• Digital Battlespace

  DSEI 2017: Raytheon to improve Shadow capability

  15th September 2017

  A new collaboration between the Royal Air Force and Raytheon UK will improve aspects of the Shadow surveillance aircraft, including an incremental upgrade of the …

• Training

  DSEI 2017: Leonardo discovers new path forward for ASDOT

  12th September 2017

  Despite Leonardo initially indicating to Shephard it would push its M-346 (pictured) training aircraft for the UK Air Support to Defence Operational Training (ASDOT) programme, it could …

• Defence Helicopter

  MLASS wings supporting MH-60M

  20th September 2017

  Unitech Composites has delivered the first production shipset of multi-station lightweight armament support structure (MLASS) wings for utilisation on the US Army’s MH-60M, following the …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  DSEI 2017: Delft Dynamics displays DroneCatcher

  14th September 2017

  Dutch company Delft Dynamics displayed its new DroneCatcher counter UAS system for the first time at DSEI 2017. First unveiled on 8 September by the Netherlands …

• Defence Helicopter

  29th CAB receives CH-47F helicopters

  14th September 2017

  The US Army’s 29th Combat Aviation Brigade (CAB) unit in Iraq has received new CH-47F Chinook helicopters. The incoming CH-47Fs are the first in a …

• Training

  Boeing taps Triumph for T-X offer

  19th September 2017

  Boeing has selected Triumph Group as a major supplier for its T-X US Air Force training jet offer, the company announced on 15 September. Under …

• Defence Helicopter

  DSEI 2017: FVL ready for flight (video)

  14th September 2017

  The FVL technology demonstrator aircraft being built for the US Army's Joint Multi-Role (JMR) programme are both progressing, although Bell Helicopter's V-280 Valor is now …

• Digital Battlespace

  DSEI 2017: UK Dragonfire aims to the future (video)

  12th September 2017

  Earlier this year, the UK MoD awarded a contract to an industrial consortium of companies to develop laser technology for directed energy weapons. Shephard talks through …

• Special Operations

  SADC SF expands capabilities

  21st September 2017

  The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Special Forces completed its most recent biennial training exercise in September, further extending its capabilities and interoperability as a …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  DSEI 2017: Rheinmetall Canada displays armed UGV (video)

  12th September 2017

  Rheinmetall Canada is displaying its armed UGV - the concept is a modular system and its base versions can be used for logistics, surveillance or …

• Military Logistics

  MDM 2017: Industry opportunities in USMC logistics portfolio

  20th September 2017

  In an overview of the new Logistics Combat Element Systems portfolio on the opening day of Modern Day Marine, service leaders identified a range of …

• Military Logistics

  DSEI 2017: WEW fuels demand

  20th September 2017

  WEW’s new self-contained Fuel Storage and Dispensing (FSD) system has a far larger capacity than the manufacturer’s normal product line, designed with the demands of …

• Digital Battlespace

  DSEI 2017: Land C4ISR integration concept unveiled

  19th September 2017

  Systems engineering specialist Drumgrange displayed its Land C4ISR Integration concept for tactical ground vehicles at this year's DSEI. Aimed at supporting mobility operations, the vehicle-mounted …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  DSEI 2017: Leonardo predicts unmanned rotary dominance

  13th September 2017

  Leonardo is well into Phase 2 of its Rotary Wing Unmanned Air System (RWAS) capability concept demonstrator (CCD) for the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) …

• Land Warfare

  DSEI 2017: Saab launches new mortar ammunition

  13th September 2017

  Saab Bofors Dynamics Switzerland (SBDS), a subsidiary of Saab, has launched a new 120mm mortar ammunition at DSEI this year. Known as 'Thor', the mortar features …

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 ...