• Naval Warfare

  Will the US be able to make its shipbuilding industry “great again”?

  9th May 2025

  The White House and Congress have been increasing efforts to support the national maritime industry.

• Air Warfare

  US State Department approves $1.9 billion Black Hawk sales for Sweden and Austria

  30th May 2024

  Foreign Military Sales (FMS) have been approved for 12 UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters to both Sweden and Austria. The announcements follow the approval of 12 to Brazil on 24 May, Greece signing for the procurement 35 of the helicopters in April and FMS approval to Croatia for eight aircraft in January.

• Air Warfare

  Nigeria confirms M-346 advanced trainer deliveries for this year

  19th April 2024

  The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) will enhance its fleet with the imminent delivery of six Leonardo-built M-346 advanced trainer and light attack aircraft by the end of 2024.

• Defence Notes

  Drones, C-UAS and air base investments top the list in $42 billion US-Qatar defence deal

  16th May 2025

  General Atomics Aeronautical Systems secured a nearly $2 billion deal for MQ-9B uncrewed aerial systems, while Raytheon’s counter-UAS system was secured for $1 billion.

• Air Warfare

  Why is the US far behind Russia and China in the space warfare domain?

  21st April 2025

  While Beijing and Moscow have been working on anti-satellite weapons at an accelerated speed, Washington still does not have capabilities to defeat them, with one US legislator describing the situation as “the Cuban Missile Crisis in space”.

• Air Warfare

  Why is the US military focusing on having low-cost, disposable drones in its inventory?

  1st June 2025

  Diverse acquisition and development efforts across the US Department of Defence (DoD) have been focusing on the benefits cheap uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) offer.

• Naval Warfare

  Long-delayed polar icebreaker programme gets cash and impetus boost

  1st April 2025

  The US Government has awarded a significant contract to move along its Polar Security Cutter programme.

• Land Warfare

  US approves $825 million sale of Stinger Block I missiles to Morocco

  17th April 2025

  The 600-missiles will be used to expand the Moroccan armed forces’ short range air defence capabilities.

• Air Warfare

  F-15EX and shipbuilding win big in proposed $150 billion US defence funding boost

  1st May 2025

  The legislation outlined additional budget to enhance air, land and naval platforms, including next-generation air and uncrewed naval programmes.

• Land Warfare

  Dutch order for up to 1,570 trucks highlights surging demand

  19th May 2025

  The past 12 months has seen billions-of-dollars in logistics, support and supply trucks ordered and delivered. The deals range from a US Army US$1.5 billion contract with Oshkosh, Italy for US$784 million from IDV and Canada’s US$1.8 billion order for Mercedes-Benz Zetros trucks to a German order worth US$3.5 billion with Rheinmetall.

• Naval Warfare

  US Coast Guard faces the “greatest readiness challenge since World War II”, says Homeland Security Secretary

  13th May 2025

  The service currently has diverse problems in its procurement programmes and capability gaps in its inventory, writes Shephard’s North America editor Flavia Camargos Pereira.

• Air Warfare

  Collins Aerospace wins $80 million contract for US Army Black Hawk avionics upgrade

  19th March 2025

  The US$80 million contract will provide the US Army Black Hawk helicopters with faster and more flexible technology on the battlefield, with upgrade work “actively” ongoing.

• Land Warfare

  BAE Systems takes another step towards restarting M777 howitzer production

  16th April 2025

  The M777 155mm lightweight howitzer is in service with more than six countries and has been heavily used in Ukraine. The latest contract is part of an effort to restart the manufacture of M777 towed howitzers.

• Air Warfare

  Collins prepares expansion of the US Navy/Marine Tactical Combat Training System Inc II

  14th April 2025

  The company has been negotiating the supply of TCTS II to US allies and partners.

• Air Warfare

  US Army cancels FTUAS and the MQ-1 Gray Eagle as part of the Army Transformation Initiative

  13th May 2025

  Last week, it was revealed that the US Army intended to cancel the long-running Future Tactical UAS (FTUAS). The revelation, no doubt part of the Army Transformation Initiative (ATI), came a week after the force highlighted that it would cancel the procurement of Gray Eagle aircraft.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Fighter - multirole

  MiG-35 (Russia)

  The MiG-35 is a new-generation derivative of the twin-engine MiG-29 (NATO code-name ‘Fulcrum’) featuring multi-role combat capabilities, significantly reworked airframe and a vastly expanded arsenal ...

• Loitering munitions

  Organic Precision Fire - Mounted (OPF-M) [USMC]

  Programme Background Armed Vehicles In June 2021, Shephard reported that the USMC had selected the HERO-120 for the OPF-M programme. The USMC planned to integrate ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Tigr-M

  The Tigr-M is a modified variant of the original Tigr design, which replaced the licence-produced Cummins diesel engine with a Russian-designed YaMZ diesel engine. This ...

• Landing platform docks/dock landing ships

  Modified Ivan Green Class (Project 11711)

  Programme Background The modified Ivan Gren class (Project 11711) large amphibious assault ships (LST) have been designed by Nevskoe Design Bureau for the Russian Navy. Two ships ...

• Military UAS - small

  Small UAV (Bulgaria)

  Programme Background The Bulgarian Army wants to procure UAVs to enhance the organic tactical ISR capabilities of its ground forces. According to Bulgarian media, a ...

• Military UAS - mini

  Mini UAV (Bulgaria)

  Programme Background The Bulgarian Army wants to procure UAVs to enhance the organic tactical ISR capabilities of its ground forces. According to Bulgarian media, a ...

