https://www.shephardmedia.com/author/ben-vogel/News authored by Ben Vogelen-gbSun, 24 May 2026 04:44:29 +0000https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/defence-notes/norway-plans-higher-defence-spending-in-2023-amid-modernisation-push-russian-threat/Norway plans higher defence spending in 2023 amid modernisation push, Russian threatBen Vogelhttps://www.shephardmedia.com/news/defence-notes/norway-plans-higher-defence-spending-in-2023-amid-modernisation-push-russian-threat/Defence Noteshttps://www.shephardmedia.com/media/images/article/Norway_F-35.jpgNorway expects to spend 9.8% more on defence in 2023, although the pace of investment in new equipment will be slower than in 2022.https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/defence-notes/annual-assessment-gives-green-light-for-us-exports-to-cyprus/Annual assessment gives green light for US exports to CyprusBen Vogelhttps://www.shephardmedia.com/news/defence-notes/annual-assessment-gives-green-light-for-us-exports-to-cyprus/Defence Noteshttps://www.shephardmedia.com/media/images/article/H145M_Airbus_RsQfvMP.jpgUS companies will be able to export defence equipment to Cyprus in FY2023.https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/digital-battlespace/systematic-enhances-sitaware-with-new-updates-touts-naval-applications/Systematic enhances SitaWare with new updates, touts naval applicationsBen Vogelhttps://www.shephardmedia.com/news/digital-battlespace/systematic-enhances-sitaware-with-new-updates-touts-naval-applications/Digital Battlespacehttps://www.shephardmedia.com/media/images/article/SitaWare_at_Talisman_Sabre_.jpgOpen-architecture military software developer and integrator Systematic has released a series of updates to its scalable SitaWare suite, while the company is also exploring the use of AI technology for situational awareness in the maritime domain.https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/naval-warfare/estonia-finland-plan-to-throw-noose-around-russian-baltic-fleet/Estonia, Finland plan to throw noose around Russian Baltic fleetBen Vogelhttps://www.shephardmedia.com/news/naval-warfare/estonia-finland-plan-to-throw-noose-around-russian-baltic-fleet/Naval Warfarehttps://www.shephardmedia.com/media/images/article/Gabriel_V_Finnish_Navy_9AzAsMQ.jpgA move by Estonia and Finland to integrate their respective coastal defence systems would turn the Gulf of Finland into an ‘internal sea’ for NATO.https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/landwarfareintl/krauss-maffei-wegmann-elbit-capture-german-mlrs-zeitgeist-with-cooperation-mou/Krauss-Maffei Wegmann, Elbit capture German MLRS zeitgeist with cooperation MoUBen Vogelhttps://www.shephardmedia.com/news/landwarfareintl/krauss-maffei-wegmann-elbit-capture-german-mlrs-zeitgeist-with-cooperation-mou/Land Warfarehttps://www.shephardmedia.com/media/images/article/ELBIT_PULS.jpgKrauss-Maffei Wegmann and Elbit agree to cooperate on enhancing the MARS II/MLRS-E multiple launch rocket system, tapping into an existing modernisation plan in Germany.https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/landwarfareintl/poland-seeks-500-himars-launchers/Poland seeks 500 HIMARS launchersBen Vogelhttps://www.shephardmedia.com/news/landwarfareintl/poland-seeks-500-himars-launchers/Land Warfarehttps://www.shephardmedia.com/media/images/article/HIMARS_launcher_DoD.jpgPoland is requesting 500 HIMARS launchers to boost its precision-strike artillery capabilities.https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/defence-notes/finland-must-apply-to-join-nato-without-delay-say-president-and-prime-minister/Finland must apply to join NATO ‘without delay’, say president and prime ministerBen Vogelhttps://www.shephardmedia.com/news/defence-notes/finland-must-apply-to-join-nato-without-delay-say-president-and-prime-minister/Defence Noteshttps://www.shephardmedia.com/media/images/article/Finnish_Army.jpgPolitical, diplomatic and military discussions — undertaken since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began — will result in Finland becoming a member of NATO with broad popular support.https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/training-simulation/it2ec-2022-agincourt-lifts-the-veil-on-battlevr/IT2EC 2022: Agincourt lifts the veil on BattleVRBen Vogelhttps://www.shephardmedia.com/news/training-simulation/it2ec-2022-agincourt-lifts-the-veil-on-battlevr/Traininghttps://www.shephardmedia.com/media/images/article/BattleVR_credit_Ben_V.jpgThe recently developed BattleVR firearms training solution from Agincourt is fully integrated with the BISim VBS games engine.https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/air-warfare/us-hails-hawc-test-but-still-plays-catch-up-on-hyp/US hails HAWC test but still plays catch-up on hypersonicsBen Vogelhttps://www.shephardmedia.com/news/air-warfare/us-hails-hawc-test-but-still-plays-catch-up-on-hyp/Air Warfarehttps://www.shephardmedia.com/media/images/article/HAWC_Lockheed_Martin.jpgThe second successful test flight of the HAWC missile fails to obscure patchy progress overall in US hypersonic programmes.https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/naval-warfare/berdyansk-disaster-hits-black-sea-fleet-capabiliti/Berdyansk disaster hits Black Sea Fleet capabilitiesBen Vogelhttps://www.shephardmedia.com/news/naval-warfare/berdyansk-disaster-hits-black-sea-fleet-capabiliti/Naval Warfarehttps://www.shephardmedia.com/media/images/article/Fire_berdyansk.jpgAs the Russian Navy assesses the damage from explosions and ship fires at the occupied port of Berdyansk, the strategic consequences for the Black Sea Fleet could be severe.