• Air Warfare

  UAVs for Ukraine: Europe is willing to spend

  4th March 2025

  Despite President Donald Trump’s suspension of military aid to Ukraine, Shephard Defence Insight data suggests that in relation to UAVs, Europe and its non-US NATO allies are more than willing to fill any spending vacuum and are already contributing more than twice as much as the US.

• Land Warfare

  Denmark shuns US platform as it settles on SAMP/T air defence system

  16th September 2025

  The acquisition, which is part of the country’s broader defence package worth DKK58 billion (US$9.2 billion), goes against the grain with many other European countries opting for the US’s popular Patriot platform.

• Defence Notes

  Incoming Irish government backs plans for larger defence force

  17th January 2025

  It has been more than six weeks since the Irish general election. After long negotiations, a coalition of two of the three largest parties and independents has resulted in a Programme for Government (PfG) which will form the basis of a government almost guaranteed to be formed on 22 January.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  L3Harris launches Amorphous software for control of uncrewed platforms

  18th February 2025

  The new Amorphous software is a universal controller that would allow a single operator to control a swarm of “thousands” of uncrewed systems, from drones to underwater platforms.

• Air Warfare

  ‘Never done before’: tiltrotor technology and the future battlespace

  14th October 2024

  In conversation... Bell's Frank Lazzara talks to Shephard's Gerrard Cowan about the potential of tiltrotor designs to revolutionize U.S. Army maneuver operations, and how the technology could transform other mission sets across DoD and international armed services.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  What's next for the Pentagon after the Replicator programme?

  28th August 2025

  Although the Replicator initiative has made several accomplishments, there are still multiple gaps to plug across the US Department of Defense (DoD) and its services.

• Air Warfare

  IDEX 2025: Israel’s RT LTA Systems unveils new cellular communication system

  17th February 2025

  RT has developed the Skystar family of tactical aerostat systems that are capable of carrying payloads up to an altitude of 500m.

• Naval Warfare

  Interview: DSTA collaborates with Leonardo, Thales and Safran for naval C-UAS

  25th April 2025

  In an exclusive interview with Shephard, DSTA chief Ng Chad-son outlines how the agency is reshaping defence tech development through deeper collaboration with industry partners, from AI-enhanced radar to smart naval munitions.

• Air Warfare

  L3 Harris completes review of satellite communications payloads

  26th November 2024

  L3Harris is involved with four satellite programmes for missile tracking and communications for the US Space Development Agency (SDA).

• Land Warfare

  Future of the US Army’s IVAS programme remains unknown

  4th February 2025

  Despite recently releasing an Request for Information (RfI) under the IVAS programme, it remains unclear if the US Army will recompete the initiative.

• Training

  I/ITSEC 2024: UK MoD awards Hadean a £20 million deal for innovative solutions

  6th December 2024

  Hadean announced the deal and teaming arrangements with BAE Systems and Deloitte at I/ITSEC 2024 where it also displayed its Hadean Platform which is designed to offer scalable, realistic and high-fidelity simulations.

• Air Warfare

  US Navy’s next-generation sensor for Super Hornets achieves Initial Operating Capability

  5th February 2025

  The full rate production decision is scheduled for first-half 2025 and this will authorise the US Navy (USN) to fully outfit its carrier-based F/A-18E/F Super Hornet squadrons with InfraRed Search-and-Track (IRST) Block II.

• Naval Warfare

  US representatives plan to invest $1.6 billion in US Coast Guard inventory in FY2026

  11th June 2025

  The FY26 Homeland Security Bill Markup of the House Committee on Appropriations included resources for the procurement of ships, aircraft and unmanned systems.

• Naval Warfare

  Red Cat expands its manufacturing capacities to surge production of UAVs and USVs

  13th August 2025

  The company has invested $80 million to enhance its facilities and establish a new maritime division.

• Air Warfare

  RTX Raytheon wins billion-dollar contract for F-22 sensors

  2nd September 2024

  The details of the sensor upgrade have yet to be formalised but could involve infrared search and tracking.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Maritime patrol

  P-8I Follow-On [India]

  Programme Background The IN currently has eight P-8I aircraft in service, these ordered on 4 January 2009 for $2.1 billion. India inducted its first P-8I ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  T-50 [Thailand]

  The purchase had been earlier approved by the Thai cabinet on 11 July 2017.  AVM Pongsak Semachai revealed that the aircraft would be paid for ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  T-50 Follow-On [Thailand]

  Programme Background The Royal Thai Air Force  (RTAF) exercised its option to purchase additional two aircraft from an earlier deal. The RTAF purchased four T-50 jets in ...

• AEW&C

  E-2D (France)

  Programme Background In July 2020, France revealed its intention of buying a fleet of three E-2D Advanced Hawkeye Aircraft with a $2 billion potential FMS deal, ...

