• Naval Warfare

  Insight: Gowind 2500 corvette enjoys strong export business despite Romanian rejection

  5th September 2023

  France's Naval Group's Gowind 2500 corvette, designed for multiple naval missions, has gained popularity worldwide. Shephard Defence Insight provides detailed analysis of its export contracts, armament and technical specifications.

• Air Warfare

  How are modern small tactical unmanned aerial systems reshaping the landscape of warfare?

  12th December 2023

  Discover Aeronautics' Role in Redefining Tactical Warfare Through Innovative UAV Solutions

• Air Warfare

  Edge Group deepens Brazil defence ties with new technology agreements

  25th August 2023

  The UAE's Edge Group has expanded its footprint in the Brazilian defence sector by signing cooperation agreements with the Brazilian Air Force’s Department of Aerospace Science and Technology and engine developer Turbomachine.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Leonardo and UK MoD unveil rotary-wing UAS at DSEI 2023

  14th September 2023

  The design selected for the Rotary Wing Uncrewed Autonomous System is best suited for maritime operations.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  US Air Force enlists top five contenders for CCA wingmen programme: here are the details

  26th January 2024

  The US Air Force's flagship Collaborative Combat Aircraft programme has marked a significant step towards advanced uncrewed aviation, with contracts awarded to five companies.

• Defence Notes

  What the US expects from a third year of war in Ukraine

  22nd February 2024

  On the second anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the uncertainty regarding the future of the conflict has split opinions in Washington, placing military assistance to Kyiv and sanctions on Moscow in a nebulous zone.

• Naval Warfare

  Norway to renew naval forces within a decade

  23rd May 2024

  The Royal Norwegian Navy (RNoN) will be almost completely overhauled and replaced with new ships and submarines in a timeframe of about 10 years.

• Training

  UK bomb disposal teams training Ukrainian engineers to clear minefields

  26th September 2023

  In the ongoing struggle to address Ukraine's status as the world's most heavily mined nation, the UK has initiated an intensive programme to train Ukrainian engineers.

• Defence Notes

  Germany to provide Ukraine with additional air-defence systems and Gepard anti-aircraft guns

  11th October 2023

  The German government has announced a billion-euro-plus package of equipment for Ukraine which includes Patriot and IRIS-T air defence systems and Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft guns.

• Naval Warfare

  NZ navy receives three Littoral Manoeuvre Craft

  25th October 2023

  New Zealand's navy has received three high-speed craft purchased specifically to support mine warfare and reconnaissance teams.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Anduril's extra-large UUV Ghost Shark edges closer to production in Australia

  10th November 2023

  Australia has been focusing on uncrewed systems solutions as a way of expanding coverage of its extensive maritime exclusive economic zones and as a way of expanding mass for the Royal Australian Navy.

• Training

  China and Pakistan conclude Shaheen-X joint air exercises in Northwest China

  6th October 2023

  The joint exercises featured a range of advanced aircraft, with China contributing Shenyang J-16 fighters and Airborne Early Warning aircraft, while Pakistan showcased its recently acquired Chengdu J-10C and JF-17 jets.

• Training

  US marines and sailors engage in advanced training during Kuwait bilateral exercise

  11th October 2023

  The training focuses on sustaining and enhancing military capabilities, emphasising bilateral collaboration and sharing of tactics between US and Kuwaiti forces.

• Training

  US and Indian armies train together in Alaska

  5th October 2023

  Enhancing collaborative interoperability, Yudh Abhyas 23 focuses on strengthening the synergy between the Indian Army and the US Army.

• Naval Warfare

  Make or break: Can the European Patrol Corvette programme save shipbuilding in Europe?

  28th November 2023

  With funding from the European Defence Fund and partner countries, the European Patrol Corvette programme has an opportunity to become the standard bearer for defence procurement and potentially offer a route forward for naval shipbuilding in Europe.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Minehunters

  Tripartite Class Replacement Programme [Belgium]

  Programme Background A joint Dutch-Belgian procurement programme is procuring 12 new Mine Countermeasures Vessels (MCMV) to replace the ageing Tripartite-class MCM, which are due to ...

• 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 - 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

  Spy Ranger SMDR - Contracted (France)

  Programme Background Requirement The French Army has identified a need for a new tactical UAS to replace the Drac UAS, which first entered service in ...

• Minehunters

  Tripartite Class Replacement Programme [Netherlands]

  Programme Background A joint Dutch-Belgian procurement programme is procuring 12 new Mine Countermeasures Vessels (MCMV) to replace the ageing Tripartite class MCM's which are due ...

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

  Spy Ranger SMDR - Option (France)

  Programme Background Requirement The French Army has identified a need for a new tactical UAS to replace the Drac UAS, which first entered service in ...

• Minehunters

  Project SEA 1905 - MMCMMS [Australia]

  Programme Background Requirements Australia is looking to acquire up to eight new advanced mine countermeasures/hydrographic survey vessels under the Project SEA 1905 Maritime Mine Countermeasures ...

