• Air Warfare

  Brazil completes F-5 modernisation programme

  20th October 2020

  Fifteen-year upgrade programme reaches its conclusion

• Naval Warfare

  Heavier Australian AFVs mean bigger landing craft needed

  12th November 2020

  Australia is planning a rolling renewal of its landing craft inventory in both the army and navy

• Naval Warfare

  China mulls law to give wider jurisdiction for its coast guard

  6th November 2020

  China is contentiously beefing up laws to increase the authority of its coast guard, the world's largest maritime law enforcement agency.

• Military Logistics

  Indonesian Air Force awaits NC212i aircraft

  22nd September 2020

  PT Dirgantara Indonesia is  manufacturing nine NC212i light military transport aircraft for the Indonesian Air Force (TNI-AU). The value of the contract and timeframe for …

• Air Warfare

  Laser targeting system adds potential to reconfigure Yak-130

  17th September 2020

  Integration of the SOLT-25 IR/TV/laser targeting and designation system could facilitate the long-discussed transformation of the Yak-130 jet trainer into a light attack aircraft. An …

• Digital Battlespace

  Indian and Vietnamese ships to include Israeli-made surveillance system

  8th September 2020

  Controp is to supply surveillance and observation equipment for new ships being built in India and Vietnam for the Vietnamese Border  Guard. The contracts are …

• Air Warfare

  Super Tucanos touch down in the Philippines

  22nd September 2020

  The first batch of long-awaited Embraer A-29B Super Tucano light attack aircraft began touching down in the Philippines on 19 September after completing an arduous multi-stop journey …

• Naval Warfare

  Thailand buys submarines to keep up with the Joneses

  27th August 2020

  COVID-19 may have severely dented Thailand’s defence budget, but the procurement of two additional S26T diesel-electric submarines for the Royal Thai Navy (RTN) from China …

• Training

  Gabriel manufacturer looks to Asia for co-production

  7th July 2020

  The Singapore-based subsidiary of Italian aircraft manufacturer Blackshape is seeking industrial workshare partnerships in Asia for its Gabriel-TP turboprop light aircraft. ‘Blackshape is willing to …

• Naval Warfare

  US slam dunks Chinese claims in troubled waters

  15th July 2020

  Last week two USN aircraft carriers (USS Nimitz and USS Ronald Reagan) began exercises in the South China Sea. This week the US government issued …

• Defence Notes

  Russia eyes new bases to project global power

  26th May 2020

  Recent statements from senior military commanders, as well as insight gleaned by Shephard from military analysts, indicate that Russia is intent on expanding and reinforcing …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Malaysian navy receives donated ScanEagles

  11th May 2020

  The Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) has in its possession the first six of 12 US-donated Insitu ScanEagle UAVs, but they remain in storage at Kota …

• Naval Warfare

  China accuses USS Barry of incursion into territorial waters

  29th April 2020

  In the latest instance of Sino-US maritime tensions, the Chinese Ministry of National Defense (MND) has accused the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Barry …

• Naval Warfare

  Serious Chinese shenanigans persist in South China Sea

  24th April 2020

  One might have hoped that China would desist from its aggressive territorial claims and military activities in the South China Sea during the COVID-19 crisis. …

• Naval Warfare

  China takes advantage as Western carrier operations struggle

  21st April 2020

  With aircraft carriers of both the US and French navies returning to port following outbreaks of the COVID-19 coronavirus on board, eyes are turning to …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Fighter - multirole

  Next Generation Fighter Aircraft (Vietnam)

  Programme Background Requirement The Vietnam People's Air Force (VPAF) operates an ageing fleet of Su-22 aircraft as well as Su-27s and Su-30s. According to expert commentary, ...

• Frigates

  Third Hamilton Class Cutter [Vietnam]

  Programme Background On 25 August 2021, US Vice-President Kamala Harris disclosed the news on a visit to Hanoi, Vietnam, that the Vietnam Coast Guard's (Canh Sát ...

• Transport

  C-130J [Vietnam]

  Programme Background Requirement Vietnam’s interest in acquiring the C-130J reflects a broader effort to modernise its air transport fleet, which was previously dominated by Russian ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | C-130J [Vietnam]

  According to a July 2024 Reuters report, the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defence is in advanced discussions with the United States to procure Lockheed Martin’s C-130J ...

• Data links

  Data links | C-130J [Vietnam]

  According to a July 2024 Reuters report, the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defence is in advanced discussions with the United States to procure Lockheed Martin’s C-130J ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | C-130J [Vietnam]

  According to a July 2024 Reuters report, the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defence is in advanced discussions with the United States to procure Lockheed Martin’s C-130J ...

• Frigates

  Future Russian Built Frigates - Batch 3

  Programme BackgroundA total of four Russian built Gepard-class light frigates have been built and are in service with the Vietnamese Navy. The design was intended ...

