The Shephard Defence Podcast tells the stories of the defence industry, trends in military technology and the procurement programmes that get the kit into the hands of the warfighter. In a monthly news roundtable, Shephard Media’s team of international journalists and analysts take deep dives into defence issues, focusing on niche market sectors and looking at where the trends are heading. We also feature content developed by Shephard Studio in cooperation with our partners. If you work in the defence sector, have an interest in defence technologies, or are an end-user of military equipment, then the Shephard Defence Podcast is aimed at you.
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Defence Insight Briefs - Europe Rearming and the Naval Market
Monday, April 14, 2025 • Duration 38:05
In this episode of Defence Insight Briefs, Senior Naval Analyst Giovani Rasio discusses all things naval. With Europe rearming, where is the money being spent and how are current affairs changing the calculus for NATO?
IMDEX Asia is right around the corner. Do you want the best industry information for you and your team? Listen to the full podcast and be sure to visit Shephard's Defence Insight to view equipment entries on all the systems discussed.
See you at IMDEX!
Defence Insight Briefs: IDEX and the Middle East
Monday, February 17, 2025 • Duration 16:18
In this episode of Defence Insight Briefs, Senior Land Analyst Sam Hart dives into the Middle East market on the first day of IDEX. With a mix of aligned and non-aligned countries, competitors and new technologies, IDEX is poised to dominate industry conversation at a time of regional change.
Sam discusses who we will see, what they will be exhibiting and how the changing face of global conflict will be represented at the show. Who are the regional powers and how are they flexing their soft and hard power muscles? Listen to find out!
Tune in to hear insights into the latest technological innovations and get an idea of who is selling and who is buying in this episode of Defence Insight Briefs.
A history of cybernetics and the implications for today’s society
Season 4 · Episode 13
Friday, December 23, 2022 • Duration 48:50
Professor Colin Williams, an expert in the history of cybernetics, explores the birth of the machine, its infancy in modern society and path towards maturation.
Prof Williams is an honorary visiting professor at the Cyber Technology Institute at De Montfort University Leicester (DMU), an honorary Fellow at the Cyber Security Centre at the University of Warwick, and a PhD researcher at the University of Oxford researching the early history of cybernetics.
This conversation was recorded as part of a Shephard Studio project sponsored by Fujitsu Defence and National Security.
Russia lifts the veil on new military equipment and the tracks versus wheels debate
Season 2 · Episode 26
Friday, July 3, 2020 • Duration 58:38
In this episode of the Weekly Defence Podcast we tackle the tracked versus wheeled armoured vehicles debate and we examine the equipment on display at Moscow’s Red Square during the Victory Day Parade.
Newsround: (00:32)
Cross-party political talks in Sweden addressing future defence funding have collapsed, following disagreement over whether additional money should be approved.
Senior Editor Naval Richard Thomas and Air Editor Tim Martin take a closer look at what the Royal Navy can expect following the NAO report release.
Several questions were raised over future funding for the Royal Navy in a post COVID-19 scenario. It seems that the initial goal set by the MoD for the carrier strike group to reach full capability by 2023 could be beyond budget.
Tim Martin also reports on the parliamentary hearing on the fate of the UK’s 5G network held in Westminster on the 30 June. The UK MoD has clearly stated that the Chinese telecommunications provider Huawei will have no future role to play in domestic defence communications and cyber networks.
PODCAST: Commanding the International Maritime Security Construct and leading a defence business in a time of crisis
Season 2 · Episode 25
Friday, June 26, 2020 • Duration 40:37
In this episode of the Weekly Defence Podcast, we speak to the commander of the recently-formed International Maritime Security Construct (IMSC) in the Saudi Arabian Peninsula and we hear from L3Harris Technologies about the first year of operations for the newly-merged company.
Newsround: (00:22)
Armoured vehicle programmes in central and eastern Europe are in jeopardy due to the economic effects of COVID-19, Shephard Defence Insight indicates.
