• Defence Notes

  US companies implement diverse strategies to enhance supply chain

  20th May 2024

  The conflicts in Ukraine and Israel have been driving the US defence industry toward increasing production of platforms and systems.

• Naval Warfare

  US Coast Guard might not have surface assets to patrol the Arctic this summer

  13th August 2024

  While the service struggles to maintain its cold-temperature fleet, Russia and China have been increasing their presence in the region.

• Air Warfare

  Embraer C-390 triumphs in South Korea's transport aircraft competition

  5th December 2023

  Embraer's C-390 Millennium has secured a contract with South Korea, outperforming industry rivals such as Lockheed Martin and Airbus, marking a pivotal moment as the nation is set to become the first C-390 customer in Asia.

• Naval Warfare

  Australia’s new frigate options: No easy choices as pressure mounts on DoD

  16th April 2024

  A new class of General Purpose ‘Tier 2’ frigate will replace the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN’s) Anzac-class frigates, but the selected design options appear to have major issues in terms of compatibility and availability for the future fleet.

• Training

  Australia’s ‘Top Gun’ exercise in Top End reaches unprecedented scale in face of Chinese military build up

  24th July 2024

  Fast-jet exercise focuses on interoperability and cooperation between allies amid growing regional security concerns in the Asia-Pacific region.

• Air Warfare

  Saab begins modification of first Swedish GlobalEye AEW&C aircraft

  30th January 2024

  Saab has begun the modification of the first Bombardier 6000 aircraft for the Swedish Air Force's GlobalEye programme.

• Air Warfare

  US approves South Korean US$52.1 million Sidewinder missiles deal

  16th November 2023

  Raytheon Missiles and Defense will provide dozens of AIM-9X Sidewinder Tactical and Training Missiles for the South Korean military.

• Defence Notes

  The centre of gravity of ‘Axis of Evil 2.0’ shifts eastwards (Opinion)

  14th September 2023

  Russia might be at the tip of the spear in terms of authoritarian aggression, but it has plenty of backers in the shape of countries like China, Iran and North Korea. Others, like India, try to duplicitously sit on the fence.

• Digital Battlespace

  US Space Force bets big on the use of AI to improve its capabilities

  18th July 2024

  The service has been conducting several acquisition and upgrading efforts involving artificial intelligence and machine learning to improve communication, data analysis and ISR systems.

• Digital Battlespace

  The imperative for a vibrant UK space industry

  6th August 2024

  Ahead of a new Shephard Technology Report to be published in September, senior executives from Lockheed Martin Space have underlined the importance of investing in defence space systems by countries like the UK.

• Air Warfare

  South Korea and Boeing to jointly research long-endurance aerial UAVs

  24th November 2023

  Boeing and South Korea have solidified plans that would see Boeing UAV design and technology capabilities implemented locally by South Korean companies.

• Air Warfare

  Will air forces in the Middle East look to new sources for advanced equipment?

  29th December 2023

  Amid a tense strategic situation and the absence of advanced indigenous products, Gulf Cooperation Council states have come to be regarded as a priority export destination for most new air, land or sea systems.

• Land Warfare

  Japan deliberates transfer of 155mm ammunition to UK

  5th January 2024

  The Japanese government revealed it has been considering plans to supply the UK with 155mm ammunition for towed and self-propelled artillery.

• Land Warfare

  Saab to support South Korea’s Arthur weapon locating system

  29th November 2023

  Saab will provide support and spare parts for South Korea’s Arthur weapons locating systems. Arthur has been in service with South Korea since 2009 and the country has been the largest operator of the system.

• Naval Warfare

  Japan’s record defence budget proposals prompt major reorganisation for navy

  2nd October 2024

  Despite a record budget proposal, Japan’s military force has continued to face staffing problems, while the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force readies itself for a major upheaval of its surface fleet.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Maritime patrol

  P-8 Poseidon [South Korea]

  Programme Background South Korea is facing an imminent submarine threat from North Korea. The Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN) is operating an aging fleet of P-3C ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-X III Phase II (F-35)

  Programme Background On 14 September 2014, South Korea signed an FMS contract under the first phase of F-X III programme to supply 40 F-35As for ...

• Loitering munitions

  Small-Sized Suicide Drones [South Korea]

  Programme Background Drone Ambition As reported by Shephard, South Korea has ambitions to possess a large arsenal of drones. In May 2024, the presidential office ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - HALE

  RQ-4 Global Hawk (South Korea)

  Programme Background Requirments Seoul required UAS assets to help monitor its neighbour to the north and, increasingly, Chinese activities in waters and in the air near ...

• Frigates

  Daegu Class (FFX Batch II) [South Korea]

  Programme Background The Incheon and Daegu classes are part of a re-capitalisation effort to replace the older Pohang-class corvettes and Ulsan-class frigates with a new FFX class ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  KAAV II

  Programme Background The Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN) operates one Dokdo-class amphibious assault ship and has launched another to support provide operational lift for the ROKMC. ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Stryker (North Macedonia)

  Programme Background In its Long-Term Defence Capabilities Development Plan (LTDCDP) published in 2019, the North Macedonian MoD outlined plans to acquire Light Armoured Vehicles (LAVs) ...

