• Defence Notes

  How Brazil will invest over $10 billion in new defence programmes

  6th September 2023

  A special fund of $10 billion will cover Brazil's acquisition of combat vehicles, aircraft and helicopters, building new warships and submarines and modernisation of legacy systems.

• 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?

• Defence Helicopter

  Argentina shops for new helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft

  14th July 2023

  While Argentina’s combat aviation fleet remains weak, the armed forces are acquiring new search and rescue (SAR) helicopters and a fixed-wing surveillance aircraft with SAR capabilities.

• Naval Warfare

  No easy options: Australia's navy faces complex surface fleet choices

  14th September 2023

  As part of Australia’s Defence Strategic Review (DSR), a report into the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN’s) future surface fleet force structure was directed to be completed separately. Shephard examines its likely outcomes and how Australia might balance capability with affordability

• Naval Warfare

  Why the durable MEKO warship design remains popular with navies

  8th September 2023

  The MEKO design from ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) can be found in many navies around the world and the number of countries that are purchasing MEKO ships is growing. Shephard provides an overview of the latest MEKO offerings and how this type of vessel has remained successful on the international markets over the decades.

• Land Warfare

  Australian Land 8116 howitzer conducts test firing

  6th July 2023

  Hanwha has successfully completed the first stage of Land 8116 Protected Mobile Fires Ordnance Integration Testing, marking a milestone in artillery system integration for the Australian Defence Force.

• Naval Warfare

  UK, Italy and France embark on destroyer upgrade programmes

  28th June 2023

  At the Paris Air Show, France and Italy signed an MoU for the mid-life upgrade of their Horizon-class destroyers. The upgrades will focus on anti-air defences, including radar, weapons and combat systems, while the UK's Daring-class destroyers will receive air defence capability enhancements.

• Land Warfare

  Australia embarks upon a massive restructure of army

  3rd October 2023

  In response to strategic circumstances, the Australian Army is in for a massive overhaul and redistribution of units and equipment.

• Naval Warfare

  UPDATED: France’s Naval Group hunts Indonesian and Philippine submarine deals

  19th May 2023

  French shipbuilder Naval Group is on the hunt for new potential submarine deals, including opportunities in Indonesia – which is looking for new boats – and in the Philippines, where Manilla seeks to generate a new subsurface capability.

• Air Warfare

  The Mwari aircraft and the Paramount approach (Studio)

  23rd February 2023

  Paramount designs specialised solutions for critical missions. The Mwari aircraft is a reflection of this approach.

• Naval Warfare

  India to purchase additional Scorpene submarines to fill a looming gap

  18th July 2023

  To keep production rolling, MDL will build three additional Scorpenes for the Indian Navy.

• Land Warfare

  Poland takes delivery of first Abrams tanks

  28th June 2023

  The Polish Army has taken delivery of an initial 14 ex-USMC Abrams main battle tanks ahead of deliveries of new-build examples in 2024.

• Defence Notes

  Bringing portable production to the world (Studio)

  22nd February 2023

  Paramount's portable production model provides a range of advantages for governments and is a central part of the company's offering.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Taking the human out of harm's way (Studio)

  23rd February 2023

  The N-Raven loitering munition is designed to strengthen armed forces’ aerial reconnaissance, engagement and precision strike capabilities, while removing humans from harm’s way.

• Air Warfare

  Insight: Is the Watchkeeper UAV providing value for money for the British Army?

  8th September 2023

  The Watchkeeper UAS has garnered interest from countries like Poland and Romania, despite a chequered operational history in the UK. Shephard analyses the aircraft's capabilities and the cost they come at.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• APCs/IFVs - 4x4

  Kalyani M4 (India)

  Programme Background In the wake of border clashes with the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) in 2020, the Indian Army has accelerated several of its ...

• APCs/IFVs - 4x4, APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  High Mobility Armoured 4x4 Tactical Vehicles

  Programme Background Requirement The procurement of high-mobility 4x4 armoured vehicles is part of an initiative to replace a diverse fleet of utility vehicles currently in ...

• Loitering munitions

  Switchblade [Greece]

  Programme Background 10-Year Purchasing Plan In 2024, Athens drafted the multi-billion 10-year purchasing plan, which included acquiring F-35 jets, three frigates from France under the Hellenic ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Future Destroyers (13DDX) [Japan]

  At CNE 2024, Vice Admiral Shinichi Imayoshi, Director General of Naval Systems at the Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA), revealed that enhancing air defence ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Future Destroyers (13DDX) [Japan]

  At CNE 2024, Vice Admiral Shinichi Imayoshi, Director General of Naval Systems at the Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA), revealed that enhancing air defence ...

• Maritime patrol

  Sea Sultan [Pakistan]

  Programme Background On 10 January 2020, Pakistan issued a tender for a single unconfigured long-range twin-jet MPA. In October 2020, Adm Zafar Mahmood Abbasi, the PN’s soon-to-retire ...

• Maritime patrol

  Sea Sultan - Forecast (Pakistan)

  Programme Background On 10 January 2020, Pakistan issued a tender for a single unconfigured long-range twin-jet MPA. In October 2020, Adm Zafar Mahmood Abbasi, the PN’s soon-to-retire ...

