• Digital Battlespace

  Improbable gains digital twin contract from UK MoD

  19th October 2021

  The future of networked UK defence communications will be developed by Improbable.

• Defence Notes

  Dubai Airshow 2021: DIT DSE reaffirms UAE cooperation

  18th November 2021

  The director of UK Defence and Security Exports at the Department for International Trade spoke exclusively to Shephard about the UK’s partnership strategy with the UAE.

• Training

  I/ITSEC 2021: Elbit emphasises cross-domain integration

  25th November 2021

  Shephard talks to Elbit Systems and Elbit Systems UK about the upcoming I/ITSEC 2021 and developments concerning UK programmes.

• Defence Notes

  Dstl presents telexistence technologies to reduce personnel risk

  1st November 2021

  A DASA event showed the potential and advantages of telexistence technologies in hazardous environments.

• Training

  Ascent obtains additional UK flight training contract

  1st November 2021

  Second ‘uplift’ contract under MFTS includes more Texan trainers and simulators.

• Training

  Son of ASDOT rises from the ashes

  4th November 2021

  With the demise of ASDOT nearly three years ago, the UK MoD is looking to fill some live air training gaps with its Operational Readiness Training Aerial Support Service requirement. Is the winner already home and hosed?

• Naval Warfare

  RN to begin Type 83 concept work in early 2022

  9th November 2021

  The future destroyer was first announced in the UK’s March Defence Command Paper as part of RN’s shipbuilding plans.

• Naval Warfare

  Key decisions await RN (Opinion)

  20th December 2021

  Perhaps the most important part of Adm Sir Ben Key’s tenure as First Sea Lord will not be the immediate RN of today, but setting the conditions for the navy of the future.

• Naval Warfare

  UK tunes MEWSIC to exploit complex electromagnetic environment

  10th November 2021

  An EW contract marks a first phase of a wider project to enhance the capabilities of UK RN frigates, destroyers and aircraft carriers.

• Land Warfare

  UK MoD awards Roke £6.7 million contract under Land ISTAR programme

  8th October 2021

  Roke’s ZODIAC will act as the central nervous system for Land ISTAR. The award marks the start of an Alpha development phase to derisk delivery of the programme.

• Naval Warfare

  UK still weighing up future surface to surface missile options

  4th November 2021

  The UK RN is debating whether to procure an interim replacement for its Harpoon missiles or leave the capability unfilled until a new weapon can be brought into service.

• Naval Warfare

  BAE Systems, KBR begin Future Maritime Support Programme work

  14th October 2021

  A JV between BAE Systems and KBR is providing hard facilities management at HMNB Portsmouth and alongside support to the RN.

• Naval Warfare

  UK progresses support for Ukrainian naval capabilities

  18th November 2021

  A series of joint projects will see Ukraine acquire new ships, weapons and help to develop naval facilities.

• Naval Warfare

  UK begins search for new strategic sealift capability

  25th October 2021

  The contract in the UK for the provision of strategic sealift capability expires at the end of 2024.

• Defence Notes

  UK BAe 146 replacement plan cuts command support transport fleet in half

  4th November 2021

  The UK has released details of its RAF BAe 146 fleet replacement but will only acquire two aircraft instead of four.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• 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 ...

• Loitering munitions, Military UAS - fixed-wing

  Air Launched Effects (ALE) [UK]

  Programme Background Acquisition Pipeline First published on 13 June 2022, the Acquisition Pipeline is a forward look at potential procurement activity undertaken by the UK MoD.  ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Mine Hunting Capability (MHC) Programme Block II [UK]

  Under Block II of the RN's Mine Hunting Capability (MHC) programme, the UK is expected to acquire three Offshore Support Vessels (OSVs) designed to be ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Mine Hunting Capability (MHC) Programme Block II [UK]

  Under Block II of the RN's Mine Hunting Capability (MHC) programme, the UK is expected to acquire three Offshore Support Vessels (OSVs) designed to be ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  New Medium Helicopter (NMH) [UK]

  Programme Background NMH Market Interest Day On 11 November 2021, the MoD communicated the requirements of the £1 billion ($1.34 billion) New Medium Helicopter (NMH) ...

• UAS: communication systems

  UAS: communication systems | Armed Micro Drone [UK]

  On 19 May 2023, the UK MoD published a request for information on armed micro UAV capabilities to help it better understand the marketplace, introduce possible ...

