• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Greece gets new Israeli Orbiter 3 drones under Spike deal

  18th April 2023

  Aeronautics will supply Greece with its Orbiter 3 UAV as part of a government-to-government contract for Rafael’s Spike missiles.

• Naval Warfare

  Pakistan receives final Chinese-built Type 054A/P frigates

  12th May 2023

  China has completed delivery of four multipurpose frigates to the Pakistan Navy.

• Naval Warfare

  IMDEX 2023: ADSB in talks with Indo-Pacific countries for potential ship deals

  4th May 2023

  The UAE's Abu Dhabi Ship Building (ADSB) is in talks with regional players, including Malaysia and Indonesia, for potential ship deals.

• Training

  IT2EC 2023: Culture hampering adoption of virtual reality pilot trainers

  26th April 2023

  Portable mixed reality devices aim to augment expensive dome-based full mission simulators in military training but face lobbying and cultural resistance.

• Naval Warfare

  Argentina seeks to rejuvenate submarine capabilities, but economic woes pose a challenge

  20th April 2023

  Argentina is seeking bids from European shipbuilders for new submarines but may struggle to sell the plan to the public due to economic difficulties.

• Training

  IT2EC 2023: Get ready to explore the future of military training and simulation in Rotterdam

  17th April 2023

  The IT2EC military training and simulation event returns to Rotterdam in April 2023. Sanjay Khetia, director of PLEXSYS and chairman of IT2EC told Shephard what attendees can expect when visiting the show this year.

• Air Warfare

  Malaysia orders ATR 72 MPA aircraft from Leonardo

  25th May 2023

  Leonardo has scored a hard-won contract to supply maritime patrol aircraft to Malaysia.

• Training

  British Army's training capabilities reach new heights with VBS4

  4th April 2023

  Elbit Systems UK has integrated Bohemia Interactive Simulation's DVS2 into the British Army's Combined Arms Virtual Simulation system for advanced military training. IFTech has also integrated BISim's VBS4 into its smart battle suit.

• Naval Warfare

  UK Subs agency renews strategic agreement with QinetiQ

  6th April 2023

  The UK’s Submarine Delivery Agency (SDA) has renewed a Maritime Strategic Capability Agreement (MSCA), worth £259 million, with QinetiQ for another ten years.

• Air Warfare

  Aeronautics to upgrade Finland's small UAS fleet as country cements NATO entry

  4th April 2023

  Israeli UAV manufacturer Aeronautics has signed a contract with the Finnish Defence Forces to upgrade the country's Orbiter 2 mini-UAS fleet.

• Defence Notes

  What's the deal with defence procurement? (podcast)

  17th March 2023

  This week on the Shephard Defence Podcast, senior naval reporter Harry Lye and military training & simulation reporter Norbert Neumann chat with Professor John Louth.

• Naval Warfare

  US Navy christens final Freedom-variant Littoral Combat Ship

  18th April 2023

  The US Navy, on 15 April, christened and launched the final Freedom-variant Littoral Combat Ship (LCS), the future USS Cleveland.

• Air Warfare

  India seeks additional armaments for MH-60R fleet

  6th April 2023

  Additional missiles and torpedoes are on the cards to equip India's incoming fleet of MH-60R multi-mission helicopters.

• Defence Notes

  Japan’s security circumstances prompt it to introduce longer-range missiles

  17th April 2023

  With growing threats such as China and North Korean missiles, Japan is developing long-range, standoff missiles to enhance its deterrence posture.

• Land Warfare

  UK inks agreement for Swedish Archer guns and buys Carl-Gustaf M4 recoilless rifles

  30th March 2023

  The defence ministers of the UK and Sweden have signed a letter of intent for a contract to supply the British Army with 14 Archer self-propelled guns and announced a deal for Carl-Gustaf M4 recoilless rifles.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Fighter - multirole

  Combat Fighter Jet [Ireland]

  Programme Background  In February 2025, the Irish Minister for Defence and Tánaiste Simon Harris highlighted Irelands need to procure a new combat fighter jet to combat ...

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

  Polish Drones (Ukraine Aid) [Sweden]

  Background Swedish Support Package On 31 March 2025, the Swedish Government presented its 19th and largest military support package to Ukraine to date, valued at almost SEK ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | A400M (forecast) [United Kingdom]

  In April 2025, the Ministry of Defence confirmed that as part of the Strategic Defence Review is reviewing a potential purchase of additional A400M Atlas ...

