• Defence Helicopter

  Thales and Lockheed lock horns over Crowsnest

  23rd February 2015

  The two manufacturers competing for the Royal Navy’s (RN) new helicopter-based early warning radar system have submitted their bids to the UK Ministry of Defence …

• Naval Warfare

  Saab receives FMV torpedo development order

  23rd February 2015

  Saab has received orders from the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) that will see the company continue development of the new lightweight torpedo, and maintain …

• Land Warfare

  US approves GaN-based AESA Patriot sensor export

  23rd February 2015

  Raytheon has received approval from the US government for the export of Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) Patriot sensors based on Gallium Nitride (GaN), to …

• Naval Warfare

  UK MoD awards next phase Type 26 contract

  23rd February 2015

  The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has committed to the next phase of the Royal Navy's Type 26 Global Combat Ship programme, awarding a £859 …

• Digital Battlespace

  IDEX 2015: Thales and Ultra TCS join forces on high capacity radios

  23rd February 2015

  Thales and Ultra Electronics TCS announced at IDEX 2015 that they are establishing a partnership to provide the next generation of high-capacity communications systems for …

• Land Warfare

  IDEX 2015: CMI launches 3000 series turret

  23rd February 2015

  The new 3000 series turret from CMI Defence has been launched at IDEX as the company looks to meet market demand for a modular turret …

• Military Logistics

  UK names Leidos as preferred bidder for LCST

  23rd February 2015

  The UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) has named Leidos as the preferred bidder for its Logistic Commodities Services Transformation (LCST) contract, the company has announced. …

• Defence Helicopter

  Airbus Helicopters opens Poland engineering office

  23rd February 2015

  Airbus Helicopters has opened an engineering design office at Łódź, expanding its presence in Poland, the company announced on 19 February. A wide range of …

• Digital Battlespace

  Maritime Test Bed for sensor capability testing

  23rd February 2015

  Lockheed Martin has recently demonstrated how its Maritime Test Bed can help the US Navy test sensor intelligence capabilities, the company announced on 19 February. …

• Naval Warfare

  IDEX 2015: Firms agree on coastal defence development

  23rd February 2015

  MBDA and GEM Elettronica and cooperating with local UAE company Siham Al Khaleej Technology (SAKT), to develop a cost-effective coastal battery system. Announced at the …

• Land Warfare

  IDEX 2015 (video): Orbital ATK looks to future

  23rd February 2015

  Dan Olson, VP and general manager of the armament systems division at Orbital ATK, speaks to Shephard about the future prospects in the Middle East …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Avalon 2015: Global Hawk flies in for airshow

  23rd February 2015

  The US Air Force will be exhibiting a Global Hawk RQ-4 high-altitude long-endurance UAV at the Australian Airshow near Melbourne after flying an aircraft to …

• Defence Helicopter

  IDEX 2015: Northstar and CAE to develop 407 trainer

  23rd February 2015

  Abu Dhabi based NorthStar Aviation has signed a collaboration agreement with CAE to jointly develop a training solution for the former’s NSA407 Multi-Role Helicopter (MRH).    …

• Digital Battlespace

  IDEX 2015: Terma launches infrastructure protection

  22nd February 2015

  Terma has launched its new T.react Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) system at IDEX 2015 to detect, identify, and track both internal and external perimeter threats. …

• Land Warfare

  Thales to supply French DGA with VENUS terminals

  22nd February 2015

  Thales will supply 20 VENUS ground terminals to the French Defence Procurement Agency (DGA) as part of the French armed forces’ Syracuse III satellite programme. …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - small

  Black Hornet 3 PRS (UK)

  Programme Background The British Army operated approximately 160 first-generation Black Hornet PD-100 nano UAS between 2013 and 2017, when the decision was made to retire ...

• Military UAS - micro, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  French Operational Pocket Drone / DrOP (France)

  Programme Background French UAV Procurment / DrOP Under its 2019-2025 Military Programming Law (LPM), France aims to introduce 1,200 new UAVs into service with the ...

• Loitering munitions

  Organic Precision Fire - Light (OPF-L) (Uncontracted) [USMC]

  Background Force Design 2030 The USMC Force Design 2030 is a modernisation effort to create a lighter, more agile maritime force. In May 2022, an annual update ...

• Loitering munitions

  Organic Precision Fire - Light (OPF-L) (Contracted) [USMC]

  Background Force Design 2030 The USMC Force Design 2030 is a modernisation effort to create a lighter, more agile maritime force. In May 2022, an ...

• Military UAS - small

  Bug Nano UAS (UK)

  Programme Background The British Army previously took delivery of 160 first-generation Black Hornet PD-100 nano UAS in 2013 to support operations in Afghanistan. After these ...

• Military UAS - micro, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Black Hornet 4 [Switzerland]

  Background Announcment Teledyne FLIR Defense announced on 2 February 2026 that it had received a $17.5 million contract from armasuisse, the Swiss Federal Office of ...

• Military UAS - micro, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Soldier Borne Sensor (SBS) (Phase II) [USA]

  Programme Background Requirement The Soldier Borne Sensor (SBS) provides short-range day and night ISR to US Army units at the squad, platoon and other small ...

