• Land Warfare

  DSEI 2023: UK-developed Venom revolver cannon to equip Turkish remote weapon stations

  8th September 2023

  The Venom LR, revolver cannon developed by UK-based AEI Systems, offers features such as reduced recoil, multiple firing modes and compatibility with standard 30mm ammunition. It is now being integrated onto Unirobotics' Trakon remote weapon station (RWS).

• Land Warfare

  Contenders showcase their RCV-Light designs for the US Army

  1st November 2023

  The four competitors of the US Army RCV-Light exhibited their platforms featuring various types of payloads.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Challenges and innovations: Russia struggles to counter Ukraine's dominance in drone warfare

  4th September 2023

  The Russian armed forces and civilian UAV manufacturers face hurdles countering Ukraine's drone supremacy, standardising UAS production and fighting evolving tactics, as highlighted at the recent Dronnitsa event.

• Land Warfare

  What will the US Army’s RCVs-Light feature?

  3rd October 2023

  Modularity, open systems architecture, transportability, advanced technology and growth potential are among the main US Army requirements to select the designs of four companies as part of the Robotic Combat Vehicle-Light (RCV-Light) Middle Tier Acquisition – Rapid Prototyping programme capability.

• Land Warfare

  Poland continues army expansion with trio of armoured vehicle contracts

  17th August 2023

  The Polish Ministry of Defence has approved three new contracts for army vehicle procurement and development, covering wheeled and tracked infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) and tactical 4x4s.

• Land Warfare

  New Russian 8x8 armoured vehicle breaks cover at Army-2023 event

  21st August 2023

  Russia's VPK (Military Industrial Company) presented a new 8x8 platform during the Army-2023 show near Moscow earlier in August. While the vehicle was displayed under the designation BTR-82A (Advanced), Shephard has established that it is not an upgraded version of the venerable BTR-82 platform, but a completely new design.

• Land Warfare

  Dedicated recon model of Otokar Akrep II vehicle ready for export

  28th July 2023

  Otokar has introduced a reconnaissance variant of the Akrep II 4x4 armoured vehicle, equipped with a remote weapon station and advanced surveillance features. The export-ready vehicle offers adaptable weapon systems and hybrid electric drive options.

• Defence Helicopter

  Paris Air Show: Airbus aims to qualify new Nexter gun pod on H225M helicopter

  21st June 2023

  Since April 2023, Airbus Helicopters has been carrying out flight qualification firing of Nexter's NC 621 gun pod on an H225M Caracal helicopter. The pod …

• Land Warfare

  Insight: Why the CV90 infantry fighting vehicle is making a clean sweep of Nordic markets

  19th September 2023

  Shephard Defence Insight explores the evolution of BAE Systems Hägglunds’ CV90 IFV from its inception in the late 1980s to the latest CV90 MkIV, detailing the order history and upgrade packages of its ten European customers.

• Naval Warfare

  IMDEX 2023: Two more Shaldag Mk V interceptors arrive in the Philippines

  2nd May 2023

  In April, two more Israel Shipyards-built Shaldag Mk V fast attack interdiction craft (FAIC) arrived in the Philippines.

• Naval Warfare

  How the Canadian Surface Combatant programme can recover from COVID-19 delays

  23rd August 2023

  The Canadian Department of National Defence (DND) is working with Irving Shipyard to manage the lingering impact of COVID-19 on the Canadian Surface Combatant (CSC) project.

• Land Warfare

  Hanwha's Redback selected as preferred solution for Land 400 Phase 3 IFV

  27th July 2023

  Hanwha Defense Australia has been chosen as the preferred bidder for the Land 400 Phase 3 programme, providing 129 Redback IFVs to the Australian Army. The vehicles will be delivered at an accelerated rate with the first in 2027 and last expected before the end of 2028.

• Naval Warfare

  Bangladesh inaugurates new naval base and commissions eight vessels

  13th July 2023

  The Bangladesh Navy, equipped with mostly smaller boats, continues modernising with indigenously constructed vessels.

• Naval Warfare

  Indian Navy tries again to procure minehunters, but this time it goes futuristic

  4th September 2023

  The Indian Navy is looking to the future with MCMVs that integrate a lot of autonomous technology. Meanwhile, other construction projects, such as ASWSWCs and survey vessels, are proceeding.

• Land Warfare

  UK seeks rear camera system for Warrior armoured vehicles

  13th July 2023

  The British Army is seeking to procure a rear camera system for its Warrior Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFVs) to meet a safety critical modification.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military helicopters - attack

  AH-64E Apache (May 2019 FMS)

  Also included are 28 M230 30mm automatic chain guns, AN/AVR-2B laser detecting sets, AN/APR-39 radar signal detecting sets, AN/AVS-6 night vision goggles, M299 Hellfire missile ...

• OPVs

  Viana do Castelo-class (Batch II - NPO3S) [Portugal]

  Programme Background Requirements The Viana do Castelo class offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) are used for maritime patrol and surveillance, fisheries protection, SAR, anti-drug and anti-arms trafficking, illegal ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  AH-64E - Kuwait

  Programme Background According to the US State Department, the proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  R600A (RTMC)

  Programme Background The Royal Thai Marine Corps (RTMC) has a requirement for new amphibious APCs that have higher capacity and offer greater protection than its ...

