• Naval Warfare

  Future of the South African Navy looks bleak despite new ships entering service

  29th November 2023

  The commissioning of SAS King Shaka Zulu, a Multi-Mission Inshore Patrol Vessel, into the South African Navy masks serious problems for the service as fleet availability falls dangerously low and capability atrophies.

• Air Warfare

  US Air Force to cut $2 billion of investments in aircraft in FY2025

  19th March 2024

  The reduction will impact several procurements and improvement programmes involving airlift, combat, tactical and strategic aircraft, as well as helicopters.

• Training

  British Army Strategic Training Partner bidders drop from seven to four

  7th November 2024

  Three of the bidding consortia have dropped out of the competition to become STP for the British Army Collective Training Service.

• Digital Battlespace

  How Israel is using space to spot missile threats from Iran

  2nd May 2024

  A former Israeli space head has recommended that the Israeli Air and Space Arm operate small satellites in swarms to provide the country’s armed forces with region-wide surveillance.

• Air Warfare

  Serbia seeks 5,000 expandable UAVs, accelerates production

  14th March 2024

  Serbia has expressed its desire to push for a speedier military modernisation, including the acquisition of various drones and the development of domestic UAV technologies.

• Naval Warfare

  European patrol corvette plan approved to move to next phase

  10th June 2024

  The Modular and Multirole Patrol Corvette (MMPC) has been planned to meet requirements for France, Italy and Spain, as well as potentially for Denmark, Greece, Norway, Ireland, Romania and Portugal.

• Air Warfare

  Heron TP flies over Germany for the first time

  15th May 2024

  The Heron TP is a multi-role, advanced, long-range MALE UAS. It is faster, larger and higher flying than the Heron Mk 1 on which it is based and has been equipped with automatic taxi-takeoff and landing systems, satellite communication for extended range and fully redundant avionics.

• Air Warfare

  Insight: How the P-8 Poseidon has conquered the maritime patrol aircraft market

  6th September 2023

  Shephard Defence Insight analyses the success story of the Boeing P-8 Poseidon, a multi-mission maritime patrol aircraft that has captured international interest, detailing its variants, operators and unit cost.

• Air Warfare

  Anduril and GA-ASI propel forward in US Air Force CCA programme’s next phase

  25th April 2024

  Anduril and GA-ASI have raced ahead in the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) initiative, securing contracts with the US Air Force to build production representative flight test platforms.

• Air Warfare

  Boeing applauds imminent E-7A deal and negotiation process

  21st July 2024

  The US Air Force (USAF) Is looking to replace its E-3 airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) with Boeing’s E-7s.

• Air Warfare

  How the US Air Force's internal restructuring process will impact its capacity to project power

  7th March 2024

  The service’s strategy includes measures to improve training, reduce bureaucracy, get ready for joint missions and accelerate the development and field of systems and solutions.

• Naval Warfare

  BAE Systems to upgrade Mk 45 control systems on Anzac-class frigates

  9th January 2024

  BAE Systems has been refreshing the Mk 45 guns on the Royal Australian Navy’s Anzac-class frigates for more than a decade and a new contract will take it to Mod 4 standard.

• Air Warfare

  Boeing tests new MQ-25 Stingray software for crewed-uncrewed teaming

  1st May 2024

  The new software was said to significantly reduce the time it takes for an F/A-18 to communicate with an MQ-25.

• Land Warfare

  Oshkosh unveils improved MTVR as 4x4 variant

  1st May 2024

  Oshkosh has produced more than 10,000 6x6 Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacements (MTVRs) for the US Mariine Corps and US Navy ‘Seabees’ (US Naval Construction Battalions), which have been operating off-road missions in Afghanistan, Iraq and around the world.

• Air Warfare

  Shield AI successfully demonstrates autonomous teaming with V-BAT UAS

  31st August 2023

  Shield AI has completed an autonomous teaming demonstration using three V-BAT UAS, showcasing their Hivemind AI pilot and paving the way for deployable teaming capabilities in GPS-denied environments.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Minehunters

  Kormoran II Class MCM (4-6) [Poland]

  Programme Background Timeline As of March 2022, the Kormoran II-class consists of six minehunters for the Polish Navy. However, as of June 2022, only one vessel has been ...

• Frigates

  MKS 180 Programme (5-6) [Germany]

  Programme Background Requirements The MKS 180 frigate programme for the Federal German Navy reflects the desire for the German government to become more engaged on ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | C295 MPAs [India]

  In February 2024, India's Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) cleared the Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) to purchase 15 maritime patrol aircraft for about $3.5 billion. The Indian ...

• Data links

  Data links | C295 MPAs [India]

  In February 2024, India's Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) cleared the Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) to purchase 15 maritime patrol aircraft for about $3.5 billion. The Indian ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | C295 MPAs [India]

  In February 2024, India's Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) cleared the Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) to purchase 15 maritime patrol aircraft for about $3.5 billion. The Indian ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | C295 MPAs [India]

  In February 2024, India's Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) cleared the Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) to purchase 15 maritime patrol aircraft for about $3.5 billion. The Indian ...

