First Confirmed US One‑way Drone Strike on Iran Sharpens Pentagon UAV Expansion
The United States confirmed its first combat use of low‑cost, one‑way attack drones against Iranian targets during Operation Epic Fury. footage released by CENTCOM shows the drones deployed by Task Force Scorpion Strike alongside precision munitions. The Pentagon is accelerating a program to acquire more than 300,000 of these expendable UAVs, signaling a major shift in its strike architecture. The move underscores a broader push to integrate affordable, disposable drones into conventional force structures.
February Land Forces Roundup: ST Engineering and Russia Lift the Lid on New Platforms
The World Defense Show 2026 in Riyadh attracted nearly 1,500 exhibitors and 140,000 visitors, cementing its status as a premier land‑forces exhibition. Turkish manufacturers BMC, Otokar and FNSS showcased more than a dozen new vehicles, while Russia’s Rosoboronexport introduced the...
UK’s New Medium Helicopter Deal Finalisation on Horizon, Alludes Leonardo CEO
Leonardo CEO Roberto Cingolani indicated that the UK Ministry of Defence will announce the New Medium Helicopter (NMH) contract within days, ending weeks of speculation. Leonardo is the only bidder for the £1 billion (US$1.3 billion) programme, positioning the company to secure...
UK Royal Navy Notes Hybrid Air Wing Progress with Eyes on Peregrine Drone Development
The UK Royal Navy’s Maritime Aviation Transformation (MATX) programme is advancing toward a hybrid air wing by 2040, with recent progress highlighted at the Defence IQ International Military Helicopter 2026 conference. Officials confirmed ongoing discussions to expand the deployment of the Peregrine...
Golden Dome for America Hits One-Year Mark but Key Questions Remain on Its Progress
One year after its launch, the Pentagon’s Golden Dome for America program aims to create a layered “shield” of sensors and interceptors to protect the U.S. homeland from aerial threats. The effort, a complex system‑of‑systems, is hampered by inter‑service integration...
Middle East UAV Market Underscored by $17bn in Unsigned Deals
The Middle East UAV market still has about $17 billion in pending contracts, according to Shephard Defence Insight. Saudi Arabia leads the pipeline, eyeing MQ‑9B and Gambit systems, while other regional programs remain unawarded. Recent trade shows in Dubai, Abu Dhabi...
US Air Force Pushes Sentinel’s Initial Capability to Early 2030s Despite China’s Nuclear Progress
The U.S. Air Force has pushed the LGM‑35A Sentinel’s initial capability from the original 2029 target to the early 2030s after a series of cost overruns and schedule slips. A Milestone B decision to move the program into engineering and manufacturing...
How the Golden Fleet Will Change the US Navy Acquisition Process
The U.S. Navy’s Golden Fleet program introduces a streamlined acquisition model that leans heavily on artificial‑intelligence‑enabled design and scheduling tools. By expanding the vendor base and forging deeper industry partnerships, the initiative seeks to cut red tape and accelerate shipbuilding...
Ireland Predicted to Make French Connection for Vehicle Buy
Ireland is preparing to replace its aging RG‑32M 4×4 armoured patrol vehicles and Piranha III 8×8 personnel carriers with platforms from France’s Scorpion programme. French media suggest the deal could also bundle CAESAR 155 mm self‑propelled artillery, even though Ireland has not...
Leonardo UK “Optimistic” On Further Proteus Funding, Confirms International Interest
Leonardo UK announced optimism about securing additional funding for its Proteus autonomous‑system demonstrator ahead of the UK Defence Investment Plan. The programme, backed by a £60 million MoD contract awarded in 2022, completed its maiden flight in January 2026, proving key...
What Capabilities Are Being Tested Under AUKUS Pillar II?
Under AUKUS Pillar II, Australia, the UK and the US are testing next‑generation autonomous and uncrewed maritime capabilities. The latest Maritime Big Play exercise in Australia featured live‑fire trials of C2 Robotics’ Speartooth large uncrewed underwater vehicle and involved around 30 emerging systems....
