• Air Warfare

  The Netherlands selects Airboxer UAV

  27th February 2024

  Manufactured by High Eye, the Airboxer, or HEF 32, is a rotary-wing VTOL UAS designed to conduct maritime ISR applications. Powered by a twin-cylinder petrol engine and following a classic single-rotor helicopter configuration it can carry a payload up to 5kg.

• Air Warfare

  Diehl to work on integration of IRIS-T missile onto KAI aircraft

  20th February 2024

  Diehl BGT Defence’s IRIS-T (IR Imaging System Tail/Thrust Vector-Controlled) short-range air-to-air missile has seen service with 10 countries.

• Naval Warfare

  Spain says farewell to the last of its Galerna-class submarines

  20th February 2024

  The four Spanish (S 70/Galerna) boats entered service between 1983 and 1985, but have now all been decommissioned, leaving Spain with just one active submarine.

• Land Warfare

  First two improved Turkish M60T tanks handed over

  16th February 2024

  The M60Ts, upgraded versions of the M60A3s, were delivered between 2007 and 2010. The latest upgrade followed a rolling programme of upgrades which have included Aselsan SARP RWS, Yamgoz situational awareness cameras, a TLUS laser warning receiver and a Pulat APS completed in 2020.

• Land Warfare

  Malaysian Army self-propelled howitzer acquisition programme faces a blurry future

  27th February 2024

  The schedule, number of platforms and total estimated cost of the Malaysian Army’s 155mm self-propelled howitzer (SPH) acquisition programme has remained undefined despite the procurement effort having been announced back in the 2010s.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Autonomous navigation drives UUVs proliferation in the Indo-Pacific

  7th March 2024

  The US Department of Defence has teamed up with Anduril Industries to develop advanced AI-driven long-range uncrewed underwater vehicles (UUVs), countering China’s escalating UUV advancements.

• Air Warfare

  UK GCAP fighter effort can only survive if more funds are allocated, expert warns

  7th March 2024

  The urgency to address chronic issues of cost overruns and delays in UK defence procurement, particularly in complex and important initiatives like the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), have underscored the need for upfront honesty about project costs.

• Land Warfare

  MBDA and Saab strengthen partnership on anti-tank and air defence systems

  31st January 2024

  MBDA and Saab have solidified their partnership in anti-tank and air defence capabilities as they attempt to enhance military readiness amid escalating threats in high-intensity conflicts.

• Air Warfare

  Northrop and Mitsubishi partner to enhance Japan’s air and missile defence network

  23rd January 2024

  The partnership between Northrop Grumann and Japan's Mitsubishi Electric will set out to integrate advanced solutions facilitating seamless sharing of target information among the Japanese Army.

• Air Warfare

  Singapore Airshow 2024: Singapore’s Apache upgrade among plans to renew RSAF capabilities

  20th February 2024

  Singapore’s air force chief has confirmed plans to extend the life of the RSAF’s Apaches to beyond 2030, as well as revealing the next steps for future purchases of F-35s, replacements for its UAV fleet and updates to its ground-based air defence systems.

• Land Warfare

  Khronos UAS integrated with Mission Master UGV for on-the-move ISR system

  16th January 2024

  Combining Mission Master, a large UGV which is already in service, and Khronos, a tethered drone system unveiled just two months ago, would offer a remote tower observation capability and reconnaissance on the move.

• Air Warfare

  Canada commits $1.7 billion to CH-146 helicopter support

  18th January 2024

  The Royal Canadian Air Force has been operating 82 CH-146 Griffon helicopters out of 11 locations across Canada. In May 2022, C$800 million was awarded for the service life extension of the fleet which will keep the aircraft in service until at least the mid-2030s.

• Land Warfare

  UK DragonFire laser weapon completes successful test

  19th January 2024

  DragonFire, a new laser weapon system built for the UK MoD, was first unveiled at DSEI 2017 in London during its design phase. For the development work, MBDA has grouped expertise from Leonardo, QinetiQ, MBDA, Arke, BAE Systems, Marshall and GKN.

• Land Warfare

  Estonia receives Piorun MANPADS

  8th January 2024

  PIORUN, a man-portable air-defence system (MANPADS) in service in Poland and Ukraine, was introduced in 2019 and has a range of more than 7km.

• Air Warfare

  Australia to sustain and upgrade Super Hornets and Growlers until 2030

  8th January 2024

  A contract extension with Boeing has secured the continued support and enhancement of the Royal Australian Air Force's F/A-18F Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler fleets for the next five years.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Kingston Class Replacement [Canada]

  Under the second pillar of its shipbuilding strategy, Ottawa is seeking a replacement for its Kingston-class OPVs. The programme is still in the very early stages of project ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Kingston Class Replacement [Canada]

  Under the second pillar of its shipbuilding strategy, Ottawa is seeking a replacement for its Kingston-class OPVs. The programme is still in the very early stages of project ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Continental Defence Corvette [Canada]

  Under the second pillar of its shipbuilding strategy, Ottawa is seeking a replacement for its Kingston-class OPVs. The identified successor programme has been named the ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Continental Defence Corvette [Canada]

  Under the second pillar of its shipbuilding strategy, Ottawa is seeking a replacement for its Kingston-class OPVs. The identified successor programme has been named the ...

