• Land Warfare

  Malaysian Army self-propelled howitzer acquisition programme faces a blurry future

  27th February 2024

  The schedule, number of platforms and total estimated cost of the Malaysian Army’s 155mm self-propelled howitzer (SPH) acquisition programme has remained undefined despite the procurement effort having been announced back in the 2010s.

• Land Warfare

  World Defense Show 2024: Lacroix displays improved soft-kill vehicle protection system in Riyadh

  5th February 2024

  The Lacroix S-KAPS (Soft-Kill Advanced Protection System) has been designed to protect against laser-guided weapons and provide all-round surveillance.

• Naval Warfare

  US Navy facing tough challenges in uncrewed vessel programmes

  5th January 2024

  The US Navy has major plans for uncrewed vessels, both surface and underwater, but faces programme challenges according to a review of information by the US Congressional Research Service (CRS).

• Land Warfare

  Indian Army issues RfI for new tracked armoured recovery vehicles

  13th September 2023

  India is looking for a large quantity of new indigenously built armoured recovery vehicles to serve its tank fleet.

• Defence Notes

  In depth: US and China’s complex arms race over Taiwan

  28th June 2024

  The US and China have been engaging in a complex game of mutual deterrence over Taiwan in a race that features a bewildering range of different equipment.

• Air Warfare

  Kuwait receives four more Eurofighter Typhoons

  31st October 2023

  The Kuwait Air Force has taken delivery of four additional fighter jets from a fleet of 28 Tranche 3 Eurofighter Typhoons initially ordered back in 2016.

• Air Warfare

  UK P-8 Poseidons to get Sting Ray Mod 1 torpedoes

  1st December 2023

  The UK MoD has confirmed the selection of the BAE Systems Sting Ray Mod 1 torpedo as the future torpedo capability for its P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) fleet, alongside the US Navy's Mk54 weapon.

• Naval Warfare

  Freedom-class Littoral Combat Ship USS Marinette Littoral Combat Ship commissioned

  19th September 2023

  The latest USN Littoral Combat Ship (LCS), the Freedom-class USS Marinette (LCS 25) was commissioned on 16 September. It will be homeported at Naval Station Mayport, Florida.

• 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.

• Land Warfare

  Oman to receive 301 TOW missiles

  4th October 2023

  Oman has had its $70 million purchase of Raytheon TOW 2B Radio Frequency missiles approved by the US State Department

• Land Warfare

  Leopard MBT: Alpha beast finally gets to work after a long slumber (updated 2024)

  14th May 2024

  Leopard MBTs are German-made main battle tanks that have been in service since the Cold War and have undergone several upgrades to remain competitive in modern warfare. This article traces the history and development of the Leopard 1 and 2, its variants, its operational service and its future prospects.

• Land Warfare

  Indian Army seeks ATGMs for BMP-2s and machine guns

  20th July 2023

  The Indian Army is hunting for medium-calibre machine guns, plus anti-tank guided missiles for its fleet of BMP-2 vehicles.

• Air Warfare

  Insight: How the P-8 Poseidon has conquered the maritime patrol aircraft market

  6th September 2023

  Shephard Defence Insight analyses the success story of the Boeing P-8 Poseidon, a multi-mission maritime patrol aircraft that has captured international interest, detailing its variants, operators and unit cost.

• Naval Warfare

  Better late than never: Spanish Navy commissions its first S-80A submarine more than 10 years behind schedule

  11th December 2023

  The S-80A Plus, a new class of ocean-going submarines, will enhance the Spanish Navy’s capabilities despite the challenges and delays experienced during their development and delivery.

• Air Warfare

  PLA shows off new UCAV, while CH-5 achieves sale to Iraq

  27th September 2023

  China's aerospace industry continues to develop and sell advanced UAVs both at home and on the international market and has displayed UCAVs at the China Helicopter Exhibition in Tianjin.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• ISR/special mission

  ISTAR Aircraft - India

  Programme Background New Delhi has a long standing requirement for ISTAR aircraft to increase the IAF's capability to track mobile ground targets, map natural disaster areas, ...

• Loitering munitions

  Harop [Azerbaijan]

  Programme Background According to a December 2020 report by the Centre for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS), Azerbaijan acquired an estimated 50 Harop loitering munitions ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  AH-1Z Romania

  The Romanian MoD has a long-standing requirement for new rotary platforms, including troop transport, supply and attack configurations. According to the the Military Strategy document, ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Piranha V

  264 of the Piranha Vs will be assigned to the Danish Army's 1st Brigade, following its reorganisation in January 2019. Each of its three armoured ...

