• Training

  Exercise Cope North 2023 under way with reduced Australian presence

  9th February 2023

  Approximately 2,000 personnel from Australia, France, Japan and the US will participate in the US Pacific Air Forces' largest multilateral exercise with a focus on airborne integration.

• Training

  US Air Force AI-powered F-16 training jet takes the skies

  16th February 2023

  The reengineered artificial intelligence-driven, autonomous F-16 jet is fitted with an open system architecture and software that allows it to mimic the performance characteristic of other aircraft.

• Training

  ATI takes key role in US Army training innovation

  2nd February 2023

  Advanced Technology International will focus on modelling, simulation, training and experimental validation to enhance the US Army and allied nations' mission readiness with the Training and Readiness Accelerator II vehicle.

• Training

  Israel and US join up for cyber exercise

  13th February 2023

  Exercise Juniper Falcon is the second recent Israeli exercise with the US after last month’s largest ever drill of its kind.

• Land Warfare

  GM Defense charts course for electric future at IDEX 2023

  24th February 2023

  GM Defense forged closer ties with the UAE at the Emirati defence show and touted its electric vehicle capabilities.

• Air Warfare

  Italian Air Force's C-27J Spartan fleet to receive upgrade

  7th March 2023

  Leonardo will upgrade the Italian Air Force's C-27J Spartan fleet with a new avionics configuration, including mission computers, flight management and self-protection systems.

• Land Warfare

  Four bidders selected for next phase of US Army tactical truck programme

  31st January 2023

  The US Army has awarded four contracts to produce prototype vehicles for the Common Tactical Truck (CTT) programme, aimed at standardising fleets across the service.

• Training

  CAE to build F-16 Block 70 sims for Taiwan

  30th January 2023

  CAE will provide hardware and software development, integration, testing and delivery of F-16 Block 70 training devices for the Republic of China Air Force.

• Land Warfare

  How Ukraine Leopard tank breakthrough opens new offensive options for Kyiv

  27th January 2023

  With donations of Leopard 2, Challenger 2 and M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine all now confirmed, Shephard Defence Insight analyses the implications for the conflict and the NATO nations supplying Kyiv with MBTs.

• Land Warfare

  UK upgrades ground refuelling tankers for military aircraft

  10th February 2023

  The LCAR refuelling tankers used by the Royal Air Force, Royal Navy and Army Air Corps are being upgraded with new components, allowing a service life extension of 15 years.

• Air Warfare

  Indonesian light transport progamme stalls, while fighter plans make slow progress

  27th February 2023

  Indonesia's transport and fast jet air force modernisation efforts continue to proceed at a slow pace.

• Air Warfare

  Lockheed Martin prepares first F-16 Block 70 fighters for Bahrain

  14th March 2023

  The delivery of the latest configuration of the F-16 Fighter jet will strengthen US-Bahrain ties, will significantly enhance the Gulf country's air capabilities and has the potential to further increase demand for the jet in the region.

• Naval Warfare

  BAE cuts steel for third Dreadnought submarine

  11th February 2023

  The UK's programme to replace its nuclear deterrent submarines has taken another step forward.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  IDEX 2023: General Atomics showcases SkyGuardian UAV with Emirati weapons

  20th February 2023

  Pictures showing Halcon weapons on the MQ-9B SkyGuardian indicate that a stalled UAE programme to purchase the UAS is back on.

• Naval Warfare

  Japan’s military enhances transport capability to offshore islands

  29th January 2023

  Japan, concerned by the vulnerability of its southwest archipelago, is seeking to boost its military transport capacity to the area.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Data links

  Data links | Future Aircrew Training Program [Fixed-wing Aircraft Procurement] - Canada

  Canada is planning to acquire around 64 fixed-wing trainer aircraft. The Royal Canadian Air Force will renew aircrew training services to help maintain a multi-purpose ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  Air: Helmet-mounted displays | Future Aircrew Training Program [Fixed-wing Aircraft Procurement] - Canada

  Canada is planning to acquire around 64 fixed-wing trainer aircraft. The Royal Canadian Air Force will renew aircrew training services to help maintain a multi-purpose ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | Future Aircrew Training Program [Fixed-wing Aircraft Procurement] - Canada

  Canada is planning to acquire around 64 fixed-wing trainer aircraft. The Royal Canadian Air Force will renew aircrew training services to help maintain a multi-purpose ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | Future Aircrew Training Program [Fixed-wing Aircraft Procurement] - Canada

  Canada is planning to acquire around 64 fixed-wing trainer aircraft. The Royal Canadian Air Force will renew aircrew training services to help maintain a multi-purpose ...

• Military helicopters - light/training

  Future Aircrew Training Program (Helicopter Procurement) - Canada

  Programme Background The FAcT requires to graduate 120 pilots, 40 combat systems officers and 36 airborne electronic sensor operators per year with 15% fluctuation. Training services ...