Scaling for Diverse Fleet Needs: How Many CCA Will Be Acquired per Crewed Aircraft?
The defence sector lacks a standard ratio of uncrewed to crewed aircraft, as collaborative combat aircraft (CCA) capabilities and national requirements differ widely. Medium‑altitude long‑endurance (MALE) CCAs are positioned as cost‑effective, low‑risk platforms that can operate in mixed formations with...
Focus on Economy over Capability Highlights the Cost Imperative for CCA Success
The Shephard Defence Insight report highlights that cost, not just capability, will dominate the collaborative combat aircraft (CCA) market. The U.S. Air Force’s Increment 1 CCA program aims for airframes priced around $25 million, forcing manufacturers to prioritize affordability. The XQ‑58 Valkyrie,...
France and India Secure Long-Term Defence Roadmap Built on Shared Production
During President Emmanuel Macron’s February visit, France and India signed 21 defence agreements cementing a decade‑long roadmap worth $40‑50 billion. The pact expands Rafale fighter production, launches a Safran‑led M88 engine assembly line in India, and creates a Bharat Electronics‑Safran joint...
US Navy to Deploy UAVs with Standard Munitions in Long-Range Strikes
The U.S. Navy’s Runway Independent Maritime & Expeditionary Strike (RIMES) program is seeking unmanned aerial vehicles capable of launching standard 1,000‑lb class munitions from ships or austere shore sites. The Department of Defense’s Defense Innovation Unit has issued a solicitation,...
Turkey Targets Italian Market with Strategic Partnership on USVs and Hybrid Platforms
Turkey’s defence firms Havelsan and VN Maritime have signed a strategic MoU with Italy’s Piloda Defence to develop uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) and hybrid naval platforms. The partnership targets a first procurement contract in Italy by the first half of...
US Army Plans Q2 Prototype Proposal Request for Its Mobile Tactical Cannon Programme
The U.S. Army’s Mobile Tactical Cannon (MTC) program seeks a 155 mm wheeled, self‑propelled artillery system to replace the towed M777 howitzer across Stryker, Mobile and Infantry Brigade Combat Teams. A Request for Prototype Proposals will be issued in Q2 FY 2026,...
Could Asia and the Middle East Offer Growth Opportunities for Italy’s Fincantieri?
Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri commands roughly $24.98 billion of the global naval‑defence market, backed by 43 units spread across six countries. Its export push has centered on the U212 NFS submarine and the FREMM‑class frigate, both of which have attracted interest in Poland...
British Army’s Project Stokes 120mm Mortar Bids Due in March 2026
The British Army’s Project Stokes aims to field a new 120 mm Light Mounted Mortar Variant‑Hinge, with bids due by the end of March 2026 following a late‑2025 request for information. The programme revives the historic Stokes name and seeks a domestically...
L3Harris Begins Work on South Korean AEW&C Aircraft, Eyes Further International Opportunities
L3Harris has begun modifying Bombardier Global 6500 jets for South Korea’s airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) program, deploying its AERIS X system. The contract, valued at roughly US $2.26 billion, was awarded in October 2025 and involves partners Bombardier, Israel Aerospace Industries, Elta...
Saudi Arabia Air Report: The World’s Fourth-Largest UAV Market Seeks to Strengthen Domestic Industry
Saudi Arabia’s uncrewed aerial vehicle market is estimated at $13.54 billion, making it the world’s fourth‑largest after the United States, India and Germany. Approximately 32 % ($4.36 billion) has already been spent, while the remaining $9.18 billion is tied up in uncontracted programmes, mirroring...
World Defense Show 2026: Large Vehicles and Counter-Drone Systems Take the Limelight
The third World Defense Show (WDS) in Riyadh expanded by nearly 60% since its 2022 debut, drawing 1,486 exhibitors from 89 countries and 513 official delegations. Attendance reached 137,000 visitors, and the event facilitated 60 contracts totaling SAR 33 billion (US$ 8.8 billion). Large‑vehicle...