• 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 - 4x4

  Paraguay VAMTAC ST5

  Programme Background Paraguay's Joint Task Force is in need of new armoured vehicles that can provide sufficient protection against the small arms, mines and IEDs ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  Mi-28UB - Russia

  Programme BackgroundThe Russian MoD plans to acquire up to 60 Mi-28UB aircraft for the Russian Air Force by mid-2020s. Moscow signed a contract with Russian Helicopters ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  Mi-28UB - Russia Forecast

  Programme Background The Russian MoD plans to acquire up to 60 Mi-28UB aircraft for the Russian Air Force by mid-2020s. Moscow signed a contract with Russian ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  Tejas LCA - India Follow-On

  According to the HAL's chairman R Madhavan, 'apart from all the capabilities of IOC aircraft, the FOC variant additionally comes with an air-to-air refuelling capability, close-combat ...

• APCs/IFVs - 4x4

  Cobra II Armoured Tactical Vehicle - 2 (EGM-ZTA-2)

  Some of the Cobra IIs delivered to the SGD are armed with an Aselsan SARP RWS. Based on the value of the June 2016 contract ...

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

  KUS-FT (South Korea)

  Programme Background Requirement The ROKA had identified a need for tactical UAVs that can be employed at the divisional level to carry out ISTAR missions ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  WhAP

  The Wheeled Amphibious Armoured Platform (WhAP) is being designed and developed in collaboration with India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) to meet an Indian ...

• Self-propelled mortars

  Soltam Spear MK II

  Elbit Systems publicly unveiled the Soltam Spear Mk II 120mm recoil mortar system at Defexpo 2016. It is a second-generation development of the Soltam Spear ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  Otaman 6x6

  First unveiled in 2016 at Defexpo in India, the Otaman 6x6 was designed by Practika to meet the requirements of the Armed Forces of Ukraine ...

• Reconnaissance/patrol vehicles

  LAMV

  At Defexpo India in February 2014, Tata Motors unveiled a prototype of the Light Armoured Mobility Vehicle (LAMV) which it is offering to meet Indian Army ...

• Magline Cruiser

  First displayed at the DefExpo exhibition in 2014, the Magline Cruiser was developed as three variants: Cruiser 1, Cruiser 2 and Mini Cruiser. The two larger ...

• Self-propelled guns

  Arjun Catapult Mk II

  India's Combat Vehicles Research and Development Establishment (CVRDE) publicly unveiled the Arjun Catapult Mk II at Defexpo India in February 2014. The Arjun Catapult is ...

• Towed guns

  Dhanush

  India's state-owned Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) developed the Dhanush 155 mm L/45 towed howitzer using technology transferred as part of a late 1980s deal for ...

• OPVs

  Shachi Class (Project 21)

  Project 21 (P-21) Naval Offshore Patrol Vessels (NOPVs)  was intended to enhance the maritime surveillance and patrol capabilities of the Indian Navy. The design of ...

• Self-propelled missile systems

  Tor-M1

  The tracked Tor-M1 (NATO designation SA-15 Gauntlet) self-propelled air defence system is designed to defeat aircraft, helicopters, UAVs and cruise missiles flying at medium, low ...

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

  Tanan

  The Tanan is VTOL UAS developed for maritime and land missions. It is capable of completing eight hour missions over a 180km range with a ...

• Towed guns

  Sharang

  The Sharang 155mm towed artillery gun is an upgraded version of the Russian-made M-46 130mm howizter produced by the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB). It is ...

• Towed guns

  M777

  The Ultralightweight Field Howitzer (UFH), now designated the M777, was designed in 1987 in order to satisfy US Army requirements for a lightweight 155mm howitzer. ...

• Military - USVs

  SeaFly-01

  The SeaFly-01 USV, developed by Beijing Sifang Automation, was showcased at the 11th Zhuhai Airshow in China in November 2016. Phase one tests of the ...

• Military - USVs

  High-Speed Intercept Boat

  Poly Technologies displayed its High-Speed Intercept Boat at DSA in Malaysia in 2016. 

• Tanks

  Zorawar

  The Zorawar is an Indian light tank project that aims to maintain a high power-to-weight ratio while offering firepower comparable to MBTs. The new platform ...