• Naval Warfare

  Russian naval revamp to continue unabated

  20th March 2020

  Representatives of the Russian MoD and the General Staff have insisted to Shephard that the country’s naval modernisation programme will proceed as planned, despite a …

• Defence Notes

  Sweden tells Europe there can be ‘no business as usual’ with Russia

  12th March 2020

  The Swedish government has said that Russian military aggression and violation of international law must not be followed by meeting demands from Moscow to form …

• Land Warfare

  DefExpo 2020: M777 is going great guns in India

  7th February 2020

  A total of 29 M777A2 towed howitzers have been delivered to India to date, with the weapons being delivered according to schedule. Interestingly, India might also have an option …

• Land Warfare

  Canada replaces medium logistics vehicle fleet

  20th February 2020

  The Canadian Armed Forces have completed their Medium Support Vehicle System (MSVS) Standard Military Pattern programme to replace their fleet of medium logistics vehicles that have been …

• Defence Notes

  Rood’s departure signals degradation of US policymaking, say analysts

  21st February 2020

  US President Donald Trump ousted the Pentagon’s top policy official this week, in a move that analysts say signals a ‘degradation’ of Washington’s national security …

• Defence Notes

  Iran in the dock over potential Ukrainian airliner downing

  10th January 2020

  Don't miss out on more news and analysis from Shephard Media. Sign up to our Premium News. Firm conclusions about how Ukraine International Airlines flight PS752 crashed, killing all 176 …

• Defence Notes

  What is the Tor-M1?

  10th January 2020

  To learn more about our Defence Insight service, arrange a free trial. With Western officials suggesting that Ukraine International Airlines flight PS752 was hit by …

• Land Warfare

  Sky Sabre begins to rattle as air defence market heats up

  17th January 2020

  As the ground-based air defence (GBAD) market sees a spike of investment, one new next-generation system is on the verge of entering service. Although the British Army’s …

• Land Warfare

  First batch of VN1 8x8s arrive in Thailand

  10th December 2019

  Norinco has delivered 34 VN1 8x8 armoured vehicles to the Royal Thai Army (RTA), these reaching Thailand on 2 December. Afterwards, they will undergo performance …

• Naval Warfare

  China doubles the size of its carrier fleet

  17th December 2019

  The People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) commissioned its second conventional aircraft carrier, and the first to be built indigenously, at Sanya-Yulin Naval Base on Hainan …

• Digital Battlespace

  D&S 2019: Thales supports Thai armoured vehicle digitisation

  20th November 2019

  Thales is helping the Thai military to digitise military vehicles, with one fruit of that effort on display at Defense & Security 2019 in Bangkok. …

• Defence Notes

  Turkish defence industry eyes opportunity in Ukraine

  11th November 2019

  Major Turkish defence companies are increasingly looking to position themselves in the Ukrainian market, attempting to promote their products and services countrywide and partnering with …

• Land Warfare

  Alakran light mortar carrier now operational internationally

  12th November 2019

  Although the Spanish-developed Alakran Light Mortar Carrier (LMC) has been tested domestically, the system is now deployed operationally by two export customers with additional contracts …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  AeroVironment steps up European unmanned chase

  4th November 2019

  Manufacturer AeroVironment is particularly optimistic about the prospects of future sales of its multipurpose and proven UAS platforms to European countries, including Ukraine – with …

• Digital Battlespace

  AOC 2019: Ukraine details Russia's EW actions in Donbass region

  31st October 2019

  A senior official within Ukraine’s Armed Forces disclosed operational details regarding the application of electronic warfare (EW) in the East of the country to the …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  CH-47 Chinook

  One role will be supporting army operations along India’s mountainous borders, with the Chinooks able to lift the M777 howitzers now being inducted. The last ...

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

  Akinci [Ukraine]

  Programme Background Two Export Contracts In January 2022, the Daily Sabah reported that Baykar had "recently" signed its first export contract for the Akinci. Haluk Bayraktar ...

• Loitering munitions

  Switchblade 600 (Ukraine Aid) [US]

  Programme Background $300 Million USAI (1 April 2022) On 1 April 2022, the US DoD announced a $300 million military aid package for Ukraine following ...

• Patrol boats

  FPB 98 (Ukraine)

  Programme Background The international competition had been launched in the Spring of 2018 by the Ukrainian Ministry of Interior for the reinforcement of the State ...

• Loitering munitions, Military UAS - fixed-wing

  Phoenix Ghost (Ukraine Aid) [US]

  Programme Background Presidential Drawdown (21 April 2022) Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022, on 21 April 2022, President Biden announced an $800 ...

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

  RQ-35 Heidrun (Ukraine Aid) [Germany]

  Programme Background Delivered Units On 19 April 2022, Oryx reported that Denmark had given Ukraine 25 Sky-Watch's Heidrun mini-UAV units as aid following Russia's invasion ...

• Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - small

  T-150 (Ukraine)

  Programme Background Virtual Address On 24 February 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine. On 3 May 2022, the UK's Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, virtually addressed the Ukrainian ...

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

  Bayraktar TB2 (Aid & Discounted Units) [Ukraine]

  Programme Background Pre Invasion Units The Ukrainian Army purchased 12 TB2 units in January 2019 for a reported $69 million. Deliveries began in June 2019, ...

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

  UX11 (Ukraine Aid) [France]

  Programme Background First Batch On 6 September 2023, Sébastien Lecornu, the French Minister of Defence, announced Delair was providing Ukraine with more than 150 drones. ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  CV90 [Ukraine]

  Programme Background Announced at the NATO Defense Ministers’ Meeting in Brussels in June 2023, Ukraine formally signed a Joint Declaration on Cooperation in the Procurement and Operation ...

• Loitering munitions

  Switchblade 300 (Ukraine Aid) [US]

  Programme Background Presidential Drawdown (16 March 2022 & 13 April 2022) On 16 March 2022, President Biden announced $800 million in security assistance to Ukraine through ...

• Military UAS - mini, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  FPV Drones [Lithuania]

  Programme Background Ukraine FPV Drones On 5 April 2024, the Lithuanian MoD announced it would purchase around 3,000 Lithuanian-made FPV drones to give to Ukraine ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  One 150 (Luxembourg)

  Programme Background According to information obtained by Army Recognition from the Luxembourg Ministry of Defense, the country has delivered six One 150 UAVs to Ukraine ...

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

  Latvian Drones (Ukraine Aid) [Latvia]

  Programme Background Ukrainian Defence Contact Group (UDCG) In January 2024, the Ukrainian Defence Contact Group (UDCG), a multi-nation organisation that coordinates military aid for Ukraine, established a ...

• Military UAS - micro

  Drones (Ukraine Aid) [Australia]

  Programme Background In April 2024, while in Lviv, Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles announced a new AU$100 million military assistance package for Ukraine. This reaffirms ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Towed guns

  M777

  The Ultralightweight Field Howitzer (UFH), now designated the M777, was designed in 1987 in order to satisfy US Army requirements for a lightweight 155mm howitzer. ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Enigma

  Unveiled in 2015, the Enigma is an 8x8 armoured personnel carrier. The vehicle is 8.3m long and 2.8m wide. It has a height of 2.39m ...

• Towed guns

  M198

  The US Army developed the M198 155mm towed howitzer from 1969 to replace the M114 155mm howitzer. From 1978, 1,600 weapons were built by Rock ...

• Towed guns

  AH4

  In 2010, Norinco revealed that it was developing the AH4 155mm/39cal Lightweight Gun Howitzer to provide a lightweight alternative to its 12.5t AH1 155mm/45cal and ...

• Towed mortars

  M327 120mm EFSS Mortar

  General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems is the prime contractor for the USMC’s Expeditionary Fire Support System (EFFS), which consists of the M327 120mm towed ...

• Self-propelled guns

  Brutus

  AM General and Mandus produce the Brutus self-propelled howitzer. It is a truck-mounted system armed with the M776 155mm Howitzer.  Developed with hopes of securing a ...

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

  Shpak

  Shpak is a mini rotary wing, FPV style, UAV manufactured by RSI Europe. Primarily designed to carry explosives, the drone was developed to help Ukraine ...

• Towed guns

  105mm Light Gun

  The 105mm Light Gun was designed and manufactured by Royal Ordnance Nottingham (now BAE Systems), with the first guns introduced to the British Army in ...

• Tanks

  T-80UD

  The 125mm-armed T-80UD MBT is a variant of the T-80 which was in production in Ukraine when the Soviet Union broke up in 1991. An ...

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

  Supercam S350/S350F

  The Supercam S350/S350F is a mini fixed-wing that Supercam Unmanned Systems Group manufactures. The Russian UAV features a modular design and has been primarily designed ...

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

  Pro

  The Pro VTOL is a fixed-wing UAV from DeltaQuad. It is available in three models, the Map, View and Cargo variants, which primarily impact the attached payload. ...

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

  REX

  The REX is an in-development Ukrainian mini-attack drone. It can hold and subsequently drop various munitions weighing up to 10kg and can locate, fix, track, ...

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

  Observer-S

  The Observer-S is a UAV produced by Def C of the Intecracy Group in Ukraine. Its main purpose is aerial survey and reconnaissance. It is ...

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

  Astero

  Manufactured by Nordic Wing, the Astero is a fixed-wing mini UAV designed for ISR missions. The drone is equipped with a NightHawk 2 camera. In the ...

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

  Black Hornet 3

  The Black Hornet 3 is the next generation of the PD-100 Black Hornet, the world's smallest nano-UAS. This new model of the Black Hornet provides ...