• Naval Warfare

  Turkish Navy to address capability gaps with new OPV launches

  26th September 2023

  Turkey is asserting it naval shipbuilding credentials and place as a major maritime power with the delivery of three ships in one day.

• Defence Helicopter

  Sikorsky lands $2.7 billion contract for CH-53K helicopters, eight for Israel and 27 for USMC

  25th August 2023

  The USN has awarded Sikorsky a $2.7 billion contract for the production and delivery of 35 CH-53K King Stallion helicopters, split between the USMC and Israel, with deliveries expected to start in 2026.

• Air Warfare

  US Air Force continues to invest in eVTOL capabilities

  1st August 2023

  Under the latest investment, Archer Aviation will supply up to six Midnight eVTOL aircraft to the USAF, designed for short-distance trips and capable of carrying four passengers and a pilot.

• Defence Notes

  US Army seeks innovative new battlefield roles for drones

  13th September 2023

  The US Army recently tested deployment of UAS to identify casualties on the battlefield and in disaster response scenarios. Drones were used to assess the vital signs of wounded soldiers from the sky.

• Naval Warfare

  India gifts missile corvette to Vietnam amidst deepening ties

  17th July 2023

  Cementing the two countries' defence partnership, India has donated a second-hand warship to Vietnam.

• Air Warfare

  Somalia receives Bell 412 helicopters of unknown origin

  15th August 2023

  Somalia's counter-insurgency against Al-Shabaab receives a mysterious boost as Bell 412 helicopters and weaponry surface.

• Air Warfare

  Dubai Airshow 2023: How the MQ-9 Reaper UAS came to rule the skies

  10th November 2023

  Ahead of the 2023 edition of the Dubai Airshow, Shephard looks at the GA-ASI MQ-9A Reaper UAS, its role in shaping modern conflict dynamics, and its deployment for surveillance and precision strike throughout the Middle East.

• Defence Helicopter

  Argentina shops for new helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft

  14th July 2023

  While Argentina’s combat aviation fleet remains weak, the armed forces are acquiring new search and rescue (SAR) helicopters and a fixed-wing surveillance aircraft with SAR capabilities.

• Defence Helicopter

  Hungary receives first two H225M multipurpose helicopters from Airbus

  25th July 2023

  The Hungarian Defence Forces have taken delivery of the first two H225M multi-purpose helicopters from Airbus.

• Naval Warfare

  Additional life-extension for Canada’s Kingston-class OPVs considered

  28th August 2023

  The Royal Canadian Navy’s (RCN’s) 12 Kingston-class Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs), ships which are already being improved, could receive an additional life extension upgrade package.

• Naval Warfare

  OSI to deliver T-ACT navigation systems to German navy for small craft operations

  21st July 2023

  OSI Maritime Systems has been contracted to provide T-ACT tactical and high-speed navigation systems to the German Navy for its small craft operations. The advanced capabilities support complex missions and interoperability.

• Defence Helicopter

  Argentina orders Bell 407s for military search and rescue missions

  6th June 2023

  Argentina is to acquire six Bell 407 helicopters for search and rescue operations by the country's army and air force under a government-to-government contract with Canada.

• Defence Helicopter

  Honduras abandons helicopter purchase plan but urgent need remains

  17th July 2023

  Honduras has reportedly scrapped its plans to purchase a new fleet of helicopters, causing a decline in capabilities for the country's air force. A future procurement effort may ensue to address this need.

• 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.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Submarines: conventional, attack

  Type 206/209 Replacement (PLOTEOS) [Colombia]

  Programme Background Requirements The 2042 "Plan de Desarrollo Naval" (Naval Development Plan) outlines the intention to procure four new SSKs for the Colombian Navy. In ...

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

  Sistema RPAS Táctico de Altas Prestaciones (SiRTAP) [Colombia]

  Programme Background MoU In 2017, it was announced that Spain was jointly developing a MALE UAV with Colombia to meet the ISR requirement of both ...

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

  Sistema RPAS Táctico de Altas Prestaciones (SiRTAP) [Serbia]

  Programme Background MoU In 2017, it was announced that Spain was jointly developing a MALE UAV with Colombia to meet the ISR requirement of both ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  AW149

  The AW149s are being used for utility, search and rescue, emergency medical service and troop transport tasks.

• Sealift/replenishment vessels

  Submarine Resue Vessel Procurement [Poland]

  Programme Background Timeline For a long time, Poland has been trying to procure submarine rescue vessels. A contract for the acquisition of up to two ...