Due to the rise of new tensions in the Sino-Indian border, the Indian Defence Minister is pushing Russia for faster deliveries of additional Su-30 and MiG-29 fighters.
Australia is seeking to improve its training capabilities as the army prepares to upgrade its existing M1A1 Abrams main battle tanks.
As more tensions escalate in South East Asia between Taiwan and China over the export of Dagaie Mk2 countermeasures launchers from France for installation on Taiwanese Kang Ding frigates, News Editor Ben Vogel looks at some of China’s actions and reactions.
Land Reporter discusses thethat would have been beneficial for the armed forces. Why was it cancelled and what does it mean for the country’s armed forces?
Updating the F/A-18 Super Hornet, European frigate programmes and all the news
Season 2 · Episode 24
Friday, June 19, 2020 • Duration 42:05
In this episode of the Weekly Defence Podcast we look at the new range of frigates that European navies are looking at to replace their current fleets, and we talk to Boeing about developments on the F/A-18 programmes.
More developments on Operation Irini: the EU maritime mission in the Mediterranean to enforce the UN arms and oil embargo on Libya.
News Focus
News Editor Ben Vogel discusses the European Defence Agency’s CROWN initiative following the announcement of new leadership for the Spanish company Indra.
The new programme aims to develop scalable and single architecture for airborne radar, EW and communication applications.
Air Editor Tim Martin catches up on the latest development on the Future Vertical Lift programme as Sikorsky records a new test for the FLRAA candidate - the SB>1 Defiant.
The future of unmanned ASW and special operations forces equipment priorities Part Two.
Season 2 · Episode 23
Friday, June 12, 2020 • Duration 55:50
In this episode of the Weekly Defence Podcast, we talk to Elbit Systems UK about the development of unmanned anti-submarine warfare capabilities, and we have the second part of our conversation about the challenges facing the special forces community.
The Russian Army has received the first batch of ten 2S35 Koalitsiya-SV self-propelled howitzers, but the MoD is still to decide whether to buy the wheeled variant for its combined arms brigades.
The ongoing development of Saab’s Lightweight Torpedo (SLWT) has moved a step closer to serial production, with the first test firings from the Gotland-class submarine HSwMS Gotland and Visby-class corvette HSwMS Karlstad in February and March this year.
What kit are special operations forces looking to procure and what’s behind China’s increase in its defence budget?
Season 2 · Episode 22
Friday, June 5, 2020 • Duration 01:06:30
In this episode of the Weekly Defence Podcast we focus on China’s defence budget as well as other defence developments from across the Asia-Pacific while our team of experts look at the latest special forces news following the vSOFIC event.
News-round (00:35)
Three UK Royal Fleet Auxiliary support ships could be mothballed for longer than originally planned in order to reduce defence expenditure in 2020.
Spain has released operational, technical and logistics requirements for its Light Vehicle for Special Operations, to replace variants of the Nissan ML6.
In Brazil, these are difficult times for Embraer. Despite making progress on key military programmes, the Brazilian company has suffered a 17% year-on-year drop in sales in the first quarter of this year for its defence and security business.
In Britain, a US senator weighed into the Huawei 5G debate earlier this week, warning that American personnel could be put at risk on British territory.
Land Reporter Flavia Camargos Pereira catches up on Canada’s attempts to enhance the protection of its ground troops. The Canadian Department of National Defence has confirmed initial delivery of the for this year.
Russian rockets, Turkey’s removal from the F-35 and Italian helicopter sales to Egypt
Season 2 · Episode 21
Friday, May 29, 2020 • Duration 42:57
In this episode of the Weekly Defence Podcast we discuss the rocket systems currently in service in Russia and we talk to our Defence Insight team about the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter programme.
Senior Editor Naval Richard Thomas talks about the Royal Swedish Navy upgrades programme to the the Visby-class corvettes and -class submarines and considers whether the new deliveries will help to counter of deter the Russian threat.