• Data links

  Data links | A400M (forecast) [United Kingdom]

  In April 2025, the Ministry of Defence confirmed that as part of the Strategic Defence Review is reviewing a potential purchase of additional A400M Atlas ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | A400M (forecast) [United Kingdom]

  In April 2025, the Ministry of Defence confirmed that as part of the Strategic Defence Review is reviewing a potential purchase of additional A400M Atlas ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Landing Craft Utility (LCU) [Japan]

  According to the 2022 Defence Buildup Programme, Japan will procure new Landing Craft Utility (LCUs). This was already specified in the Medium Term Defence Programme (FY2019 ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Landing Craft Utility (LCU) [Japan]

  According to the 2022 Defence Buildup Programme, Japan will procure new Landing Craft Utility (LCUs). This was already specified in the Medium Term Defence Programme (FY2019 ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Landing Craft Utility (LCU)/Small Transport Vessels (1-4) [Japan]

  According to the 2022 Defence Buildup Programme, Japan will procure new Landing Craft Utility (LCUs). This was already specified in the Medium Term Defence Programme (FY2019 ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Landing Craft Utility (LCU)/Small Transport Vessels (1-4) [Japan]

  According to the 2022 Defence Buildup Programme, Japan will procure new Landing Craft Utility (LCUs). This was already specified in the Medium Term Defence Programme (FY2019 ...

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

  FlyEye (Framework Agreement) (Contracted) [Poland]

  Background Pre-2023 Contracts Across three orders, one in the early 2010s, another in December 2018 and another in February 2022, the Polish Territorial Defence Force ...

• 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 ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Landing Craft Utility (LCU)/Small Transport Vessels [Japan]

  According to the 2022 Defence Buildup Programme, Japan will procure new Landing Craft Utility (LCUs). This was already specified in the Medium Term Defence Programme (FY2019 ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Individual assault/anti-tank weapons

  RGW 60

  Dynamit Nobel developed the Recoilless Grenade Weapon 60mm (RGW 60) for special operations, airborne and other light forces which require a compact, lightweight assault weapon. ...

• Land: RWS

  FeWaS 80

  The FeWaS 80 (Fernbedienbare Waffen Station 80kg – Remotely Controlled Weapon Station 80kg) was originally developed alongside the heavier FeWaS 120 to meet a requirement from ...

• Land: RWS

  Dual FeWaS

  The Dual FeWaS is an RWS designed to be installed on medium and heavy AFVs. It is armed with two weapons consisting of either a ...

• Individual assault/anti-tank weapons

  Enforcer

  MBDA has been developing the Enforcer since 2014 to provide a shoulder-launched precision missile system  that is able to defeat lightly armoured and soft-skinned targets ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  ACSV G5

  The Armoured Combat Support Vehicle G5 (ACSV), formerly the PMMC G5, is a tracked armoured personnel carrier (APC) intended to replace vehicles such as the M113 ...

• Land: RWS

  FeWAS 120

  The FeWaS 120 (Fernbedienbare Waffen Station 120kg – Remotely Controlled Weapon Station 120kg) was originally developed alongside the lighter FeWaS 80 to meet a requirement from ...

• Land: RWS

  Samson Mini

  The Samson Mini is one of the lightest members of the Samson RWS family. It is a dual-axis, gyrostabilised RWS designed for use on vehicles, ...

• Major networking projects

  Missile Defence

  In 2010, NATO rolled out an initial capability to protect alliance forces against missile threats and is now examining options for protecting territory and populations. ...

• Major networking projects

  Defence Architecture Framework

  BAE Systems is developing a broad base of systems architecture expertise to execute network-centric warfare projects on behalf of the Australian Defence Force. This is ...

• Major networking projects

  Ballistic Missile Defence

  In early 2010, NATO acquired the first phase of an initial theatre ballistic missile defence capability to protect alliance forces. 

• Naval: RF, IR and acoustic decoys, Sea: sonar systems

  Krait Defence System

  Krait Defence System is a flexible, scalable and modular anti-submarine warfare solution by the British SEA. It includes a family of products from stand-alone KraitArray ...

• Short Range Missile Defence Systems: 0 to 20 km range

  NOMADS Air Defence

  Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace developed the National Manoeuvre Air Defence System (NOMADS) to address the increasing need for mobile, adaptable air defence systems capable of ...

• Land: air defence simulators

  Rapier Air Defence PTT

  In service with the British Army, the Rapier Air Defence Field Standard A and B part task trainer (PTT) gives students target alerting, identification, tracking ...

• Major networking projects

  Air and Missile Defence

  NATO Air and Missile Defence comprises all measures aimed at monitoring and reacting to potential air threats in NATO airspace, as well as countering hostile ...

• Long Range Missile Defence Systems: > 90km range

  Patriot Air Defence System

  The MIM-104 Phased Array Tracking to Intercept of Target (Patriot) is an American Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM) system designed for air-defence duties. The original Standard MIM-104A  ...