The Shephard Defence Podcast

In this bonus episode of The Shephard Defence Podcast, we bring you the third episode from the latest series of the Five Eyes Connectivity podcast.  Sponsored by our partner Viasat, the Five Eyes Connectivity podcast looks at the origins of the Five Eyes arrangement, considers what it means for military interoperability, and hears how the unique partnership should evolve for the future.  In this episode, we take a deeper dive into the new technologies that will define the future battlefield, from AI to 5G to cyber.  We’ll look at the next generation of communications, asking how the Five Eyes can best harness technological advantages, while protecting themselves against emerging threats.

Shephard Media's news editor Ben Vogel discusses the major news from the 2022 Farnborough International Airshow 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.

In this bonus episode of The Shephard Defence Podcast, we bring you the second episode from the latest series of the Five Eyes Connectivity podcast.  Sponsored by our partner Viasat, the Five Eyes Connectivity podcast looks at the origins of the Five Eyes arrangement, considers what it means for military interoperability, and hears how the unique partnership should evolve for the future.  With the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the threat of peer warfare is suddenly very real. Multi-domain operations will be central to any future conflict for Five Eyes nations, with communications and connectivity a crucial technological focus.  In this episode, we dive deeper into military connectivity and hear how the Five Eyes partners are developing new CONOPS based on the model of multi-domain operations.  The US and its allies must adapt to this new character of warfare because they will not have control over every domain of the battlespace on the battlefields of tomorrow.  But as the battlespace becomes more complex, what will it mean for future warfare? 

The Shephard Media news team report from the floor of Eurosatory, the biennial international defence and security exhibition.Shephard Media's news editor Ben Vogel discusses the major news from the show and what emerging trends were evident with senior naval reporter Harry Lye, military training & simulation reporter Norbert Neumann and regular contributor Samuel Beal.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.

In this bonus episode of The Shephard Defence Podcast, we bring you the first episode from the latest series of the Five Eyes Connectivity podcast.Sponsored by our partner Viasat, the Five Eyes Connectivity podcast looks at the origins of the Five Eyes arrangement, considers what it means for military interoperability, and hears how the unique partnership should evolve for the future. The Five Eyes partnership is best known as an intelligence-sharing arrangement. But it also has a crucial military dimension, binding together five western militaries and acting as a force enabler for coalition operations.  Today, with the rise of China as a global power and an increasingly belligerent Russia flexing its muscles, the Five Eyes partnership is perhaps more relevant than ever.

We’re excited to share a new-look format for the Shephard Defence Podcast. Following a short hiatus, we are back with a monthly look at some of the big themes in the world of defence. The first episode looks at the rapidly-evolving situation of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Few defence analysts believed when the Russians invaded on 24 February that the conflict would still be raging almost three months later, with well-motivated Ukrainian forces proving they’re a tough nut to crack, Western military aid flooding into the country and questions swirling around about the effectiveness of Russian equipment, tactics and strategy. Shephard Media's news editor Ben Vogel discusses developments and what lessons have been gleaned with senior naval reporter Harry Lye and air editor Tim Martin.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.

In the final bumper edition of The Weekly Defence Podcast in 2021, our subject matter experts look back over an eventful year for air, land, sea and training procurement programmes (including a return to the trade show scene); we look at the main developments in the Asia-Pacific region; and Air Editor Tim Martin speaks with Honeywell to discuss the T55-714C engine upgrade for US Army helicopters.Newsround [01:45]In his overview, Air Editor Tim Martin notes strong 2021 performances from Dassault and Lockheed Martin in winning fighter procurement contests.Looking ahead, Tim flags up a looming decision in Canada on future fighter procurement and notes that 2022 will be a significant year for the US Army FVL programme.Land Reporter Flavia Camargos Pereira looks back at her highlights from the AUSA annual conference and exhibition in October 2021, particularly the OMFV programme for the US Army. She also discusses problems affecting British Army vehicle procurement.Senior Naval Reporter Harry Lye reviews the highlights (and lowlights) of the Carrier Strike Group 21 deployment by the UK RN, as well as strong procurement activity in Greece.Simulation & Training Editor Trevor Nash describes getting back on the show scene in 2021. It was a busy year for industry mergers and acquisitions, and Trevor also describes how  NATO has grabbed the NFTE programme by the horns. Asia-Pacific review [48:32]News Editor Ben Vogel discusses major news from 2021 with Asia-Pacific Editor Gordon Arthur. Chinese sabre-rattling towards its neighbours continued and Beijing appears intent on boosting its ICBM and hypersonic missile stocks, while the AUKUS pact in September ruffled feathers in France.Interview – Honeywell Aerospace [1:08:59]Tim Martin talks with TJ Pope, senior director for military turboshaft engines at Honeywell Aerospace, about the latest developments with the T55-714C upgrade for US Army helicopters.This episode was produced by Ben Vogel with music and sound mixing by Fred Prest.

