• Defence Notes

  US Army seeks innovative new battlefield roles for drones

  13th September 2023

  The US Army recently tested deployment of UAS to identify casualties on the battlefield and in disaster response scenarios. Drones were used to assess the vital signs of wounded soldiers from the sky.

• Land Warfare

  Insight: Why the CV90 infantry fighting vehicle is making a clean sweep of Nordic markets

  19th September 2023

  Shephard Defence Insight explores the evolution of BAE Systems Hägglunds’ CV90 IFV from its inception in the late 1980s to the latest CV90 MkIV, detailing the order history and upgrade packages of its ten European customers.

• Air Warfare

  Indra to enhance protection of Spanish Air Force C295 aircraft

  1st August 2023

  Indra has won a contract to upgrade the radar warning and self-protection suite of the Spanish Air Force's C295 aircraft fleet to the ALR-400 system which will replace the legacy solution, enhancing their capabilities in conflict zones.

• Naval Warfare

  How the Canadian Surface Combatant programme can recover from COVID-19 delays

  23rd August 2023

  The Canadian Department of National Defence (DND) is working with Irving Shipyard to manage the lingering impact of COVID-19 on the Canadian Surface Combatant (CSC) project.

• Air Warfare

  Germany's potential SCAF exit for GCAP unpacked

  3rd November 2023

  The leaked information about Germany leaving the Future Combat Air Systems (FCAS/SCAF) project and joining the rival Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) hints at the growing complexities and tensions within the Franco-German partnership.

• Digital Battlespace

  Kontron unveils new high-performance plug-in card for harsh environments

  5th July 2023

  Kontron introduces the VX307H, a rugged 3U VPX plug-in card designed for high-performance embedded computing in defence and general applications.

• Land Warfare

  Meteksan targets drones with new radar and counter-UAS systems

  1st August 2023

  Meteksan showcased the Retinar AESA radar at IDEF 2023, offering enhanced detection and tracking capabilities for UAVs and tactical targets. The radar has applications in mobile counter-UAS systems.

• Land Warfare

  Polaris adds remote weapon station to MRZR Alpha light vehicle

  28th June 2023

  Polaris displayed an MRZR Alpha vehicle fitted with a Kongsberg Protector RS2 remote weapon station (RWS) at the Modern Day Marine (MDM) expo in Washington DC.

• Air Warfare

  Boeing kicks off US Air Force B-52 bomber radar upgrade

  5th June 2023

  The radar upgrade is part of the wider B-52 modernisation programme that aims to keep the Stratofortress in the air until 2050 and beyond.

• Naval Warfare

  Future Naval Strike Missile to have land and sea attack capabilities

  25th May 2023

  A joint Norwegian-German project to develop a Future Naval Strike Missile (FNSM) will produce a weapon with both sea and land strike capabilities, Shephard understands.

• Land Warfare

  Norway's Leopard 2 tanks will be new 2A8 variant with active protection system

  13th June 2023

  Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) has announced that Norway's tanks will be of the 2A8 standard, as will any planned German procurement of new-build Leopard 2s.

• Naval Warfare

  The Philippines has ended its flirtation with China – so what next for the country’s navy?

  11th September 2023

  For decades, largely as a result of historical ties, the US was the only Western country with a strong interest in the Philippines and its navy. Over the past year, other nations have turned their attention to the archipelago. The question is why now? And what is the impact of this shift on the Philippine Navy?

• Land Warfare

  Greensea demos robotic vehicle to locate buried munitions in the surf zone

  23rd June 2023

  On the boundaries between the land and naval domains, US company Greensea Systems has demonstrated the potential of a UGV to search for unexploded ordnance.

• Digital Battlespace

  Germany signs contract for new SIGINT ships

  10th July 2023

  Germany has signed a contract with NVL Group for three fleet service ships, providing the country with new naval SIGINT capabilities in the Baltic and beyond. The ships will gradually replace Germany's existing Oste-class boats.

• Training

  Updated: Elbit departs Project Selborne submarine training, Metaverse VR steps in

  2nd June 2023

  Metaverse VR has been chosen to transform submarine training for the Royal Navy as part of Project Selborne.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• OPVs

  Jan Mayen Class (1-3) [Norway]

  Programme Background Contract The Jan Mayen-class vessels were designed by LMG Marin, with the process beginning with the Norwegian Defence Material Agency (NDMA) in 2013 and ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  AH-64E Apache (May 2019 FMS)

  Also included are 28 M230 30mm automatic chain guns, AN/AVR-2B laser detecting sets, AN/APR-39 radar signal detecting sets, AN/AVS-6 night vision goggles, M299 Hellfire missile ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  V-Bat 128 (Canada)

  Programme Background Requirement Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC) is seeking a platform for the CCG that will significantly expand its surveillance range during search ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Ex-Norwegian F-16AM [Romania]

  Programme Background According to the Norwegian MoD, the F-16AM/BMs have been in service for 40 years. The first aircraft will be delivered in 2023 and ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Mine Hunting Capability (MHC) Programme Block II [UK]

  Under Block II of the RN's Mine Hunting Capability (MHC) programme, the UK is expected to acquire three Offshore Support Vessels (OSVs) designed to be ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Mine Hunting Capability (MHC) Programme Block II [UK]

  Under Block II of the RN's Mine Hunting Capability (MHC) programme, the UK is expected to acquire three Offshore Support Vessels (OSVs) designed to be ...