Active Vehicle Protection Comes to the Forefront as Trophy and Iron Fist Secure Contracts
Israeli active protection systems Trophy and Iron Fist have secured new contracts, underscoring a rapid shift toward vehicle‑centric defense solutions. Originating from Russian concepts in the 1970s, APS technology matured in the 2000s thanks to Israeli innovation. Both systems are modular...
World Defense Show 2026: Airbus Details A400M Upgrade as Second Indonesia Aircraft Delivery Looms
Airbus announced a major A400M upgrade at the World Defense Show 2026, targeting a payload increase from 37 tonnes to 40 tonnes through software and trim‑flight‑control enhancements. The company highlighted that 137 aircraft have already been delivered to ten customers, with 41...
New Opportunities for Defence Firms as EU Steps up Support for Ukraine
The European Commission approved a €90 billion loan to Ukraine for 2026‑27, allocating €60 billion specifically for defence. Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis announced the package on 4 February 2026, aiming to sustain Ukraine’s military procurement through 2027. The financing opens a sizable market for European...
World Defense Show 2026: Turkish and European Industries Will Cooperate, Says Aselsan Boss
At the World Defense Show 2026, Aselsan announced plans to cooperate with European defence firms, marking a strategic shift for Turkey’s defense sector. The company, which designs the Steel Dome air‑defence system, also supplies the Akkor active‑protection system and the...
How the Hedge Strategy Will Impact the US Navy’s Future Capabilities
The U.S. Navy’s newly announced Hedge Strategy seeks to rebuild its surface fleet around lethal, modular and affordable platforms. By emphasizing flexibility and cost‑effectiveness, the plan aims to halt the chronic schedule slips and budget overruns that have plagued recent...
World Defense Show 2026: Russia Reveals Details of New Loitering Munition
At the World Defense Show 2026 in Riyadh, Kalashnikov unveiled the RUS‑PE loitering munition, a cannister‑launched, man‑portable system with an approximate 40 km range. The company said the weapon is already in service and entering low‑rate initial production, while development continues...
US Navy and Raytheon Explore Additional Applications for Mk 58 CRAW Torpedo
Raytheon and the U.S. Navy are assessing broader uses for the Mk 58 Compact Rapid Attack Weapon (CRAW), a torpedo originally built for Virginia‑class submarines. The system is transitioning from prototype to an operationally ready weapon, praised for its affordability and...
World Defense Show 2026: MARSS Displays New Nation Shield Air Defence C2 System
At the World Defense Show 2026, MARSS introduced Nation Shield, the latest version of its NiDAR command‑and‑control platform. The system extends C2 capabilities to dismounted troops and vehicle units, delivering a unified operating picture from the edge to mission command....
World Defense Show 2026: Middle East Remains Focused on US Equipment and Local Industry Involvement
The World Defense Show 2026 highlighted a $63.5 billion Middle East vehicle procurement market projected through 2036, with nearly half ($31.7 billion) tied to unawarded programmes. The unawarded segment covers almost 10,000 vehicles, dominated by main battle tank contracts for Bahrain, Turkey...
World Defense Show 2026: ST Engineering Seeks Edge in Crowded 6x6 Market
Singapore’s ST Engineering unveiled the Vantrex, a new 6×6 infantry fighting vehicle at the World Defense Show 2026. The design merges the lower chassis of the Terrex s5 with a commercial‑truck‑derived upper structure, positioning it between the company’s Rhino 4×4...
Singapore Airshow 2026: Rafael Highlights Tailored Effector Solutions for Different Operational Needs
At Singapore Airshow 2026, Israeli defence firm Rafael unveiled two new Spike family effectors – the L‑Spike 1X, a section‑level ISR and loitering munition, and the L‑Spike 4X, a battalion‑scale loitering missile. CEO Yoav Turgeman stressed that customers now demand battle‑proven systems...
World Defense Show 2026: Rostec Unveils New Infantry Fighting Vehicle
Russia’s state‑owned Rostec introduced the BTR‑22 infantry fighting vehicle at the World Defense Show in Riyadh. Branded as a “Kalashnikov on wheels,” the IFV incorporates a V‑shaped hull and anti‑traumatic seating to boost crew survivability. Its internal layout reflects combat...