• Corvettes

  Continental Defence Corvette [Canada]

  Background Initial requirements Under the second pillar of its shipbuilding strategy, Canada is seeking to procure an undisclosed number of small vessels (below 1000t). Part ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) [Canada]

  Background Programme inception The Royal Canadian Air Force’s (RCAF) Joint Unmanned Surveillance and Target Acquisition System (JUSTAS) project was established to procure a UAS for the ...

• Submarines: conventional/attack

  Canadian Patrol Submarine Project (CPSP) [Canada]

  Background Requirements The Royal Canadian Navy currently operates four second-hand Victoria-class SSKs. They were purchased from the UK in the late 1990s and re-commissioned into ...

• Loitering munitions

  Warmate [Ukraine]

  Programme Background Ukraine placed an order for an undisclosed number of Warmate systems in 2017. Shepherd believes units acquired in this order later were utilised ...

• Minehunters

  Awaji Class (1-4) [Japan]

  Programme Background Two Awaji class mine countermeasures vessels (MCMV) were ordered from the Japanese shipyard Japan Marine United (JMU) for the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) initially. ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  Aerostar [Mexico]

  Methodology Unit cost Based on the UAV’s MTOW and the Defence Insight database, Shephard estimates the aircraft’s 2026 gross and flyaway unit costs are $1.95 million and $1.58 million, respectively. Based ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Ejder Yalçın (Batch 1) [Qatar]

  Background In the face of deteriorating relations with some of its neighbours in the Gulf, Qatar has forged closer defence ties with Turkey. This has ...

• OPVs

  Inlay Class (second OPV)

  Programme Background The Inlay class originally consists of a single OPV in service with the Myanmar Navy. However, a second Inlay-class OPV has been reported under construction since ...

• OPVs

  Cyprus Second Sa'ar 62 OPV

  Programme BackgroundThe Republic of Cyrus' Ministry of Defence placed an order with Israel Shipyards for its first Sa'ar 62  OPV in December 2015 in a project valued ...

• Military UAS - small

  HUSAR (2023 Order) [Germany]

  Programme Background First Order In 2015, the German Army launched the HUSAR programme to identify a replacement for its Airbus Defence & Space KZO and ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6, APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Pars III [Oman]

  Background In 2015, Oman signed a $500 million contract with FNSS for 172 Pars III vehicles in both the 8x8 (145) and 6x6 (27) configurations, ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Corvettes

  Corvette Borealis 105

  The Corvette Borealis 105 is a concept corvette designed by Saab. It is intended for the Canadian Continental Defence (CDC) programme. The design was first ...

• OPVs

  Vigilance OPV

  At CANSEC 2023, Vard Marine, partnering with Heddle Shipyards, Thales Canada, SH Defence and Fincantieri under the Team Vigilance banner, pitched an OPV design for ...

• Corvettes

  Vigilance 100

  The Vigilance 100 is a developmental corvette designed by Vard Marine. First unveiled at CANSEC 2025, it is part of the Team Vigilance proposal to the ...

• Corvettes

  Vard 7 105 Continental Defence Corvette

  The Vard 7 105 Continental Defence Corvette is a concept vessel designed by Vard Marine as part of the Vigilance bid for the Royal Canadian ...

• Land: Electronic Attack - Jamming

  Scorpion 2

  Scorpion 2 is a man-portable, non-ITAR remote controlled improvised explosive device (RCIED) jammer, designed to deliver a hybrid, full-spectrum system and threat-band coverage protection for ...

• Military - UUVs

  HUGIN Edge

  The HUGIN Edge is an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) developed by Kongsberg. The platform is intended for defence, commercial and scientific missions, including mine countermeasures, ...

• Air: helicopter radar, Air: surveillance and maritime patrol radar, Air: UAS radar

  PicoSAR

  The PicoSAR is a compact multi-mode Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) surveillance radar manufactured by Leonardo. Due to its lightweight, it is a suitable system for ...

• EW test systems, Air: chaff/flare/decoy systems

  CAST-easy

  RUAG unveiled the Countermeasure Advanced System Test Equipment (CAST-easy) in 2017 earmarking it for the Panavia Tornado series of combat aircraft. The 2017 announcement stated ...

• CUAS - hybrid effector systems

  Drone Deterrence System

  First unveiled at the LIMA 2017 exhibition by Mitsubishi Electric, the Drone Deterrence System began to be developed in 2014 and made its first sale in ...

• Individual assault/anti-tank weapons

  Fletcher

  Arnold Defense, which has produced more than 1.1 million 2.75in/70mm rocket launchers for airborne applications since 1961, unveiled the Fletcher 2.75in/70mm Weapon System at the September ...

• Uncrewed aerial systems engines

  FJ33-5A

  The FJ33-5A is a turbofan engine manufactured by Williams. The engine achieved EASA certification in April 2017, and is used onboard the XQ-58 Valkyrie UAV. 

• 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 ...

• OPVs

  La Confiance Class (PLG)

  The La Confiance-class, also known as the Guyanese Light Patrol Vessel (PLG), in service with the French Navy, was designed by Bureau Mauric and built ...

• Submachine guns

  FN SCAR-SC

  FN Herstal unveiled the 5.56mm FN SCAR-SC (Subcompact Carbine), the newest member of the SCAR (SOF Combat Assault Rifle) family originally developed for the US ...

• Self-propelled guns

  MGS-25 Aleksandar

  Yugoimport-SDPR unveiled the MGS-25 Aleksandar 155mm/52cal wheeled  SPH at the Partner defence exhibition in July 2017, which builds on the company's experience producing the Nora ...