Defence Notes

F-15EX and shipbuilding win big in proposed $150 billion US defence funding boost

The legislation outlined additional budget to enhance air, land and naval platforms, including next-generation air and uncrewed naval programmes.

Companies post mostly rosy results but warn of potential dark clouds

First quarter 2025 results have been dropping for companies in the past week but many of the US results come with a health warning in their forward-looking aspects about the potential impact of actions by the Trump administration.

Naval Warfare

Interview: DSTA collaborates with Leonardo, Thales and Safran for naval C-UAS

In an exclusive interview with Shephard, DSTA chief Ng Chad-son outlines how the agency is reshaping defence tech development through deeper collaboration with industry partners, from AI-enhanced radar to smart naval munitions.

Spain unveils new multi-billion euro defence investment plan

The new plan outlined how Spain would reach 2% of its GDP spend on defence by 2025, with €1.9 billion earmarked for new equipment acquisition with several land, naval and air platforms disclosed to be replaced or upgraded.

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Naval Warfare

FREMM-derived design wins out in USN FFG(X) programme

1st May 2020

The decision by the USN on 30 April to award the contract for the build up to ten of the future FFG(X) guided missile frigates …
Naval Warfare

UK industrial prosperity key to Type 31 programme

1st May 2020

Strengthening the UK’s domestic maritime industry is a ‘key consideration’ of the supplier contract awards being determined by Babcock as part of the Type 31 …
Air Warfare

USAF eyes small flying car fleet by 2030

1st May 2020

The USAF has launched a campaign to enter the electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) market, setting a goal to have 30 flying cars in …
Defence Notes

US fixed-wing programmes look to rise above crisis

1st May 2020

Substantial investment by the US DoD in major fighter jet and tanker aircraft programmes — combined with the economic fallout from the COVID-19 coronavirus crisis — has put …
Defence Notes

PODCAST: Germany’s long-running search for a Tornado replacement, using unmanned platforms for ASW and evaluating kit in the time of COVID-19

1st May 2020

Welcome to Episode 17 of the second series of The Weekly Defence Podcast. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify and more.
Air Warfare

US attack helicopters for Manila – will it or won’t it?

1st May 2020

The Philippine Air Force’s (PAF's) desire to obtain new dedicated attack helicopters lurched forward on 30 April, when the US State Department announced a potential …
Naval Warfare

Naval Group begins sea trials of SSN Suffren

1st May 2020

Naval Group has announced the start of sea trials for the first Barracuda-class nuclear attack submarine manufactured for the French Navy. A total of six …
Naval Warfare

Australia fast-tracks extra patrol boats

1st May 2020

Australian Defence Minister Linda Reynolds announced on 1 May that her country’s navy would receive six additional Cape-class patrol boats, to be built by Austal. …
Air Warfare

Dassault delivers third upgraded ATL2 maritime patrol aircraft

1st May 2020

Dassault Aviation delivered the third upgraded Atlantique 2 (ATL2) maritime patrol aircraft to the French Defence Procurement Agency (DGA), according to a statement made on …
Naval Warfare

China adds to SSBN fleet

1st May 2020

The People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) celebrated its 71st anniversary on 23 April, and ahead of the milestone commissioned two new Type 094 Jin-class nuclear-powered …
Defence Notes

China rattles India with border exercises and infrastructure build-up

30th April 2020

The frequency and size of aggressive single-service and joint military exercises in the Tibet Autonomous Region, conducted by the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) Tibet Military …
Naval Warfare

COVID-19 prompts Poland to reassess naval plans

30th April 2020

The Polish MoD will have to reshape its Technical Modernization Plan and re-evaluate some of its procurement goals, due to the economic crisis that is …
Defence Notes

Spain amends legislation on foreign military deals

30th April 2020

Spain’s Council of Ministers approved a new royal decree on 28 April which changes the country’s arms export control regulations with the aim of ensuring …
Defence Notes

DoD invests in medical swab production

30th April 2020

The US Department of Defense (DoD) has awarded Puritan Medical Products a $75.5 million investment as part of the Defence Production Act Title 3 funding. …
Defence Notes

Israeli intelligence unit confronts COVID-19

30th April 2020

A research and development laboratory called Unit 81, part of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Intelligence Directorate, has been working with the health ministry, the …
Air Warfare

Russia’s upgraded Tu-160 strategic bomber nears production

30th April 2020

Production of the Tupolev Tu-160M2 bomber is poised to begin, after Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said on 7 April that the Kazan Aviation Plant …
Digital Battlespace

South Korea approves military digital programmes

30th April 2020

The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) in South Korea has approved three new programmes critical to digitisation of the armed forces, while also signing off …
Air Warfare

Cost considerations and politics drive USAF choice for LRSO

29th April 2020

The US Air Force’s selection recently of Raytheon Technologies as sole-source contractor on the Long Range Stand Off (LRSO) programme, ahead of a concept solution …
Air Warfare

Four Russian strategic bombers fly near NATO airspace

29th April 2020

The Russian MoD reported on 29 April that two Tu-160 (NATO: Blackjack) strategic missile carriers completed a planned flight in airspace over the Baltic Sea. At …