The Shephard Defence Podcast

Brought to you in partnership with Leidos On a mild summer’s day in July, a group of defence experts gathered in a central London recording studio to discuss the notion of Information Advantage. In the data-rich information age in which we live, the concept of Information Advantage has become a fundamental shift in how the armed forces prosecute warfare. Indeed, the UK Ministry of Defence calls th...

In this episode of The Weekly Defence Podcast, we cast an eye over the Army 2021 exhibition in Russia and speak to the UK Space Agency, to look at the country’s future operations in this growing domain.   Newsround [ 1:23]  The US has sealed the end of its 20-year involvement in Afghanistan on 31 August when its final aircraft took off from Kabul Airport. This followed the evacuation of UK forces...

In this episode of The Weekly Defence Podcast, we welcome to the show our Middle East correspondent to discuss the main highlights from the floor of IDEF 2021; and we talk to QinetiQ about the work the company is carrying out to provide an advantage to navies in countering swarm attacks. Newsround [01:07]  The US joint forces launched multiple missiles and torpedoes from the air, land and sea doma...

In this episode of The Weekly Defence Podcast, we bring you a roundtable discussion on the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan from a military angle; and, as IDEF 2021 takes place this week in Istanbul, we speak to FNSS to find out about its armoured vehicles on display.   Newsround – Weekly highlights [1:26] The team highlights some of the main stories from the week, which include copy from IDEF 2021...

In this episode of the Weekly Defence Podcast, the team reports on the latest from the European defence industry, explores major stories from the Asia Pacific region and discusses the procurement of interoperable defence technologies in the Middle East. Newsround: [00:33] As it improves its capabilities under the Advanced Helicopter Training System programme, the USN has received an initial batch...

In this episode of The Weekly Defence Podcast, our news team looks into a new UK airdrop boat requirement and discusses the state of play in Turkey vis-à-vis US sanctions; we speak to our naval analyst at Shephard Defence Insight about trends in the corvette market; and our sponsor Bell sheds light on its plans for a US Army future helicopter programme. Newsround [ 01:51] At the Sea-Air-Space show...

In this episode of The Weekly Defence Podcast, sponsored by Bell, the team delves into UK and European defence industrial policy; and QinetiQ discusses integrated test and evaluation for the armed forces. Newsround [ 01:23] Airbus told Shephard exclusively on 26 July that it wants to enhance the lethality of its H145M helicopter by adding the Spike ER2 precision-guided missile. Firing tests are pl...

In this episode of The Weekly Defence Podcast, the team looks at all the latest news from Russia as the country unveiled a new fighter jet prototype at MAKS 2021; and in an interview with Raytheon we discuss the latest on US hypersonic technologies.  Newsround [ 00:42] A preliminary  virtual event took place this week in the US before the Sea-Air-Space conference early next month.  ADM Mike Gilday...

In this episode of The Weekly Defence Podcast, the Shephard News team looks at the latest from the Space Comm expo which took place last week in Farnborough, and assesses how space strategies are shaping up in the UK, France, Australia and the US. Newsround [01:50] New Zealand’s Defence Minister announced this week a post-Covid redraft of the country’s Defence Capability Plan.  The new Labour-led...

 In this episode of The Weekly Defence Podcast we focus on Swiss F-35 procurement, naval sustainment and the market for armoured vehicles in North Africa.  Newsround [00:39] In Germany, the Bundeswehr is pushing ahead with an ambitious upgrade of its entire fleet of Puma IFVs as it heads towards the development of a new armoured division.  In Singapore , the Navy is rolling out of augmented-realit...

In this episode of The Weekly Defence Podcast, the Shephard news team looks at some of the highlights emerging from the latest UK National Audit Office (NAO) report on MoD procurement in the air, land and sea domains; and we talk to Bell about the progress of the V-280 Valor programme to meet US Army Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) requirements. Newsround [00:30]  The Royal Canadian Nav...

In this episode of The Weekly Defence Podcast, the Shephard news team covers news from the simulation and training, land and sea domains; in an interview with MARSS we look at the capabilities the company is offering to Saudi Arabia, as the country shapes up its Vision 2030 policy; and our sponsor Raytheon Intelligence and Space provides an insight on space-base assets and their contribution to mi...

In this episode of The Weekly Defence Podcast, we look at German defence procurement and  modernisation efforts; we catch up on all the news from the Asia Pacific; and we speak to our sponsor Raytheon Intelligence and Space about the impact of digital engineering on the defence sector.   Newsround [01:12] NATO's Flying Training Europe programme took a major step forward last week after 10 mem...

