• Air Warfare

  UK GCAP fighter effort can only survive if more funds are allocated, expert warns

  7th March 2024

  The urgency to address chronic issues of cost overruns and delays in UK defence procurement, particularly in complex and important initiatives like the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), have underscored the need for upfront honesty about project costs.

• Land Warfare

  DroneShield unveils new DoD-tested ruggedised tactical controller

  19th December 2023

  DroneShield has produced C-UAS solutions ranging from handheld DroneGun jammer to the larger detect-and-defeat device DroneSentry-X.

• Naval Warfare

  How Turkish shipyard ASFAT is engaging in Pakistan’s maritime expansion

  15th December 2023

  Since delivering the first Babur-class corvette last September, ASFAT has targeted future growth in the Indo-Pacific market by engaging in a new project with Pakistan for future frigates.

• Naval Warfare

  Frigate building in South America – the fleet renewal challenge

  2nd April 2024

  South America has become something of a retirement village warships where the average age of major surface combatants is 40 years, some of which should probably be in a museum. Peru, however, has joined Brazil and Colombia in a group of three countries that have been attempting to modernise their fleets with new frigates and corvettes built in local shipyards.

• Naval Warfare

  Greek frigate launch heralds Hellenic Navy modernisation

  11th October 2023

  The launch of the first of three new Kimon-class (FDI HN) frigates for Greece on 4 October 2023 at French shipyard Naval Group represents the beginning of a significant recapitalisation of the Hellenic Navy fleet, which is in urgent need of modernisation.

• Training

  HAL delivers India’s first LCA twin-seat trainer

  5th October 2023

  India has received the first twin-seat trainer version of the Tejas aircraft manufactured by HAL.

• Naval Warfare

  Italy finally funds naval missile projects

  17th November 2023

  The Italian MoD’s multi-year programme documents (DPP) detailing its current and planned acquisition projects has provided new details of funding for its 2023–25 naval missile programmes.

• Naval Warfare

  Polish Navy Miecznik-class frigates to be fitted with TACTICOS integrated combat management system

  6th October 2023

  The multirole Miecznik-class frigates will be equipped with a set of sensors developed by Thales with the first ship scheduled to enter service in 2029.

• Air Warfare

  India looks to produce additional LCA Mk1A fighters

  30th August 2023

  India has dug a hole for itself because of incessant delays in fighter procurements. Building more Tejas fighters might alleviate the situation.

• Naval Warfare

  French Navy frigate gap closes as La Fayette-class upgrade programme nears completion

  17th October 2023

  The modernisation programme for three of the French Navy’s five La Fayette-class frigates will ensure the service maintains a minimum force of 15 frigates and destroyers ahead of the introduction of the new new Admiral Ronarc’h-class (FDI) frigates.

• Naval Warfare

  Insight: Gowind 2500 corvette enjoys strong export business despite Romanian rejection

  5th September 2023

  France's Naval Group's Gowind 2500 corvette, designed for multiple naval missions, has gained popularity worldwide. Shephard Defence Insight provides detailed analysis of its export contracts, armament and technical specifications.

• Air Warfare

  Clear skies ahead: Royal Air Force Typhoons to receive advanced radar and EW upgrade

  5th July 2023

  The ECRS Mk2 radar brings advanced electronic warfare capabilities and potential weapon integration opportunities to the Royal Air Force's multi-mission fighter.

• Air Warfare

  Enhanced India-France defence cooperation will include Rafale M fighters

  16th July 2023

  India has selected the Rafale M as its new carrier-borne fighter, with a contract to be signed later.

• 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.

• Naval Warfare

  MBDA, Italian Navy detail development of Teseo Mk2/E missile

  8th June 2023

  The new missile, which incorporates land-attack capabilities, is the latest evolution of the Otomat/Teseo anti-ship weapon family and is set to replace the legacy Mk2/A version in service with the Italian Navy.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

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

  Reconnaissance Drone (Ukraine Aid) [Belgium]

  Programme Background Aid Package On Friday, 15 March 2024, Belgian Defence Minister Ludivine Dedonder announced the country's latest aid package to Ukraine to help the country ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | Tejas LCA - India Follow-On

  Indian Air Force is planning to buy a total of 140 Tejas LCA to equip seven squadrons. Between 2006 and 2016, India’s Defence Acquisition Council authorised ...

• Data links

  Data links | Tejas LCA - India Follow-On

  Indian Air Force is planning to buy a total of 140 Tejas LCA to equip seven squadrons. Between 2006 and 2016, India’s Defence Acquisition Council authorised ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  Air: Helmet-mounted displays | Tejas LCA - India Follow-On

  Indian Air Force is planning to buy a total of 140 Tejas LCA to equip seven squadrons. Between 2006 and 2016, India’s Defence Acquisition Council authorised ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | Tejas LCA - India Follow-On

  Indian Air Force is planning to buy a total of 140 Tejas LCA to equip seven squadrons. Between 2006 and 2016, India’s Defence Acquisition Council authorised ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | Tejas LCA - India Follow-On

  Indian Air Force is planning to buy a total of 140 Tejas LCA to equip seven squadrons. Between 2006 and 2016, India’s Defence Acquisition Council authorised ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Romania Piranha V

  Programme Background The Romanian government has committed to raising defence spending to enable the country's armed forces to shed its Soviet-era equipment and to ensure ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  Tejas LCA (India)

  Programme Background The Indian Navy was supposed to procure 50 Tejas LCAs, also known as the LCA-N. However, in 2017 the navy decided to abandon ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Ajban Series (Algeria)

  Programme Background Algeria is believed to operate at least four variants of the Ajban platform: the standard Nimr Ajban fitted with either a Norinco UW1 ...

