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.

Land Warfare

Ukraine to receive new type of counter drone system [UPDATED]

30th August 2023

Kongsberg is to deliver the Cortex Typhon CUAS through the International Fund for Ukraine (IFU). The systems will provide essential aerial threat protection capabilities, enhancing Ukraine's ability to combat UAVs such as Shahen 136.

Uncrewed Vehicles

More Black Hornet UAVs bound for Ukraine as part of Norway order

18th July 2023

Teledyne FLIR Defense will supply Black Hornet 3 nano-UAVs to Ukraine, as part of a Norway MoD order. The pocket-sized drones provide crucial reconnaissance capabilities.

Digital Battlespace

Details released of US Navy UGV radio deal

6th July 2023

Persistent Systems will supply 600 MPU5 radios to the USN for installation onto EOD UGVs with deliveries expected to start next year.

Land Warfare

Teledyne FLiR delivers 1,000th anti-IED robot to US Army

9th June 2023

Teledyne FLIR has delivered the 1,000th robot to the US Army under the Man Transportable Robot System Increment II (MTRS Inc II) contract.

Training

Collins Aerospace to deliver full-rate production for US Navy air combat training

30th May 2023

The air-to-air and air-to-ground Tactical Combat Training System aims to replace the US Navy's legacy equipment.

Military UAS - tactical

Future Tactical UAS (FTUAS) [USA]

Programme Background Programme Objective The Future Tactical UAS (FTUAS) will provide a tactical ISTAR capability for US Army Brigade Combat Teams (BCTs). It is intended to ...

Military UAS - small

Black Hornet 3 PRS (UK)

Programme Background The British Army operated approximately 160 first-generation Black Hornet PD-100 nano UAS between 2013 and 2017, when the decision was made to retire ...

Military UAS - micro, Military UAS - rotary-wing

French Operational Pocket Drone / DrOP (France)

Programme Background French UAV Procurment / DrOP Under its 2019-2025 Military Programming Law (LPM), France aims to introduce 1,200 new UAVs into service with the ...

Military UAS - micro, Military UAS - rotary-wing

Black Hornet 3 (First Order) [Norway]

Programme Background First Batch The Norwegian Home Guard has procured the Black Hornet 3 to provide each of its districts with a nano UAS that ...

Military UAS - small

Bug Nano UAS (UK)

Programme Background The British Army previously took delivery of 160 first-generation Black Hornet PD-100 nano UAS in 2013 to support operations in Afghanistan. After these ...

Military UAS - micro, Military UAS - rotary-wing

Black Hornet 3 (Second Order) [Norway]

Programme Background First Order The Norwegian Home Guard has procured the Black Hornet 3 to provide each of its districts with a nano UAS that ...

Military UAS - micro, Military UAS - rotary-wing

Black Hornet 3 (Ukraine Aid) [UK & Norway]

Programme Background Russo-Ukraine War Since Russia invaded Ukraine on 24 February 2022, UAVs have proved vital to the country's defence. Consequently, as in this programme, the ...

Military UAS - micro, Military UAS - rotary-wing

Black Hornet 3 (Ukrainian Aid) [Norway]

Programme Background Previous Purchases Norway has purchased two batches for its use, the first in October 2020 and the second in June 2022. International Fund ...

Patrol boats

Mk VI Patrol Boat - Ukraine (1-6)

Programme Background The Mk VI is described as the USN's next-generation patrol boat and is currently in service with the US Navy's Coastal Riverine Forces (CRF). The ...

Military UAS - micro, Military UAS - mini

Micro & Mini Drones (France)

Programme Background RequirementOn 23 April 2021, an RfP was published by the Direction de la Maintenance Aéronautique (DMAé) to supply around 500 micro and nano drones for the ...

Military UAS - micro, Military UAS - rotary-wing

Black Hornet 3 / Soldier Borne Sensor (SBS) [USA]

Programme Background Requirement The Soldier Borne Sensor (SBS) provides short-range day and night ISR to US Army units at the squad, platoon and other small ...

