• Land Warfare

  AUSA 2017: What to expect (video)

  6th October 2017

  As Shephard prepares for this year's AUSA exhibition in Washington DC, Land Warfare International editor Grant Turnbull sits down with Beth Maundrill to discuss the …

• Land Warfare

  AUSA 2017: Army ramps up overmatch capabilities (video)

  6th October 2017

  As the US Army looks to retain its overmatch capabilities with various new vehicle programmes ad modernisations, Shephard looks at some of the key developments for the …

• Defence Helicopter

  AUSA 2017: FVL progress on point (video)

  6th October 2017

  The US Army's Future Vertical Lift (FVL) programme seeks to shape the services helicopter fleet of the future.  Dan Bailey, programme director for JMR/FVL with …

• Military Logistics

  AUSA 2017: Ammo plant accident fuels innovation

  11th October 2017

  Delivering more than 1.6 billion small and medium caliber bullets in 2016 – 5.56mm, 7.62mm, .50 caliber and some 20mm – the Lake City Army …

• Training

  AUSA 2017: Meggitt eyes export training market

  6th October 2017

  With Meggitt Training Systems delivery of the Engagement Skills Trainer (EST) II to the US Army continuing apace, attention now turns towards the export market. …

• Military Logistics

  Largest US overseas base nears completion

  16th October 2017

  Camp Humphreys, still under construction, is already the largest overseas military facility belonging to the US. The base’s expansion will have absorbed funds of $10.7 …

• Digital Battlespace

  FLIR books surveillance systems contract

  5th October 2017

  FLIR Systems has received an order worth $74.7 million to deliver TacFLIR surveillance cameras in support of the US Army's EO/IR-Force Protection (FP) programme, the …

• Naval Warfare

  Nigerian Navy commissions new FPB 72 patrol vessels

  3rd October 2017

  The Nigerian Navy commissioned into service two new FPB 72 Mk II patrol vessels, the NNS Shiroro (P185) and NNS Ose (P186), following their official …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  AUSA 2017: US Army advances robotic mule use

  2nd October 2017

  Ten unmanned systems will be taking part in the US Army’s Squad Multipurpose Equipment Transport (SMET) programme with trials currently taking place at Fort Benning, …

• Digital Battlespace

  AUSA 2017: Redkite-I soars to final testing

  11th October 2017

  A new wide-area sensor payload developed for Insitu’s Integrator UAS is expected to complete final testing this year, paving the way for operators to begin …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  AUSA 2017: Army unmanned convoy efforts leap forward

  2nd October 2017

  The US Army’s unmanned resupply effort has taken a step forward following demonstrations of the latest advancements in the Autonomous Ground Resupply (AGR) Science and …

• Training

  Lockheed T-50A completes 100 flights

  6th October 2017

  Lockheed Martin has successfully completed the 100th flight of the T-50A aircraft at its Greenville facility in South Carolina, the company announced on 4 October. …

• Military Logistics

  AUSA 2017: Ukraine highlights logistics shortfall

  11th October 2017

  Representatives from Ukraine’s defence industry have credited logistics problems for many of their 2014 losses against the Russian Federation. Speaking at AUSA, the representatives identified …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  NAVSEA cancels EOD robotic systems solicitation

  10th October 2017

  The US Navy Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) has cancelled solicitations for the Advanced Explosive Ordnance Disposal Robotic Systems (AEODRS) Increments 2 and 3. The circumstances …

• Special Operations

  Romania stands up SOF command

  11th October 2017

  The Romanian Ministry of Defence (MoD) will establish a Special Operations Command (SOCOM) by 1 January 2018 as it seeks to expand joint operations across …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Loitering munitions

  Warmate [Ukraine]

  Programme Background Ukraine placed an order for an undisclosed number of Warmate systems in 2017. Shepherd believes units acquired in this order later were utilised ...

• Special operations vehicles

  Ashok Leyland LBPV (India - Air Force)

  Programme Background The IAF created the Garud commando force in 2004 to protect its airbases, carry out combat search and rescue and conduct covert operations ...

• Minehunters

  Awaji Class

  Programme Background Two Awaji class mine countermeasures vessels (MCMV) were ordered from the Japanese shipyard Japan Marine United (JMU) for the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) initially. ...

• OPVs

  Inlay Class (second OPV)

  Programme Background The Inlay class originally consists of a single OPV in service with the Myanmar Navy. However, a second Inlay-class OPV has been reported under construction since ...

• APCs/IFVs - 4x4

  Eagle V 4x4

  According to documents released by the Danish Ministry of Defence, a total of 233.6 million Danish Krone (US$34.669 million) were allocated to this programme. 62.1 ...

• OPVs

  Cyprus Second Sa'ar 62 OPV

  Programme BackgroundThe Republic of Cyrus' Ministry of Defence placed an order with Israel Shipyards for its first Sa'ar 62  OPV in December 2015 in a project valued ...

