• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Bayraktar TB3 makes international debut at UMEX

  24th January 2024

  Baykar has debuted its Bayraktar TB3 combat drone at UMEX in the UAE, presenting potential armament options, including Emirati EDGE weapon systems.

• Digital Battlespace

  Airbus and Northrop Grumman partner for UK military satellite comms programme

  23rd October 2023

  A new collaboration between the US and European aviation giants will attempt to unite the space interests of US, UK and European partners via the UK's SKYNET programme.

• Land Warfare

  Mortar mobility: Patria’s TREMOS takes aim at the modern battlespace

  20th November 2024

  In conversation... Patria’s Lauri Pauniaho talks to Shephard's Gerrard Cowan about how high mobility levels are essential for mortar systems in the face of modern counter-battery fire, and how a new platform-agnostic module can combine existing vehicles and mortar barrels into a cost-effective new weapon system.

• Naval Warfare

  Portugal contracts Damen for multi-purpose vessel designed for integrated uncrewed air and sea systems

  27th November 2023

  The new ship’s primary roles will be search and rescue, emergency relief and oceanic research but will also be used for naval support operations and maritime safety.

• Defence Notes

  Can NATO countries succeed in a war against Russia?

  13th June 2024

  Member states have been preparing personnel and inventory for a high-intensity conflict but many challenges remain.

• Defence Notes

  Boeing fined $51 million due to unauthorised exports

  5th March 2024

  An administrative settlement between the US Department of State and the manufacturer resolved 199 violations of US regulations including unauthorised exports of technical data to China.

• Land Warfare

  Shoulder-fired anti-tank munitions create a decisive advantage in modern day conflicts

  14th May 2024

  Addressing the requirements for lightweight yet highly effective shoulder-fired munitions for small tactical units, Dynamit Nobel Defence (DND) provides the combat proven RGW series.

• Training

  How the US is preparing to support NATO countries in a war against Russia

  25th April 2024

  US European Command has been repositioning troops and equipment, expanding its prepositioned stockpiles, and conducting additional joint exercises with partners and allies.

• Land Warfare

  AUSA 2024 preview: Vehicles to take centre stage as competitions heat up

  3rd October 2024

  The Association of the US Army’s flagship conference and exhibition, the largest defence trade show in the US, returns on 14 October presenting one of the few chances for companies to publicly put their platforms to an audience of US decision-makers. Shephard takes a look at what’s in store for 2024.

• Naval Warfare

  Frigate or corvette? The new surface combatant expanding Sweden’s strategic horizons

  9th April 2024

  With the new Luleå-class vessel, the Royal Swedish Navy (RSwN) will have a class of modern capital ship that could provide a wide range of naval capabilities that it has not had before, contributing to the shaping of Sweden’s role in NATO and allowing it to perform new missions.

• Land Warfare

  Hypersonic threats force Pentagon to modernise its missile defence architecture

  20th December 2023

  The US DoD has been updating policies, enhancing partnerships with allies and acquiring new sensors and systems.

• Digital Battlespace

  Lockheed Martin joins radar research consortium ahead of Finland’s F-35 procurement

  22nd November 2023

  Lockheed Martin and VTT will lead a consortium of Finnish defence and technology companies to develop signals intelligence technologies for the F-35 and other defence applications.

• Air Warfare

  US hypersonic programmes to receive almost $7 billion in 2025

  2nd April 2024

  The investments in hypersonic capabilities, part of the US$9.8 billion fund the Pentagon requested for long-range fires, will cover several initiatives across all domains.

• Air Warfare

  Brazil looks for attack helicopter two years after fleet retirement

  1st March 2024

  The Brazilian Armed Forces has faced challenges in terms of it size and geography and has long had an emphasis on better serving Amazonia. Plans for a new battalion are set to become a reality and improvement of rotary capability is underway.

• Air Warfare

  Embraer readies to ride “strong sales momentum” for C-390 aircraft in Asia

  22nd February 2024

  Embraer’s presence at the Singapore Airshow 2024 with its C-390 has underscored its confidence in the platform’s capabilities and its eagerness to secure additional orders in the region.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - HALE

  Long-Range Drones [Norway]

  Programme Background Andøya Ambition On 3 April 2023, the Norwegian MoD released a statement confirming its plans for Andøya, the northernmost island in its Vesterålen archipelago. In addition ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  A400M [Türkiye]

  Turkey has become the second country to receive the new-generation A400M airlifter, with the first of ten aircraft handed over by Airbus Defence and Space ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | MAWS/PATMAR [France]

  French Navy is planning to purchase up to 22 MPA aircraft to replace its ATL2 fleet in service. Germany and France agreed to develop a ...

• Data links

  Data links | MAWS/PATMAR [France]

  French Navy is planning to purchase up to 22 MPA aircraft to replace its ATL2 fleet in service. Germany and France agreed to develop a ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | MAWS/PATMAR [France]

  French Navy is planning to purchase up to 22 MPA aircraft to replace its ATL2 fleet in service. Germany and France agreed to develop a ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | MAWS/PATMAR [France]

  French Navy is planning to purchase up to 22 MPA aircraft to replace its ATL2 fleet in service. Germany and France agreed to develop a ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | PAK-DA - Procurement - Russia

  Russian MoD is planning to procure PAK-DA strategic bomber aircraft to replace the existing Tu-95MS Bear-H fleet, about 65 examples of which are in service with ...

