https://www.shephardmedia.com/author/neil-thompson/News authored by ​Neil Thompsonen-gbSun, 24 May 2026 03:39:17 +0000https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/naval-warfare/are-maritime-drone-defence-technologies-having-a-moment/As uncrewed naval systems advance, capabilities to counter them are emerging​Neil Thompsonhttps://www.shephardmedia.com/news/naval-warfare/are-maritime-drone-defence-technologies-having-a-moment/Naval Warfarehttps://www.shephardmedia.com/media/images/article/Dragonfire_Night_Shot_crown_copyright.jpgResearch programmes and system procurement efforts to counter uncrewed surface and underwater vehicle threats are accelerating as naval drone uptake spreads.https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/air-warfare/electric-and-hybrid-aerial-drone-fleets-are-expanding-their-footprint/Electric and hybrid aerial drone fleets are expanding their footprint​Neil Thompsonhttps://www.shephardmedia.com/news/air-warfare/electric-and-hybrid-aerial-drone-fleets-are-expanding-their-footprint/Air Warfarehttps://www.shephardmedia.com/media/images/article/Malloy_T-150_BAE_Systems.JPGAdvances in uncrewed aerial vehicles powered by renewable technologies are coming to the fore, with battery, hydrogen and solar propulsion challenging traditional fossil fuel-dependent models.https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/defence-notes/new-opportunities-defence-firms-eu-steps-up-ukraine/New opportunities for defence firms as EU steps up support for Ukraine​Neil Thompsonhttps://www.shephardmedia.com/news/defence-notes/new-opportunities-defence-firms-eu-steps-up-ukraine/Defence Noteshttps://www.shephardmedia.com/media/images/article/Shark_UAV_Ukraine-harrylye.jpgThe European Commission is looking for startups and other innovators to address challenges across the land, air and sea domains.https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/naval-warfare/minister-denies-steel-shortage-threatens-fleet-solid-support-programme/UK’s Fleet Solid Support ship programme deemed on track despite steel supply concerns​Neil Thompsonhttps://www.shephardmedia.com/news/naval-warfare/minister-denies-steel-shortage-threatens-fleet-solid-support-programme/Naval Warfarehttps://www.shephardmedia.com/media/images/article/Fleet_Solid_support_ship_creditnavantia-32edit.jpgShipbuilders are saying the programme is going ahead on time as the government estimates 7.7 million tonnes of steel are needed for 2026 infrastructure projects.https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/defence-notes/as-new-year-starts-uk-defence-spending-delay-continues/As the new year starts, the UK defence spending delay continues​Neil Thompsonhttps://www.shephardmedia.com/news/defence-notes/as-new-year-starts-uk-defence-spending-delay-continues/Defence Noteshttps://www.shephardmedia.com/media/images/article/Eurofighter_Typhoon_BAE_Systems.jpgThe UK’s defence spending commitments remain uncertain as the government’s Defence Investment Plan, which had been due by the end of 2025, is yet to be published.https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/air-warfare/advances-in-halemale-systems-prove-the-sky-is-not-the-limit-for-drones/Advances in HALE/MALE systems prove the sky is not the limit for drones​Neil Thompsonhttps://www.shephardmedia.com/news/air-warfare/advances-in-halemale-systems-prove-the-sky-is-not-the-limit-for-drones/Air Warfarehttps://www.shephardmedia.com/media/images/article/Neil-PHASA35.jpgDrone systems are multiplying at high altitudes as designers turn out new components and subsystems that let units operate there.https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/landwarfareintl/the-integration-between-drones-and-land-vehicles-is-accelerating/The integration between drones and land vehicles is accelerating​Neil Thompsonhttps://www.shephardmedia.com/news/landwarfareintl/the-integration-between-drones-and-land-vehicles-is-accelerating/Land Warfarehttps://www.shephardmedia.com/media/images/article/Neil-ISV-H_2.jpgDrones and military ground vehicles are increasingly being designed to operate together as a single platform or even to convert crewed systems to automated ones.https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/landwarfareintl/companies-and-militaries-turn-to-new-technologies-to-improve-support/Companies and militaries look to artificial intelligence to improve support of equipment​Neil Thompsonhttps://www.shephardmedia.com/news/landwarfareintl/companies-and-militaries-turn-to-new-technologies-to-improve-support/Land Warfarehttps://www.shephardmedia.com/media/images/article/Prognostics_and_Health_Management_PHM_Babcock_BAE_Systems_Challenger_2_Trojan.jpgCompanies are turning to rapidly advancing technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine-learning (ML) to to reduce maintenance times and costs and increase operational hours and tempo.https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/air-warfare/how-unconventional-warfare-demands-are-changing-the-cuas-and-drone-development-landscape/How unconventional warfare demands are changing the CUAS and drone development landscape​Neil Thompsonhttps://www.shephardmedia.com/news/air-warfare/how-unconventional-warfare-demands-are-changing-the-cuas-and-drone-development-landscape/Air Warfarehttps://www.shephardmedia.com/media/images/article/Leonidas_At_Dusk_Epirus2.jpgThe use of drones in unconventional ways is accelerating technological advances and countermeasures as military planners try to stay ahead of the drone revolution in military affairs.https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/landwarfareintl/kyiv-works-to-replicate-unmanned-air-success-with-ground-vehicles/Kyiv works to replicate unmanned air success with ground vehicles​Neil Thompsonhttps://www.shephardmedia.com/news/landwarfareintl/kyiv-works-to-replicate-unmanned-air-success-with-ground-vehicles/Land Warfarehttps://www.shephardmedia.com/media/images/article/Ukraine_UGV_Robotics_Complex_BRAVE1_UGV_drone-1.jpgThe conflict in Ukraine has seen the country’s defence firms emerge as technological innovators in response to the Russian invasion of the country in 2022. The drone war in the air has been a significant development while the efforts on the ground have been less acknowledged.