Main News Portal

Global defence news, analysis and data insights across air, land, naval and military training. Shephard’s team of expert journalists cover new equipment and technology coverage, capability development, acquisition plans, contract awards and more.

Air Warfare

Embraer “confident” as C-390 and A-29 production ramps up in 2025

Embraer chief commercial officer Frederico Lemos said that it was aiming to produce more than 10 of its C-390 multi-mission aircraft a year by 2030, with some A-29 aircraft already allocated and ready for delivery.

Air Warfare

Boeing CEO notes “confidence” in defence arm despite 20% Q4 revenue loss

Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg indicated ongoing improvements were being made in its defence programmes going forwards, despite being affected in Q4 by cost pressures, higher manufacturing costs and the impact of the IAM strike.

Land Warfare

Thales adds DigitalCrew to panoramic gimbal for new generation tracking and identification

Thales Panoramic Above Armour Gimbal (PAAG) is in service as a mast mounted system on German Boxer Joint Fire Support Teams (Heavy) armoured vehicles. DigitalCrew has been designed to take full advantage of PAAG’s six sensors.

Land Warfare

Manufacture of CTAI 40mm cannon prepares to ramp up with 700 already delivered

Production of 40 CTAS cannon for 60 Belgian Jaguar 6x6 will begin this year and Luxembourg is set to make a similar order.

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Air Warfare

Japan selects T-6 Texan II for pilot training

31st January 2025

The T-6 Texan II aircraft will replace the Fuji/Subaru T-7 aircraft in the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF).
Land Warfare

Germany signs work agreement for Patria 6x6 vehicle under CAVS programme

31st January 2025

The agreement is a further development in a programme which has seen dozens of vehicles ordered by partner countries in the last year.
Naval Warfare

UK opens new submarine centre to support nuclear deterrent vessels

31st January 2025

The Submarine Availability Support Hub is the latest in a string of government investments in submarine warfare.
Land Warfare

L3Harris awarded $263 million contract for night vision goggles

31st January 2025

The order for Enhanced Night Vision Goggle – Binocular (ENVG-B) is the second order under the full-scale production Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (ID/IQ) programme, following a similar award last year.
Naval Warfare

Royal Australian Navy takes first Arafura OPV for testing

30th January 2025

Though the delivery marks progress, the delayed programme was slashed to six vessels in 2024.
Naval Warfare

Indonesian Navy changes names of Italian multipurpose combat ships

30th January 2025

The renamed vessels were part of a modular class originally built for the Italian Navy, but will now serve in the Indonesian fleet.
Land Warfare

Estonia receives first deliveries of new CAESAR 155mm self-propelled howitzer

30th January 2025

The Estonian Centre for Defence Investments (ECDI) signed contracts in June 2024 to acquire 12 CAESAR (CAmion Equipé d’un Système d’ARtillerie) wheeled self-propelled howitzers (SPH). The contract also includes the option to purchase additional howitzers.
Land Warfare

Latvia signs for ASCOD IFVs

30th January 2025

Latvia entered negotiations with General Dynamics European Land Systems (GDELS) Santa Bárbara Sistemas for the purchase of Austrian Spanish Cooperative Development (ASCOD) tracked combat vehicles in November last year.
Air Warfare

UK Royal Navy’s upgraded Commando Merlin helicopters achieve full operating capability

30th January 2025

A total of 19 Mk3 and six Mk3a Commando Merlin helicopters have now been upgraded to the Mk4/4a standard, with the work overseen by the procurement arm of the Ministry of Defence (MoD), Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S), Leonardo and the Royal Navy (RN).
Naval Warfare

Double SCHOTTEL deal advances two ship programmes

30th January 2025

SCHOTTEL has announced its thrusters will be fitted to both Polish and Portuguese programmes.
Air Warfare

Switzerland’s Hermes 900 procurement faces further delays and headwinds

29th January 2025

The Swiss Federal Audit Office has said the drones won’t meet planned military requirements until 2029, after extensive delays pushed timeline back to the end of 2026.
Naval Warfare

Denmark commits to three new Arctic vessels in light of Trump’s Greenland comments

29th January 2025

The vessels have been a necessity for years, but now Denmark is planning a stronger Arctic presence.
Land Warfare

Extra punch to be added to THeMIS UGV as production set to increase

29th January 2025

Milrem Robotics is looking to improve the lethality of its Tracked Hybrid Modular Infantry System (THeMIS) uncrewed ground vehicle (UGV), ramp up production and add an integration with uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs).
Land Warfare

Trump orders the fast implementation of next-gen air and missile defence capabilities

29th January 2025

The US government has ordered the acceleration of the development and deployment of solutions to counter ballistic, hypersonic and advanced cruise missiles.
Air Warfare

Updated US Air Force doctrine emphasises the need for multi-domain capabilities

28th January 2025

Modifications in the US Air Force (USAF) doctrine aim to prepare the service for tomorrow’s warfare.
Land Warfare

New US defence contracts for undersea warfare systems and USNS Matthew Perry

28th January 2025

The Department of Defense announced the new contracts to upgrade and maintain combat technology and vessels.
Land Warfare

L3Harris awarded manpack and handheld radio deal worth almost $300 million

28th January 2025

The award is for L3Harris AN/PRC-158 two-channel Leader manpack radio and AN/PRC-163 Handheld multi-channel radio under the Handheld, Manpack & Small Form Fit (HMS) programme.
Naval Warfare

UK upgrades threat detection systems on its Royal Navy warships

28th January 2025

The news of the upgrade comes just a week after UK Royal Navy (RN) vessels escorted a Russian spy ship out of the English Channel.
Land Warfare

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28th January 2025

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