The Shephard Defence Podcast

This episode is shared from Critical Care, a podcast produced by Shephard Studio in partnership with Collins Aerospace.
As Europe ramps up defence investment in the wake of the Ukraine crisis, the spotlight is turning to how nations sustain their growing fleets. In this episode of Critical Care, produced by Shephard Studio in partnership with Collins Aerospace, we travel to Heidelberg, Germany — home to a regional sustainment hub that’s proving crucial for fast, local support across Europe and beyond.

We hear from Holger Eckstein, Michael Mayer and Michael Nelson – leaders within Collins’ sustainment operations – as they explain how the Heidelberg service centre is handling everything from Eurofighter and Tornado repairs to complex electronics for helicopters and land platforms. They reveal how deep regional expertise, long-term partnerships with primes like Airbus and BAE Systems, and close ties to international customers are transforming the speed and scale of military readiness.

From reducing reliance on transatlantic repair cycles to enabling more responsive support for customers like the Royal Saudi Air Force, this episode explores how Heidelberg’s model of forward sustainment is setting a new benchmark. We also look at how Europe’s fragmented defence landscape is starting to shift towards more unified, collaborative approaches — not just for procurement, but for long-term support.

What emerges is a clear message: rapid, reliable sustainment isn’t a nice-to-have. It’s essential for operational credibility in a fast-changing world.

Coming up next: we head to the Netherlands to see what happens when Collins’ engineers go embedded with the Royal Netherlands Air Force, working side by side on the hangar floor.

“There is no silver bullet. Stockpiles, layered systems and partnerships – that’s how resilience is built.”

From cruise missiles and drone swarms to hypersonics and homemade rockets, modern air defence has never faced such a complex battlespace.
In this episode of Design for Advantage, we explore how militaries are adapting their air defence strategies to meet these growing challenges – and why a multilayered, interoperable, and cost-effective approach is critical to success.
Guests:
– Brig Gen (ret) Shachar Shohat, former commander of Israel’s Air Defence Forces
– Gideon Weiss, Rafael's VP Business Development & Marketing
Topics covered:
• The rise of drone and missile threats
• Why open architecture and stockpiles matter
• The economics of interception
• Lessons from recent conflicts
• Laser weapons, precision strike and offensive-defensive integration
• The role of partnerships and sovereign capability
Listen now to learn how nations are rethinking air defence – and why getting it right means staying ahead of the threat.
To discover more about the latest in defence innovation, visit our Designed for Advantage content hub.
Learn more about how Rafael is shaping the future of air and missile defence with proven systems and cutting-edge technologies.

Brought to you in partnership with Rafael
As the battlefield becomes more complex, active protection systems (APS) are proving critical - not just in protecting armoured vehicles, but in ensuring they remain effective, mobile, and mission-ready in contested environments.
In this episode, we explore how APS like Rafael’s Trophy are reshaping modern land warfare. Gideon Weiss, VP of Business Development and Marketing at Rafael, and a former Israel Defense Forces commander - known here as “Col B” - share firsthand insights into how APS are transforming battlefield tactics.
From stopping rocket-propelled grenades and antitank guided missiles, to countering the growing threat of drones, APS now sit at the core of future vehicle design. But beyond defence, their true value may lie in what they enable: confident manoeuvre, rapid tempo, and decisive action under fire.
Join us as we discuss:
Why APS is now considered standard kit for modern armoured vehicles.
The operational advantage Trophy delivers beyond survivability.
Real-world battlefield experiences from units equipped with APS.
How APS integration is evolving to meet emerging threats like drones.
What the future holds for active protection technology.
Listen now to find out why APS is more than a shield - it’s a force multiplier.
Learn more about Trophy at rafael.co.il/system/trophy-aps
For more stories of defence innovation, visit our Designed for Advantage content hub

This episode is brought to you in partnership with Amazon Kuiper Government Solutions
‘Speed is the key advantage and accuracy is the key outcome’: Amazon Kuiper Government Solutions’ Rick Freeman talks to Shephard’s Georgia Lewis about how space-as-a-service is transforming defence connectivity and access to satellite capabilities.
As militaries seek faster, more accurate decision-making across increasingly complex battlespaces, satcom services are becoming increasingly essential. The growing demand for real-time data and resilient connectivity is driving interest in new delivery models – including space-as-a-service.
Amazon’s Project Kuiper is working with government customers to expand access to space in ways that reduce costs and risks without sacrificing speed or accuracy. Its satellite services, available on a subscription basis, aim to keep pace with fast-moving technologies and the changing demands of modern warfare.
Rick Freeman, who is president of Amazon Kuiper Government Solutions (KGS), explains how the company’s satellite technologies are designed to integrate into networked battle systems – and why educating military leaders on the value of innovation is a continuing challenge.
To learn more about Amazon Kuiper Government Solutions and its approach to space-as-a-service, click here

Brought to you in partnership with Rafael
Loitering munitions provide vital capabilities in the disrupted and unpredictable modern battlespace, from real-time ISR to a virtually “on demand” strike capability. Rafael is looking to the future of the technology, empowering systems to operate with increasing autonomy in hostile environments.
Military conflict today is increasingly defined by large numbers of uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs), as demonstrated by the war in Ukraine. However, true loitering munitions offer an extra complementary dimension, notably through greater precision, intelligence, and durability.
In this episode of the Shephard Defence Podcast. we speak with Gideon Weiss, vice president of business development and marketing at Rafael, and Brigadier General L, a land warfare expert and business development manager with Rafael.
To explore how Rafael’s loitering munitions are shaping the future battlefield, delivering precision, autonomy, and operational flexibility when it matters most, read more here
For more stories of defence innovation, visit our Designed for Advantage content hub