• Uncrewed Vehicles

  DSEI 2023: Israel’s SpearUAV unveils new multi-canister launch system for Viper drone

  5th September 2023

  SpearUAV is displaying a new Multi-Canister Launcher (MCL) for its Viper UAV at DSEI, a system which will allow for swarming through deployment of up to four drones at a time from crewed or uncrewed platforms.

• Land Warfare

  RT LTA demonstrates Sky-High system with integrated aerostat and UAV quadcopter

  10th August 2023

  Israeli company RT LTA has demonstrated a new application of its SkyStar 120 aerostat through the integration of the balloon with a quadcopter and a small ATV to create a system dubbed Sky-High for what the company describes as a 'local customer'.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  DSEI 2023: SpearUAV rolls out drone launcher system for submarines

  19th September 2023

  Israeli UAS developer SpearUAV introduced a submarine-launched capsule option for its Viper 750 UAV at DSEI 2023.

• Defence Notes

  DSEI 2023 in review: Ukraine, AI and the real world

  20th September 2023

  DSEI 2023 took place in the shadow of the largest European land war in more than seven decades and a growth in conversations about artificial intelligence (AI) with limited UK immediate defence programme opportunities; many of the new products and exhibitors' announcements reflected this.

• Air Warfare

  Insight: Is the Bayraktar TB2 UAV living up to expectations?

  15th September 2023

  Sold to well over 20 countries and combat-proven in Nagorno-Karabakh, Ukraine and elsewhere, the Bayraktar TB2 has been an export success for its Turkish manufacturer. Shephard Defence Insight analyses the aircraft's design and capabilities and reviews in depth who is buying it and why.

• Air Warfare

  DSEI 2023: Ukraine war drives AI development to fight GPS jamming

  4th September 2023

  In response to the war in the Ukraine one company, formerly based in Kyiv, has turned its attention from AI in the medical field to AI on the battlefield by applying the technology to drones for autonomous operation in GPS-denied and complex electronic warfare environments.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  USAF successfully flies Angry Kitten jamming pod on MQ-9 UAV

  24th July 2023

  The USAF has integrated the Angry Kitten ALQ-167 EW countermeasure pod onto a General Atomics Aeronautical Systems MQ-9 UAV.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  New UMS Skeldar V-200 UAV console unveiled

  26th July 2023

  MilDef and UMS Skeldar have introduced a bespoke console for V-200 UAVs, enhancing workspace and ergonomics for operators.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Hensoldt advances detect-and-avoid radar for UAV collision warning

  1st August 2023

  Hensoldt has outlined progress in developing a detect-and-avoid (DAA) radar as part of a collision warning system, aiming to safely integrate UAVs into controlled airspace, particularly as part of the Eurodrone project.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Hensoldt advances detect-and-avoid radar for UAV collision warning

  1st August 2023

  Hensoldt has outlined progress in developing a detect-and-avoid (DAA) radar as part of a collision warning system, aiming to safely integrate UAVs into controlled airspace, particularly as part of the Eurodrone project.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Hensoldt advances detect-and-avoid radar for UAV collision warning

  1st August 2023

  Hensoldt has outlined progress in developing a detect-and-avoid (DAA) radar as part of a collision warning system, aiming to safely integrate UAVs into controlled airspace, particularly as part of the Eurodrone project.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Ukraine approves artifiicial intelligence-enabled Saker drone for use in combat

  8th September 2023

  The Ukrainian Ministry of Defence has greenlit the Saker Scout drone complex, featuring advanced AI-driven target detection and engagement capabilities, for combat deployment.

• Training

  Royal Air Force begins training instructors on Protector UAV simulator in the US

  31st August 2023

  Personnel from the RAF's 54 Squadron are currently undertaking the first Instructor Operating Course (IOC) on Protector simulators at the General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) Flight Test & Training Center in Grand Forks, North Dakota.

• Naval Warfare

  Japan proceeds with modified Mogami-class frigate for maritime self-defence force

  31st August 2023

  Instead of producing 22 Mogami-class frigates, the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF) will transition to an improved design around halfway through the programme.

• Air Warfare

  Netherlands receives first MQ-9A Reaper UAS

  16th August 2023

  The first Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) General Atomics MQ-9A Block 5 Reaper UAS has arrived at the Leeuwarden air base in the north of the country.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - mini

  Mini UAV (Bulgaria)

  Programme Background The Bulgarian Army wants to procure UAVs to enhance the organic tactical ISR capabilities of its ground forces. According to Bulgarian media, a ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  Mi2 Challenge [USN]

  Programme Background Requirements The USN wants a UAV to be flown in austere environments without dedicated launch or recovery equipment; since it would be launched ...

• Military UAS - small

  Small UAV (Bulgaria)

  Programme Background The Bulgarian Army wants to procure UAVs to enhance the organic tactical ISR capabilities of its ground forces. According to Bulgarian media, a ...

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

  Parrot Anafi (Singapore)

  Programme Background On 7 February 2022, the Singapore Army posted photographs on Facebook that showed the Anafi UAV used as training devices in a five-day ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing

  Fixed-Wing VTOL UAV (Malaysia)

  Programme Background Tender Issued As reported by Shephard, on 18 June 2021, Malaysia issued a tender for fixed-wing hybrid VTOL UAVs.  Requirement The tender stated that Malaysia required ...

