

The Shephard Defence Podcast
Shephard Media
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.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Feb 27, 2023 • 28min
All the show news from IDEX in Abu Dhabi
This week on the Shephard Defence Podcast, senior naval reporter Harry Lye and military training & simulation reporter Norbert Neumann chat about the big news stories from IDEX in Abu Dhabi.Each month on the Shephard Defence Podcast, our 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 regular content developed by Shephard Studio in cooperation with our partners.

Feb 3, 2023 • 34min
Digital Readiness and Cognitive Advantage in the Future Battlespace: An Interview with Neil Dove and Andy Laidler
We recently released a multimedia project in partnership with Fujitsu Defence and National Security, focusing on digital readiness and cognitive advantage. In this bonus podcast episode, we hear from two industry experts as they guide us through the complex landscape of the future battlespace. We speak with Neil Dove, Vice President of Fujitsu Defence and National security in the UK, and Andy Laidler, chief digital officer for the defence business in which he oversees investment in new technologies. Click here to learn more about the themes discussed

Jan 20, 2023 • 46min
The most significant defence stories of 2022 - and looking ahead to the coming year
Shephard's editorial team - senior naval reporter Harry Lye, military training & simulation reporter Norbert Neumann and Asia Pacific editor Gordon Arthur - nominate the most remarkable defence stories of 2022.To learn more, see the team's online overview of the five most significant news across the air, land, naval, uncrewed, training and defence notes of our website. Each month on the Shephard Defence Podcast, our 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 regular content developed by Shephard Studio in cooperation with our partners.

Dec 23, 2022 • 49min
A history of cybernetics and the implications for today’s society
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.To learn more about the themes discussed, head over to www.digitalreadiness.tech

Dec 9, 2022 • 50min
All the news from I/ITSEC and talking seabed warfare
This week on the Shephard Defence Podcast, senior naval reporter Harry Lye and military training & simulation reporter Norbert Neumann chat about the big news stories from I/ITSEC, the world's largest modeling, simulation and training event.Harry is also joined by Chris Lade, Defence Sales Manager at Saab Sea Eye, about the trends and challenges of seabed warfare.Each month on the Shephard Defence Podcast, our 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 regular content developed by Shephard Studio in cooperation with our partners.

Dec 5, 2022 • 44min
How fiction can prepare us for a disruptive digital future – a conversation with August Cole
Innovation is a crucial topic in national security circles. For organisations to seize the advantage, it is vital to approach innovation not simply as a technological phenomenon but as a cultural and organisational priority.Part of the challenge is interpreting current advances and determining the future impact they will have in terms of both technology and organisational culture. August Cole is an author and futurist who explores the future of conflict through FICINT – fictional intelligence storytelling. His work focuses on the evolution of warfare and the role that robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) will play in the not-too-distant future.In this special episode of the podcast, Dr. Keith Dear – who is Managing Director, Centre for Cognitive and Advanced Technologies at Fujitsu UK – and August Cole discuss how new technologies are radically altering the national security landscape.The conversation was recorded as part of a Shephard Studio project sponsored by Fujitsu Defence and National Security.To learn more about the themes discussed, head over to www.digitalreadiness.tech

Oct 21, 2022 • 36min
Interview - General Sir Richard Barrons
These are uncertain and changing times for UK politics and defence strategy. So much has changed — domestically and in the world at large — since the UK government released the Integrated Review and MoD Command Paper in early 2021. Shephard Media's news editor Ben Vogel sits down with General Sir Richard Barrons, former commander of the UK's Joint Forces Command, to discuss whether the Integrated Review’s assumptions remain valid in today’s changed security and defence climate. The discussion forms part of a wider package of content delivered by the Shephard Media editorial team.

Oct 7, 2022 • 49min
The Disintegrated Review - Is the UK's defence and security strategy on the right path?
So much has changed — domestically and in the world at large — since the UK government released the Integrated Review and MoD Command Paper in early 2021. In this special podcast episode, Shephard Media's team of subject-matter experts looks into the key points in these documents, and ask if the assumptions behind them remain valid in the changed security and defence climate today.The discussion forms part of a wider package of content delivered by the Shephard Media editorial team.

Sep 14, 2022 • 16min
How open avionics are enabling the next generation of air dominance
Establishing and maintaining air dominance has been a primary objective for militaries since the earliest days of air warfare.But as the US government and industry focus on sixth-generation fighters and other future platforms, what capabilities are required to ensure sustained air dominance of the US and allied forces?Welcome to this bonus episode of the Shephard Defence Podcast, which is brought to you in partnership with our sponsor Collins Aerospace.In this episode, we examine the role that new technologies, such as enhanced vision systems, open systems and digital aircraft architectures, will play in tomorrow’s battlespace.

Aug 19, 2022 • 43min
Going autonomous - maritime UAV platforms and programmes
Shephard Media's news editor Ben Vogel discusses the naval UAV platforms and programmes with air editor Tim Martin, senior naval reporter Harry Lye, and military training & simulation reporter Norbert Neumann.Each month on the Shephard Defence Podcast, our 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 regular content developed by Shephard Studio in cooperation with our partners.