• Maritime patrol

  C295 MPAs [India]

  Programme Background In February 2024, India's Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) cleared the Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) to purchase 15 maritime patrol aircraft for about $3.5 ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Multirole Underwater Seabed Surveillance Ship (MU3S) [Italy]

  In June 2024, during a presentation provided at the NATO Maritime Security Centre of Excellence (MARSEC COE), the Italian Navy detailed the new capabilities it ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Multirole Underwater Seabed Surveillance Ship (MU3S) [Italy]

  In June 2024, during a presentation provided at the NATO Maritime Security Centre of Excellence (MARSEC COE), the Italian Navy detailed the new capabilities it ...

• UAS: communication systems

  UAS: communication systems | Future Vertical Lift Maritime Strike (FVL-MS) [USA]

  The Future Vertical Lift Maritime Strike (FVL-MS) programme seeks to develop and acquire a family of systems, including crewed and uncrewed aircraft, to replace rotary life aircraft ...

• UAS: flight control systems

  UAS: flight control systems | Future Vertical Lift Maritime Strike (FVL-MS) [USA]

  The Future Vertical Lift Maritime Strike (FVL-MS) programme seeks to develop and acquire a family of systems, including crewed and uncrewed aircraft, to replace rotary life aircraft ...

• Military helicopters - maritime

  MH-60R Seahawk (Saudi Arabia)

  The sale is aimed at improving Saudi Arabia’s capability to meet current and future threats from enemy weapon systems, provide the capability to identify, engage ...

• Military helicopters - light/training

  AW119 Koala-Portugal

  The order includes options for a further two aircraft. The helicopters will be deployed in a range of missions, including training, MEDEVAC, troop transport and ...

• UAS: communication systems

  UAS: communication systems | Heavy Lift Capability (UASHLC) [UK]

  The Royal Navy's (RN) Uncrewed Aerial Systems Heavy Lift Capability (UASHLC), or Heavy Lift Challange, is a developmental programme exploring cargo-carrying uncrewed technology and new acquisition approaches.  Phase ...

• UAS: flight control systems

  UAS: flight control systems | Heavy Lift Capability (UASHLC) [UK]

  The Royal Navy's (RN) Uncrewed Aerial Systems Heavy Lift Capability (UASHLC), or Heavy Lift Challange, is a developmental programme exploring cargo-carrying uncrewed technology and new acquisition approaches.  Phase ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Sea: navigation radar

  FAR-3000

  The FAR-3000 is Furuno's chart radar used to provide situational awareness and navigation safety. It has been developed mainly as a commercial radar, but New ...

• Sealift/replenishment vessels

  Protecteur Class JSS

  The Canadian government announced on 2 June 2013 the selection of the Berlin-class design, proposed by ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems Canada, to meet the Royal Canadian Navy’s ...

• Submarines: conventional, attack

  Scorpene Class

  The Chilean Scorpene-class were procured from the consortium composed of Naval Group and Navantia in the late 1990s. The submarines, which were delivered between 2005 and ...

• Sea: naval surveillance radar, Sea: surveillance system radar

  SharpEye

  The SharpEye radar is available in S- and X-band configurations. In the former, the radar has a peak output power of 200W and an average ...

• Minehunters

  Kormoran II Class

  Three Kormoran II-class minehunters were budgeted for the Polish Navy in 2011, and a contract was placed for a prototype in 2013, with the first ...

• Data links

  Multimedia Com HDLP

  HDLP is a software object providing data link layer services for HF radio data communications. It has been designed for insertion as the data link ...

• Submarines: conventional, attack

  Gotland Class

  Three Gotland-class (A19) conventional attack submarines are in service with the Swedish navy. First-of-class, HMwMS Gotland and HMwMS Uppland have completed a mid-life upgrade. A contract ...

• Patrol boats

  Warrior Class (Stan Patrol 6211)

  Under Project Biro, the South African Navy is acquiring three new multi-mission inshore patrol vessels. The project is expected to run for approximately seven years, ...

• Subsystems: hardware

  Maritime Console

  The Discovery Machine Maritime Console can create highly intelligent entities for use in simulated training events. It is designed to work with the USN Joint ...

• Air: COMINT and ELINT systems

  FlyingFish Maritime

  The FlyingFish Maritime SIGINT system is one of several derivatives of the FlyingFish Airborne Satellite Monitoring System developed by Horizon Technologies. Designed to be mounted ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  SitaWare Maritime

  Developed by Systematic, SitaWare Maritime is a C4ISR system that emphasises interoperability, the ability to provide a recognised maritime picture, and data-led decision-making aids. According ...

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

  AeroForce 380

  The AeroForce 380 is a MALE fixed-wing drone. Based on the Milkor 380, it is tailored for maritime surveillance and Coast Guard missions. It can ...

• Maritime patrol

  Cessna Maritime Patrol

  The Cessna 'special mission' Maritime Patrol Aircraft is a variant of the Cessna Citation Longitude business jet developed by Textron aviation. Textron has stated the onboard systems, ...

• Air: Integrated cockpit systems

  Airborne Mission Systems

  General Dynamics Mission Systems - Canada is the mission system integrator for the Royal Canadian Air Force’s new maritime helicopter, the Sikorsky CH-148 Cyclone.

• Air: mission management systems

  Naval Command Center

  The Elbit Systems Naval Command Center (NCC) provides the infrastructure, systems and functionality required to achieve maritime domain awareness in conjunction with applicable means, evaluating ...