• Defence Notes

  Integrated Review needs to be revisited in every aspect, says Ellwood

  20th September 2022

  MP and Chair of the Defence Select Committee Tobias Ellwood told Shephard the UK's 2021 Integrated Review needed to be revisited in 'every aspect' as the world has changed fundamentally.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Researchers examine new USV design methods

  16th September 2022

  A team at the University of Maine will define a path forward to support advanced manufacturing of USVs, under a contract from the US Office of Naval Research.

• Defence Notes

  External crises may prompt revision of Integrated Review, Command Paper (Opinion)

  26th September 2022

  While the Integrated Review was broadly correct in some of its assumptions, events in Ukraine have challenged the thinking behind cuts to UK capability.

• Digital Battlespace

  US issues electromagnetic battle management system contract

  16th September 2022

  The US hopes that combining electromagnetic warfare capabilities in the sea, air, and land domains would generate enhanced combat effects.

• Air Warfare

  AeroVironment will supply Puma 3 AE sUAS to two US-allied nations

  21st September 2022

  AeroVironment has received two firm-fixed-price US DoD FMS contracts worth $20.87 million.

• Defence Notes

  AUSA 2022: General Micro Systems introduces new modular open distributed computing architecture products

  10th October 2022

  Centralised computing systems are giving way to more modular and scalable architectures, according to General Micro Systems.

• Training

  QinetiQ ramps up special mission aircraft efforts across the globe

  12th October 2022

  The second DA62 multi-purpose aircraft will support training services QinetiQ is providing from its German base, while the acquisition of Air Affairs Australia will enhance the company's Asia-Pacific efforts.

• Land Warfare

  How industry is helping the US Army and allies counter the drone threat (Studio)

  3rd October 2022

  Counter-unmanned aircraft systems (C-UAS) technology is now a key priority for militaries worldwide. For Raytheon Missiles & Defense, a holistic approach is crucial, with a need to incorporate the systems into a wider air defence architecture.

• Naval Warfare

  Black Sea drone attack reaffirms threat to naval vessels

  2nd November 2022

  A naval expert tells Shephard the Ukrainian attack on the Russian Black Sea Fleet assets, as reported, fits into a long tradition of weaker navies seeking to find ways to counter more powerful opponents.

• Land Warfare

  AUSA 2022 - GDLS unveils the next generation of Abrams and Stryker

  10th October 2022

  AbramsX and StrykerX feature a hybrid power pack, GDLS Katalyst architecture and AI sensors. These capabilities can be used to retrofit the existing fleet of Abrams and Strykers.

• Defence Notes

  Lithuania to buy drones and receive more Javelins, JLTVs

  14th September 2022

  New UASs and more Javelin antitank missiles will be procured by Lithuania.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Proteus contract puts Leonardo on course to develop UK uncrewed VTOL hub

  29th July 2022

  Leonardo has outlined ambitious plans for its Yeovil site as it looks to advance VTOL UAS manufacturing.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Final delivery of Danish autonomous MCM system imminent

  22nd September 2022

  The Royal Danish Navy is boosting its autonomous mine countermeasures capabilities by procuring new uncrewed underwater systems.

• Air Warfare

  Baykar completes initial integration run test of future uncrewed fighter jet

  20th September 2022

  Baykar Tech shared on Twitter a video of the trial with Bayraktar Kizilelma. The first flight of the system is scheduled to take place in 2023.

• Training

  British Army faces critical digitisation and modernisation challenges

  23rd September 2022

  The UK Integrated Review outlined how the UK plans to compensate for the loss of numbers with more advanced technologies, novel training solutions and the acceleration of digitisation across all forces. A year on, it is still unclear how the British Army will reach the desired sophistication and readiness levels.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

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

  Combat Air Teaming System (CATS) Warrior [India]

  Programme Background Make In India The 'Make In India' is an initiative by the Indian government to grow the domestic manufacturing industry. In the context ...

• Military UAS - small

  Black Hornet 3 PRS (UK)

  Programme Background The British Army operated approximately 160 first-generation Black Hornet PD-100 nano UAS between 2013 and 2017, when the decision was made to retire ...

• Military UAS - small

  Bug Nano UAS (UK)

  Programme Background The British Army previously took delivery of 160 first-generation Black Hornet PD-100 nano UAS in 2013 to support operations in Afghanistan. After these ...

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

  MQ-1 Gray Eagle [US Army]

  Programme Background Required Quantity Although the US Army first envisioned a requirement for 132 MQ-1C Gray Eagles, the US Army's Army Acquisition Objective (AAO) was ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - small

  Orbiter 3 (Croatia)

  Programme Background The Croatian government launched a competitive tender for the procurement of a short-range UAV in October 2017. Although the tender was opened on ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8, APCs/IFVs - tracked

  Bulldog FV432 Mk 3 Replacement [UK]

  Programme Background Requirement Serving in several iterations since 1963, the FV432 Mk3 'Bulldog' remains operational and deployed as command vehicles, ambulances, and recovery vehicles within the British Army. Although ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Boxer MIV [UK]

  Programme Background History The UK MoD announced in March 2018 that it would re-join the Boxer programme and pursue a sole-source acquisition of the 8x8 ...

