Defence Notes

Read the latest general defence news and company announcements from our team of expert journalists and analysts, giving you the 'so what' behind the latest headlines.

Air Warfare

UK, Japan and Italy discuss potential to bring other countries into GCAP programme

At the G20 summit in Brazil, the three countries reaffirmed their commitment to the trilateral Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), with a nod given to potentially widening the participation out to other countries.

Air Warfare

Analysis: UK government goes on decommissioning spree to balance defence budget

UK defence secretary John Healey has announced the cancellation and decommissioning of naval and air force platforms to enable the government to “re-invest money in the armed forces” ahead of the upcoming Strategic Defence Review.

Naval Warfare

Egypt considers new submarine acquisitions

The long-standing naval procurement partnership between Egypt and France could soon be disrupted as South Korean bidders enter the race to replace the country’s Romeo-class submarines.

Air Warfare

Typhoon remains “at heart of UK defence” despite claims production has stopped

BAE Systems Air business has reaffirmed its commitment to the Typhoon programme as union representatives from the company urge the UK government to order 24 Typhoon jets.

More Stories

Land Warfare

Will Trump discontinue military support to Israel?

19th November 2024

Trump’s upcoming second term as US president has raised questions on how he will handle the conflict in Gaza and avoid a broader war in the Middle East.
Air Warfare

US Air Force aiming to have CCA operational by end of the decade

18th November 2024

By making “tough choices”, the US Air Force’s CCA programme has continued to move forward with Increment 2 on the horizon.
Air Warfare

UK successfully fires SPEAR 3 missile in first trial

18th November 2024

MBDA’s next-generation cruise missile will be fitted to the UK’s F-35B fighter jets, allowing them to hit targets from land and Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers, according to the UK Ministry of Defence MoD.
Air Warfare

Second tranche of UAVs for Replicator programme announced

14th November 2024

The capabilities of the selected systems add to those in the first tranche announced earlier this year by the US Department of Defense.
Naval Warfare

Australia expands western shipbuilding precinct and sidelines Luerssen

13th November 2024

Australia’s investment in naval infrastructure will aim to support its expanding fleet and will focus on the Henderson naval shipbuilding precinct, but challenges remain as Luerssen exits the market due to delays in the Arafura-class project.
Defence Notes

What the future holds for Ukraine and NATO under a Trump administration

12th November 2024

Although Trump’s geopolitics policy for Europe remains unclear, defence analysts from the US and Europe predict how his incoming administration would attempt to handle critical issues on the continent.
Naval Warfare

Anti-drone directed energy weapons continue to evolve at sea

7th November 2024

Defence companies have been accelerating the roll out of directed energy weapon systems to counter the growing importance of drones in modern maritime warfare.
Land Warfare

What a Trump victory could mean for the defence industry

6th November 2024

Trump claimed that the US wanted “a strong and powerful military” in his victory speech.
Land Warfare

South Korean defence industry demonstrates its tech prowess

6th November 2024

Shephard takes a deep dive into the latest developments in the South Korean defence sector as the country arms itself to deal with current and future threats.
Land Warfare

Powerful, long-range electromagnetic attack capabilities

6th November 2024

Dominate the electromagnetic spectrum. Make it an unfair fight with the EA-37B.
Defence Notes

RUSI deputy: UK needs longer procurement plans and improved awareness of US sift to Indo-Pacific

5th November 2024

The UK budget announced in Parliament on 30 October was the first by a Labour government in 14 years which has also launched a review into defence procurement programmes.
Naval Warfare

How complete is your Recognised Maritime Picture?

5th November 2024

Deploy SitaWare Maritime to master your situational awareness above and below the waves
Naval Warfare

Insight: What is the way forward for the propulsion systems of conventional submarines?

4th November 2024

Recent advancements in lithium-ion battery (LIB) technology have led to a resurgence of conventional diesel-electric submarines. As a result, shipbuilders like Naval Group have opted to move away from air-independent propulsion (AIP) systems and instead focus on a range of submarines equipped with a full LIB configuration.
Defence Notes

Australia outlines longer punch and brings local industry onboard

1st November 2024

The Australian government has placed a focus on Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance (GWEO) which has included the purchase of additional long-range rocket systems and investments in local production of missiles.
Defence Notes

UK boosts defence budget by 5.3%, but is this enough?

30th October 2024

The UK budget announced in Parliament on 30 October is the first by a Labour government in 14 years. While it sees a boost in defence spending, this comes in the face of fiscal challenges and the effects of inflation.
Air Warfare

Saab posts strong Q3 results despite T-7 trainer difficulties

29th October 2024

The demand for Saab’s broad portfolio remains high, the Swedish company said, with it anticipating a 2024 organic sales growth between 15-20%.
Training

What is preventing the US Pentagon from succeeding in multi-domain scenarios?

28th October 2024

Outstanding issues to be addressed include improving doctrine, increasing the number of joint exercises and better integrating capabilities across the services.
Defence Notes

UK makes big moves to fix “broken” defence procurement system ahead of major review

28th October 2024

The changes are intended to meet greater need and deliver more value for money.
Naval Warfare

MBDA and Safran unveil the latest versions of the SIMBAD-RC and NGDS launchers

25th October 2024

With navies facing the growing threats of swarms of UAVs and fast attack craft/USVs, the two French companies have been developing reloadable-at-sea systems capable of firing multiple ammunitions.