• 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 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 ...

• Military UAS - mini

  RQ-20A Puma [Latvia]

  Programme Background The US DoD is financing military modernisation in the Baltic to improve the capabilities of the Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian militaries. This includes ...

• Maritime patrol

  P-8I (13-18) [India]

  Programme Background India previously bought eight P-8Is from Boeing in 2009 in a direct commercial sale, adding four more in 2016. India inducted its first ...

• Loitering munitions

  Medium-Range Loitering Munition with LEO Satellite Data Link [South Korea]

  Background New Project In April 2025, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) and the Agency for Defense Development (ADD) announced a new project titled “Development of Medium-Range ...

• Military UAS - mini

  RQ-11 Raven (US Army)

  Programme Background The AeroVironment RQ-11 Raven began to be deployed by the US Army in 2004 and was selected as its sole small UAS in ...

• 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 ...

• Military UAS - micro

  NX70 Microdrone (First Batch)

  Programme Background The French Army procured the NX70 to meet an urgent operational requirement for a small UAS that could provide short-range ISR for dismounted ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  Skeldar V-200 Belgian Navy

  Programme Background For the joint MCM programme between Belgium and the Netherlands, the Dutch Ministry of Defence issued a notice calling for information regarding the ...

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

  Vector / Scorpion [Netherlands]

  Programme Background AeroVironment RQ-11 Raven B The Royal Netherlands Army (RNLA) operates approximately 75 AeroVironment RQ-11 Raven B mini UAVs in the tactical ISTAR role, ...

• Military UAS - micro

  NX70 Microdrone (Second Batch)

  Programme Background The French Army procured the NX70 to meet an urgent operational requirement for a small UAS that could provide short-range ISR for dismounted ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Data links

  MLT 2920

  The MLT 2920 Multi Link Terminal is a Link 11/22 compatible data link solution. Supplied by Elbit Systems Deutschland, it comprises one Link 11 modem ...

• Data links

  DLP

  The Data Link Processor (DLP) is a TDL server able to support Link 11A, 11B, 16 and 22 data link operations. The DLP receives, transmits ...

• Data links

  MDM-2X02N

  The MDM-2X02N is a tactical data link modem that combines the functionalities of a Link 11 DTS and Link 22 signal processor controller (SPC) into ...

• Data links

  TIGER

  The Tactical Data Link Integration Exerciser (TIGER) stimulates systems under test with tactical scenarios. Among TIGER’s capabilities is the abilities, it can simulate multiple tracks: ...

• Data links

  GTS - TCG

  Curtiss-Wright Defence Solutions' Ground Tactical Data Link System (GTS) product line provides operational users with an affordable, interoperable and combat-proven battlefield tactical data link (TDL) system ...

• Data links

  MX-512PV-C

  Similar to the MX-512PV (see separate entry), the MX-512PV-C Link 11/TADIL-A Data Terminal Set/Link 22 SPC communicates tactical C2 data between ship, shore and air ...

• Data links

  Maritime Tactical Data Link

  The Maritime Tactical Data Link (MTDL) is a developmental tactical data link by Hanwha Systems. Offered in 16 configurations, the system is based on the ...

• Data links

  Naval M-DLP

  The Naval Multi-Data Link Processor (M-DLP) is designed for naval forces and was developed to comply with warship operating requirements, with redundant system architecture and ...

• Data links

  Link 22

  Link 22 is an ECM-resistant, BLoS tactical data communication system using fixed frequency or frequency-hopping techniques in the HF (3-30MHz) and/or UHF (225-400MHz) bands. The ...

• Data links

  AN/USQ-125V DTS

  Like its airborne Data Terminal Set counterparts, the AN/USQ-125V performs as a modem, communicating tactical C2 data between ship, shore and air platforms on the ...

• Data links

  Universal Link System

  Developed by Scytalys, the Universal Link System (ULS) is a modular, scalable multi data link processor. It supports all NATO and US standard data links ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  JTRS Later Increment Waveforms

  A number of waveforms are scheduled for implementation in later JTRS increments: WNW with low probability of intercept/detection and bandwidth-efficient advanced modulation; SRW with LPI/LPD; ...

• Data links

  LinkPro

  LinkPro is a standards-based, high fidelity, software-only, multi-link Tactical Data Link (TDL) processing engine that improves tactical communications, reduces the time, risk and expense of ...

• Data links

  Link-M

  Milsoft's Link-M is a tactical data link system which may be integrated into land, naval and air platforms. According to the manufacturer's website, it is ...

• Data links

  Multifunction Advanced Data Link

  Multifunction Advanced Data Link (MADL) is a Ku-band data link designed for fifth-generation aircraft. The directional, interflight system is integrated into all F-35 variants, allowing ...