In this episode of The Weekly Defence Podcast, we explore the main themes from the European Defence Agency innovation conference; we discuss the latest global arms sales data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute; and we shine a light on Middle Eastern air force procurement and naval shipbuilding.In the second part of the show, Air Editor Tim Martin speaks with Defence Insight air analyst Ilker Aktasoglu to discuss the ongoing impact of COVID on aircraft procurement programmes.Newsround [01:30]Land Reporter Flavia Camargos Pereira looks into the annual EDA Innovation Conference that took place in Brussels on 7 December, and describes how European countries are looking at non-traditional partners for R&D.Elsewhere, Air Editor Tim Martin looks over a new report from SIPRI on global arms sales, which shows how US manufacturers continue to dominate while Chinese competitors focus on specialist markets. Tim also discusses some significant Middle Eastern developments with the mega-order last week from the UAE for Rafale. Where does this leave the potential F-35 deal?And staying in the Middle East, our Senior Naval Reporter Harry Lye casts an eye over a significant week for naval programmes in the region, after Naval Group launched the first Gowind corvette for the UAE Navy and Navantia launched Saudi Arabia's final Avante 2200 corvette.Interview – COVID and military aircraft procurement [29:05]Tim Martin talks with Defence Insight air analyst Ilker Aktasoglu to discuss the challenges that COVID-19 still pose to aircraft procurement programmes.This episode was produced by Ben Vogel with music and sound mixing by Fred Prest.

In this episode of The Weekly Defence Podcast, our Military Training Editor is on the line from the floor of I/ITSEC in Orlando to discuss major themes and headlines from the show; we look into talk of a merger between two major European next-generation fighter programmes; and in an interview with Aircraft Carrier Industrial Base Coalition (ACIBC), we discuss ongoing supply chain shortages affecting the aircraft carrier industrial base. Newsround [01:06]News Editor Ben Vogel is on the line with Trevor Nash who is reporting on the main themes at I/ITSEC 2021.Among the major show highlights on Trevor’s radar are the fallout from BAE Systems’ purchase of BISim; a potential USAF move away from using the T-1A Jayhawk training fleet; and do conventional gallery ranges have any purpose in the modern age?Elsewhere, Air Editor Tim Martin give us an update on Airbus briefings about the multinational Eurodrone and FCAS programmes, including industry talk that the latter could merge with Tempest.Interview – ACIBC [31:00]Senior Naval Reporter Harry Lye is on the line with Richard Giannini Chairman of the Aircraft Carrier Industrial Base Coalition (ACIBC) to discuss the challenges in production rate of new carriers and potential solutions for supply chain crisis for defence. This episode was produced by Noemi Distefano with music and sound mixing by Fred Prest. 

In this episode of The Weekly Defence Podcast, the team looks at how NASCAR expertise is being applied to the defence sector; we speak to CAE to understand the company’s posture seven months after the acquisition of L3 Harris Military Training business; and we discuss the C295 MPA programme with Airbus. Newsround: [01:40]The news team dives into modification work on USN Freedom-class Littoral Combat Ships; what to expect from the I/ITSEC expo next week in Orlando; the signature of a new partnership among signatories to the AUKUS agreement; and Taiwan’s F-16V modernisation programme.In focus:Land reporter Flavia Camargos Pereira reports on projects involving NASCAR champions Henrick Motorsports with the USMC, US Army and GM Defense. Where does motorsport technology meet defence?The EDA Council has launched new projects as part of its Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) framework. Several countries among the 25 EU member states are involved on a series of new programmes for their air, naval and land forces. Interview- Airbus [32:05]Air Editor Tim Martin is on the line with Fernando Ciria Head of marketing airborne ISR and tactical airlifters at Airbus to discuss the status of the C295 MPA programme and more. Industry voice [48:04]Creative Director Tony Skinner speaks to Dan Gelston, Group President, Defence and Security at CAE to take a look at the impact — seven months on — of the acquisition of the L3Harris Military Training division. This episode was produced by Noemi Distefano with music and sound mixing by Fred Prest.