• Data links

  Data links | PAK-DA - Procurement - Russia

  Russian MoD is planning to procure PAK-DA strategic bomber aircraft to replace the existing Tu-95MS Bear-H fleet, about 65 examples of which are in service with ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | PAK-DA - Procurement - Russia

  Russian MoD is planning to procure PAK-DA strategic bomber aircraft to replace the existing Tu-95MS Bear-H fleet, about 65 examples of which are in service with ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | PAK-DA - Procurement - Russia

  Russian MoD is planning to procure PAK-DA strategic bomber aircraft to replace the existing Tu-95MS Bear-H fleet, about 65 examples of which are in service with ...

• Trainer

  PC-21 (France)

  Programme  Background The French Air and Space Force has chosen Dassault Aviation and Babcock to provide between nine and 13 Pilatus PC-21 aircraft for Phase ...

• Destroyers

  Arleigh Burke Flight III (DDG 140 - DDG 149) [USN]

  Programme Background Timeline Flight III is the last of the four flights being built for the USN, with the first ship beginning construction in 2018 ...

• Transport

  A400M (Kazakhstan)

  Programme Background In September 2021, it was announced that Kazakhstan ordered two Airbus A400M aircraft. According to Michael Schoellhorn, CEO of Airbus Defence and Space, ‘The A400M ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  HH-60W - Combat Rescue Helicopter (CRH)

  According to the FY2021 Base funding, the HH-60W helicopter unit cost is $43.2 million. The HH-60W will be capable of employment day or night, in ...

• Transport

  C295W (Philippines)

  Programme Background The Philippines Air Force (PAF) has ordered three C295W in addition to the four C295M already in service. All the aircraft will be ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Data links

  MIDS JTRS

  The ViaSat Multifunctional Information Distribution System (MIDS) Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS) terminal combines the network-centric communications capability with a real-time operating picture. The four-channel ...

• UAS: communication systems

  Airborne Broadband SATCOM

  ViaSat’s airborne SATCOM services offer worldwide access and a range of service levels, providing connectivity and performance options tailored to meet a variety of needs. ...

• Data links

  MIDS-LVT(2)

  ViaSat provides MIDS-LVT(2) terminals for Link 16 communications to ground-based platforms. MIDS-LVT(2) is designed to simplify installation in ground stations. This includes US Army PATRIOT ...

• Major networking projects

  Mobile SATCOM System

  ViaSat airborne broadband services provide beyond-line-of-sight mobile communications support to capacity-driven applications worldwide: over 2,500MHz of bandwidth, global Ku band with Ka overlays, DoD Gateway ...

• Data links

  MIDS-LVT(1) (ViaSat)

  MIDS-LVT(1) adds Link 16 communications to airborne and maritime platforms. It provides all operational modes of the Link 16 waveform, and implements the required MIDS ...

• Data links

  Space CDL

  The Space Common Data Link (CDL) system provides a wideband data link capability adaptable to a variety of space-based applications. It consists of separate transmitter ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  KG-255 X

  The NSA-certified ViaSat KG-255X combines Type 1 High Assurance Internet Protocol Encryptor (HAIPE) with the latest cyber defence technologies and visualisation software to allow secure ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  MD-1366 EBEM

  The US government selected the MD-1366 Enhanced Bandwidth Efficient Modem (EBEM) from ViaSat to set the DoD standard for high-speed, high-performance,flexibility and compatibility in a ...

• Naval: Radio and SATCOM

  RT-1829

  RT-1829(P)/S is a shipboard UHF SATCOM terminal. The equipment is Joint Interoperability Test Command (JITC) and NSA certified, and it has a ready Integrated Waveform ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  GAT-5518 Global Aero Terminal

  The GAT-5518 enables broadband in-flight connectivity services for commercial and government users on Viasat’s high-capacity satellite network. Capable of operating on the full ITU Ka-band ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  KG-250XS

  Delivering 20Mb/s (aggregate) speeds, the ViaSat KG-250XS is a Type 1 inline network encryptor (INE) designed for telecommuting, flyaway kits, small UAVs and other dismounted ...

• Air: mission management systems

  SISP

  The Single Integrated Space Picture (SISP) provides net-centric C2 capabilities for space, says Lockheed Martin. It is a suite of applications and data designed to ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  Hawkeye III Lite

  L3Harris' Hawkeye III Lite is a Tri-band VSAT terminal that provides high-speed data communications for Internet, VPN and video transmission. Compatible with multiple modems and ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  GAT-5530 Global Aero Terminal

  The Viasat Global Aero Terminal 5530 is a second-generation hybrid Ka- and Ku-band SATCOM terminal that enables global broadband connectivity services for commercial and government ...

• Data links

  STT KOR-24

  The STT KOR-24 is a dual-channel radio with Link 16 support. Dismounted warfighters and disadvantaged nodes can use the Small Tactical Terminal (STT) for merged air ...