In this episode of The Weekly Defence Podcast, the team looks at the latest French exports report;  and, following the most recent annual Gripen seminar from Saab, we discuss interest in extra procurement from Brazil and potential trends in the region. In the second part of the show we look at the US Next Generation Interceptor (NGI) programme. Newsround [01:39] UK procurement minister Jeremy Quin...

In this episode of The Weekly Defence Podcast we delve into the newly released US FY2022 defence budget proposal; and we speak to the Institute for Security Science and Technology (ISST) at Imperial College and Iceni Labs about efforts by academia and industry to support defence R&D in the UK.   Newsround [01:02]  At the Land Forces 2021 exhibition in Brisbane, Australia, local firm Cyborg Dyn...

In this episode of The Weekly Defence Podcast we explore the potential impact of armed UAVs on naval strategies worldwide; we bring the views of two industry experts on the impact of the Integrated Review on the British Army following the cancellation of the Warrior programme; and with our sponsor Raytheon Intelligence & Space, we discuss the increasing use of small satellites for civil and mi...

In this episode of The Weekly Defence Podcast, we speak about the latest upsurge in the Gaza-Israel conflict and look at the capabilities fielded by the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) and Hamas; and we catch up with Shephard’s Military Training Editor to discuss some of the latest developments in his domain. Newsround [01:07] In Russia, Rosoboronexport has delivered underwater pistols and assault rif...

In this episode of The Weekly Defence Podcast we speak to Shephard’s Asia-Pacific editor for the  monthly round up of the news from his region, and in a conversation with our sponsor Raytheon Intelligence and Space we talk about developments in satellite ground systems.  Newsround [00:47] Rheinmetall and  BAE Systems Land officially received an £800 million ($1.12 billion) contract on 7 May from t...

In this episode of The Weekly Defence Podcast, our team of subject matter experts delves into stories from the land and air domains, and in an interview with Supacat we look at the wider impact of the Integrated Review on some key British Army programmes. Newsround [00:55]  French company Dassault confirmed on 4 May  a follow-on order from Egypt for 30 Rafale multirolefighter aircraft in an estima...

In this episode of The Weekly Defence Podcast, the Shephard team looks at the global MLRS market, focusing on current programmes and platform upgrades; and in an interview with the Digital Ground Forces Division of the IDF, we discuss its Tzaid programme, also known as Torch. Newsround [ 00:56]  Turkish defence companies Ares Shipyard and Meteksan unveiled the new anti-submarine warfare variant of...

In this episode of the Weekly Defence Podcast, we comment on Lockheed Martin’s Q1 financial results, we delve into IFV procurement in Slovakia, and we talk to Blighter Surveillance Systems about C-UAS market trends.  Newsround [01:00]   Just two months after Moscow agreed to extend the New START nuclear arms treaty with the US, Russia is now updating its intercontinental ballistic missile inventor...

  In this episode of The Weekly Defence Podcast, we talk to Aeralis to discuss the company R&D contract with the RAF for the development of a modular jet; Viasat join us to dive into its efforts to counter cyber threats; and in a conversation with Bell we look at the company's progress on the V-280 Valor tiltrotor.   Newsround [00:59] The USAF has suffered a setback in its quest to develo...

In this episode of The Weekly Defence Podcast we discuss all the news across the air, land, and sea domains, and we talk to Israeli company Camero Tech about new sense-through-the-wall systems using ultra-wideband imaging.   Newsround [01:13]  The USN is procuring 11 additional P-8A Poseidon aircraft from Boeing for $1.7 billion. Two of these will be supplied to the Royal Australian Air Force as a...

In this episode of The Weekly Defence Podcast we cast our gaze to the Asia-Pacific region to discuss the unrest in Myanmar, Chinese activities in the South China Sea and procurement highlights from across the region. Newsround [00:37] The US Army has placed a major order with sole bidder Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control for Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System rocket pods . The UK Royal N...

In this episode of The Weekly Defence Podcast, we go in-depth into the recently released MoD Command Paper, which sets out how the concept of a ' Global Britain in a competitive age ' will be achieved from a military/strategic standpoint. Integrated Review- In focus [00:30] In this special edition of the podcast Senior Editor Naval Richard Thomas and News Editor Ben Vogel are joined by A...