• Sealift/replenishment vessels

  Delfin Programme - SIGINT Ships [Poland]

  Programme Background Requirements Under the Delfin Programme, the Polish Navy intends to acquire two Signal Intelligence (SIGINT) ships to support intelligence data acquisition across the full spectrum ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  VBCI (Qatar)

  Programme Background The VBCI-2 was selected in preference to a competing offer comprising Patria's AMV 8x8 equipped with a Lockheed Martin turret. However, at the ...

• Sealift/replenishment vessels

  Special & Diving Operations-Submarine Rescue Ship (SDO-SURS) [Italy]

  Programme Background Requirements The programme aims to develop a new vessel capable of replacing the ageing Anteo that has reached the end of its life cycle with ...

• OPVs

  Mine Hunting Capability (MHC) Programme Block II [UK]

  Programme Background Requirements Under Block II of the RN's Mine Hunting Capability (MHC) programme, the UK is expected to acquire three Offshore Support Vessels (OSVs) ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Boxer JFST (Heavy)

  Programme Background The German Army has a requirement for a heavy armoured vehicle platform to supplement the lighter Fennek in service with its JFSTs. Unlike ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Boxer MIV [UK]

  Programme Background History The UK MoD announced in March 2018 that it would re-join the Boxer programme and pursue a sole-source acquisition of the 8x8 ...

• OPVs

  Medium Standard Vessels [Norway]

  Requirements In the 2023 Military Advice of the Chief of Defence, Gen Eirik Kristoffersen suggested that Norway should renew its maritime surface structure by rationalising ...

• Corvettes, OPVs

  Large Standard Vessels [Norway]

  Programme Background Requirements In the 2023 Military Advice of the Chief of Defence, Gen Eirik Kristoffersen suggested that Norway should renew its maritime surface structure by ...

• Corvettes

  Pohjanmaa Class (Squadron 2020) [Finland]

  Programme Background Requirements Under its Squadron 2020 programme, Finland aims to replace seven vessels, the decommissioned minelayer Pohjanmaa, four Rauma-class fast attack missile crafts and two ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Air: COMINT and ELINT systems

  CS-3240

  The CS-3240 automatic ELINT system detects, captures and identifies radar signals in the 2-18GHz range – options for higher- and lower-frequency coverage are available. The ...

• Air: Displays

  EP-17 Gripen Display System

  The EP-17 Gripen Display System has been developed by SAAB Avitronics, Sweden, specifically for the Gripen multi-role combat aircraft. It integrates on-board sensors, data-links and ...

• Land: COMINT and ELINT systems

  CS-3030

  The CS-3030 ELINT/ESM Subsystem from Collins Aerospace is designed for high-precision radar signal measurement and analysis. The system is designed for use in demanding environments ...

• Air: Displays

  PCD-EU

  The Panoramic Cockpit Display - Electronics Unit (PCD-EU) has been jointly developed by the San Jose-based Lynx Software Technologies and Tampa-based Core Avionics & Industrial ...

• Subsystems: visual

  VECTOR

  VECTOR is a large-screen display image processor, driving LED walls, soft-edged large projectors and DLP and LCD rear projection video walls. Its ability to combine ...

• Air: COMINT and ELINT systems

  CS-3045

  Designed for use in airborne environments, the CS-3045 airborne ELINT system consists of omni- and direction-finding-antennas, receivers, signal processors and operator workstations and can be ...

• Air: surveillance and maritime patrol radar

  AN/APQ-180

  Used on the AC-130U Spectre gunship operated by the US SF, the AN/APQ-180 is a modification of the APG-70 and has fixed target track, ground ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  Sentry-H 6120-BM

  Codan's Sentry-H 6120-BM provides a rugged software-defined radio solution for HF voice and data communications. Notably, it delivers a maximum RF output power of 150W ...

• Air: Displays

  CDU-7000

  Based on the Flight 2 open architecture design, the CDU-7000 Control Display Unit has been developed by Collins Aerospace, USA for consolidating control of communications, ...

• Military - UUVs

  Hugin 1000

  The Hugin 1000 AUV can be used for offshore surveying, MCM and rapid environmental assessment operations, marine research and hydrography. 

• Subsystems: visual

  Curve Screen

  Curve Screen is a custom-made modular screen for seamless, immersive simulation. Supported by partners in over 60 countries, Curve Screens are tailored for heavy-duty 24/7 ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  MSI-91

  MSI-91 is a combat management system for diesel-electric submarines. Produced by Kongsberg, it is integrated into Type 212A and U212-class submarines.

• Air: AEW/fire control radar

  Super Kopyo

  The Super Kopyo is an upgraded Kopyo with longer detection ranges across all aspects, with lighter weight and faster processors. 

• UAS: Integrated systems - uncrewed

  MIDAS

  The Modular ISR Data Analysis and Storage (MIDAS) is a real-time system for processing and sharing ISR sensor data for UAS manufactured by the Canadian ...

• Subsystems: visual

  pC-Radiant

  pC-Radiant is a physics-based multi-sensor simulation system for EO/IR and/or major radar processors for ensuring OTW/sensor correlation per pixel.