• Naval Warfare

  Italy signs up for Anglo-French future cruise missile programme

  26th June 2023

  France, the UK and Italy have signed a letter of intent paving the way for Rome to join the Anglo-French effort to develop a new future cruise and anti-ship missile.

• Air Warfare

  Argentina, Uruguay continue search for new combat aircraft

  13th June 2023

  Argentina has held discussions with India's HAL about acquiring Tejas fast jets and helicopters, while Uruguay awaits funding for an A-37 Dragonfly replacement.

• Naval Warfare

  Second Suffren-class nuclear submarine delivered to French Navy

  10th August 2023

  The second Suffren-class SSN for the French Navy, Duguay-Trouin, has been officially delivered after months of sea trials.

• Air Warfare

  B-2 stealth bomber receives new digital communications system

  10th August 2023

  Northrop Grumman and the USAF have completed an integrated airborne mission transfer (IAMT) demonstrator with the B-2 Spirit at Whiteman Air Force Base.

• Air Warfare

  Teal snags USAF deal for sUAS and sets sights on Ukraine and domestic market

  10th August 2023

  UAV manufacturer Teal Drones believes the market is opening up for its Teal 2 quadcopter sUAS in the US and in Europe as approved status is confirmed for the system in the former and strong interest from the latter, particularly in Ukraine where it expects to begin shipping the Teal 2s this year.

• Defence Notes

  Ukraine and Taiwan? What the US will spend Biden's extra 40.1 billion defence dollars on

  23rd August 2023

  The additional budget proposal addresses critical needs for emergency funding for the Pentagon, partners and allies.

• Naval Warfare

  Abrams M1E3 will be ‘dramatically different’ than the M1A2 V4

  5th October 2023

  The M1E3 version has been designed to be a more survivable, lighter tank, enhancing the efficacy and manoeuvrability of US Army armoured brigade combat teams.

• Defence Helicopter

  DSEI 2023: Lockheed to produce about 40% of Black Hawks on UK soil if it wins NMH contest

  13th September 2023

  Lockheed Martin promises a boost to the British job market and export opportunities, while strengthening ties with Poland and positioning the UK for a future in rotorcraft technology in the event of a New Medium Helicopter competition triumph.

• Defence Notes

  DSEI 2023 in review: Ukraine, AI and the real world

  20th September 2023

  DSEI 2023 took place in the shadow of the largest European land war in more than seven decades and a growth in conversations about artificial intelligence (AI) with limited UK immediate defence programme opportunities; many of the new products and exhibitors' announcements reflected this.

• Land Warfare

  European countries test use of mixed reality in combat vehicles

  26th July 2023

  Estonia and Croatia recently conducted trials with the Vegvisir Mixed Reality Situational Awareness System.

• Naval Warfare

  IMDEX 2023: New Chinese-built LPD arrives in Thailand

  4th May 2023

  A new Chinese-built LPD, HTMS Chang, arrived in Thailand in late April, having been collected by the Royal Thai Navy earlier that month.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  IMDEX 2023: Aeronautics sees growing interest in maritime UAV integration

  4th May 2023

  Israeli UAV maker Aeronautics, known for its Orbiter family of systems, has told Shephard that the company sees great potential in the maritime space and navies’ growing interest in integrating drones into the domain globally.

• Land Warfare

  How the US Army is getting ready to succeed in contested multidomain scenarios

  24th July 2023

  The service has been working on the improvement of strategy, inventory and training in addition to conducting several acquisition, development and modernisation efforts.

• Land Warfare

  DSEI 2023: ST Engineering shows latest mortar and announces UK partnership

  11th September 2023

  As ST Engineering's latest 120mm Ground Deployed Advanced Mortar System (GDAMS) makes its first appearance at DSEI 2023, the Singaporean company has announced a partnership with NP Aerospace to take on UK and NATO market opportunities.

• Land Warfare

  Turkish air-portable howitzer targets exports as local production line rolls on

  16th August 2023

  Turkey’s MKEK has set its sights on export opportunities for its 105mm Boran Air Portable Light Towed Howitzer (APLTH) now that it is in production for the home market.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Constellation Class - FFG(X) (11-20)

  The US Navy ran the Next Generational Future Guided Missile Frigate (FFG X) programme to build a replacement for the Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigates, the ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Constellation Class - FFG(X) (11-20)

  The US Navy ran the Next Generational Future Guided Missile Frigate (FFG X) programme to build a replacement for the Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigates, the ...

• Landing platform docks/dock landing ships

  Littoral Strike Ships (LSS)

  Programme Background Original Plan: Procurment In February 2019, the then-UK Secretary of State for Defence, Gavin Williamson, announced an intention to establish two' littoral strike ...

• Landing platform docks/dock landing ships

  Multi-Role Support Ship (MRSS) (3) [Malaysia]

  Programme Background Requirements The Royal Malaysian Navy are in the process of a fleet transformation plan known as the 15 to 5 Transformation Plan, which ...

