• Naval Warfare

  German F127 frigate programme moves to next phase, while Dutch say still open to joint procurement

  1st September 2023

  The initial analysis for the first stage of Germany’s Next Generation Frigate – Air Defence (NGFrig-AD, F127) programme has been completed, while Dutch shipbuilder Damen has reasserted the Netherlands' interest in a joint procurement.

• Defence Notes

  The Imperative of Collaborative Innovation in European Defence (Opinion)

  7th September 2023

  The dynamics of global defence are shifting, and isolated endeavours are increasingly giving way to collaborative innovation, joint ventures, and partnerships. Steve Griessel, CEO of Paramount, argues that as Europe navigates its defence priorities, the pressing question is not what we must create but with whom we must join hands.

• Naval Warfare

  Dutch warships' mid-life upgrade to de-risk systems for future air defence frigate

  13th September 2023

  The Royal Netherland’s Navy (RNLN’s) four De Zeven Provincien-class (LCF) frigates are near to completing a series of upgrades that will enable the ships to operate effectively until replacements are delivered, with the refit informing future requirements.

• Naval Warfare

  DSEI 2023: Has the Royal Navy cut back its support vessel fleet too far?

  11th September 2023

  This second in Shephard’s three-part series examining the state of the UK RN analyses the fleet of support ships. These important vessels sustain naval forces at sea for long durations and at vast distances, but cuts to the Royal Fleet Auxiliary's fleet have left crucial ships retired or sold, prompting concerns for future missions.

• Training

  NATO, Latvia team up to test 5G for military comms solutions

  4th September 2023

  A Latvian-NATO operational technology exploration scheduled for October will involve trials with virtual and augmented realities, uncrewed vehicles, sensors and applications within a tactical 5G bubble.

• Naval Warfare

  Corvette collaboration – how Europe is pooling skills and funds in a time of need

  13th September 2023

  When it comes to security, NATO tends to make the headlines more often than the EU. Yet since the war in Ukraine broke out, there has been a quiet but determined strengthening of purely European defence. And it starts with budgets.

• Air Warfare

  Aeronautics wins order for Orbiter loitering munitions

  1st September 2023

  Aeronautics has secured a significant contract to supply its Orbiter 1K loitering munition UAS to a undisclosed international customer.

• Land Warfare

  Global armoured renaissance: new report reveals $25.6 billion surge in 8x8 wheeled armoured vehicle spending

  12th September 2023

  As global tensions intensify following the Russo-Ukraine conflict, the armoured vehicle market is undergoing a monumental shift, with an anticipated $25.6 billion investment in 8x8 wheeled vehicles by 2035.

• Naval Warfare

  India to speed up acquisition of further aircraft carrier

  28th September 2023

  India's first domestically built aircraft carrier was massively late by six years, but the country thinks it can do better with the next ship.

• Air Warfare

  Sentient's ViDAR sensors successfully integrated on Edge Autonomy's VXE30 UAS

  30th August 2023

  Sentient Vision Systems has completed live demonstrations of its AI-enabled Visual Detection and Ranging (ViDAR) sensor on Edge Autonomy's VXE30 VTOL UAS.

• Air Warfare

  Eurofighter Typhoon sales: what a difference a decade makes

  18th September 2023

  In the second week of August, BAE Systems released a statement confirming that 12 of 24 Typhoon Tranche 3 models had now arrived in Qatar. Despite this favourable export news, the aircraft’s industrial future remains somewhat clouded.

• Land Warfare

  Insight: The UK's Challenger 3 tank programme gets ready for service in 2025

  4th September 2023

  Initially planned for service entry between 2027 and 2030, the British Army's first Challenger 3 tanks remain on track for accelerated delivery in 2025. Shephard Defence Insight provides full technical details and a programme update for this vital UK armoured capability.

• Air Warfare

  Insight: What does the future hold for the Eurofighter Typhoon combat aircraft?

  11th September 2023

  The Eurofighter Typhoon Tranche 3A has been adopted by Middle Eastern air forces as well as the European partner nations. Shephard Defence Insight analyses its next-generation radar, cockpit technology and future upgrade plans.

• Air Warfare

  A welcome observer? Workshare wrangles loom as Belgium joins SCAF future fighter effort

  12th September 2023

  Of the three major Western next-generation fighter programmes, the (arguably) French-led SCAF has received the least attention in English-speaking media. As Belgium gains observer status on the programme, what will this mean for the workshare arrangements between France, Germany and Spain?

• Land Warfare

  Rising Anti-Armour Threats in Ukraine Spotlight Need for Active Protection Systems (Studio)

  6th September 2023

  Amid the evolving threats in modern warfare, active protection systems (APS), like Rafael’s Trophy, offer advanced defence for armoured vehicles.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Manoeuvrable Boats [Japan]

  According to the 2022 Defence Buildup Programme, Japan will procure new manoeuvrable boats for the Japan Ground Self-Defence Force (JGSDF). Deliveries are set to start ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Manoeuvrable Boats [Japan]

  According to the 2022 Defence Buildup Programme, Japan will procure new manoeuvrable boats for the Japan Ground Self-Defence Force (JGSDF). Deliveries are set to start ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Manoeuvrable Boats (1-3) [Japan]

  According to the 2022 Defence Buildup Programme, Japan will procure new manoeuvrable boats for the Japan Ground Self-Defence Force (JGSDF). Deliveries are set to start ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Manoeuvrable Boats (1-3) [Japan]

  According to the 2022 Defence Buildup Programme, Japan will procure new manoeuvrable boats for the Japan Ground Self-Defence Force (JGSDF). Deliveries are set to start ...

