• Air Warfare

  India redoubles efforts to make up fighter squadron shortfall

  28th February 2023

  Mindful of the need to defend its border with China, India is evaluating how to overcome a shortfall of 12 fighter aircraft squadrons over the next decade.

• Training

  IT2EC 2023: Western forces now have trained over 86,000 Ukrainians - what lessons have been learned?

  24th April 2023

  New doctrine, tactics, techniques and procedures are reducing casualty rates as Ukrainian forces move towards a more Western outlook.

• Training

  Boeing partners with Shield AI on autonomous pilot programme

  17th March 2023

  The agreement between Boeing and Shield AI will explore autonomous systems implemented into existing and future aircraft.

• Naval Warfare

  Anadolu showcases Turkiye's indigenous endeavours, but will its drone carrier concept take off?

  20th April 2023

  In April, Turkey commissioned TCG Anadolu, the country's future drone-carrying amphibious assault ship, highlighting the capabilities of its indigenous defence industry.

• Digital Battlespace

  Lockheed Martin satellite with military potential rolls out for 2023 maiden launch

  1st February 2023

  The low-cost LM 400 satellite bus is customisable for multiple applications and supports the Pentagon's Modular Open Systems Architecture for defence missions.

• Training

  Royal Air Force pilots to train in Italy to address UK aircrew pipeline issues

  17th May 2023

  In a bid to mitigate disruption to fast jet training, the Royal Air Force will begin using the International Flight Training School in Italy.

• Air Warfare

  F-16 fighter jet backlog will increase before production rate can improve

  30th January 2023

  Lockheed Martin is facing a backlog of F-16 aircraft that is set to increase as the list of countries that want the jet grows. However, the company is convinced it can increase production rates significantly throughout 2023.

• Air Warfare

  Insight: Is the Bayraktar TB2 UAV living up to expectations?

  15th September 2023

  Sold to well over 20 countries and combat-proven in Nagorno-Karabakh, Ukraine and elsewhere, the Bayraktar TB2 has been an export success for its Turkish manufacturer. Shephard Defence Insight analyses the aircraft's design and capabilities and reviews in depth who is buying it and why.

• Training

  Standing NATO Maritime Group conducts training at sea

  3rd April 2023

  The demonstration of interoperability and maritime security capabilities in Souda Bay reinforces NATO's commitment to ensuring regional stability and safety in the Mediterranean.

• Land Warfare

  Counter-drone solutions from East and West proliferate at IDEX 2023

  27th February 2023

  There was no shortage of UAVs on display at IDEX 2023 in Abu Dhabi, and many companies brought their counter-drone systems too.

• Air Warfare

  General Atomics sole awardee for second phase of DARPA’s LongShot UAV project

  7th March 2023

  Under LongShot, DARPA aims to increase the standoff range at which fighters can launch air-to-air weapons with an air-released UAV.

• Air Warfare

  Turkey considers ditching F-16 Block 70 request in favour of non-US alternative

  16th March 2023

  Turkish officials are signalling dissatisfaction and contemplating abandoning plans to purchase F-16 Block 70s from the US as the deal stalemates, and the country faces hard economic decisions.

• Air Warfare

  Indonesian light transport progamme stalls, while fighter plans make slow progress

  27th February 2023

  Indonesia's transport and fast jet air force modernisation efforts continue to proceed at a slow pace.

• Air Warfare

  Bell makes move on FLRAA test lab construction despite ongoing Defiant protest

  27th March 2023

  Bell Textron began laying the foundations for a new testing facility for its V-280 Valor helicopter despite protest over its US Army Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) contract win.

• Air Warfare

  HAWC missile completes flight trials as focus turns to maturing hypersonic technology

  31st January 2023

  Completion of HAWC flight testing means the US has two viable hypersonic missile designs that can be matured into future programmes of record.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Destroyers

  Canadian Surface Combatant/River Class [Canada]

  Development and Procurement Requirements Fifteen frigates are being procured to replace the Royal Canadian Navy's 12 ageing Halifax-class frigates and the now-retired Iroquois-class destroyers with ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Future Fighter Capability Project [Canada]

  Programme Background Canada’s defence policy estimates the acquisition of the aircraft, associated equipment and setup to enable entry into service will cost C$15-19 billion ($12.9-14.5 billion). In ...

• Military helicopters - light/training

  Future Aircrew Training Program (Helicopter Procurement) - Canada

  The new procurement will result in one contract covering all the requirements, including maintenance and infrastructure services. Training services are currently provided through two separate ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Canadian Surface Combatant/River Class [Canada]

  The Canadian Surface Combatant (CSC) project is part of the National Shipbuilding Strategy to replace both the Iroquois-class destroyers and the Halifax-class multi-role patrol frigates. ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Canadian Surface Combatant/River Class [Canada]

  The Canadian Surface Combatant (CSC) project is part of the National Shipbuilding Strategy to replace both the Iroquois-class destroyers and the Halifax-class multi-role patrol frigates. ...

