https://www.shephardmedia.com/author/gordon-arthur/News authored by Gordon Arthuren-gbSun, 24 May 2026 03:42:33 +0000https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/naval-warfare/sea-archer-undergoes-trials-in-australia-even-as-bluebottles-proliferate/Australia is ramping up its uncrewed surface fleet as Sea Archer lines up for key requirementGordon Arthurhttps://www.shephardmedia.com/news/naval-warfare/sea-archer-undergoes-trials-in-australia-even-as-bluebottles-proliferate/Naval Warfarehttps://www.shephardmedia.com/media/images/article/Bluebottle_USV_Gordon_Arthur.jpgAs advances in uncrewed technology increasingly shape Australia’s maritime future, Shephard spoke with the country’s head of navy capability and a Leidos Australia executive about the operational advantages behind the shift.https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/defence-notes/new-zealand-buys-tri-service-uncrewed-kit-from-syos-aerospace/New Zealand buys tri-service uncrewed kit from Syos AerospaceGordon Arthurhttps://www.shephardmedia.com/news/defence-notes/new-zealand-buys-tri-service-uncrewed-kit-from-syos-aerospace/Defence Noteshttps://www.shephardmedia.com/media/images/article/SA2_UAV_New_Zealand_credit_Syos.jpgAs uncrewed technology continues to play an increasingly central role in modern military activities, New Zealand’s recent acquisitions point towards its the force’s focus on cost-effective capability.https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/naval-warfare/royal-australian-navy-sizes-up-modernisation-plans/Royal Australian Navy sizes up modernisation plans for new and existing capabilitiesGordon Arthurhttps://www.shephardmedia.com/news/naval-warfare/royal-australian-navy-sizes-up-modernisation-plans/Naval Warfarehttps://www.shephardmedia.com/media/images/article/Collins-class_upgrade-credit_Australian_Air_Forcew.jpgThe Australian navy is pushing ahead with its efforts to modernise its workforce and capabilities while balancing risky submarine upgrades, ageing Collins-class boats and a shrinking minehunter fleet. Head of navy capability RAdm Stephen Hughes updated Shephard on the force’s progress.https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/landwarfareintl/chaiseri-quartet-of-new-vehicles-offer-mobility-and-digitisation-to-thai-armed-forces/Chaiseri’s quartet of new vehicles offers fresh capabilities to Asian marketsGordon Arthurhttps://www.shephardmedia.com/news/landwarfareintl/chaiseri-quartet-of-new-vehicles-offer-mobility-and-digitisation-to-thai-armed-forces/Land Warfarehttps://www.shephardmedia.com/media/images/article/Chaiseri_guardian-t.JPGThe Guardian-T 8x8, Hisaar MRAP 4x4, Ridgeback 4x4 and Jackal 4x4 were all on display at Defense & Security 2025, with target markets for the vehicles including Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines as well as Thailand.https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/naval-warfare/half-of-australias-first-hunter-frigate-is-now-in-fabrication/Half of Australia’s first Hunter frigate is now in fabricationGordon Arthurhttps://www.shephardmedia.com/news/naval-warfare/half-of-australias-first-hunter-frigate-is-now-in-fabrication/Naval Warfarehttps://www.shephardmedia.com/media/images/article/Hunter-class_frigate_1.jpgBAE Systems Maritime Australia’s Andy Coxall gave Shephard a progress update on its HMAS Hunter frigate, while addressing concerns over the cost difference between Australia’s programme and Norway’s.https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/landwarfareintl/new-type-100-afv-china-leapfrog-western/New Type 100 AFVs help China leapfrog ahead of other Western conceptsGordon Arthurhttps://www.shephardmedia.com/news/landwarfareintl/new-type-100-afv-china-leapfrog-western/Land Warfarehttps://www.shephardmedia.com/media/images/article/Gordon-type100.jpegChina’s fourth-generation armoured fighting vehicles (AFVs) have pulled ahead of international analogues in their concept of operations, but questions remain about the reliability of their advanced technologies further down the line.https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/landwarfareintl/new-armoured-vehicles-appear-in-vietnams-80th-anniversary-parade/New armoured vehicles appear in Vietnam’s 80th anniversary paradeGordon Arthurhttps://www.shephardmedia.com/news/landwarfareintl/new-armoured-vehicles-appear-in-vietnams-80th-anniversary-parade/Land Warfarehttps://www.shephardmedia.com/media/images/article/1_S6DWvAz.JPGMarking eight decades since Vietnam gained its independence, the Vietnam People’s Army used the procession to showcase two new vehicles.https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/naval-warfare/royal-new-zealand-navy-outlines-modernisation-goals/Royal New Zealand Navy outlines modernisation goalsGordon Arthurhttps://www.shephardmedia.com/news/naval-warfare/royal-new-zealand-navy-outlines-modernisation-goals/Naval Warfarehttps://www.shephardmedia.com/media/images/article/New_Zealand_Defence_Force_Royal_New_Zealand_Navy_Royal_New_Zealand_Air_Force_RNZF_RNZN__Sikorsky_MH-60R-1.JPGThe Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) has a crunch time coming up as it looks to refresh its fleet before 2040, and prepares to begin operating Sikorsky MH-60R helicopters, although it is at the back of a long ordering queue. A key part of any solution is looking at what neighbouring Australia is buying.https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/naval-warfare/taiwan-entrusts-usvs-with-task-of-deterring-a-pla-amphibious-invasion/Taiwan entrusts USVs with task of deterring a PLA amphibious invasionGordon Arthurhttps://www.shephardmedia.com/news/naval-warfare/taiwan-entrusts-usvs-with-task-of-deterring-a-pla-amphibious-invasion/Naval Warfarehttps://www.shephardmedia.com/media/images/article/Kuai-Chi_unmanned_surface_vessel_NCSIST_Taiwan.jpgDrawing lessons from Ukraine’s Black Sea experience, Taiwan is investing heavily in unmanned surface vessels to strengthen its asymmetric defence strategy against potential PLA amphibious assaults.https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/naval-warfare/austal-signs-long-delayed-shipbuilding-pact-as-industry-risks-persist/Austal signs long-delayed shipbuilding pact as industry risks persistGordon Arthurhttps://www.shephardmedia.com/news/naval-warfare/austal-signs-long-delayed-shipbuilding-pact-as-industry-risks-persist/Naval Warfarehttps://www.shephardmedia.com/media/images/article/Medium_heavy_landing_craft_Austal.jpgAustal signs long-delayed Strategic Shipbuilding Agreement, but schedule risks and programme delays still loom over Canberra’s naval plans.