• Destroyers

  Joint Strike Ship [South Korea]

  Programme Background Requirements The third element of South Korea's "Three Axis System" - a complex of measures designed to track, detect, and eliminate an adversary’s ballistic missiles and ...

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

  KUS-FS (ROKAF) [South Korea]

  Programme Background Inception The Aerospace Division of Korean Air (KAL-ASD) commenced developing the MUAV in 2008 in response to a ROKAF requirement for a MALE UAV ...

• APCs/IFVs - 4x4

  Light Protected Mobility Vehicles [North Macedonia]

  Programme Background The acquisition of an LPMV to equip the North Macedonian Armed Forces' Light Infantry Battalion Group (LIBG) is considered the most urgent priority for ...

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

  KUS-FS (ROKA) [South Korea]

  Programme Background Inception The Aerospace Division of Korean Air (KAL-ASD) commenced developing the MUAV in 2008 in response to a ROKAF requirement for a MALE ...

• Trainer

  T-4 Replacement (Japan)

  Programme Background The Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) has been using the T-4 as an intermediate trainer jet since 1988, but now the Acquisition, Technology ...

• Patrol boats

  Multifunctional Support Ships (TRIFC/MICAN) (1-2) [Netherlands]

  Programme Background Requirements In 2022, the Royal Netherlands Navy started The Rapidly Increased Firepower Capability (TRIFC) concept, a study focused on procuring low-manned platforms to augment the firepower ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Indigenous UAS (South Korea)

  Programme Background South Korea's Total UAS Budget The government of South Korea wants to grow its domestic UAS industry. To do this, it was reported in ...

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

  Puma 3 AE (UK)

  Programme Background Testing The Royal Navy announced in October 2020 that the Puma was undergoing its first operational testing on HMS Albion's autumn deployment to ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Counter-UAS systems

  Drone Killer

  The Uconsystem Drone Killer was unveiled in October 2015 and was developed in response to a UAV threat from North Korea, which saw four North ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

  Gumdoksuri Class (PKX-A)

  The Gumdoksuri-class fast attack craft, also known as the PKX-A-class, was designed to replace the Republic of Korea Navy's ageing fleet of Sea Dolphin-class vessels ...

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

  Reconnaissance UAV

  North Korea unveiled two drones at the Weapons and Equipment Exhibition 2023 in Pyongyang on 2 August 2023. One drone closely resembled General Atomics' (GA-ASI) ...

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

  Multirole UAV

  North Korea unveiled two drones at the Weapons and Equipment Exhibition 2023 in Pyongyang on 2 August 2023. One drone closely resembled General Atomics' (GA-ASI) MQ-9 Reaper, and, ...

• Destroyers

  Sejong the Great Class (KDX-III/HDD-10000) Batch 1

  The Sejong the Great-class destroyers were built for the Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN) as the third iteration of its KDX continuous destroyer construction programme ...

• Military UGVs

  SCOBOT 200

  The SCOBOT 200 is a larger, two-tracked version of the SCOBOT 100 (see separate entry). It can be used for EOD tasks. It was tested ...

• Destroyers

  Maya Class (27DD)

  The Maya-class (27DD) destroyers are the latest in a long line of modern destroyer classes for the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF). Well aware of ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - mini

  RemoEye-002B

  RemoEye-002B is a close-range mini-UAV constructed using composite materials that can be prepared and launched in 5min. Its features include changeable flight modes during mission, ...

• Frigates

  Krivak Class

  The Krivak-class (Project 1135) frigates first entered service in 1970 and various types of the class have entered service, particularly the Indian Navy's Talwar-class (see ...

• Corvettes

  Pohang Class

  The Pohang-class corvettes were designed and built for the Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN), and a total of 24 ships were constructed of either anti-surface ...

• Destroyers

  Chungmugong Yi Sun Shin Class (KDX-II/HDD-5000)

  The Chungmugong Yi Sun Shin class (KDX-II) is a class of multi-purpose destroyers in service with the Republic of Korea Navy. Six ships were developed under ...

• Self-propelled rocket launchers

  K239 Chunmoo

  Doosan (now Hanwha Defense) developed the K239 Chunmoo long-range 16-round multicalibre MRL to replace the Doosan K136 Kooryong 130mm 36-round unguided MRL in Republic of ...

• Military UAS - micro, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Mavic 2 (Series)

  The Mavic 2 is a series of rotary-wing Micro UAS manufactured by DJI. The series features three platforms: the Mavic 2 Pro, Mavic 2 Zoom ...

• Air: Defensive Systems - Radar Warning Receivers

  LR-100

  Northrop Grumman’s RA-4B Global Hawk uninhabited aerial vehicle is equipped with the company’s LR-100 Electronic Support Measure (ESM). The LR-100 performs an important role supporting ...

• Deployable/static missile systems

  Aegis Ashore

  Aegis Ashore is the first operational land-based version of the Aegis Combat System originally developed by Lockheed Martin for the US Navy's Ballistic Missile Defence ...