• Trainer

  Future Aircrew Training Program (Fixed-wing Aircraft Procurement) - Canada

  Programme Background The new procurement will result in one contract covering all the requirements, including maintenance and infrastructure services. Training services are currently provided through ...

• 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) ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-16V Block 70 (Bahrain)

  Programme Background In 2018, the US government awarded a $1.12 billion contract to Lockheed Martin to produce 16 F-16 Block 70 aircraft for Bahrain, which ...

• Frigates

  Littoral Combat Ship (LCS)

  Programme Background The Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) programme was developed in 2003 as a cheap and fast way to increase the size of the fleet ...

• Frigates

  Multi-Mission Surface Combatant (MMSC) [Saudi Arabia]

  Programme Background The US State Department approved a possible $11.25 billion Foreign Military Sale to the KSA for MMCS ships and associated equipment, parts and ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | C-130J (1-2) [Egypt]

  In September 2024, Egypt confirmed the order of two C-130J-30 Super Hercules aircraft from Lockheed Martin. The announcement follows the US State Department's approval of ...

• Data links

  Data links | C-130J (1-2) [Egypt]

  In September 2024, Egypt confirmed the order of two C-130J-30 Super Hercules aircraft from Lockheed Martin. The announcement follows the US State Department's approval of ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | C-130J (1-2) [Egypt]

  In September 2024, Egypt confirmed the order of two C-130J-30 Super Hercules aircraft from Lockheed Martin. The announcement follows the US State Department's approval of ...

• Military helicopters - maritime

  MH-60R Seahawk (India)

  Programme Background On 25 February 2020, a letter of acceptance for 24 MH-60Rs, worth approximately $2.12 billion, was signed by India and the US in Delhi. ...

• Maritime patrol

  Maritime Airborne Warfare System (MAWS) [Germany]

  Programme Background In 2017, Germany and France announced that they would be developing an MPA to replace their current fleets in service. The MAWS programme ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  CMS 330

  Lockheed Martin Canada's CMS 330 is a combat management system designed as a modern, affordable solution for mid-life upgrades in particular. Initially developed for the ...

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

  Indago

  Indago is a small quadrotor UAV with VTOL. It is equipped with a large-screen handset and is marketed as 'whisper-quiet' with a noise level of ...

• Destroyers

  River Class (Type 26)

  The Type 26 Anti-Submarine Warfare frigate has been designed for the UK Royal Navy, but with an emphasis on export. Both the Royal Canadian Navy ...

• Trainer

  Phenom 100

  Phenom 100 is a very light jet originally developed for single owner-pilot operation but later gained popularity as a jet trainer aircraft. The platform first ...

• Maritime patrol

  P-3 Orion

  Lockheed Martin's P-3 Orion MPA is in service with 21 operators across 17 countries in a variety of standards, designations and configurations with an upgrade ...

• Land: battlefield and ground surveillance radar

  AN/TPQ-53

  The AN/TPQ-53 counterfire target acquisition radar can track incoming rounds at a range of 60km when using its 90° search mode or at 20km range ...

• Fighter - air superiority

  F-22A Raptor

  F-22A Raptor is a fifth-generation stealth air superiority fighter with air-to-ground attack capability. It was developed by Lockheed Martin to meet the requirement of the USAF ...

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

  Indago 3/4

  The Indago 3 and Indago 4 are rotary-wing UAVs manufactured by Lockheed Martin. Ruggedised, backpackable, and rapidly deployable, the Indago system fits within a small backpack and ...

• Military UGVs

  AMAS

  The Autonomous Mobility Appliqué System (AMAS) is a multi-platform kit designed to integrate low-cost sensors and control systems onto US Army and USMC tactical vehicles ...

• Air: fixed-wing flight simulators

  Singapore BWC

  The Singapore Basic Wings Course (BWC) is a 20-year service contract awarded to Lockheed Martin in November 2006 to provide the Republic of Singapore Air ...

• Air: mission management systems

  ABCCC III

  The Airborne Battlefield Command and Control Centre (ABCCC) is a capsulised, integrated battle management and communications system that is installed in USAF EC-130E Hercules aircraft ...

• Sea: naval surveillance radar

  AN/SPY-7(V)1

  The AN/SPY-7(V)1 is a Solid State Radar (LM SSR) developed and produced by Lockheed Martin. The system will be fully integrated onboard the Royal Canadian Navy's future Surface ...

• Sea: sonar systems

  TB-37/U MFTA / AN/SQR-20

  The TB-37/U, also known as the AN/SQR-20, is a Multi-Function Towed Array (MFTA) developed and manufactured by Lockheed Martin. The sonar has both active and ...

• EW test systems

  A2PATS

  Advanced Architecture Phase Amplitude and Time Simulator (A2PATS) is a real-time EM test environment simulator for military platforms and installed systems, designed to deliver mission ...

• Sea: naval surveillance radar, Sea: surveillance system radar

  Scanter 6000

  The Scanter 6000 radar is designed to detect surface and aerial threats and particularly track small targets at close ranges. It can also monitor low-level ...