A) (1-4) [Italy]

  The Italian Navy is procuring twelve new multi-purpose mine countermeasures (MCM) vessels under the Cacciamine Nuova Generazione (CNG) programme. The programme includes coastal-going units (NGM/C) ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Mine Countermeasures Platforms (1-12) [Germany]

  In 2018, the German Navy launched the process of acquiring a fleet of 11 Mine Countermeasures platforms. The German Navy's 'Force Structure Goals 2035+' foresees 12 ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Mine Countermeasures Platforms (1-12) [Germany]

  In 2018, the German Navy launched the process of acquiring a fleet of 11 Mine Countermeasures platforms. The German Navy's 'Force Structure Goals 2035+' foresees 12 ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | New Generation Minehunters/Coastal (NGM/C) (1-5) [Italy]

  The Italian Navy is procuring twelve new multi-purpose mine countermeasures (MCM) vessels under the Cacciamine Nuova Generazione (CNG) programme. The programme includes coastal-going units (NGM/C) ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Huon Class Replacement [Australia]

  The April 2024 cancellation of the Project SEA 1905 Maritime Mine Countermeasures Programme left the Royal Australian Navy without a direct plan to replace its ageing Huon-class ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Naval: RF/IR/acoustic decoys

  RF and IR Countermeasures (Developmental)

  Chemring Countermeasures' development of RF distraction capability is focused on a single-burst chaff payload that features variable range and height control of the deployment point. ...

• Naval: RF/IR/acoustic decoys

  RF and IR Countermeasures (Current)

  Chemring Countermeasures provides both radar-reflective and IR 130mm cartridges, as well as payloads in varying calibres up to 130mm for a range of current decoy ...

• Air: chaff/flare/decoy systems

  Alloy Surfaces and Kilgore IRCM flares

  Chemring Countermeasures develops and manufactures the Alloy Surfaces and Kilgore range of airborne IR flares that are compatible with most available dispensers on a variety ...

• UAS: Integrated systems - uncrewed

  MRA

  The Miniature Radar Altimeter (MRA) provides a radar solution weighing 400g with a 105cm² footprint that is claimed to be one of the world’s smallest ...

• Naval: RF/IR/acoustic decoys

  C-Guard

  C-Guard, formerly known as SKWS, is a lightweight decoy launching system developed for small and large ships using standard NATO SeaGnat 130mm tubes in fixed ...

• Air: Electronic Attack - Jamming, Air: chaff/flare/decoy systems

  MEB Mk 3 Type 1

  Chemring’s MEB Mk.3 Type-1 is a chaff magazine which can equip standard NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) countermeasures dispensers. The company says in its official ...

• Light UGVs

  Zeus

  NIC Instruments' Zeus UGV is a development of its First Responder (see separate entry) platform and was unveiled at Milipol Paris in November 2017. The company ...

• Air: Electronic Attack - Jamming, Air: chaff/flare/decoy systems

  Chaff Pack BOL Mk2 Type 1

  Chemring developed the BOL Mk.2 Type-1 chaff pack to work with Saab’s BOL countermeasures dispenser. The latter is deployed widely on fast jets through the ...

• Air: chaff/flare/decoy systems

  RR129 Chaff Cartridge

  Chemring’s RR129 chaff cartridge is designed to equip fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft protecting them against radar-guided air-to-air and surface-to-air missiles. The company’s official literature says ...

• Air: chaff/flare/decoy systems

  Fighter Countermeasures

  Lacroix makes a range of chaff IR and EO decoy cartridges dedicated to the protection of all airborne platforms. Decoy cartridges are compatible with any ...

• Naval: RF/IR/acoustic decoys

  Naval Countermeasures

  Lacroix's naval countermeasures are shipborne expendable decoys for seduction, distraction and seduction/dissimulation, using both chaff and IR modules and chaff rockets. Chaff covers I/J band. ...

• Light UGVs

  Ibis

  Unveiled in September 2008, the 6x6 Ibis UGV has been designed for EOD clearance, reconnaissance and rescue operations. It features a manipulator arm possessing a ...

• Land: COMINT and ELINT systems, Land: Defensive Systems - DF systems

  Resolve EW Suite

  Resolve is a manpack electronic surveillance system designed for the interception, geolocation and exploitation of tactical communications. It has a true 40MHz instantaneous wideband capability, ...

• Air: Electronic Attack - Jamming

  AN/ALQ-214 IDECM RFCM

  The ALQ-214 Integrated Defensive Electronic Countermeasures RF Countermeasures (IDECM RFCM) subsystem comprises an onboard technique generator developed by Harris integrated with an offboard fibre-optic towed ...

• Land: Electronic Attack - Jamming

  Broadshield- LCS

  The Lightweight Countermeasures Suite (LCS) is a small form factor manpack inhibitor. Utilising the company's modular countermeasures suite (MCS) technology, the LCS offers active only ...