• Frigates

  Littoral Combat Ship (LCS)

  Programme Background The Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) programme was developed in 2003 as a cheap and fast way to increase the size of the fleet ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | LMS Batch II (5-7) [Malaysia]

  The Royal Malaysia Navy (RMN) plans to acquire eight Littoral Mission Ships (LMS). In line with the plan, it was assumed the RMN would acquire ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | LMS Batch II (5-7) [Malaysia]

  The Royal Malaysia Navy (RMN) plans to acquire eight Littoral Mission Ships (LMS). In line with the plan, it was assumed the RMN would acquire ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Littoral Combat Ships [Egypt]

  In December 2022, Sky News Arabia revealed that, according to a spokesperson of the US DoD, Washington had authorised the sale/transfer of Littoral Combat Ships ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Littoral Combat Ships [Egypt]

  In December 2022, Sky News Arabia revealed that, according to a spokesperson of the US DoD, Washington had authorised the sale/transfer of Littoral Combat Ships ...

• Landing platform docks/dock landing ships

  Multi-Role Support Ship (MRSS) [UK]

  Programme Background Requirements According to the UK MoD's March 2021 Defence Command Paper, entitled 'Defence in a Competitive Age', the RN will invest in six ...

• Frigates

  Second Frigate [Thailand]

  Programme Background Requirements The Royal Thai Navy (RTN) is expected to order a second frigate following the procurement of the DW3000F in 2013. Timeline The RTN ...

• Patrol boats

  Shaldag Mk V [Israel]

  Programme Background A press release from Israel Shipyards on 7 July 2021 announced the company would be supplying the Israeli Navy with four Shaldag Mk ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | LPDs/OPVs Replacement Programme [Netherlands]

  The RNLN is planning to build two new Landing Platform Dock (LPDs) to enhance its amphibious capabilities and replace its ageing LPDs Rotterdam and Johan ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | LPDs/OPVs Replacement Programme [Netherlands]

  The RNLN is planning to build two new Landing Platform Dock (LPDs) to enhance its amphibious capabilities and replace its ageing LPDs Rotterdam and Johan ...

• Frigates

  New Generation Light Frigates (1-2) [Taiwan]

  Programme Background Requirements The ROC Navy will use the new Light Frigates to patrol the Taiwan Strait and other areas, escort vessels to Taiwan's outlying islands, ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Naval: RF, IR and acoustic decoys

  ALEX

  Lockheed Martin’s Automated Launch of Expendables (ALEX) can be integrated into an EW suite or act as a standalone system. Modularity allows a number of ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  COMBATSS-21

  Produced by Lockheed Martin, the Littoral Combat Ship Component Based Total Ship System – 21st Century (COMBATSS-21) is a modular, scalable open combat management system that can be ...

• Military - USVs

  USSV-HTF

  The US Office of Naval Research is using the Unmanned Sea Surface Vehicle-High Tow Force (USSV-HTF) to test various technological features that may be incorporated ...

• Military - USVs

  Fleet Class/Common Unmanned Surface Vessel

  Developed for the USN, the Fleet Class Common USV System uses a modular architecture that accommodates platform reconfiguration and interchangeable payload applications. 

• Military - UUVs

  RMMV

  The Remote Multi-Mission Vehicle (RMMV) is a semi-submersible AUV developed as part of the AN/WLD-1(V) Remote Minehunting System (RMS) for the USN’s Littoral Combat Ship ...

• EO/IR systems

  COBRA

  The Coastal Battlefield Reconnaissance and Analysis (COBRA) system is part of Northrop Grumman's airborne mine countermeasures (AMCM) product line. It is designed to detect minefields ...

• Sea: surveillance system radar

  TRS-4D

  The TRS-4D C-band AESA multi-function air/surface radar is designed for dangerous, target-dense, blue waters and littoral environments. The TRS-4D is based on GaN AESA technology ...

• Corvettes

  Littoral Mission Ship (LMS 92)

  Based on the C92 corvette design, the Littoral Mission Ship (LMS) 92 has been developed by Dearsan shipyard to meet the requirements of the Malaysian LMS ...

• Marine engines

  MTU 4000

  The MTU Series 4000 is manufactured by Rolls-Royce UK. The engine consists of a 90° V cylinder configuration and has a displacement/cylinder capacity of 4.77 ...

• Sea: naval surveillance radar

  Sea Giraffe AMB

  Sea Giraffe AMB is a 3D multipurpose medium-range surveillance radar with the ability to simultaneously track air and surface targets, with an optional mortar and ...

• Sea: naval fire control radar

  TMX/EO

  The TMX/EO three-axis tracking module is equipped with X-band radar and TV camera, IR camera and laser rangefinder, for precision measurement of aerial, naval and ...

• Data links

  T-Series Model S

  Model S is a shipboard, high-bandwidth, full-duplex ground terminal for communication with CDL airborne-configured systems. The terminal is software-configurable and supports the standard CDL waveform, ...

• Military - UUVs

  Bluefin-Knifefish

  The Bluefin-21 UUV is being developed for the Surface Mine Countermeasure UUV (SMCM UUV) programme to equip the USN’s Littoral Combat Ships. 

• Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  MQ-8C Fire Scout

  The MQ-8C is a newer version of the Fire Scout and is based on a Bell 407 commercial helicopter. It offers a greater range, endurance and ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  9LV Combat Management System

  Developed by Saab, the 9LV CMS provides scalable options for naval combat systems, and has been delivered on more than 230 ships – from small patrol ...