• Military helicopters - maritime

  NH90 NFH-Germany - Awarded

  NH90 Sea Lions will take on a wide range of roles including search and rescue (SAR), maritime reconnaissance, special forces as well as personnel and ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Submarine Resue Vessel Procurement [Poland]

  On 27 December 2024, the Polish Armament Agency and the industrial consortium signed a contract for the construction and delivery of the submarine rescue ship Ratownik ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Submarine Resue Vessel Procurement [Poland]

  On 27 December 2024, the Polish Armament Agency and the industrial consortium signed a contract for the construction and delivery of the submarine rescue ship Ratownik ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  H-145M-Luxembourg

  With a MTOW of 3.7t, the H145M can be used for a wide range of tasks, including troop and passenger transport, surveillance, air rescue, reconnaissance ...

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

  Sistema RPAS Táctico de Altas Prestaciones (SiRTAP) [Spain]

  Programme Background MoU In 2017, it was announced that Spain was jointly developing a MALE UAV with Colombia to meet the ISR requirement of both ...

• 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 ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  Spain HT-29 Caiman (NH90 TTH) - Air Force Second Batch

  The HT-29 Caiman will replace AS332 Super Puma fleet in service with the Spanish Air Force. The Spanish version of the NH90 TTHs can perform ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  Spain HT-29 Caiman (NH90 TTH) - Air Force First Batch

  The HT-29 Caiman will replace AS332 Super Puma fleet in service with the Spanish Air Force. The Spanish version of the NH90 TTHs can perform ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  Medium Size Helicopters

  Despite tough economic conditions currently in Latin America, and a subsequent slowdown in military modernization, helicopter acquisition is thought to be a high priority for ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Light machine guns

  K3/K3 Para

  The K3 5.56mm light machine gun was developed to replace the 7.62mm M60 in service with Republic of Korea Army (ROKA) infantry squads. The K3 ...

• Light machine guns

  FN Minimi 7.62 Mk3

  In the 1970s, the FN Minimi was developed in 5.56mm and 7.62mm variants before NATO standardised on 5.56mm for light weapons. In 2002, the 7.62mm ...

• Land: battle management systems, Land: fire control systems

  SITUAR

  Developed by Avibras, SITUAR ( Sistema Integrado Tático Universal para Artilharia) is a universal tactical integrated artillery command and control system. It allows various artillery ...

• Light machine guns

  FN Minimi 5.56 Mk3

  The original FN Minimi 5.56 was developed in the 1970s to meet the requirements of NATO nations for an LMG and is now in service ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  MDM-HF

  The MDM-3001, MDM-2201 and MDM-2501 multi-mode HF data modems provide single-tone (serial) HF data communications capability in accordance with the requirements of MIL-STD-188-110A (para 5.3). ...

• UAS: Integrated systems - uncrewed

  skyISTAR

  skyISTAR is a platform-agnostic sensor mission management system. Its service-orientated architecture eases system reconfiguration and the introduction of different sensor suites to match a range ...

• Suppressors

  FA556MG

  The Fast Attach 5.56mm Machine Gun sound suppressor (FA556MG) is designed for use on the M249, MK46 or Para versions of the Minimi M249 SAW.  ...

• Rescue Wrap

  The Rescue Wrap is a self-contained patient transport system designed to maintain patient body temperature. This patented three-part system can be easily modified for use ...

• Rescue Harness

  The lightweight sit-in rescue harness was originally developed in coordination with the Danish Air Force. It is available in several versions to match SAR requirements. ...

• Rescue Litters

  Lifesaving Systems manufactures several models of fixed and collapsible rescue litters that have been used as standard equipment for helicopter rescue by the US military ...

• Rescue Baskets

  The Collapsible Rescue Basket combines compact storage capabilities of rescue nets with the ruggedness, rigidity and safety of solid-frame rescue baskets, claims the company. The ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  RF-7800H-MP

  The L3Harris RF-7800H-MP is a manpack HF radio with expanded data capabilities for long-range communications. First delivered in 2012, it remains in service with several militaries ...

• Maritime patrol

  ATR 72MP

  The ATR 72MP is a twin-turboprop aircraft optimised for maritime patrol missions. It is built by the Franco-Italian ATR consortium, a JV between Airbus and Leonardo.

• 7A-05

  The Tianjin Aurora 7A-05 rotary-wing UAV is a commercial platform with four arms and an upper and lower dual rotor on each arm. 

• 76378

  The 76378 is an electric rescue hoist.