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

  AR100-H [Germany]

  Programme Background In May 2022, it was announced that 145 AR100-H drones would be supplied to the German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr). At the time of ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  KUS-VH

  Programme Background Although the ROKA is not known to have launched a formal programme to acquire unmanned MD500 helicopters, it is known to be interested ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | New Generation Minehunters/Offshore (NGM/A) (1-4) [Italy]

  The Italian Navy is procuring twelve new multi-purpose mine countermeasures (MCM) vessels under the Cacciamine Nuova Generazione (CNG) programme. The programme includes coastal-going units (NGM/C) ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | New Generation Minehunters/Offshore (NGM/A) (1-4) [Italy]

  The Italian Navy is procuring twelve new multi-purpose mine countermeasures (MCM) vessels under the Cacciamine Nuova Generazione (CNG) programme. The programme includes coastal-going units (NGM/C) ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | New Generation Minehunters/Coastal (NGM/C) (1-5) [Italy]

  The Italian Navy is procuring twelve new multi-purpose mine countermeasures (MCM) vessels under the Cacciamine Nuova Generazione (CNG) programme. The programme includes coastal-going units (NGM/C) ...

• Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - small

  Cargo-Carrying UAV [Japan]

  Programme Years Defence Building Program (DBP) Released in December 2022, this Japanese policy called on the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) to replace some human assets ...

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

  ISTAR UAS project (Canada)

  Programme Background Objective The Royal Canadian Navy's (RCN) main significant UAV project is the RCN Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance Unmanned Aircraft System (RCN ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  R600A (RTMC)

  Programme Background The Royal Thai Marine Corps (RTMC) has a requirement for new amphibious APCs that have higher capacity and offer greater protection than its ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Air: sonar systems

  AQS-24B

  The AQS-24B is an airborne and surface minehunting system, designed for the USN and coalition partners. On 21 September 2016, it was announced that Northrop ...

• Military - USVs

  SHARC

  The Sensor Hosting Autonomous Remote Craft (SHARC) wave glider platform is a JV developed between Boeing and Liquid Robotics. The SHARC is able to deliver ...

• Military - USVs

  Pacific 950 Jekyll

  The Pacific 950 Jekyll is a joint development between BAE Systems’ Maritime Services and ASV Global (now L3 ASV). It was designed as an upgrade to ...

• Land: soldier modernisation systems - industry programmes

  Warrior Systems

  General Dynamics Mission Systems is prime contractor and system integrator for the US Army’s Warrior soldier systems, which include Air Warrior, Future Force Warrior, Land Warrior ...

• Military - USVs

  ARCIMS

  The Atlas Remote Combined Influence Minesweeping System (ARCIMS) is an MCM USV platform. It is capable of being deployed and operated from the shore, a ...

• Military - USVs

  MAST

  The Maritime Autonomy Surface Testbed (MAST) is being developed by ASV Global and Roke Manor Research under funding from the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory. ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - small

  NRQ-21

  Insitu displayed the NRQ-21 Integrator at the Unmanned Warrior 2016 event in Wales. The aircraft has been designed to carry out tasks on land and ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - small

  Outlaw SeaHunter

  Outlaw UAVs are used by military and research agencies for training, testing, data collection and system development. In the 114-137kg maximum take-off weight class, SeaHunter ...

• Land: soldier modernisation systems - industry programmes

  Mounted Warrior

  Mounted Warrior will provide an integrated system-of-systems ensemble designed to improve the survivability, lethality and combat effectiveness of armoured vehicle crewmen. The system leverages capabilities ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  Warrior

  The Warrior IFV entered service with the British Army in mid-1987. A total of 789 vehicles were delivered in IFV, infantry command, anti-tank, recovery, repair, ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  MIHDS

  The Modular Integrated Helmet Display System (MIHDS) is designed and developed jointly by General Dynamics Mission Systems, USA and Microvision Inc. The system's SD2500 design ...

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

  CATS Warrior

  Manufactured by the state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), the Combat Air Teaming System (CATS) Warrior is a medium-altitude long-endurance UAS that is part of the CATS family of ...

• Land: soldier modernisation systems - national programmes

  Warrior 2020

  Finland’s Warrior 2020 programme is focused on improving individual soldier equipment in the five capability areas defined by NATO: C4I, lethality, mobility, survivability and sustainability. Warrior ...

• Military helicopters - scout/light attack

  OH-58D Kiowa Warrior

  The OH-58D Kiowa Warrior is a two-person, light scout helicopter with a day/night mast-mounted sight, glass cockpit and four-bladed rotor system. Following the retirement of ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  MUBC

  The Modular Universal Battery Charger (MUBC) is a scalable charging system for a range of military and commercial batteries. It provides for the addition of ...