• Land Warfare

  Vietnam orders self-propelled howitzers from South Korea

  6th March 2025

  Vietnam turns to Hanwha Aerospace as it looks to reduce reliance on Russian military systems.

• Land Warfare

  Viettel acts as dominant force in Vietnam’s military modernisation

  16th January 2025

  Vietnam defence manufacturer Viettel, traditionally known for radar and communications equipment, has been moving into new areas including kinetic weapons and loitering munitions.

• Air Warfare

  T-6 Texan II trainers deepen their footprint in Asia

  20th December 2024

  Textron Aviation Defense has said it is confident it can continue to grow orders across Asia as Japan selects the T-6 Texan II to replace the Fuji T-7.

• Land Warfare

  Avalon 2025: Hanwha signs engine deal with Penske for Redback IFVs

  1st April 2025

  Penske Australia will also carry out local assembly and testing of Allison X1100 series cross-drive transmission under licence using kits supplied by South Korea's SNT Dynamics.

• Training

  Vietnam receives first batch of L-39NG jets and awaits US trainers

  30th August 2024

  The 12 L-39NGs jet trainers ordered by Vietnam will replace the country’s fleet of L-39C Albatros jets.

• 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).

• Naval Warfare

  US Navy names DDG 146 Arleigh Burke destroyer after former US Senator

  7th January 2025

  The latest of the Flight III Arleigh Burke vessels has been named for a former US Senator and Vietnam veteran.

• Naval Warfare

  Newest Arleigh Burke Flight III destroyer launched and ready for fitting

  27th March 2025

  DDG 129, which will become the USS Jeremiah Denton on commissioning, was moved to dry dock to begin its technical fitting and testing.

• Training

  Australia’s exercise tempo increases as it looks east for national defence

  7th October 2024

  The Australian Government has focused heavily on the defence of its north-west coast, with plans to move its attack helicopters to the area, as well as base its maritime patrol assets in the region.

• Naval Warfare

  German-Filippino defence collaboration agreement edges closer in South China Sea

  6th August 2024

  The countries have agreed to have a collaboration plan in place by the end of 2024.

• Air Warfare

  MD Helicopters expands presence in Indo-Pacific, eyes potential customers

  7th May 2024

  MD Helicopters aims to bolster its footprint in the Indo-Pacific region, targeting countries like Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia for potential sales of its TH530 trainer and AH530 Light Attack Scout helicopters.

• Air Warfare

  ‘Never done before’: tiltrotor technology and the future battlespace

  14th October 2024

  In conversation... Bell's Frank Lazzara talks to Shephard's Gerrard Cowan about the potential of tiltrotor designs to revolutionize U.S. Army maneuver operations, and how the technology could transform other mission sets across DoD and international armed services.

• Land Warfare

  Rafael successfully tests SPYDER All-In-One missile defence system

  15th January 2024

  The all-weather, network-centric, self-propelled, multi-launch, quick-reaction air defence system SPYDER (Surface-to-air PYthon and DERby) All-in-One (AIO) has been equipped with Python and Derby missiles.

• Naval Warfare

  How Turkish shipyard ASFAT is engaging in Pakistan’s maritime expansion

  15th December 2023

  Since delivering the first Babur-class corvette last September, ASFAT has targeted future growth in the Indo-Pacific market by engaging in a new project with Pakistan for future frigates.

• Naval Warfare

  Is the health of Russia’s submarine fleet improving?

  14th February 2024

  The Russian Federation Navy submarine service has struggled to modernise in recent years, but progress on two main acquisition programmes could mean that it has turned a corner.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Fighter - multirole

  Next Generation Fighter Aircraft (Vietnam)

  Programme Background Requirement The Vietnam People's Air Force (VPAF) operates an ageing fleet of Su-22 aircraft as well as Su-27s and Su-30s. According to expert commentary, ...

• Frigates

  Third Hamilton Class Cutter [Vietnam]

  Programme Background On 25 August 2021, US Vice-President Kamala Harris disclosed the news on a visit to Hanoi, Vietnam, that the Vietnam Coast Guard's (Canh Sát ...

• Transport

  C-130J [Vietnam]

  Programme Background Requirement Vietnam’s interest in acquiring the C-130J reflects a broader effort to modernise its air transport fleet, which was previously dominated by Russian ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | C-130J [Vietnam]

  According to a July 2024 Reuters report, the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defence is in advanced discussions with the United States to procure Lockheed Martin’s C-130J ...

• Data links

  Data links | C-130J [Vietnam]

  According to a July 2024 Reuters report, the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defence is in advanced discussions with the United States to procure Lockheed Martin’s C-130J ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | C-130J [Vietnam]

  According to a July 2024 Reuters report, the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defence is in advanced discussions with the United States to procure Lockheed Martin’s C-130J ...

• Frigates

  Future Russian Built Frigates - Batch 3

  Programme BackgroundA total of four Russian built Gepard-class light frigates have been built and are in service with the Vietnamese Navy. The design was intended ...

