The Shephard Defence Podcast

This week on the Shephard Defence Podcast, we explore the evolution of military simulation and training technologies, including advancements in cloud computing, networked training, and the increasing use of simulation in response to changing military demands.Jeff Tasseron, director of strategic growth for CAE, talks to Dr Alix Valenti about how new simulation and training technologies are impacting the defence sector.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.

With so much criticism of UK defence procurement, it can be hard to know what's fact and what is hyperbole. Shephard sat down with Professor John Louth, formerly of RUSI, and co-author of a new paper on defence procurement to get his take on the state of the way the UK buys its kit.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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.