• UAS: flight control systems

  UAS: flight control systems | Armed Micro Drone [UK]

  On 19 May 2023, the UK MoD published a request for information on armed micro UAV capabilities to help it better understand the marketplace, introduce possible ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

  Intercept and Escort Craft (UK)

  Programme BackgroundThe UK MoD launched a programme aimed at developing a class of Intercept and Escort craft intended to replace the existing stock of Avon Sea Rider, Pacific ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

  Intercept and Escort Craft (UK) (Option)

  Programme Background The UK MoD launched a programme aimed at developing a class of Intercept and Escort craft intended to replace the existing stock of Avon Sea ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | AUKUS-SSNs/SSN(R) Astute Replacement Programme [UK]

  The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has begun the planning process for the Astute class replacement programme referred to as SSN-Replacement (SSN(R)). In September 2021, it was announced ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | AUKUS-SSNs/SSN(R) Astute Replacement Programme [UK]

  The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has begun the planning process for the Astute class replacement programme referred to as SSN-Replacement (SSN(R)). In September 2021, it was announced ...

• APCs/IFVs - 4x4, Reconnaissance/patrol vehicles

  Multi-Role Vehicle (Protected) (MRV-P) Package 1 (UK)

  Programme Background Requirement The MRV-P programme was intended to procure replacements for a diverse fleet of 4x4 and 6x6 vehicles purchased during the wars in Iraq ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | E-7 Wedgetail - UK (Second Order)

  The UK MoD signed a £1.51 billion ($1.98 billion) deal to purchase five E-7 Wedgetail aircraft from Boeing for the Royal Air Force (RAF) in ...

• Data links

  Data links | E-7 Wedgetail - UK (Second Order)

  The UK MoD signed a £1.51 billion ($1.98 billion) deal to purchase five E-7 Wedgetail aircraft from Boeing for the Royal Air Force (RAF) in ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | E-7 Wedgetail - UK (Second Order)

  The UK MoD signed a £1.51 billion ($1.98 billion) deal to purchase five E-7 Wedgetail aircraft from Boeing for the Royal Air Force (RAF) in ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Infrastructure - generators

  Standalone Field Generator

  HGI is a supplier of standalone field generators to the UK MoD. It has supplied systems for communications, C2, field hospitals and workshop facilities. The ...

• Military UGVs

  T7

  The T7 is a multi-mission robotic system designed for military, police and hazardous missions. At DSEI 2017, the UK MoD awarded the Harris Corporation a ...

• Major networking projects

  Skynet 5 SATCOM

  Airbus is the service provider for the UK MoD Skynet 5 private finance initiative contract, signed in October 2003 and now worth $5.6 billion. Airbus ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  Warthog

  The Warthog is based on the ST Kinetics Bronco all terrain tracked carrier (ATTC) and was developed to meet a UK MoD urgent operational requirement ...

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

  Buster

  The Buster is a small UAS that is designed for carrying out close-range surveillance in all weather conditions. It can carry several different payloads and ...

• Land: vehicle surveillance/target acquisition systems

  DNGS-T3

  DNGS-T3 is a single or dual-axis stabilised Day/Night Gunner Sight. It entered service with the UK MoD in 2004 on tracked AFVs. There are more ...

• Data links

  NMS

  The Network Management System (NMS) provides the ability to monitor and manage tactical data links (Link 11A, Link 11B, MIDS/JTIDS Link 16 and legacy links) ...

• Air: chaff, flare and decoy systems

  AGP

  The Aircraft Gateway Processor (AGP) is an aircraft survivability equipment (ASE) controller contained within a single flight-qualified line-replaceable unit. The AGP provides the ability to ...

• Osprey

  Morgan has supplied over 100,000 Osprey body armour plates to the UK MoD. Osprey Enhanced Combat Body Armour Mk 4 offers improvements in fit and ...

• Military helicopters - maritime

  AW159 Wildcat

  The AW159 is a twin-engine, multirole maritime and utility aircraft that was developed as a replacement for the Lynx family of helicopters. Designated 'Wildcat' by ...

• SLDT(P)

  Following the success of the Trakker 6x6 in the engineer support role, the UK MoD identified a UOR for a fleet of protected self-loading dump ...

• Infrastructure - shelters/accommodation

  Deployable Shelter Systems

  Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group provides integrated deployable shelters for C2, ground control of unmanned systems, C4ISTAR and laboratories. Examples include the Watchkeeper UAV GCS, ...

• Air: fixed-wing flight simulators

  TTF

  BAE Systems manages the Typhoon Training Facility (TTF) for the UK MoD at RAF Coningsby, England. The facility supports the operational conversion unit and squadron ...

• Major networking projects

  ARRC C2IS

  In August 2006, the UK MoD appointed Thales as prime contractor for the delivery of the Allied Rapid Reaction Corps (ARRC) – Command Control and ...

• Naval guns, Land: RWS

  Dragonfire

  Dragonfire is a new laser weapon system built for the UK MoD, receiving £30 million of funding in early 2017. The design of the gun ...