• Digital Battlespace

  Drone Guard: The Complete C-sUAV Solution (Sponsored)

  3rd October 2022

  The proliferation of small Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (sUAV), whether specifically designed and equipped for military use, or adaptations of readily available commercial models, places a heavy burden on those responsible for countering them.

• Defence Notes

  Russian weapons riddled with Western electronic components, RUSI finds

  10th August 2022

  Russian weapons used in its invasion of Ukraine are full of Western-made electronic components, a report from the RUSI think tank has found.

• Defence Notes

  Taiwan boosts defence budget in light of China’s threatening antics

  31st August 2022

  Taiwan is boosting its defence budget, and at the same time seeking weapons from the US and enhancing indigenous missile production.

• Defence Notes

  How can Russia respond to Finnish and Swedish entry into NATO? (Opinion)

  27th July 2022

  Russian options are limited to express displeasure at NATO expansion into Finland and Sweden.

• Land Warfare

  US Marine Corps seeks to apply lessons from Russo-Ukrainian war

  25th July 2022

  The US Marine Corps has been learning lessons from the war in Ukraine and is now focusing on the acquisition and deployment of UAVs and artillery systems with long-range capabilities.

• Defence Notes

  How sustainable is Global Britain’s presence in Asia?

  21st September 2022

  The UK is talking the talk when it comes to the Indo-Pacific region, but will its military be able to walk the walk in the longer term?

• Land Warfare

  Krauss-Maffei Wegmann, Elbit capture German MLRS zeitgeist with cooperation MoU

  29th July 2022

  Krauss-Maffei Wegmann and Elbit agree to cooperate on enhancing the MARS II/MLRS-E multiple launch rocket system, tapping into an existing modernisation plan in Germany.

• Training

  UK supports Ukraine with more maritime training and equipment

  4th August 2022

  The Royal Navy is training Ukrainian sailors for the operation of mine countermeasure vessels as grain finally begins to leave Black Sea ports.

• Land Warfare

  Army-2022: New Russian recon vehicles displayed, but capability gap remains

  25th August 2022

  VPK displayed a new variant of its developmental BRM reconnaissance vehicle, while UVZ exhibited an upgraded version of the BRM-1K. Neither seem viable candidates for filling situational awareness capability gaps for Russian mechanised infantry units.

• Land Warfare

  Army-2022: Russian military moves to address artillery weaknesses

  22nd August 2022

  Russia is commencing series production of three new artillery systems and a specialised reconnaissance vehicle to address weaknesses highlighted by operational experience in Ukraine.

• Land Warfare

  Russia claims combat debut in Ukraine for Koalitsiya SPH

  21st July 2022

  Russian forces have reportedly employed the Koalitsiya SPH in Ukraine. If true, this marks the first combat use of the most modern and sophisticated artillery system in Moscow’s arsenal.

• Land Warfare

  Nexter contracted for an additional 18 Caesar artillery pieces

  29th July 2022

  French defence manufacturer Nexter will deliver a further 18 Caesar 155mm artillery systems to the French Armed Forces by summer 2024.

• Defence Notes

  When the shoe fits: Greece looks to US and Israel for UAV and counter-drone solutions

  5th September 2022

  Greece aims to buy Israeli C-UAS equipment and it also plans to acquire the MQ-9B SeaGuardian — albeit for a hefty price.

• Defence Notes

  Rolls-Royce boosts German capacity to meet MTU engine demand

  2nd August 2022

  Rolls-Royce Power Systems is investing in new assembly lines and an additional 450 employees by 2031, anticipating increased demand for MTU-brand engines following shifts in European security policy.

• Air Warfare

  Farnborough 2022: PBS confirms four customers for its new turbojet engine

  27th July 2022

  Shephard met PBS Velka Bites at the Farnborough International Airshow to discuss the unveiling of its new turbojet engine and future developments.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  Akinci [Ukraine]

  Programme Background Two Export Contracts In January 2022, the Daily Sabah reported that Baykar had "recently" signed its first export contract for the Akinci. Haluk Bayraktar ...

• Loitering munitions

  Switchblade 600 (Ukraine Aid) [US]

  Programme Background $300 Million USAI (1 April 2022) On 1 April 2022, the US DoD announced a $300 million military aid package for Ukraine following ...

• Patrol boats

  FPB 98 (Ukraine)

  Programme Background The international competition had been launched in the Spring of 2018 by the Ukrainian Ministry of Interior for the reinforcement of the State ...

• Loitering munitions, Military UAS - fixed-wing

  Phoenix Ghost (Ukraine Aid) [US]

  Programme Background Presidential Drawdown (21 April 2022) Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022, on 21 April 2022, President Biden announced an $800 ...

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

  RQ-35 Heidrun (Ukraine Aid) [Germany]

  Programme Background Delivered Units On 19 April 2022, Oryx reported that Denmark had given Ukraine 25 Sky-Watch's Heidrun mini-UAV units as aid following Russia's invasion ...

• Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - small

  T-150 (Ukraine)

  Programme Background Virtual Address On 24 February 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine. On 3 May 2022, the UK's Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, virtually addressed the Ukrainian ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  Bayraktar TB2 (Aid & Discounted Units) [Ukraine]

  Programme Background Pre Invasion Units The Ukrainian Army purchased 12 TB2 units in January 2019 for a reported $69 million. Deliveries began in June 2019, ...

• 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 - tracked

  CV90 [Ukraine]

  Programme Background Announced at the NATO Defense Ministers’ Meeting in Brussels in June 2023, Ukraine formally signed a Joint Declaration on Cooperation in the Procurement and Operation ...

• Loitering munitions

  Switchblade 300 (Ukraine Aid) [US]

  Programme Background Presidential Drawdown (16 March 2022 & 13 April 2022) On 16 March 2022, President Biden announced $800 million in security assistance to Ukraine through ...

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

  FPV Drones [Lithuania]

  Programme Background Ukraine FPV Drones On 5 April 2024, the Lithuanian MoD announced it would purchase around 3,000 Lithuanian-made FPV drones to give to Ukraine ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  One 150 (Luxembourg)

  Programme Background According to information obtained by Army Recognition from the Luxembourg Ministry of Defense, the country has delivered six One 150 UAVs to Ukraine ...

• Military UAS - micro, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Latvian Drones (Ukraine Aid) [Latvia]

  Programme Background Ukrainian Defence Contact Group (UDCG) In January 2024, the Ukrainian Defence Contact Group (UDCG), a multi-nation organisation that coordinates military aid for Ukraine, established a ...

• Military UAS - micro

  Drones (Ukraine Aid) [Australia]

  Programme Background In April 2024, while in Lviv, Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles announced a new AU$100 million military assistance package for Ukraine. This reaffirms ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  GA-ASI Drone [Ukraine]

  Programme Background MQ-9A Reaper - April 2022 On 13 April 2022, Forbes reported that Ukraine was talking with GA-ASI to acquire the MQ-9A Reaper. Ukrainian officials ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Loitering munitions, Military UAS - micro, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Shpak

  Shpak is a mini rotary wing, FPV style, UAV manufactured by RSI Europe. Primarily designed to carry explosives, the drone was developed to help Ukraine ...

• Tanks

  T-80UD

  The 125mm-armed T-80UD MBT is a variant of the T-80 which was in production in Ukraine when the Soviet Union broke up in 1991. An ...

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

  Supercam S350/S350F

  The Supercam S350/S350F is a mini fixed-wing that Supercam Unmanned Systems Group manufactures. The Russian UAV features a modular design and has been primarily designed ...

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

  Pro

  The Pro VTOL is a fixed-wing UAV from DeltaQuad. It is available in three models, the Map, View and Cargo variants, which primarily impact the attached payload. ...

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

  REX

  The REX is an in-development Ukrainian mini-attack drone. It can hold and subsequently drop various munitions weighing up to 10kg and can locate, fix, track, ...

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

  Observer-S

  The Observer-S is a UAV produced by Def C of the Intecracy Group in Ukraine. Its main purpose is aerial survey and reconnaissance. It is ...

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

  Astero

  Manufactured by Nordic Wing, the Astero is a fixed-wing mini UAV designed for ISR missions. The drone is equipped with a NightHawk 2 camera. In the ...

• Military UAS - micro, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Black Hornet 3

  The Black Hornet 3 is the next generation of the PD-100 Black Hornet, the world's smallest nano-UAS. This new model of the Black Hornet provides ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  Patriot R2

  The new-generation Patriot R2 UAS is used for military and civil/commercial applications and provides reconnaissance support. It was designed in response to fighting that occurred ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  SURA HMTDS

  SURA is a helmet-mounted display system produced in Ukraine. Notably, it offers off-boresight acquisition capability to pilots and can cue the aircraft's sensor systems using ...

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

  UX11 / OSKAR

  The UX11 is a fixed-wing UAV designed for survey-grade photogrammetry, geographic information system and construction. The Opportunity Strike Kinetics Aircraft Ruggedised (OSKAR) is a loitering munition ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  Spectator M/M1

  The Spectator is a Ukrainian UAV series jointly developed by OJSC Meridian, a subsidiary of Ukroboronprom, and the National Technical University of Ukraine (KPI). The Spectator M1 is the ...

• Aircraft carriers

  Liaoning (Type 001)

  Liaoning, China's first aircraft carrier, is a refurbished cold war-era aircraft carrier that was commissioned in 2012. The ship is a former Soviet Navy aircraft ...

• Air-to-air missiles

  Vympel R-27

  The Vympel R-27 (NATO reporting name AA-10 Alamo) is a Soviet air-to-air missile. It remains in service with the Russian Air Force and is also ...

• Military UAS - micro, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Mini 2

  The Mini 2 is a micro rotary-wing drone from DJI. It features a 3-axis gimbaled 12MP camera for photographs and 4k/30fps for video capture. Shephard believes ...