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

  Skeldar V-200 (ASW) [Canada]

  Programme Background Contract Award At Euronaval 2022, Shephard reported that UMS Skeldar and Ultra had been awarded a Phase 2 contract on 19 October to provide ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Arctic Frigates Procurement/Thetis Class Replacement [Denmark]

  On 18 August 2022, the Danish MoD announced a plan to invest up to $5.5 billion to replace a large number of platforms of the ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Arctic Frigates Procurement/Thetis Class Replacement [Denmark]

  On 18 August 2022, the Danish MoD announced a plan to invest up to $5.5 billion to replace a large number of platforms of the ...

• OPVs

  OPVs Procurement (Ukraine)

  Programme Background OMT presented the MPV80 design in September 2021 at the DSEI event in London. The 80m vessel was showcased in three configurations: Offshore ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Global Combat Air Programme [UK]

  Programme Background The next-generation platform concept is part of the 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review, which sought to deliver a Future Combat Air System ...

• Submarines: conventional, attack

  Taigei Class (29SS) (1-2)

  Programme Background The Taigei-class (29SS) is the latest class of submarines to be developed for the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF). The class, which has been developed ...

• Landing craft and hovercraft

  Manoeuvrable Boats (1-3) [Japan]

  Programme Background Requirements According to the 2022 Defence Buildup Programme, Japan will procure new manoeuvrable boats for the Japan Ground Self-Defence Force (JGSDF). The boats ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | JF-17 [Azerbaijan]

  Azerbaijan has been known to be a potential buyer of JF-17 Thunder aircraft since 2015. The country is operating Su-24/25 and MiG-29 jets in service; ...

• Data links

  Data links | JF-17 [Azerbaijan]

  Azerbaijan has been known to be a potential buyer of JF-17 Thunder aircraft since 2015. The country is operating Su-24/25 and MiG-29 jets in service; ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  Air: Helmet-mounted displays | JF-17 [Azerbaijan]

  Azerbaijan has been known to be a potential buyer of JF-17 Thunder aircraft since 2015. The country is operating Su-24/25 and MiG-29 jets in service; ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | JF-17 [Azerbaijan]

  Azerbaijan has been known to be a potential buyer of JF-17 Thunder aircraft since 2015. The country is operating Su-24/25 and MiG-29 jets in service; ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  BvS10 Beowulf

  BAE Systems Hägglunds launched the BvS10 Beowulf articulated tracked ATV at the September 2015 DSEI exhibition in the UK. The Beowulf is an unarmoured variant ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  VBCI-2

  Nexter unveiled the VBCI-2 IFV, the latest evolution of its 8x8 VBCI infantry fighting vehicle, at DSEI 2015 in London. Using company funds, Nexter has built ...

• Land: vehicle surveillance/target acquisition systems

  Hawkeye Land Surveillance Systems

  Launched at DSEI 2015, the Chess Dynamics Hawkeye family of multi-sensor surveillance systems is designed to provide short- to extended-range optical surveillance and target acquisition ...

• Land: battle management systems, Naval: Combat Management Systems

  C-Flex Compact

  At DSEI 2015, Terma unveiled the C-Flex Compact, an EO and surveillance mission system for smaller vessels. Based on the C-Flex management system, C-Flex Compact ...

• Military vehicle engines

  TCD 2015

  The TCD 2015 is a modern water-cooled four stroke diesel V-engine that is currently integrated on the RG41 armoured vehicle.

• Special operations vehicles

  LRV 400 Mk2

  Designed for rapid intervention, patrol and strike operations in harsh environments, the LRV (Light Reconnaissance Vehicle) 400 Mk2, unveiled at DSEI 2015, is a further ...

• Air: mission management systems

  HALT

  At DSEI 2015, Collins Aerospace (formerly Rockwell Collins) unveiled a wearable version of the FireStorm family. High Accuracy Lightweight Targeter (HALT) is able to provide ...

• Towed rocket launchers

  SPARC

  Rafael unveiled the SPARC, a 360° remote-controlled towed launcher for its Spike non-line-of-sight (NLOS) missile, at the September 2015 DSEI exhibition in London. Spike NLOS ...

• Man-portable missile systems

  Lightweight Multiple Launcher

  Unveiled at DSEI 2015 in London, the Lightweight Multiple Launcher New Generation (LML NG) system can be used on a tripod or vehicle mount and ...

• Infrastructure - road/runway systems

  HGMS

  The Heavy Ground Mobility System (HGMS) is a temporary modular roadway that enables the rapid deployment and recovery of vehicles and people. The HGMS is ...

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

  UAS Concept 2 / Autonomous Collaborative Platform (ACP)

  In July 2022, BAE Systems revealed two UAV concepts, one later being branded Concept 2, or the Autonomous Collaborative Platform (ACP), at DSEI 2023.  Signage near ...

• Land: battle management systems

  FACNAV

  Developed by Teleplan, FACNAV is a battle management system designed for use at the battlegroup level and below. The software suite is designed to interact ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  Diamond

  Diamond is a digital intercom and radio combiner system for use on land and maritime platforms, including high speed patrol craft. Diamond has been designed ...

• Loitering munitions

  Rotem Alpha

  The Rotem Alpha is a VTOL-capable loitering munition from Isreal Aerospace Indusiters (IAI). Drawing upon IAI's Rotem, the drone can be equipped with one of ...

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

  STRIX

  The STRIX is a prototype tandem-wing UAV that BAE Systems Australia is developing in collaboration with Innovaero. It is slated to begin operational service in 2026 and can be ...