• Military UAS - micro, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Black Hornet 3 (First Order) [Norway]

  Programme Background First Batch The Norwegian Home Guard has procured the Black Hornet 3 to provide each of its districts with a nano UAS that ...

• Military UAS - micro, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Black Hornet 4 [Germany]

  Programme Background BAAINBw In February 2025, Shephard reported that Teledyne FLIR had been awarded a $15 million contract from Germany’s Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology ...

• Military UAS - micro, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Black Hornet 3 (Second Order) [Norway]

  Programme Background First Order The Norwegian Home Guard has procured the Black Hornet 3 to provide each of its districts with a nano UAS that ...

• Military UAS - micro, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  DEF129 (Nano UAS) [Australia]

  Programme Background DEF129 The Australian Ground Service has combined various army procurement efforts under the DEF129 programme to increase the abundance and proliferation of UAVs ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Anka-B [Türkiye]

  Programme Background TAI announced in November 2019 that it had delivered a total of 22 Anka-B UAVs to the Turkish Navy. Two large contracts contributing ...

• Military UAS - micro, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Black Hornet 3 (Ukraine Aid) [UK & Norway]

  Programme Background Russo-Ukraine War Since Russia invaded Ukraine on 24 February 2022, UAVs have proved vital to the country's defence. Consequently, as in this programme, the ...

• Loitering munitions

  Low Altitude Stalking and Strike Ordnance (LASSO) [US Army]

  Background Launch The Program Executive Office Soldier, a US Army organisation responsible for rapid prototyping, procurement, and equipment fielding, launched the effort in May 2023 and ...

• Military UAS - micro, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Black Hornet 3 (Ukrainian Aid) [Norway]

  Background Previous Purchases Norway has purchased two batches for its use, the first in October 2020 and the second in June 2022. International Fund For ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• EO/IR systems

  FLIR 111

  The FLIR 111 is a field-proven, high-performance, compact, and lightweight Forward Looking InfraRed (FLIR) system designed for utility and attack helicopters.  It is jointly produced ...

• EO/IR systems

  KUH FLIR

  The KUH FLIR is an IR system from Hanwha Systems for the Korean Utility Helicopter (KUH). Hanwha says it provides stable infrared images at night and/or under limited ...

• Military UAS - micro, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  PD-100 Black Hornet

  The PD-100 Black Hornet personal reconnaissance system (PRS) is designed for dismounted close-combat soldiers, providing them with an immediate reconnaissance capability with minimal increase in ...

• Core systems: cameras and IR detectors

  SWIR Components – FPAs and Sensor Assemblies

  FLIR Systems produces COTS staring focal plane arrays (FPAs) and sensor assemblies based on the company’s InGaAs detectors and integrated circuit technology. FLIR FPAs and ...

• EO/IR systems

  StormCaster-DX

  Unveiled at Modern Day Marine 2022, the Teledyne FLIR StormCaster-DX is a multi-role, low-SWaP laser target designator (LTD) payload designed to affect the STANAG-compliant terminal ...

• EO/IR systems

  Star SAFIRE III

  The Star SAFIRE III was a military-qualified COTS multipurpose and gyro-stabilised airborne platform carrying seven payloads. Manufactured by Teledyne FLIR, the now out-of-production system featured internal navigation, ...

• Loitering munitions, Military UAS - mini, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Rogue 1

  Unveiled in May 2024, the Rogue 1 is a rotary-wing quadcopter UAV from Teledyne FLIR. The drone can be equipped with an explosively formed penetrator (EFP), ...

• Military UAS - micro, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Black Hornet 3

  The Black Hornet 3 is the next generation of the PD-100 Black Hornet, the world’s smallest nano-UAS. This new model of the Black Hornet provides ...

• Military UAS - mini

  R80D SkyRaider

  The military-grade R80D SkyRaider VTOL small UAS is an open-architecture, multi-mission aircraft. Manufactured by Teledyne FLIR System exclusively for US DoD and Federal Agencies, the ...

• Light UGVs

  Centaur

  The Centaur is a military UGV developed specifically for the US Army's Man Transportable Robotic System Increment II (MTRS Inc II), a requirement for a ...

• EW test systems

  RISS

  The Real-Time IR/EO Scene Simulator (RISS) provides a set of integrated products for development, test and evaluation of IR and EO sensor systems. Software and ...

• EO/IR systems

  Hadron 640 (series)

  The Hadron 640 is a series of dual thermal and visible camera modules from Teleydyne FLIR. The dual-sensor payload is designed to be integrated into UAVs ...

• EO/IR systems

  GS410 Stabilised Multi-Sensor Targeting System

  The GS410 Stabilised Multi-Sensor Targeting System was a single-unit surveillance gimbal with four-axis stabilisation that could be adaptable to various airborne platforms.  It featured a forward-looking infrared ...

• EO/IR systems

  Star SAFIRE 380-HD

  The Star SAFIRE 380-HD is a EO/IR system from Teledyne FLIR. It combines HD IR, colour, and SWIR spectral information in a single video channel downlink. Various customers ...

• EO/IR systems

  Sea Star Safire III

  The Sea Star SAFIRE III is an out-of-production EO/IR system manufactured by Teledyne FLIR. A maritime variant of the Star SAFIRE III, the system had an MWIR ...