https://www.shephardmedia.com/author/matthew-todhunter/News authored by Matty Todhunteren-gbSun, 24 May 2026 03:30:47 +0000https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/air-warfare/brazil-air-focus-army-dominate-country-631-67-million-uav-n/Brazil air focus: Army set to dominate country’s $631.67 million UAV market from 2028Matty Todhunterhttps://www.shephardmedia.com/news/air-warfare/brazil-air-focus-army-dominate-country-631-67-million-uav-n/Air Warfarehttps://www.shephardmedia.com/media/images/article/Brazil_Agbota_2026.pngThe Brazilian Army is forecast to spend $279.15 million on UAVs from 2026, exceeding the Brazilian Navy’s $227.51 million forecast spend, although the naval force was an earlier adopter of the capability.https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/air-warfare/baykar-akinci-local-participation-export-freedom-4-63-billion-success/Baykar’s Akinci: Local participation and export freedom drive $4.63 billion success storyMatty Todhunterhttps://www.shephardmedia.com/news/air-warfare/baykar-akinci-local-participation-export-freedom-4-63-billion-success/Air Warfarehttps://www.shephardmedia.com/media/images/article/Baykar_akinci_2026.pngThe success of the Akinci drone stems from Turkey’s push for domestically produced components – which has led to fewer export restrictions – and from manufacturer Baykar’s willingness to coproduce the drone with customers’ domestic industries.https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/air-warfare/lithuanian-air-focus-majority-of-235-million-drone-investment-spent-2030/Lithuania air focus: Majority of $235.98 million drone investment to be spent before 2030Matty Todhunterhttps://www.shephardmedia.com/news/air-warfare/lithuanian-air-focus-majority-of-235-million-drone-investment-spent-2030/Air Warfarehttps://www.shephardmedia.com/media/images/article/Granta_HornetXR_2026.jpgLithuania has committed significant funding towards expanding its UAV capabilities, with more than $54 million already spent and substantial additional investment planned through to 2029. Alongside domestic procurement, the country has also acquired various drones to support Ukraine.https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/air-warfare/april-drone-digest-why-militaries-rethinking-high-end-drones/April Drone Digest: Why militaries are rethinking high-end dronesMatty Todhunterhttps://www.shephardmedia.com/news/air-warfare/april-drone-digest-why-militaries-rethinking-high-end-drones/Air Warfarehttps://www.shephardmedia.com/media/images/article/Turgis_Aarok_2026.pngFrom France to Romania, there has been a clear shift away from expensive, vulnerable MALE UAVs in April towards lower-cost, expendable systems. Hard lessons from Ukraine and Iran have driven this shift.https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/air-warfare/bundeswehr-launches-loitering-munition-spending-spree-2-16-billion-unassigned/Bundeswehr launches loitering munition spending spree with $2.16 billion unassignedMatty Todhunterhttps://www.shephardmedia.com/news/air-warfare/bundeswehr-launches-loitering-munition-spending-spree-2-16-billion-unassigned/Air Warfarehttps://www.shephardmedia.com/media/images/article/Rheinmetall_FV-014_2026.jpgAfter months of delays, Rheinmetall has inked a €300 million deal with Germany for its FV-014 drone this week as part of a wider framework contract worth €2.4 billion for loitering munition procurement. Shephard looks at how the as-yet-unawarded funds could be spent.https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/air-warfare/denmark-air-focus-blends-us-imports-and-nordic-cooperation/Denmark air focus: $2.64 billion UAV market blends US imports with Nordic cooperationMatty Todhunterhttps://www.shephardmedia.com/news/air-warfare/denmark-air-focus-blends-us-imports-and-nordic-cooperation/Air Warfarehttps://www.shephardmedia.com/media/images/article/GAASI_MQ-9B_2026.jpgWhile Denmark appears to be more committed to UAVs than most of its Nordic neighbours, its procurement efforts are likely to be split between American-made systems for its larger requirements and Nordic partnerships for smaller platforms.https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/air-warfare/norway-revitalises-effort-to-acquire-a-tactical-class-uav-103-million-competition/Norway revitalises effort to acquire a tactical-class UAV with $103 million competitionMatty Todhunterhttps://www.shephardmedia.com/news/air-warfare/norway-revitalises-effort-to-acquire-a-tactical-class-uav-103-million-competition/Air Warfarehttps://www.shephardmedia.com/media/images/article/Schiebel_Camcopter_2026.jpgNorway first scoped the requirement in 2022, and included it in a defence strategy document in 2023. The announcement of a new framework agreement appears to have breathed fresh life into the effort.https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/air-warfare/march-drone-digest-long-range-loitering-munitions-warfare-economics/March Drone Digest: Long-range, low-cost loitering munitions are changing warfare economicsMatty Todhunterhttps://www.shephardmedia.com/news/air-warfare/march-drone-digest-long-range-loitering-munitions-warfare-economics/Air Warfarehttps://www.shephardmedia.com/media/images/article/Spektorworks_FLM36_2026.pngThe effective use of the Shahed-136 in the Iran war has highlighted the need for countries to acquire a domestically produced, low-cost, long-range loitering munition, with the US, Turkey and European nations all at various stages of developing a similar capability.https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/air-warfare/middle-east-uav-market-underscored-by-17bn-in-unsigned-deals/Middle East UAV market underscored by $17bn in unsigned dealsMatty Todhunterhttps://www.shephardmedia.com/news/air-warfare/middle-east-uav-market-underscored-by-17bn-in-unsigned-deals/Air Warfarehttps://www.shephardmedia.com/media/images/article/MQ-9B_SkyGuardian_USArmy2_credit_ga-asi.jpgWhile several UAV programmes remain unawarded in the Middle East, Saudi Arabia is forecast to be the biggest spender with its potential MQ-9B and Gambit deals overshadowing others in the region.https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/air-warfare/february-drone-digest-US-drone-manufactures/February Drone Digest: US manufacturers face the Gauntlet and find success abroadMatty Todhunterhttps://www.shephardmedia.com/news/air-warfare/february-drone-digest-US-drone-manufactures/Air Warfarehttps://www.shephardmedia.com/media/images/article/US_DDP_2026.jpgThe US launched the Gauntlet test in February as part of its accelerated attack drone procurement effort while also exploring various naval capabilities that could lead to procurements down the line. Shield AI’s V-Bat, meanwhile, has been stirring up global interest.