• Uncrewed Vehicles

  XLUUV towed array trials pave the way for autonomous anti-submarine warfare

  7th July 2023

  SEA, MSubs and Sonardyne conducted trials integrating uncrewed anti-submarine warfare systems using the MSubs Extra Large Uncrewed Vehicle and SEA KraitArray towed array, opening the door to potential autonomous ASW capabilities.

• Air Warfare

  Ireland receives first C295 maritime patrol aircraft

  27th June 2023

  The Irish Air Corps (IAC) has received the first of two C295 Maritime Surveillance Aircraft (MSA) from Airbus.

• Air Warfare

  Ireland receives first C295 maritime patrol aircraft

  27th June 2023

  The Irish Air Corps (IAC) has received the first of two C295 Maritime Surveillance Aircraft (MSA) from Airbus.

• Defence Notes

  How Brazil will invest over $10 billion in new defence programmes

  6th September 2023

  A special fund of $10 billion will cover Brazil's acquisition of combat vehicles, aircraft and helicopters, building new warships and submarines and modernisation of legacy systems.

• Air Warfare

  Leonardo AW249 prototype performs tests in Spain

  8th August 2023

  The aircraft carrying out hot weather tests in Spain represents the second iteration of the AW249 NEES Fenice attack helicopter.

• Land Warfare

  Argentina moves ahead with projects to modernise its armoured vehicle fleet

  14th July 2023

  While the country is advancing negotiations with Brazil to procure 6x6 Guarani vehicles, it conducted demonstrations with the second prototype of the modernised TAM MBT.

• Land Warfare

  GM Defense, Black Sage partner up to add drone defences to military vehicles

  2nd June 2023

  GM Defense has partnered with Black Sage Technologies to develop an integrated counter-uncrewed aerial systems (C-UAS) capability for tactical military vehicles.

• Naval Warfare

  Defence AI company Helsing envisions benefits for ASW, amplifying sensor capabilities

  24th July 2023

  According to defence AI company Helsing, the technology could improve how navies conduct anti-submarine warfare (ASW) operations.

• Air Warfare

  Paris Air Show: MBDA aims to overcome complex air defence challenges with Orchestrike

  20th June 2023

  At Paris Air Show, European missile maker MBDA demonstrated Orchestrike, a collaborative combat solution designed to help overcome complex air defence challenges.

• Training

  IT2EC 2023: Get ready to explore the future of military training and simulation in Rotterdam

  17th April 2023

  The IT2EC military training and simulation event returns to Rotterdam in April 2023. Sanjay Khetia, director of PLEXSYS and chairman of IT2EC told Shephard what attendees can expect when visiting the show this year.

• Land Warfare

  GM Defense selected for DoD energy storage project, showcases concept vehicles

  29th June 2023

  GM Defense announced on 27 June that it has been selected by the DoD's Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) to prototype an efficient energy storage unit (ESU). The company also displayed its new Electric Military Concept Vehicle at Modern Day Marine.

• Air Warfare

  US V-22 Osprey clutch-related grounding issue remains mystery

  25th May 2023

  The US government and industry aim to complete the replacement of affected clutch parts by autumn. The Japanese V-22 fleet is expected to follow the same procedure to avoid the the same problem arising.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  SOF Week: Teledyne FLIR unveils voice command capability for Black Hornet 3

  7th May 2023

  The voice command upgrade to the Black Hornet 3 aims to reduce the cognitive burden of end users and satisfies emerging demand signals from special operations forces.

• Land Warfare

  Brazilian Army receives Genesis/SISDAC fire control system

  26th June 2023

  The system was designed and manufactured by state-owned company IMBEL to enable faster responses on the battlefield by accelerating data handling and centralising missions of firing units under its operational control.

• Digital Battlespace

  Improving integration for smarter operations

  6th September 2023

  Military operations can be improved through the digitisation of the intelligence and operational cycles.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Fighter - multirole

  F-X III Phase II (F-35)

  Programme Background On 14 September 2014, South Korea signed an FMS contract under the first phase of F-X III programme to supply 40 F-35As for ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-35B (1-12) [Singapore]

  Programme Background Singapore is renowned as a discerning and demanding customer, so its selection of the F-35 must be seen as a vote of confidence ...

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

  Tactical Drone System (SDT) [France]

  Programme Background Tactical Drone System (SDT) programme The French Army launched the SDT programme to replace the Sagem (now Safran) Sperwer Intermediate Tactical Drone System ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing

  Family of UAVs [Bangladesh]

  Programme Background RfP The Bangladesh Army released a 106-page tender document to gather information about different platforms that would enable the force to "standardise" its UAV ...

