• Military Logistics

  Marines targeting ‘boot gaps’

  16th November 2017

  The United States Marine Corps is preparing to close what some see as a tropical weather ‘boot gap,’ following fourth and final field user evaluation …

• Land Warfare

  Dubai Airshow 2017: THAAD poised for further global interest

  22nd November 2017

  Weeks prior to the Dubai Airshow, the US congress approved a $15 billion prospective sale of THAAD ballistic missile defence (BMD) systems and support services …

• Land Warfare

  Russian unit rearmed with S-400 SAM

  15th November 2017

  An air defence missile unit of the Russian armed forces’ Eastern Military District (MD) Air and Air Defence Army located in the Primorsky Krai has …

• Naval Warfare

  D&S 2017: Leonardo torpedoes into Thailand (video)

  9th November 2017

  Leonardo showcased its A224MOD3 underwater torpedo at Defense and Security 2017 as the company pursues opportunities with the Royal Thai Navy.  Shephard spoke with Marco Rossi, …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Dubai Airshow 2017: Fury given engine endurance boost

  19th November 2017

  Lockheed Martin's Fury UAS now boasts an endurance of 15 continuous flight hours owing to a newly integrated 1803 engine. Announcing the UAV engine upgrades …

• Land Warfare

  Milipol Paris 2017: Beretta unveils new PMX submachine-gun

  23rd November 2017

  Beretta Defense Technologies (BDT) unveiled its new PMX 9x19 mm submachine-gun (SMG) at the Milipol internal security exhibition near Paris. Development work on the PMX …

• Defence Helicopter

  Dubai Airshow 2017: Middle East helicopter programmes (video)

  11th November 2017

  In advance of the Dubai Airshow, Shephard Media looks at several key helicopter procurements across the wider region.

• Defence Notes

  Dubai Airshow 2017: Fighter aircraft programmes (video)

  12th November 2017

  Countries across the Middle East are in the process of modernising their fast jet fleets, with major billion dollar deals signed by Egypt, Kuwait, Qatar …

• Land Warfare

  China to deliver Thai VN1s next year

  13th November 2017

  The Royal Thai Army (RTA) will receive its first batch of 34 VN1 8x8 IFVs from Norinco next year, and it has plan to procures …

• Training

  I/ITSEC 2017: USAFE builds walls

  20th November 2017

  UK-based IWC has announced that it has won a contract to supply the USAF Europe (USAFE) with a complete turn-key portable live training system for the …

• Land Warfare

  Milipol Paris 2017: Montenegro’s TARA Group unveils new weapons

  24th November 2017

  TARA Perfection, a division of the TARA Group, unveiled its new TM-10 7.62x51mm assault rifle and TM-9 SMG 9x19mm sub machine gun (SMG), at Milipol …

• Naval Warfare

  RSN commissions two new LMVs

  16th November 2017

  The Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) has commissioned two new Littoral Mission Vessels (LMVs), RSS Sovereignty and RSS Unity, at Changi Naval Base, the Singapore …

• Digital Battlespace

  Boeing installs 44th GMD interceptor

  14th November 2017

  The Boeing Missile Defense team has installed the 44th interceptor for the country’s Ground-Based Midcourse Defense (GMD) system, the company announced on 7 November. The …

• Naval Warfare

  Wärtsilä to upgrade CCG vessels

  14th November 2017

  Wärtsilä will upgrade the propulsion generators of the Canadian Coast Guard’s (CCG) 1100 class High Endurance Multi-task Vessels to improve reliability, the company announced on …

• Land Warfare

  D&S 2017: Nimr makes friends in Southeast Asia

  8th November 2017

  Nimr has expanded its regional reach into Southeast Asia with the announcement on 6 November that it had sealed new partnerships in both Malaysia and …

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.

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...