• Military UAS - small

  Penguin C (Latvia)

  Programme Background In 2018, the Latvian MoD signed an agreement with Latvian companies UAV Factory and Atlas Aerospace to procure UAVs for the LNAF. Under ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing

  Family of UAVs [Bangladesh]

  Programme Background RfP The Bangladesh Army released a 106-page tender document to gather information about different platforms that would enable the force to "standardise" its UAV ...

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

  Tempest 50 [USAF]

  Programme Background Contract Award On 18 December 2024, the US DoD announced that the USAF had awarded Firestorm Labs a $100 million Small Business Innovation Research ...

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

  UAV Tactical Level [Norway]

  Programme Background Request for Information (RfI) In September 2022, the Norwegian Defence Material Agency (NDMA) launched a request for information in preparation for a possible ...

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

  Embarked VTOL UAV [South Korea]

  Programme Background VTOL Development In January 2024, South Korea's Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) announced that it would commence development of a VTOL-capable rotary-wing UAV that ...

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

  Albatroz [Brazil]

  Programme Background Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) In August 2023, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Brazilian Navy and Stella Tecnologia to evaluate ...

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

  Uncrewed MD 500 Replacement [South Korea]

  Background Uncrewed Replacement of the MD 500 Throughout the 2010s, South Korea appeared interested in replacing its fleet of crewed MD 500 helicopters that were manufactured under licence ...

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

  Heavy Lift VTOL (HVTOL) (Forecast) [US Army]

  Programme Background USMC In September 2021, Kaman unveiled its Kargo UAV, which had been specifically designed to meet the requirements of the Joint Tactical Autonomous ...

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

  SkyGuard [Saudi Arabia]

  Background Obama Administration The Barak Obama administration banned the sale of US-manufactured UCAVs to Middle Eastern countries, which caused these countries to look to domestic ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  Skeldar V-200 Dutch Navy

  Programme Background The Dutch Ministry of Defence issued a notice seeking information regarding the potential acquisition of a vertical takeoff and landing unmanned aerial vehicle ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - small

  VTOL UAV

  The Defence Technology Institute launched the VTOL UAV R&D; project in cooperation with the Naval Research and Development Office, Royal Thai Navy and private sector ...

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

  MCOM UAV

  The Mundo Compuesto (MCOM) UAV is a fixed-wing UAV designed to provide surveillance during both day and night for military and security force users. It uses ...

• Universal UAV

  Universal UAV is designed for multiple missions in the field of surveillance and reconnaissance, monitoring forest fires or fisheries. It consists of a carbon-fibre composite ...

• UAS: Integrated systems - uncrewed

  UAV TRS

  Celestia’s UAV Tactical Recovery System (TRS) assures controlled and safe landing of a UAV at a pre-designated GPS location. It can be deployed on command ...

• Air: UAV simulators

  UAV Simulators

  Elbit Systems has developed simulation systems to train personnel in UAV operation, from generic UAV training for initial screening procedures up to full mission, high-fidelity ...

• Air: UAV simulators

  UAV Training

  Resource UAS offers a range of UAV training, from foundation courses to live flying on a range of aircraft. Each can be tailored to suit ...

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

  E-UAV

  In October 2021, the Jordan Design and Development Bureau (JODDB) unveiled the E-UAV at the Artificial Intelligence Defense Technology and Cyber Security Exhibition and Conference (AIDTSEC). The UAV is ...

• Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - small

  QTP-UAV

  The Quad Tilt Prop UAV (QTP-UAV) is an electric platform that is designed to provide VTOL capability with high-speed horizontal flight. 

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  Berkut UAV

  In February 2022, Aerovehicles presented the Berkut MOBPY UAV at the Silvio Pettirossi Air Base of the Paraguayan Air Force. The UAV has been designed ...

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

  Tactical UAV

  Unveiled at DSA 2022, the Deftech Tactical UAV is an indigenously developed platform based on the Aldura Mk1. The platform is aimed at the Royal Malaysian ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  MALE UAV

  As its name suggests, the MALE UAV is a male-class drone. It has been developed by Indo-Pacific Communication & Defence (IPCD) and certified by the Ministry of ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - mini

  Tactical UAV

  The Tactical UAV is a mini hand-launched UAV designed by Indo-Pacific Communications & Defence (IPCD).  It features an ISR payload due to its purpose as a ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  Multirole UAV

  North Korea unveiled two drones at the Weapons and Equipment Exhibition 2023 in Pyongyang on 2 August 2023. One drone closely resembled General Atomics' (GA-ASI) MQ-9 Reaper, and, ...

• EO/IR systems

  UAV EOTS

  The UAV Electro-Optical Tracking System (EOTS) is a small-sized and lightweight EO/IR tracking device for UAVs from Hanwha Systems.  It performs image acquisition, automatic tracking and range ...

• EO/IR systems

  DCoMPASS UAV

  The Digital Compact Multi-Purpose Advanced Stabilized System (DCoMPASS UAV) is an EO/IR system for surveillance , Target Acquisition, and Reconnaissance (ISTAR).  It features a lightweight, compact design with ...