• Land Warfare

  Netherlands to proceed with their own All-Terrain Vehicle buy after plans for joint procurement fail

  9th October 2023

  The procurement of new amphibious tracked All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) for the Netherlands Marines under the Future Littoral All Terrain Mobility Band Vagn (FLATM BV) has been pushed back again.

• Naval Warfare

  Is the US Navy’s new DDG(X) destroyer facing cancellation?

  6th June 2024

  The projected costs for the DDG(X) destroyer project are spiralling, its technologies need to be matured and the USN has more pressing priorities. If the programme begins to repeat some of the mistakes made on previous major surface combatant procurements then DDG(X) is likely to face the axe.

• Land Warfare

  US Army explores sending ground robots underwater for logistics supply

  2nd January 2024

  The US Army is conducting research with commercially available solutions to assess their performance carrying diverse types of payloads.

• Naval Warfare

  Turkish Navy looks to advance maritime power with 2024 fleet expansion

  22nd January 2024

  Turkish Navy has ambitious plans to expand and modernize its fleet with new warships, submarines, drones and missiles in 2024.

• Air Warfare

  Ukraine fields 5,000 homegrown drones amid Iran's debut of advanced Shahed-238 UAV

  24th November 2023

  Amid escalating tensions and technological advancements in drone warfare, Ukraine has reinforced its front lines with a delivery of 5,000 indigenous drones, paralleled by Iran's revelation of the new jet-powered Shahed-238.

• Land Warfare

  US pushes Japan to provide 155mm ammo for Ukraine

  6th July 2023

  Japan is reluctant to provide lethal aid to support Ukraine's war, despite pressure from the US.

• Air Warfare

  Singapore Airshow 2024: Singapore’s air chief reflects on lessons learnt from ongoing conflicts

  20th February 2024

  Singapore’s air force chief shares four key learnings from ongoing conflicts ranging from countering low-cost drones to ensuring the defence of the digital domain.

• Air Warfare

  Slovenia secures second C-27J Spartan tactical transport aircraft

  23rd November 2023

  A new agreement between Leonardo, the Italian government and Slovenia has marked the procurement of a second C-27J Spartan medium tactical transport aircraft for Slovenia, following an earlier deal signed in March 2022.

• Land Warfare

  Finland purchases David’s Sling long-range air defence system from Israel

  13th November 2023

  David's Sling has been in service with Israel's defence forces since 2017, forming a part of its multi-layered air defence system, with Finland’s effort to buy the system following ongoing tensions with bordering Russia.

• Land Warfare

  Recent deliveries point to resurgent Russian defence industry

  19th January 2024

  The Russian defence industry has produced and delivered new and improved weapons systems to support the war effort in Ukraine, including the 2S35 Koalitsiya howitzer, the Gibka-S air defence system and the modernised T-80BVM tank, according to reports coming out of the country.

• Training

  Ukrainian Navy participate in Exercise Joint Warrior in UK

  26th October 2023

  The Ukrainian Navy has joined 10 nations involved in a major multinational exercise in waters off Scotland.

• 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.

• Air Warfare

  Dubai Airshow 2023: Emirati weapons poised for integration on UAE's Rafale and India's Tejas fighter jets

  15th November 2023

  Edge Group's Al Tariq has reached advanced stages of negotiations with the UAE Air Force for the integration of its weaponry onto the Dassault Rafale 4 fighter jets, while also exploring possibilities to equip India's Tejas Mk 1 with its technology.

• Naval Warfare

  Latest Virginia-class SSN commissioned by US Navy despite increasing pressure on submarine service

  16th October 2023

  USS Hyman G. Rickover (SSN 795) has become the 22nd Virginia-class submarine to enter service with the US Navy following a commissioning event on 14 October 2023.

• Land Warfare

  Why US Army artillery needs a new Precision Guidance Kit

  14th July 2023

  Northrop Grumman has secured a $40.6 million US Army contract for M1156E4 Precision Guidance Kit development, expanding capabilities for new artillery systems. Learn more about this major upgrade.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

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

  Tactical Drone System Light (SDTL) [France]

  Programme Background The French 2024-2030 military programme unveiled the SDTL for the special forces and the French Army. According to reports, the requirement would cover 30 ...

• Loitering munitions

  Switchblade 300 [France]

  Programme Background Plans to Purchase At Eurosatory 2022, Col. Arnaud Goujon, the French Army's chief of plans, told the media that the French Army was ...

• APCs/IFVs - 4x4

  4x4 Command and Reconnaissance Vehicle (Poland)

  Programme Background The Polish Army wants to replace legacy Soviet equipment procured during the Cold War with new NATO-standard platforms to enhance its interoperability with ...

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

  DT46 [France]

  Programme Background Reports Around Eurosatory 2024, multiple defence news outlets, notably Army Recognition and The Defence Post, reported that the French Army had acquired Delair's ...