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

  ScanEagle 2 (Malaysia)

  Programme Background Maritime Security Initiative (MSI) programme The RMN received the ScanEagle 2's thought to be provided by the US under the Maritime Security Initiative ...

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

  ScanEagle 2 (Philippines)

  Programme Background MSI ProgrammeThe Philippines are receiving the ScanEagle 2's thought to be provided by the US under the Maritime Security Initiative (MSI) programme. This ...

• Trainer

  Trainer Aircraft (1-12) [Vietnam]

  Programme Background After years of operating Russian-built military equipment, Vietnam is more willing to procure US-supplied equipment following the lifting of the arms embargo in ...

• Military UAS - small

  Indonesia - ScanEagle 2

  Programme Background As part of a large scale programme, Indonesia was set to receive eight ScanEagle UAS drone Insitu provided by the US under the Maritime ...

• Frigates

  Hamilton Class Cutter [Bahrain]

  Programme Background Very little has been said about the transfer of an ex-Hamilton-class cutter to Bahrain, but it is one of the final two to ...

• Military UAS - small

  Vietnam - ScanEagle 2

  Programme Background The Vietnamese Coast Guard are receiving the ScanEagle 2's thought to be provided by the US under the Maritime Security Initiative (MSI) programme. This ...

• Tanks

  T-90S/SK (Forecast) (Vietnam)

  Shephard estimates that Vietnam may have a requirement for up to 200 T-90S/SK MBTs to modernise its tank fleet. Minus the 64 that were already ...

• Data links

  Data links | T-6 Texan II [Japan]

  In December 2024, reports indicated that the Japanese Government selected the T-6C Texan II as the new trainer aircraft for the Japanese Air Self-Defence Forces. ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Corvettes

  Tarantul V Class (Project 1241.8)

  The Project 1241.8 class, also known as the Tarantul V class or Molniya-class, is the newest variant of the Tarantul class, which is a development ...

• Man-portable missile systems

  HN-5

  The HN-5 is a first-generation passive IR-homing MANPADS, produced by China, that reported to be reverse engineered from the Soviet Strela-2 (US DoD designation SA-7, ...

• MPVs - 4x4, Reconnaissance/patrol vehicles

  HMV-420P 'Mosquito'

  The HMV-420P 'Mosquito' 4x4 AFV is a modernised development of Cadillac Gage's Vietnam War-era Commando APC. It has been adapted for use by the Royal ...

• Land: air defence radar

  Vostok-E

  The Vostok-E is a two-dimensional radar manufactured in Belarus by KB Radar. It is designed to detect aerial platforms using modern solid-state technologies. The radar ...

• Artillery rockets

  AccuLAR

  The AccuLAR rocket is the latest member of IMI's AccuLAR precision rocket family.  The AccuLAR rocket is a GPS fused variant of LAR-160, with 14-40 ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  XTC-02

  XTX-02 is an indigenous APC being developed in Vietnam. Its presence was revealed in August 2022 when leaked photographs published on social media has shown ...

• Tanks

  T-54M/M3

  Produced by Vietnam's state-owned Z153 plant, T-54M (formally T-54B cải tiến - "improved") is a major upgrade to the T-54 main battle tank, including a new fire control computer, an ...

• Frigates

  Hamilton Class

  The Hamilton-class cutter was originally the largest class of vessels operated by the US Coast Guard (USCG) before being replaced by the Legend-class. 12 cutters ...

• Patrol boats

  Project 10412

  Project 10412 is an export variant of the Russian Svetlyak-class multi-purpose patrol vessel built by both Vostochnaya Verf Shipyard in Vladivostok and the Almaz Shipbuilding Firm. Designed for littoral ...

• Military UGVs

  aunav.NEXT

  The aunav.NEXT, first presented in November 2013, was developed in collaboration with the Spanish National Police Corps for countering IED and CBRN threats. In March ...

• Fixed wing aircraft engines

  PT6A-34 turboprop

  The Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-34 turboprop is a development of the PT6 engine which first flew in 1961 and entered service in 1964. The ...

• Crew-served grenade launchers

  MK19 grenade machine gun

  Originally developed to provide the USN with an effective weapon to arm riverine patrol craft during the Vietnam War, the MK19 grenade machine gun has ...

• EO/IR systems, Sea: ship surveillance and fire control systems

  iSea-40HD

  The iSea-40HD is part of the iSea family of compact observation systems designed for maritime environments. It features a thermal camera with continuous optical zoom, ...

• Frigates

  Gepard 3.9 Class (Project 11661E) (Batch 2)

  The Gepard 3.9 class (Project 11661E) is one of the Russian Gepard class export variants. Four of Gepard 3.9 vessels are currently in service with ...

• Frigates

  Gepard 3.9 Class (Project 11661E) (Batch 1)

  The Gepard 3.9 class (Project 11661E) is one of the Russian Gepard class export variants. Four of Gepard 3.9 vessels are currently in service with ...