• Maritime patrol

  P-8A Poseidon [UK]

  Programme Background In July 2016, the UK government announced that it had ordered nine aircraft for service with the RAF. Under this frame, in January ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-15SA Saudi Arabia

  The aircraft deal includes 170 APG-63(v)3 AESA radar sets, 193 F-110-GE-129 Improved Performance Engines, 100 M61 Vulcan Cannons, 338 Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing Systems amongst ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-35A Japan Follow On

  The F-35 full-rate production is expected to be further delayed following an October 2020 US DoD announcement that postponed the simulation tests, originally planned for 2017 ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-35A (1-60) [Italy]

  The 2019 and 2020 budget contained significant funding for the F-35 programme: €690 million ($775 million) in 2019 and €859 million ($962 million) in 2020, ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  Next Generation Trainer [Slovakia]

  Programme Background As Slovakia is set to receive 14 Lockheed Martin F-16Vs by the end of 2023, the Slovak Air Force (Vzdušné sily Slovenskej Republiky: ...

• Fighter - naval

  F-35B (1-30) [Italy]

  The 2019 and 2020 budget contained significant funding for the F-35 programme: €690 million ($775 million) in 2019 and €859 million ($962 million) in 2020, ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Future Surface Combatant - ANZAC Replacement [New Zealand]

  The 2019 Defence Capability Plan (DCP) highlighted that a replacement for the Anzac-class frigates would be acquired in the mid-2030s. Shephard estimates that two new surface ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Future Surface Combatant - ANZAC Replacement [New Zealand]

  The 2019 Defence Capability Plan (DCP) highlighted that a replacement for the Anzac-class frigates would be acquired in the mid-2030s. Shephard estimates that two new surface ...

• Fighter - naval

  F-35B STOVL - US Navy

  The JSF programme will develop and field a family of aircraft that meets the needs of the US DoD and US allies with the F-35A ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  VCR (Spain - Second Batch)

  Programme Background Purpose The VCR programme is to replace several legacy wheeled and tracked vehicles currently in service with the Spanish Army including the BMR-600 6x6, ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  VCR (Spain - Third Batch)

  Programme Background Purpose The VCR programme is to replace several legacy wheeled and tracked vehicles currently in service with the Spanish Army including the BMR-600 ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Land: tactical engagement simulators

  Field Artillery Training Systems

  The ICE Field Artillery Training Systems for the M109A6 Paladin and M270/M270A1 MLRS provides instrumented real-time data and performance monitoring during training and live-fire missions. ...

• Land: tactical engagement simulators

  ITAS-TESS

  The Improved Target Acquisition System – Tactical Engagement Simulation System (ITAS-TESS) is a laser-based system designed to conduct simulated weapons engagement during crew and collective ...

• 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 ...

• Land: tactical engagement simulators

  I-HITS

  The Initial Homestation Instrumentation Training System (I-HITS), developed for the US Army, provides high-fidelity, scalable CTC training capabilities for missions including force-on-force, urban operations, joint ...

• Land: tactical engagement simulators

  Area Weapons Effects Simulation

  Cubic’s indirect fire and Area Weapons Effects Simulators (AWES) determine the extent of simulated injuries and damage sustained by soldiers and vehicles in a combat ...

• Subsystems: software

  Tactical Simulation Tool Suite

  Saab's Tactical Simulation Tool Suite is a software package for creating entity simulations and complex tactical scenarios. The software can be used as a standalone ...

• Land: tactical engagement simulators

  CATS CTC

  The CATS Combat Training Centre (CTC) trains armed forces in simulated opposition. Features: direct-fire weapon effect simulation with laser engagement systems; area weapon effect simulation ...

• Subsystems: visual

  G10 Image Generator

  Incorporating multiple CPU and GPU processing cores, the latest Generation10 (G10) Image Generators offer 54 billion textured pixels-per-second (peak) per channel. Using leading-edge graphics technologies, ...

• Naval: COMINT and ELINT systems

  Q CIEW

  Q CIEW is a family of COMINT and EW (CIEW) systems focused on counter-terror and counter-insurgency operations in a land environment, supported by naval, air ...

• Subsystems: software

  Simulation

  From physics-based dynamics and intelligent entity behaviours to tactical and operational missions, Presagis simulation software tools address the rigorous challenges of M&S; applications. Its simulation ...

• Air: helicopter flight simulators

  Helicopter Cabin/Door Gun Trainer

  The airborne cabin/door gun training system was jointly developed with Saab. It uses existing weapon installations enabling any flight to be used as a training ...

• Land: tactical engagement simulators

  Magnet

  Magnet is an infantry micro-tactical weapon training system with AAR capability. It is based on a control system and laser engagement technology, which enables the ...

• Land: tactical engagement simulators

  MANWORN II DPU

  The MANWORN II Dismounted Player Unit (DPU) is a flexible position location tracking system suitable for individual through brigade-level training. MANWORN II DPU features GPS ...

• Land: tactical engagement simulators

  TES MILES Products

  Leidos provides wireless Tactical Engagement Simulation (TES) MILES laser-based systems and products for live, scalable combat training range exercises. The MILES components are interoperable and ...

• Land: air defence simulators

  Rapier Air Defence PTT

  In service with the British Army, the Rapier Air Defence Field Standard A and B part task trainer (PTT) gives students target alerting, identification, tracking ...