• Loitering munitions, Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - mini

  UX11 (Ukraine Aid) [France]

  Programme Background First Batch On 6 September 2023, Sébastien Lecornu, the French Minister of Defence, announced Delair was providing Ukraine with more than 150 drones. ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Rosomak [Poland - Fifth Batch]

  Programme Background The Polish Army selected the Rosomak 8x8 armoured vehicle (a version of Patria's Armored Modular Vehicle (AMV) 8x8 produced under licence by Rosomak) ...

• Tanks

  New MBT [Slovakia]

  Programme Background Initial 2022 Proposed Order The Slovakian MoD published a document for determining medium- and long-term investment priorities for the defence sector in March ...

• Special operations vehicles

  VMOE

  Programme Background The Spanish Army's SOF units are procuring the VMOE to meet their requirements for an SOV with sufficient firepower, mobility and mine-protection to ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  Heavy IFV [Poland]

  Programme Background Requirement Due to the perceived threat from Russia and the conflict in Ukraine, Poland has accelerated and expanded its plans to modernise its ...

• Reconnaissance/patrol vehicles

  VBAE

  Programme Background The VBAE programme will procure a light 4x4 armoured vehicle to replace the Arquus Light Armoured Vehicle (VBL) currently in service with the ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  B1 Centauro Replacement (Spain)

  Programme Background The Spanish Army entered the B1 Centauro into service between 2000 and 2006. Manufactured by the Italian Iveco and Oto Melara consortium CIO, the ...

• Tanks

  K2 [Poland] - Phase II

  Programme Background Requirement Poland's K2 purchase is the successor of the Wilk programme which aimed to replace the country's Soviet-era T-72 and PT-91 MBTs with a ...

• Tanks

  C1 Ariete Replacement [Italy]

  Programme Background Requirement To bridge the gap between the retirement of the Ariete and the introduction of a new MBT, the Italian Army has contracted ...

• Tanks

  MGCS [Germany]

  Programme Background The MGCS programme was initiated in June 2018 when France and Germany signed an LoI to develop a common next-generation MBT platform. Although ...

• Tanks

  MGCS [France]

  Programme Background The MGCS programme was initiated in June 2018 when France and Germany signed an LoI to develop a common next-generation MBT platform. Although ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Self-propelled guns

  Morana

  Developed by Excalibur Army, the Morana is a 155mm self-propelled-howitzer capable of hitting targets up to 41km away. The howitzer is mounted on a Tatra Force ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  Boxer Tracked

  At Eurosatory 2022, Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) has unveiled a tracked version of the 8x8 Boxer armoured fighting vehicle (AFV) with an increased gross vehicle weight and ...

• Self-propelled guns

  Boxer RCH155

  The Artillery Gun Module (AGM) was developed as a private venture by Krauss-Maffei Wegmann to provide a lightweight and fully automated artillery system with the ...

• Special operations vehicles

  Caracal

  The Caracal from Rheinmetall is a special operations vehicle first unveiled at Eurosatory 2022. Designed for the German and Dutch markets, the Caracal is based ...

• Tanks

  Panther EVO

  Rheinmetall unveiled the KF51 Panther at Eurosatory 2022. Following negotiations with Hungary, Rheinmetall announced the development of the Panther EVO, a lighter variant based on a ...

• Military UGVs

  Natrix

  The Natrix is a multipurpose UGV developed by Brasa Defence Systems. Conceived to carry equipment and conduct CASEVAC in a wide range of environments, the system ...

• Tanks

  KF51 Panther

  Rheinmetall unveiled the KF51 Panther at Eurosatory 2022. The MBT uses Leopard 2 components in its bare chassis but with a brand new turret. Its main armament is the ...

• Mine-protected vehicles

  Aravis

  Nexter unveiled its 12.5t Aravis at Eurosatory 2008, and in April 2009, the company received a launch order for 15 vehicles to equip French Army ...

• Towed guns

  AH4

  In 2010, Norinco revealed that it was developing the AH4 155mm/39cal Lightweight Gun Howitzer to provide a lightweight alternative to its 12.5t AH1 155mm/45cal and ...

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

  Trojan

  In June 2022, Aeronautics launched the Trojan, an uncrewed platform that it describes as a hover plane. A user can control the electrically powered UAV via ...

• Self-propelled guns

  Krab

  Poland selected a modified version of the BAE Systems AS90M Braveheart 155mm/52cal turret to meet its requirement for a new SPH. Poland’s HSW is prime ...

• Self-propelled guns

  Brutus

  AM General and Mandus produce the Brutus self-propelled howitzer. It is a truck-mounted system armed with the M776 155mm Howitzer.  Developed with hopes of securing a ...

• Land: RWS

  Mangart 300

  The Mangart 300 unmanned turret is being developed by a consortium of seven Slovenian companies led by Valhalla Turrets. Armed with a Northrop Grumman XM813 ...

• Towed guns

  105mm Light Gun

  The 105mm Light Gun was designed and manufactured by Royal Ordnance Nottingham (now BAE Systems), with the first guns introduced to the British Army in ...

• Self-propelled guns, Land: manned turrets

  T6 Turret

  Building on its experience producing the G6 6x6 155mm SPH, Denel Land Systems developed the T6 155mm/52cal turret, first shown publicly in 2003, for the ...