Gauging the impact of COVID-19 and bringing machine learning to the military
Season 2 · Episode 20
Friday, May 22, 2020 • Duration 47:02
In this episode of the Weekly Defence Podcast, we talk to BAE Systems about their programme to develop machine learning analytics and how this can benefit the military, and we consider the current and future effects of COVID-19 on US military spending.
The Extenda Mk 2 version of the expeditionary High Mobility Transporter has been demonstrated as a possible solution for the Next Generation Fighting Vehicle programme for Canadian Special Forces.
Air editor Tim Martin discusses a report from the Russian news agency TASS that revealed Egypt’s deal for 26 Su-35 fighter. According to the report a deal was signed, but there is no official confirmation by Egypt or Russia. The US has made clear that should the deal go through Egypt is at risk of sanctions.
Deep Dive - IMSC missions in the Middle Eastern waters (10:28)
Senior Editor Naval Richard Thomas is on the line with Royal Navy Commodore Robert Bellfield, Commander of the International Maritime Security Construct (IMSC), to find out about the consortium’s current security missions in the Saudi Arabian Peninsula. How many countries are involved in these operations and how do these differ from other missions in the region?
Interview – L3Harris Technologies (25:44)
Shephard Media’s regular contributor Andrew White interviews Dana Mehnert, President of the Communication Systems segment for L3Harris Technologies, to discuss the status of the company, and current and future programmes four months after the COVID-19 outbreak.
Following years of falling naval budgets, a steady increase has emerged in response to emering threats. Harriet looks at how the market shape will change in the next five years.
Interview – Boeing on the F/A-18 (25:44)
Air Editor Tim Martin speaks to Jen Tebo, director of F/A-18 development programmes at Boeing, to discuss changes in the programme with a focus on recent efforts on the Super Hornet Block-2 and 3 front.
Senior Editor, Naval Richard Thomas is on the line with Martin Fausset, CEO at Elbit System UK, to discuss the status of the company’s trials under work by DSTL exploring the future of unmanned ASW operations.
Panel discussion - Special forces Operations (30:10)
The new upcoming budget of $179 billion has been defined necessary to prepare for future combat, by the country’s general secretary.
Panel discussion - Special Forces Operations (36:49)
VP content Tony Skinner hosts a conversation among SOF experts to get an insight on the virtual SOFIC event where US Special Operations Command leadership explained current challenges and requirements for the Special Forces.
Air Editor Tim Martin discusses the reveal of a lucrative helicopter deal between Italy and Egypt. The Italian manufacturer Leonardo will provide AW149 multirole and AW189 super medium class to Cairo for a cost of over $870 million.
Richard Thomas speaks to Senior Air Analyst Ilker Aktaşoğlu to find out the latest on the F-35 programme. Ilker takes a look at the programme background and at the latest reports recently released by both Lockheed Martin and the US Congressional Research Service.
Interview – Grad rocket systems (27:32)
As the second stage of tests involving the 122mm 9M221F Taifun-1 rocket recently took place in Ukraine, News Editor Ben Vogel is on the line with freelance contributor Leonid Nersisyan to find out more about grad rocket systems now in service in Russia and in other countries of the former Soviet Union.
Deep Dive: COVID-19 threat to US military budget (14:52)
News Editor Ben Vogel is on the line with Jason Sherman, a New York- based defence journalist, to take a look at the impact of coronavirus on the US and the country’s military budget as the US DoD braces for a potential three-month delay to its deliveries.
Interview: BAE Systems on machine learning (33:40)
Tim Martin speaks to John Hogan, Product Line Director, Sensor Processing and Exploitation at BAE Systems FAST Labs, to understand about the company’s DARPA contract. The Geospatial Cloud Analytics programme aims to develop machine learning analytics that could provide constant global situational awareness.