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

  ScanEagle 2 (Malaysia)

  Programme Background Maritime Security Initiative (MSI) programme The RMN received the ScanEagle 2's thought to be provided by the US under the Maritime Security Initiative ...

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

  ScanEagle 2 (Philippines)

  Programme Background MSI ProgrammeThe Philippines are receiving the ScanEagle 2's thought to be provided by the US under the Maritime Security Initiative (MSI) programme. This ...

• Trainer

  Trainer Aircraft (1-12) [Vietnam]

  Programme Background After years of operating Russian-built military equipment, Vietnam is more willing to procure US-supplied equipment following the lifting of the arms embargo in ...

• Military UAS - small

  Indonesia - ScanEagle 2

  Programme Background As part of a large scale programme, Indonesia was set to receive eight ScanEagle UAS drone Insitu provided by the US under the Maritime ...

• Frigates

  Hamilton Class Cutter [Bahrain]

  Programme Background Very little has been said about the transfer of an ex-Hamilton-class cutter to Bahrain, but it is one of the final two to ...

• Military UAS - small

  Vietnam - ScanEagle 2

  Programme Background The Vietnamese Coast Guard are receiving the ScanEagle 2's thought to be provided by the US under the Maritime Security Initiative (MSI) programme. This ...

• Tanks

  T-90S/SK (Forecast) (Vietnam)

  Shephard estimates that Vietnam may have a requirement for up to 200 T-90S/SK MBTs to modernise its tank fleet. Minus the 64 that were already ...

• Data links

  Data links | T-6 Texan II [Japan]

  In December 2024, reports indicated that the Japanese Government selected the T-6C Texan II as the new trainer aircraft for the Japanese Air Self-Defence Forces. ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Corvettes

  Tarantul V Class (Project 1241.8)

  The Project 1241.8 class, also known as the Tarantul V class or Molniya-class, is the newest variant of the Tarantul class, which is a development ...

• Man-portable missile systems

  HN-5

  The HN-5 is a first-generation passive IR-homing MANPADS, produced by China, that reported to be reverse engineered from the Soviet Strela-2 (US DoD designation SA-7, ...

• MPVs - 4x4, Reconnaissance/patrol vehicles

  HMV-420P 'Mosquito'

  The HMV-420P 'Mosquito' 4x4 AFV is a modernised development of Cadillac Gage's Vietnam War-era Commando APC. It has been adapted for use by the Royal ...

• Land: air defence radar

  Vostok-E

  The Vostok-E is a two-dimensional radar manufactured in Belarus by KB Radar. It is designed to detect aerial platforms using modern solid-state technologies. The radar ...

• Artillery rockets

  AccuLAR

  The AccuLAR rocket is the latest member of IMI's AccuLAR precision rocket family.  The AccuLAR rocket is a GPS fused variant of LAR-160, with 14-40 ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  XTC-02

  XTX-02 is an indigenous APC being developed in Vietnam. Its presence was revealed in August 2022 when leaked photographs published on social media has shown ...

• Tanks

  T-54M/M3

  Produced by Vietnam's state-owned Z153 plant, T-54M (formally T-54B cải tiến - "improved") is a major upgrade to the T-54 main battle tank, including a new fire control computer, an ...

• Frigates

  Hamilton Class

  The Hamilton-class cutter was originally the largest class of vessels operated by the US Coast Guard (USCG) before being replaced by the Legend-class. 12 cutters ...

• Patrol boats

  Project 10412

  Project 10412 is an export variant of the Russian Svetlyak-class multi-purpose patrol vessel built by both Vostochnaya Verf Shipyard in Vladivostok and the Almaz Shipbuilding Firm. Designed for littoral ...

• Military UGVs

  aunav.NEXT

  The aunav.NEXT, first presented in November 2013, was developed in collaboration with the Spanish National Police Corps for countering IED and CBRN threats. In March ...

• Fixed wing aircraft engines

  PT6A-34 turboprop

  The Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-34 turboprop is a development of the PT6 engine which first flew in 1961 and entered service in 1964. The ...

• Crew-served grenade launchers

  MK19 grenade machine gun

  Originally developed to provide the USN with an effective weapon to arm riverine patrol craft during the Vietnam War, the MK19 grenade machine gun has ...

• EO/IR systems, Sea: ship surveillance and fire control systems

  iSea-40HD

  The iSea-40HD is part of the iSea family of compact observation systems designed for maritime environments. It features a thermal camera with continuous optical zoom, ...

• Frigates

  Gepard 3.9 Class (Project 11661E) (Batch 2)

  The Gepard 3.9 class (Project 11661E) is one of the Russian Gepard class export variants. Four of Gepard 3.9 vessels are currently in service with ...

• Frigates

  Gepard 3.9 Class (Project 11661E) (Batch 1)

  The Gepard 3.9 class (Project 11661E) is one of the Russian Gepard class export variants. Four of Gepard 3.9 vessels are currently in service with ...