• APCs/IFVs - 4x4

  Jais 4x4 (Saudi Arabia)

  Programme Background The Saudi Arabian government is aiming to localise 50% of its investment into defence by 2030 in line with the country's Vision 2030 ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Project Hoefyster (South Africa)

  Programme Background History The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) first formulated operational requirements for a new ICV in 1995, but modernisation of South Africa's ...

• Submarines: conventional, attack

  Submarines Procurement [Greece]

  Programme Background Requirements As of 2024, the Hellenic Navy (HN) submarine force consists of four Type 214, four Type 209/1200 and two Type 209/1100. With ...

• Loitering munitions

  N-Raven / IRIX [Greece]

  Programme Background Unveiled during the Defence Exhibition Athens (DEFEA 2023) exhibition, IRIX is a Greek version of the N-Raven loitering munition developed by Paramount in ...

• Destroyers

  Future Destroyers (13DDX) [Japan]

  Programme Background Requirements At CNE 2024, Vice Admiral Shinichi Imayoshi, Director General of Naval Systems at the Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA), revealed that enhancing ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Pacha Kuyuchix (New 8x8 Armoured Vehicle) [Peru - Forecast]

  entry.Programme Background The Peruvian Army is reliant upon a range of ageing 4x4 APCs, including the UR-416, Type 6614 and Type 6616, all of which ...

• ISR/special mission

  Armed Overwatch/Targeting (USA)

  Programme Background The Armed Overwatch programme was revealed in March 2020, during a US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) industry briefing. In June 2021, the USSOCOM awarded a $19.3 ...

• Destroyers

  Kongō Class Replacement/Future Aegis Destroyers [Japan]

  Programme Background Requirements At CNE 2024, Vice Admiral Shinichi Imayoshi, Director General of Naval Systems at the Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA), revealed that ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• APCs/IFVs - 4x4

  Mbombe 4

  The Mbombe 4 is the 4x4 variant of Paramount's Mbombe family of mine-protected vehicles.  Capable of carrying up to 11 personnel, the Mbombe 4 shares ...

• APCs/IFVs - 4x4

  Marauder Mk 2

  Paramount Group unveiled the Marauder Mark 2 armoured vehicle in August 2022. The new platform can be configured as an APC or an infantry combat vehicle, and it ...

• Loitering munitions

  N-Raven

  The N-Raven is a loitering munition manufactured by Paramount Group's Paramount Aerospace Systems (PAS). Debuted at IDEX 2021, the platform has since been redesigned.  It has been ...

• APCs/IFVs - 4x4

  Matador 4x4 APC

  The Matador 4x4 vehicle can be configured as an APC or a light infantry combat vehicle, with the addition of weaponry. It is designed to ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  Mbombe 6

  The Mbombe 6 is the 6x6 version of the Mbombe family of armoured vehicles developed by South Africa's Paramount Group. In order to drive down ...

• Mine-protected vehicles

  Al-Masmak/Nyoka Mk 2

  The Al-Masmak ('Fortress' in Arabic) 4x4 mine-protected APC was developed by Saudi Groups in cooperation with IADSA (since acquired by Paramount Group). Saudi Groups unveiled ...

• APCs/IFVs - 4x4

  Marauder

  The Marauder 4x4 can be configured as a simple troop carrier or as a wheeled combat vehicle by the addition of a heavy machine gun ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

  8.5m Guardian

  Made by Paramount Group, the 8.5m Guardian is the smallest in its class. It is designed to be launched from a larger vessel and is ...

• APCs/IFVs - 4x4

  Maatla 4x4

  Paramount's Maatla 4x4 is a Light Protected Vehicle (LPV) aimed at the African off-road armoured vehicle market. Announced at the African Aerospace and Defence Expo (AAD 2022) in ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Mbombe 8

  Paramount unveiled the 8x8 member of its Mbombe family, the Mbombe 8, at the Kazakhstan Defence Expo on 2 June 2016.  Sharing more than 80% ...

• ISR/special mission, Maritime patrol

  Embraer Lineage 1000 (Sea Sultan)

  The Sea Sultan is the Maritime Patrol version of the Embraer Lineage 1000. The aircraft conducted a wide range of missions, such as ASuW, ASW, ISR, ...

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

  Vulture

  The Paramount Advanced Technologies Vulture is a fixed-wing TUAV designed for such missions as day/night reconnaissance and surveillance and target acquisition in support of brigade-level ...

• APCs/IFVs - 4x4, Trucks and utility vehicles - 4x4

  Alan-2

  Developed by Kazakhstan Paramount Engineering, the Alan-2 is an armoured 4x4 tactical vehicle. It was demonstrated for the first time during the ADEX 2022 exhibition ...

• ISR Group UAS Airfield

  The ISR Group UAS Airfield, located in Savannah, Tennessee, is the largest privately owned flight facility in the US and provides capability for research, development, ...

• HAB

  Hesco Bastion has worked on reducing the logistics burden of providing protected accommodation, particularly in the harsh environments experienced by those living in FOBs and ...