• APCs/IFVs - 4x4, Reconnaissance/patrol vehicles

  Iron Cavalry Project

  Programme Background The Taiwan MND has identified the need for a new 4x4 armoured reconnaissance vehicle to replace HMMWVs and M113s utilised by reconnaissance units ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  AH-64E Apache (Indian Air Force)

  Programme Background The Indian Army was originally granted co-ownership of the 22 Apaches by the Indian MoD. However, the IAF refused to cede them to ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors, Patrol boats

  Gun Boats (Pakistan)

  Programme Background Timeline The first steel cutting for these boats occurred on 6 October 2022. The PN is seeking 20 vessels; the first one should ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

  New Water Jet Fast Attack Craft (NWJFAC) (India)

  Programme Background Requirements The Indian Navy is seeking replacements for a large proportion of its 19 46-49m-long waterjet-powered fast attack craft, several of which are approaching ...

• OPVs

  OPVs Procurement [Greece]

  Programme Background Requirements According to the RFI issued in late 2022, the Hellenic Coast Guard is seeking to procure two new OPVs. The vessels are ...

• Patrol boats

  Fast Patrol Vessels Procurement [India]

  Programme Background Requirements In January 2023, the Indian MoD issued a Request For Proposals (RFP) entailing the acquisition of 14 Fast Patrol Vessels (FPVs) for ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6, APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Wheeled Armoured Vehicles (Sri Lanka)

  Programme Background Requirement The Sri Lankan army operates armoured vehicles from several countries, with Russia and China being its biggest suppliers. Its wheeled APC inventory ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Vilkas [Lithuania - Second Batch]

  Programme Background  Lithuania's Boxers are manufactured by the ARTEC production lines in Germany and the Netherlands. KMW is responsible for producing 56 of the vehicles ...

• Frigates

  FFX Batch III - 1 [South Korea]

  Programme Background The new Chungnam-class (FFX Batch III) will consist of six new improved anti-aircraft detection vessels to replace the ageing escort and patrol ships ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  ACV - Additional Order 1 (US - USMC)

  Programme Background The Armoured Combat Vehicle (ACV) programme is intended to provide a replacement for the USMC's fleet of Amphibious Assault Vehicle 7 (AAV7) tracked ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Vilkas [Lithuania - Additional Units]

  Programme Background  Lithuania's Boxers are manufactured by the ARTEC production lines in Germany and the Netherlands. KMW is responsible for producing 56 of the vehicles ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Naval guns

  RapidFire T40AA

  The RapidFire T40AA is a 40mm naval gun system developed jointly by Nexter and Thales. The system was unveiled for the first time at Euronaval ...

• Individual grenade launchers

  MFGL

  According to Rheinmetall, the Magazine-Fed Grenade Launcher (MFGL), previously known as Hydra, is the world’s first self-loading 40mm shoulder-fired GL. It is being developed for ...

• Crew-served grenade launchers

  LG3A

  The LG3A is an improved variant of the LG3, with an added muzzle-setting device to fire Norinco’s BGL3A airburst ammunition and similar rounds produced by ...

• Cannons

  Venom 30mm

  The AEI Systems Venom 30mm gun is a derivative of the Aden 30mm and is a gas operated, electrically primed revolver gun. The configuration is ...

• Cannons

  40 CTAS

  CTA International has developed the 40 mm Cased Telescoped Armament System (40 CTAS) for integration into armoured vehicles for either new build or systems upgrades. ...

• Land: manned turrets

  Teber-30 Two-Man Turret

  The Teber-30 is a medium-calibre two-man turret designed for armoured combat vehicles. It is day/night capable with an onboard fire control computer and a two-axis ...

• Self-propelled guns

  RapidFire

  Thales unveiled the RapidFire, intended to protect both mobile forces and key assets/fixed points, at the Eurosatory 2012 exhibition. The system is designed to exploit ...

• Land: manned turrets

  Hitfist 25-30mm

  The Hitfist 25-30mm is a two-person, power-operated turret designed for installation on wheeled or tracked IFVs. The main armament can be either an Oerlikon 25mm ...

• Static guns

  Oerlikon Revolver Gun Mk 3

  Rheinmetall unveiled its 35mm Oerlikon Revolver Gun Mk 3, a remotely controlled, autonomous, network-capable air defence system, at the June 2016 Eurosatory exhibition.The weapon is ...

• Cannons

  M230LF Chain Gun

  The 30mm M230LF automatic cannon is a version of the 30mm cannon featured on the AH-64 Apache helicopter and is a member of the Orbital ...

• Assault rifles/carbines/shotguns

  K11

  Similar in concept to the US Army's cancelled XM29 Objective Individual Combat Weapon, the dual-barrel K11 airburst weapon system combines a 5.56mm assault rifle with ...

• Counter-UAS systems

  C-UAS Solution

  The C-UAS Solution uses goniometry, radar technologies and various sensors to detect and remove UAS from the air. So far, the solution has been proven effective against ...

• Airborne rockets - unguided

  Aculeus HE-IMP and HE-MM

  TDA's Aculeus HE-IMP is an unguided, high-explosive impact rocket. The Aculeus HE-MM is a high-explosive, multi-mode rocket designed for the destruction/neutralisation of elements entrenched behind ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  KF31 Lynx

  Rheinmetall unveiled the KF31, the first member of its Lynx modular tracked IFV family, at Eurosatory 2016. The 38t KF31 (KF stands for Kettenfahrzeug, the ...

• Naval guns

  OTO Marlin-WS 30 mm

  The Marlin-WS 30mm is a small calibre naval gun system characterised by a modular architecture. It is manufactured by Italian Leonardo. It is equipped with the ...