• OPVs

  Patrouilleurs Hauturiers OPVS (former Patrouilleurs Océanique) [France]

  Programme Background Requirements The programme aims to procure new OPVs that will replace the D'Estienne d'Orves-class and the Flamant-class vessels. The OPVs are intended to be armed ...

• Submarines: conventional, attack

  Project Sea 1000 (Attack Class) - Cancelled [Australia]

  Programme Background The competition for Australia’s SEA 1000 Future Submarine project for 12 new SSKs was won by the French shipbuilder Naval Group in 2016 ...

• Minehunters

  Al Jawf Class Replacement [Saudi Arabia]

  Programme Background Requirements The Royal Saudi Navy urges the replacement of three Al Jawf-class minehunters. Based on the Sandown-class design, the ships entered service in the ...

• Corvettes

  Multirole Corvette Programme [Romania]

  Programme Background Timeline Romania, since 2014. has seen a significant increase in its defence budget, which has allowed for more room to procure modern platforms. In ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Submarine Procurement [Indonesia]

  The Indonesian Navy has a long-standing desire for a larger submarine fleet. The TNI-AL currently has four SSKs in its inventory, including one Cakra-class submarine in ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Submarine Procurement [Indonesia]

  The Indonesian Navy has a long-standing desire for a larger submarine fleet. The TNI-AL currently has four SSKs in its inventory, including one Cakra-class submarine in ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Submarine Procurement (1-2) [Indonesia]

  The Indonesian Navy has a long-standing desire for a larger submarine fleet. The TNI-AL currently has four SSKs in its inventory, including one Cakra-class submarine in ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Submarine Procurement (1-2) [Indonesia]

  The Indonesian Navy has a long-standing desire for a larger submarine fleet. The TNI-AL currently has four SSKs in its inventory, including one Cakra-class submarine in ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Military - USVs, Military - UUVs

  UMIS

  UMIS (Unmanned MCM Information System), unveiled at Euronaval 2016, uses a collaborative system of surface and underwater robots. The UMIS MCM deploys AUVs carrying the ...

• Military - UUVs

  K-Ster C

  K-Ster C is a mine disposal system (MDS) equipped with a tiltable warhead. It is also equipped with a dual-frequency sonar for long-range target detection ...

• Military - UUVs

  K-Ster I

  K-Ster I is a lightweight, self-propelled ROV developed for mine warfare applications. K-Ster I is easy to deploy from any type of naval platform, including ...

• Military - UUVs

  A18

  The A18 is a high-resolution, high-coverage, mid-size AUV. It is able to perform missions such as homeland security, hydrographic survey, mine countermeasures and rapid environmental ...

• Military - USVs

  Inspector 90

  The USV Inspector 90 is a multipurpose drone platform based on hydro-jet propulsion, able to be operated in autonomous mode, remoted control or onboard steering. ...

• Military UGVs

  Cobra Mk2

  The Cobra Mk2 is a 5kg UGV designed for EOD/IED disposal and CBRN operations. The modular architecture of the Cobra Mk2 E supports different types of ...

• Submarines: conventional, attack

  Scorpene Class

  The Chilean Scorpene-class were procured from the consortium composed of Naval Group and Navantia in the late 1990s. The submarines, which were delivered between 2005 and ...

• Military - UUVs

  A18-M

  The A18-M AUV is a configuration of ECA Group’s A18 AUV family, dedicated to military applications. With magnetic and acoustic signatures compliant to STANAG 1364, ...

• UAS: Integrated systems - uncrewed

  I4 Drone

  The I4 Drone is a multi-drone, multi-environment mission system for naval drones. It has been designed and developed by Naval Group (formerly DCNS) for an ...

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

  IT180

  The Infotron IT180 VTOL mini-UAS is designed to perform a range of missions in civilian and military sectors, such as surveillance, site protection, inspection, pollution ...

• Military - USVs

  Inspector 125

  The USV Inspector 125 is a multipurpose naval platform designed for demanding operations in various sea state conditions. It is capable of manned, remote-controlled and ...

• Minehunters

  City Class

  Twelve new Mine Countermeasures Vessels (MCMVs) are being built to replace the ageing Tripartite-class MCMVs due to retire from service in 2023. The programme is ...

• Military - USVs

  Inspector 120

  The Inspector 120 USV is a multipurpose naval platform by ECA Group that was unveiled in 2018. It is based on the proven Inspector 90 ...

• Military - UUVs

  A9-M

  The A9 is a light, man-portable AUV, enabling deployment from small craft and in shallow water as a hand-launched vehicle. This AUV embeds the latest ...

• Military UGVs

  TSR 202

  The TSR 202 is a UGV in service with French forces and other military and police forces around the world for EOD/IED detection and neutralisation, ...