• Data links

  Data links | Beechcraft King Air 260 [Canada]

  In January 2025, SkyAlyne, on behalf of the Canadian Airforce's Future Aircrew Training (FAcT) programme, for seven Beechcraft King Air 260 aircraft. SkyAlyne is a joint ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  Air: Helmet-mounted displays | Beechcraft King Air 260 [Canada]

  In January 2025, SkyAlyne, on behalf of the Canadian Airforce's Future Aircrew Training (FAcT) programme, for seven Beechcraft King Air 260 aircraft. SkyAlyne is a joint ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | Beechcraft King Air 260 [Canada]

  In January 2025, SkyAlyne, on behalf of the Canadian Airforce's Future Aircrew Training (FAcT) programme, for seven Beechcraft King Air 260 aircraft. SkyAlyne is a joint ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | Beechcraft King Air 260 [Canada]

  In January 2025, SkyAlyne, on behalf of the Canadian Airforce's Future Aircrew Training (FAcT) programme, for seven Beechcraft King Air 260 aircraft. SkyAlyne is a joint ...

• Trainer

  Beechcraft King Air 260 [Canada]

  Programme Background  The Future Aircrew Training (FAcT) programme was developed by the Royal Canadian Airforce to renew aircrew training services to help maintain a multi-purpose and ...

• Trainer

  Future Aircrew Training Program [Fixed-wing Aircraft Procurement] - Canada

  Programme Background The new procurement will result in one contract covering all the requirements, including maintenance and infrastructure services. Training services are currently provided through ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  AW101-Norway

  AgustaWestland is also providing initial support and training services, including spares at each of the operating bases and aircrew training. It will then provide performance ...

• Destroyers

  Canadian Surface Combatant/River Class (1-3) [Canada]

  Development and Procurement Requirements Fifteen frigates are being procured to replace the Royal Canadian Navy's 12 ageing Halifax-class frigates and the now-retired Iroquois-class destroyers with ...

• Trainer

  Hawk 127 Replacement (Future Lead-In Fighter Training System- Project Air 6002 PH1) [Australia]

  Programme Background Requirements The RAAF is seeking a future solution that provides a ‘relevant, adaptable, affordable and safe LIFTS out to 2050’ for training pilots ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) [Canada]

  Programme Background Programme Inception The Royal Canadian Air Force's (RCAF) Joint Unmanned Surveillance and Target Acquisition System (JUSTAS) project was established to procure a UAS for ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Trainer

  Phenom 100

  Phenom 100 is a very light jet originally developed for single owner-pilot operation but later gained popularity as a jet trainer aircraft. The platform first ...

• Trainer

  T-6A/B Texan II

  The T-6 Texan II is a single-engine trainer aircraft, which was developed from the Pilatus PC-9 to meet the training requirements of USAF and USN ...

• EW test systems

  EWITR

  The EW Instrumented Training Range (EWITR) provides threat radar simulators and master control stations for aircrew training in tactics development using modelling and simulation, and ...

• Air: fixed-wing flight simulators

  T-38C Talon

  FlightSafety supports nearly 40 T-38 training devices as part of its contract for logistics support for the T-38. The T-38C is a converted T-38A/B that ...

• Air: helicopter flight simulators

  HATS

  In October 2014, the Australian government approved a A$700 million (US$530 million) contract award to Boeing Defence Australia, teamed with Thales Australia, to provide the ...

• Air: transport/tanker simulators

  USAF KC-135 ATS

  The KC-135 Aircrew Training System (ATS) programme delivers initial qualification, requalification, continuation and upgrades training for USAF KC-135 aircrews, including pilots, co-pilots and boom operators. ...

• Air: fixed-wing flight simulators

  USN T-44C Training Services

  In late 2013, CAE USA received a contract to provide the USN with comprehensive T-44C aircrew training services at NAS Corpus Christi, Texas. CAE USA ...

• Trainer

  Beechcraft King Air 260 (T-54A)

  The Beechcraft King Air 260 is a twin-engine turboprop which the USN has selected as part of the Multi-Engine Training System (METS) programme. Ten aircraft were ...

• Air: transport/tanker simulators

  C-130J MATS

  Lockheed Martin’s C-130J Maintenance and Aircrew Training System (MATS) programme provides a range of training devices and support services including aircrew instruction, operations, contractor logistics ...

• Air: air combat simulators

  HITS-A

  Collins Aerospace is the prime contractor designing and developing the first integrated aircrew training systems for the E-2D, leading the Hawkeye Integrated Training System for ...

• Air: transport/tanker simulators

  KC-46A ATS

  FlightSafety supports the USAF aircrew training program for the KC-46A Pegasus tanker aircraft. The program delivers a multi-faceted training package to the USAF from design, ...

• Air: fixed-wing flight simulators

  RCAF CC-130J Training Services

  CAE is the prime contractor for the Operational Training Systems Provider (OTSP) programme to support the 17-strong CC-130J fleet in RCAF service. The first OTSP ...

• Military helicopters - light/training, Military helicopters - multirole

  H135M

  The H135M (formerly known as the EC635 and also designated as H135) is a light utility variant of the EC135 twin-engine, multipurpose 3t helicopter. In ...

• Air: helicopter flight simulators

  Tiger Aircrew Training

  Thales provides Tiger aircrew training solutions for the armed forces in Australia, France and Germany. Thales is currently upgrading the systems under the Tiger aircrew training ...

• Air: helicopter flight simulators

  US Army Flight School XXI OFT/RCTD

  L3Harris Technologies is a major subcontractor to CSC on the US Army’s Flight School XXI (FSXXI) programme. L3Harris Technologies has built or is under contract ...