• Trainer

  Undergraduate Jet Training System (UJTS)/T-45 Replacement [USN]

  Programme Background Requirements The US Navy’s (USN) Undergraduate Jet Training System (UJTS) programme is intended to replace the troubled T-45 Goshhawk trainer. The June 2024 RFI includes ...

• OPVs

  Specialised Southern Ocean Patrol Vessel [New Zealand]

  Programme Background Requirements Plans for a new OPV for the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) first came about in April 2016. The RNZN wants to ...

• Tanks

  Viatura Blindada de Combate-Carro de Combate (VBC-CC) [Brazil]

  Programme Background Several key technical requirements have been outlined by the Brazilian MoD. Among the most important are that the platform should weigh less than ...

• Reconnaissance/patrol vehicles

  VBR-MSR Medium Wheeled Armoured Reconnaissance Vehicle

  Technical Requirements The Brazilian Army released two documents outlining the technical and operational requirements for the VBR-MR programme in early 2020. These outlined a number ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  M-345 (1-18) [Italy]

  Programme Background Requirement Italy operated the MB-339 trainer platform since 1982, procuring 137 aircraft in total. These older airframes required replacement, with the Italian Air ...

• Trainer

  M-345 Italy Future Procurement

  Programme Background On 29 Decemeber 2017, Aermacchi's M-345 High Efficiency Trainer (HET) prototype aircraft successfully completed its first flight from Venegono Superiore airfield in Varese, ...

• Landing platform docks/dock landing ships

  San Antonio LPD 17 Flight I [USN]

  The LPD 17 Flight I ships are the first flight of the San Antonio-class Landing Platform Docks (LPD). Procured between FY1996 and FY2017, the vessels ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | M-346 FA [Brazil]

  Brazil is evaluating the procurement of up to 30 Leonardo M-346 light attack aircraft under a potential agreement with Italy, aimed at modernising its aerial ...

• Data links

  Data links | M-346 FA [Brazil]

  Brazil is evaluating the procurement of up to 30 Leonardo M-346 light attack aircraft under a potential agreement with Italy, aimed at modernising its aerial ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• UAS: Integrated systems - uncrewed

  NavStorm-M

  BAE Systems' NavStorm-M is a gun-hardened, integrated anti-jamming and Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver for artillery rounds, bombs, missiles, and uncrewed systems. It was revealed ...

• UAS: Integrated systems - uncrewed

  LN-251

  Northrop Grumman's LN-251 is an Inertial Navigation System/Global Positioning System (INS/GPS) solution. It is an integrated navigation system with an embedded 12/24 channel, All-In-View, Selective Availability/Anti-Spoofing Module ...

• Air: Integrated Defensive Systems

  ADA - IAI

  The ADA system, named after the system's adaptive antenna, is designed to protect avionics systems from GPS jamming. The system, that has won a tender ...

• UAS: Integrated systems - uncrewed

  KN-4074ED SAASM P(Y) Code INS/GPS

  The KN-4074EB SAASM P(Y) Code INS/GPS has an enhanced capability for the KN4074E with P(Y) code equivalent DGPS corrections.

• UAS: communication systems

  N-100-6 GPS Antenna

  The N100-6 GPS antenna offers a polarimetric solution for multiple element outputs, and has been designed to provide a significantly reduced size aperture for anti-jam ...

• Air: Integrated cockpit systems

  Common Open Reuse Environment

  The Lockheed Martin Common Open Reuse Environment (CORE) is an integrated glass cockpit and avionics solution that can interact with both civilian and military systems. ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  PRC-434G/CS

  The PRC-434G/CS personal survival radio is a handheld, lightweight transceiver that is capable of responding to interrogations transmitted by the airborne location system. Short-burst transmissions ...

• Subsystems: visual

  EuroSim

  EuroSim is a configurable simulator tool used to support all phases of space and non-space programmes through real-time simulations with a person and/or hardware-in-the-loop, and ...

• UAS: Integrated systems - uncrewed

  KN-4074E

  Produced by Kearfott, the KN-4074E SAASM P(Y) Code INS/GPS is a lightweight navigation system that can be used on various uncrewed or crewed applications, including fixed- and rotary-wing ...

• Air: surveillance and maritime patrol radar, Air: UAS radar

  Lynx

  The Lynx (AN/APY-8) is a synthetic aperture radar manufactured by General Atomics. It is designed for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance for manned and unmanned aircraft. According to ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  M-ATV

  The Oshkosh 4x4 MRAP All-Terrain Vehicle (M-ATV) family of vehicles is designed to provide high levels of protection and mobility in off-road combat environments such ...

• UAS: Integrated systems - uncrewed

  KN-4075 High Performance INS/GPS

  Kearfott’s KN-4075 High Performance INS/GPS system offers a low weight and small-size navigation system for a variety of rotary- and fixed-wing unmanned and manned aircraft ...

• Air: helicopter flight simulators

  TESS

  The Tactical Engagement Simulation System (TESS) is a transparent training instrumentation system designed for the AH-64 Apache Longbow Force-on-Force collective training for live aerial gunnery ...

• UAS: Integrated systems - uncrewed

  KN-4073C SAASM P(Y) Code INS/GPS

  The KN-4073C SAASM P(Y) Code INS/GPS is a lightweight navigation system that can be used on a range of manned aircraft applications, fixed- and rotary-wing ...

• Maritime patrol

  US-2

  The ShinMaywa US-2 is an amphibious short take-off and landing aircraft used primarily by the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) for SAR.