• Loitering munitions

  Warmate (2017) [Poland]

  Programme Background Order In November 2017, Poland ordered 100 sets of Warmate loitering munitions, each consisting of ten platforms, for a reported 100 million Polish Zloty ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - small

  HUSAR (2023 Order) [Germany]

  Programme Background First Order In 2015, the German Army launched the HUSAR programme to identify a replacement for its Airbus Defence & Space KZO and ...

• Landing platform docks/dock landing ships

  Makassar Class LPD (7)

  Indonesia signed a contract for $150 million for two LPDs in the Makassar class, KRI Makassar and KRI Surabaya, with South Korean shipbuilder Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering ...

• Patrol boats

  Rajshree Class (Flight II)

  Programme BackgroundThe Rajshree class is to consist of 13 FPVs built in two separate flights. Flight I saw construction begin in 2010 and all eight vessels ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - small

  HUSAR (2017 Order) [Germany]

  Programme Background Requirement In 2015, the German Army launched the HUSAR programme to identify a replacement for its Airbus Defence & Space KZO and first-generation ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  New Exploration and Escort Helicopter (NEES) (Phase I) [Italy]

  Programme Background In 2017, the Italian government signed a contract with Leonardo to replace its fleet of AW129 Mangusta attack helicopters with the in-development AW249, ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - small

  ScanEagle [Czechia]

  Programme Background Earmarked The ACR took delivery of ten ScanEagle systems (100 UAVs), which were received as a donation from the US in 2015. In ...

• Aircraft carriers

  Queen Elizabeth Class

  The contract to begin the construction of the first ship was awarded in 2008, ten years after the programme was announced in the 1998 SDR. ...

• Submarines: conventional, attack

  S26T [Thailand]

  Programme Background The Royal Thai Navy has been in the process of acquiring a new submarine for a number of years. They formally selected China's ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Pistols

  Jericho Pistol 941

  Designed for military and law enforcement users, the Jericho Pistol 941 is available in 9mm, .40 S&W; and .45 ACP calibres and in standard, short ...

• APCs/IFVs - 4x4

  V-RAPTOR

  Unveiled at LAAD 2023 in Rio de Janeiro, the V-RAPTOR is a tactical police armoured vehicle from domestic manufacturer Combat Armor Defense do Brasil.

• Reconnaissance/patrol vehicles

  Guará WS

  Avibras is marketing the 4x4 Guará WS light armoured vehicle, a further development of its 4x4 AV-VB4 RE Guará prototype. Developed in cooperation with the ...

• OPVs

  Israel Shipyards OPV

  The Israel Shipyards OPV design is a 400t-500t vessel designed for naval security operations. The 500t version can equip a light marine helicopter (up to five ...

• Land: manned turrets

  TORC30

  The TORC30 is a stabilised unmanned turret armed with a Rheinmetall MK30-2/ABM 30mm cannon being developed by Ares, an Elbit subsidiary, and the Brazilian Army’s ...

• Air: Displays

  Panoramic Cockpit Display

  Developed by L3Harris and Elbit Systems America, the Panoramic Cockpit Display (PCD) is a touchscreen MFD integrated into F-35 aircraft. It provides two electronically divided ...

• Self-propelled rocket launchers

  Armadillo TA-2

  The Armadillo TA-2 is an automatic or manned rocket launcher system designed to be fully retracted inside a 4x4 light vehicle.The concept, which was being ...

• EW test systems, Air: chaff, flare and decoy systems

  CAST-easy

  RUAG unveiled the Countermeasure Advanced System Test Equipment (CAST-easy) in 2017 earmarking it for the Panavia Tornado series of combat aircraft. The 2017 announcement stated ...

• Counter-UAS systems

  Drone Deterrence System

  First unveiled at the LIMA 2017 exhibition by Mitsubishi Electric, the Drone Deterrence System began to be developed in 2014 and made its first sale in ...

• Naval guns, Land: RWS

  Dragonfire

  Dragonfire is a new laser weapon system built for the UK MoD, receiving £30 million of funding in early 2017. The design of the gun ...

• Military - UUVs

  ThunderFish Alpha

  The ThunderFish Alpha (formerly DeDAvE) is an AUV designed for deep-sea military, commercial and scientific applications. In March 2017, Kraken announced a licensing agreement for ...

• Self-propelled rocket launchers

  Fletcher

  Arnold Defense, which has produced more than 1.1 million 2.75in/70mm rocket launchers for airborne applications since 1961, unveiled the Fletcher 2.75in/70mm Weapon System at the September ...

• Minehunters

  Kormoran II Class

  Three Kormoran II-class minehunters were budgeted for the Polish Navy in 2011, and a contract was placed for a prototype in 2013, with the first ...

• OPVs

  La Confiance Class (PLG)

  The La Confiance-class, also known as the Guyanese Light Patrol Vessel (PLG), in service with the French Navy, was designed by Bureau Mauric and built ...

• Submachine guns

  FN SCAR-SC

  FN Herstal unveiled the 5.56mm FN SCAR-SC (Subcompact Carbine), the newest member of the SCAR (SOF Combat Assault Rifle) family originally developed for the US ...