Patrol boats

Mk VI Patrol Boat - Ukraine (9-16)

Programme Background The Mk VI is described as the USN's next-generation patrol boat and is currently in service with the US Navy's Coastal Riverine Forces (CRF). The ...

Patrol boats

Mk VI Patrol Boat - Ukraine (7-8) Optional

Programme Background The Mk VI is described as the USN's next-generation patrol boat and is currently in service with the US Navy's Coastal Riverine Forces (CRF). The ...

Military UAS - tactical

Mi2 Challenge (USN)

Programme Background Requirements The USN wants a UAV to be flown in austere environments without dedicated launch or recovery equipment; since it would be launched ...

Military UAS - small

Project Land 125 Phase 4 UAV

Programme Background Under Project Land 125 Phase 4, the Australian Army plans to invest A$1 billion (US$748.14 million) between 2018 and 2030 into the acquisition ...

Military UGVs

Centaur

The Centaur is a military UGV developed specifically for the US Army's Man Transportable Robotic System Increment II (MTRS Inc II), a requirement for a ...

Military UGVs

Andros Nomad

Unveiled in 2017, the Andros Nomad is the latest UGV designed by Northrop Grumman to carry out civil and military applications. The platform, which is able ...

Major networking projects

WIN-T Increment 1

WIN-T Increment 1 is defined as providing ‘networking at the halt’ and is divided into two sub-increments defined as Increment 1a (‘extended networking at the ...

Major networking projects

WIN-T Increment 2

WIN-T Increment 2 ('networking on the move') adds soldier mobility and provides a communications network down to company level. Tactical communication nodes in Increment 2 ...

Land: air defence radar

AN/TPS-80 G/ATOR

AN/TPS-80 Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar (G/ATOR) is a multi-mission system designed to support worldwide expeditionary requirements. It provides detection and tracking capabilities and offers traffic ...

Land: Radio and SATCOM

MPU5

The MPU5 (WR-5100) has been described as a smart MANET radio, designed for connectivity, interchangeable frequency module, stream HD video and integrated Radio over IP functionality. ...

EO/IR systems

FLIR 111

The FLIR 111 is a compact, lightweight navigation system for attack and utility helicopters. It features integration, low power consumption, a mechanical interface and a ...

Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - tactical

Aerosonde HQ SUAS

The Aerosonde Hybrid Quadcopter (HQ) SUAS is the VTOL version of the Aerosonde SUAS manufactured by Textron Systems. It combines the capabilities of a multi-rotor platform ...

EW test systems

CRIIS

The Common Range Integrated Instrumentation System (CRIIS) provides time, space and position information (TSPI) as well as systems evaluation data to support testing for a ...

Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - tactical

Jump 20

The Jump 20 is a VTOL-capable variant of the T-20 platform manufactured by Arcturus UAV, a wholly-owned subsidiary of AeroVironment. The platform has an open ...

Land: soldier modernisation systems - national programmes

FIST

In March 2003, Thales UK was selected as prime contractor for the UK’s Future Integrated Soldier Technology (FIST) programme. The project has since evolved into ...

Air: Electronic Attack - Jamming

Next Generation Jammer - Low-Band

The Next Generation Jammer-Low Band (NGJ-LB), also known as NGJ-LB Increment-2, is the latest effort in the US Navy’s prevailing NGJ initiative. The project is ...

Guided munitions

M982 Excalibur

The M982 Excalibur (previously known as the XM982) is a guided artillery shell. It is intended to be used for close support situations within 75–150 ...

Major networking projects

Army BCT Modernisation Program Increment 1

The US Army brigade combat team (BCT) modernisation strategy will build a mix of mobile, networked BCTs that can gain leverage from mobility, protection, information ...

Land: Radio and SATCOM

JTRS Domains

The former JTRS ‘clusters’, that had become separate disjointed programmes, have been replaced with centrally managed domain programme management offices. The construct comprises four JTRS ...