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

  Small Reconnaissance Drones [Lithuania]

  Programme Background Planned Purchases On 14 September 2022, the Lithuanian MoD announced in a short statement on Twitter, now X, that it had begun organising ...

• Reconnaissance/patrol vehicles

  Caracal 4x4 Light Air Assault (Netherlands - Forecast)

  Programme Background As part of its Defence-wide Replacement Programme of Wheeled Vehicles (DVOW), the Dutch Army initiated the 12kN AASLT Air Assault Vehicle procurement programme ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  VCR (Batch 2) [Spain]

  Programme Background Purpose The VCR programme is to replace several legacy wheeled and tracked vehicles currently in service with the Spanish Army including the BMR-600 6x6, ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  VCR (Third Batch) [Spain]

  Programme Background Purpose The VCR programme is to replace several legacy wheeled and tracked vehicles currently in service with the Spanish Army including the BMR-600 ...

• Reconnaissance/patrol vehicles

  Caracal 4x4 Light Air Assault (Netherlands)

  Programme Background As part of its Defence-wide Replacement Programme of Wheeled Vehicles (DVOW), the Dutch Army initiated the 12kN AASLT Air Assault Vehicle procurement programme ...

• Reconnaissance/patrol vehicles, Special operations vehicles

  Caracal 4x4 Light Air Assault [Germany]

  Programme Background By 2017, the German Army's airborne forces had initiated two programmes to replace legacy equipment currently in service. The first of these programmes, ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Corvettes

  FCX20

  The FCX20 has been revealed in 2022 Fincantieri's new FCX Naval Series. The FCX20 resembles a corvette-sized vessel with combat capabilities in all warfare domains (AAW, ...

• Anti-ship missiles

  Marte Mk 2/N

  Marte Mk2/N is a direct derivative of the proven and in-service Marte Mk2/S helicopter-launched anti-ship weapon system, both variants deploying the same Marte Mk2 missile.

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Athena MK2

  Produced by Leonardo, Athnena MK2 is a combat management system used by the Italian Navy. The suite has a surface variant (MK2/E) and a more advanced ...

• OPVs

  Musherib Class (FCX07)

  Fincantieri is building two OPVs for the Qatari Emiri Navy as part of a larger seven-vessel €4 billion ($4.67 billion) contract involving four corvettes and one ...

• Anti-ship missiles

  Teseo Mk2/E

  The Teseo Mk2/E, which incorporates land-attack capabilities, is the latest evolution of the Otomat/Teseo anti-ship weapon family and is set to replace the legacy Mk2/A ...

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

  TSA Fantom MK2

  The TSA Fantom Mk2 is a small, in-development fixed-wing drone from Thunderstrike. It has two variants: the TSA Fantom Mk2 FW and the TSA Fantom ...

• EO/IR systems, Land: vehicle surveillance/target acquisition systems

  MX-GCS Mk2

  The MX-GCS Mk2 is an improved variant of the MX-GCS Mk2 1, an above-armour gunner or commander sight that enables armoured vehicles to detect, identify, track ...

• Land: manned turrets

  UT30 MK2/MT30

  Leveraging its experience producing the UT30 turret for armoured vehicles, Elbit developed the UT30 MK2, which is available in an unmanned (UT30 MK2) and a ...

• Military UGVs

  Cobra Mk2

  The Cobra Mk2 is a 5kg UGV designed for EOD/IED disposal and CBRN operations. The modular architecture of the Cobra Mk2 E supports different types of ...

• Reconnaissance/patrol vehicles, Special operations vehicles

  HMT Extenda Mk2

  Unveiled at DSEI 2019, the High Mobility Transporter (HMT) Extenda Mk2 is an open-topped armoured vehicle designed to support SOF. Like the original Extenda, the ...

• Sea: naval surveillance radar

  Smart-S Mk 2

  The Smart-S Mk2 is a three-dimensional naval air and surface surveillance radar manufactured by Aselsan and Thales. The transmit and receive modules are produced by ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Fortress Mk2

  Unveiled in June 2020, Arquus' Fortress Mk2 is the second variant of its Fortress Armoured Personnel Carrier. Offering STANAG Level 3 protection whilst retaining a low ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Ajban Mk2

  The Ajban Mk2 is an evolution of Nimr's Ajban 440A 4x4 armoured vehicle platform that builds upon technology developed for the Ajban 447A prototype. Designed ...

• Land: RWS

  R400S-Mk2

  The R400S-Mk2 is a stabilised RWS that can be fitted to wheeled or tracked vehicles.  Developed to mount the Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems M230LF lightweight ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  Hafeet Mk2

  The Hafeet Mk2 is an evolution of Nimr's first-generation Hafeet family of multi-role 6x6 armoured vehicles. Designed to provide greater payload, protection, mobility, and modularity over ...