• Defence Notes

  The price is right for US F-16s to Sofia

  5th June 2019

  Priced at US$1.673 billion, the sale to Bulgaria of eight Lockheed Martin F-16C/D Block 70 fighters has received the green light from the US State …

• Special Operations

  SOF looks to resistance support campaigns

  14th May 2019

  US Special Operations Forces must consider how to further evolve doctrine and concepts of operations relating to Support to Resistance (STR) campaigns, a research paper …

• Training

  ITEC 2019: Swedish Armed Forces at Stockholm show

  1st May 2019

  ITEC 2019 in Stockholm will feature a special area dedicated to the Swedish Armed Forces (SAF) where visitors can learn about its structure organisation and …

• Training

  ITEC 2019: CAE USA Mission Solutions OGC CDB success

  13th May 2019

  CAE has announced that CAE USA’s wholly-owned subsidiary, CAE USA Mission Solutions (MSI), has been awarded a contract by the US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) …

• Training

  ITEC 2019: TrianGraphics spreads its 3D wings

  16th May 2019

  Epic Games has added another string to its bow with database specialists TrianGraphics now offering export of its Trian3DBuilder straight into the game engine, Unreal …

• Training

  Exercise Bell Buoy 19 trains MTOs

  30th May 2019

  More than 60 maritime trade operations (MTO) officers from ten navies have participated in the 2019 edition of the annual exercise Bell Buoy, the Royal …

• Defence Notes

  US-UAE defence agreement comes into force

  30th May 2019

  The US and the United Arab Emirates announced on 29 May that a mutual defence cooperation agreement had come into force, amid increasing tensions between …

• Digital Battlespace

  Link 16 capability migrating towards infantry use

  4th June 2019

  The NATO Link 16 tactical data link (TDL) is synonymous with air operations however it is now migrating into the hands of individual soldiers, promising …

• Training

  ITEC 2019: Software advances drives training and simulation market growth (video)

  8th May 2019

  The training and simulation market has an estimated value of $140 billion over the next decade. Ahead of ITEC 2019 Shephard takes a look at emerging …

• Training

  ITEC 2019: CM Labs releases latest Vortex Studio

  10th May 2019

  Montreal-based CM Labs Simulations has announced the release of the latest version of its Vortex Studio product. Known as Vortex Studio 2019a, this software suite …

• Training

  ITEC 2019: SISO at ITEC 2019

  7th May 2019

  The Simulation Interoperability Standards Organization (SISO) will be hosting a SISO Seminar on M&S; Standards in conjunction with the ITEC 2019 conference and exhibition. The …

• Naval Warfare

  IMDEX 2019: DSIT pinging new sonar solutions

  15th May 2019

  DSIT Solutions is unveiling its new multi-layered defence solution for strategic assets at IMDEX 2019 in Singapore, designed for use against various types of underwater threats …

• Land Warfare

  JLTV training kicks off at Fort McCoy

  20th May 2019

  The US Army has begun training soldiers on the new Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) at Fort Mccoy in Wisconsin, the army announced on 15 …

• Training

  ITEC 2019: Bluedrop receives HMTS contract

  3rd May 2019

  Bluedrop Training & Simulation has announced that it has received contracts of over $1.5 million to supply a Hoist Mission Training System (HMTS) to Florida-based …

• Training

  ITEC 2019: DRTS enhancements on the way

  13th May 2019

  Lockheed Martin has been awarded, what has been described as ‘the most expansive delivery order in programme history,’ the upgrade of extant Digital Range Training …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Fighter - multirole

  F-X III Phase II (F-35) [South Korea]

  Programme Background On 14 September 2014, South Korea signed an FMS contract under the first phase of F-X III programme to supply 40 F-35As for ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-35B (1-12) [Singapore]

  Programme Background Singapore is renowned as a discerning and demanding customer, so its selection of the F-35 must be seen as a vote of confidence ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-35A Japan

  In 2019, Japan requested to be an official partner in the F-35 programme, but this request was rejected by the Pentagon. The F-35 Joint Strike ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-35I Adir (F-35A) [Israel]

  Programme Background The F-35I Adir is an F-35A Lightning II variant customised to meet the requirements of the Israel Defense Forces to replace the F-16 ...

• Military helicopters - light/training

  SW4 Puszczyk Replacement [Poland]

  Programme Background  In 2002, Poland order 47 SW4 training helicopters from Italian manufacturer Leonardo; as of Spring 2025, the Ministry of Defence is looking to ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-35A Japan Follow On

  The F-35 full-rate production is expected to be further delayed following an October 2020 US DoD announcement that postponed the simulation tests, originally planned for 2017 ...

• 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 ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-35B [Japan]

  F-35B was selected on 16 August 2019 for Japan's short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) multirole fighter aircraft requirement. Tokyo is planning  ‘partial refurbishment of ...

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

  Sistema RPAS Táctico de Altas Prestaciones (SiRTAP) [Spain]

  Background MoU In 2017, it was announced that Spain was jointly developing a MALE UAV with Colombia to meet the ISR requirement of both armed ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-35A Joint Strike Fighter - USAF

  According to the US FY2021 budget document, Turkey's removal from the JSF program and transition to the alternate supply chain sources may challenge to achieve ...

• Military helicopters - light/training

  Bell 505 (South Korea - Army)

  Programme Background Requirement South Korea operates an ageing fleet of Bell UH-1s and MD 500s for training purposes. The country has already replaced a part of ...

• Military helicopters - light/training

  Bell 505 (South Korea - Navy)

  Programme Background Requirement South Korea operates an ageing fleet of Bell UH-1s and MD 500s for training purposes. The country has already replaced a part of ...

• Main battle tanks

  Main Battle Tank Upgrade [Australia]

  Programme Background Between 2006 and 2007, the Australian Army received 59 M1A1 AIM SA Abrams MBTs under Project Land 907 Phase 1. These vehicles were planned to ...

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

  Sistema RPAS Táctico de Altas Prestaciones (SiRTAP) [Colombia]

  Background MoU In 2017, it was announced that Spain was jointly developing a MALE UAV with Colombia to meet the ISR requirement of both armed ...

• Maritime patrol

  P-8A Poseidon [UK]

  Programme Background In July 2016, the UK government announced that it had ordered nine aircraft for service with the RAF. Under this frame, in January ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Land: C2 simulators

  GESI

  The GESI (Gefechtssimulation System or combat simulation system) is a constructive simulation system designed to run complex and comprehensive joint and combined exercises at tactical ...

• Air: air combat simulators

  Distributed and Networked Mission Training

  Airbus D&S; networks training systems to enable joint and distributed mission training across local and national boundaries, generating realistic and needs-oriented scenarios. The solution uses ...

• Land: vehicle simulators

  Leopard 2E Simulators

  Indra was prime contractor for the Spanish Army Leopard 2E Tank Simulation Programme, which involved 23 devices across driving, turret and platoon simulators with networking ...

• Land: tactical engagement simulators

  Instrumented Ground Combat Training Systems

  Cubic supplies combat training systems for CTCs, homestations and forward-deployed environments. The systems are designed to support missions including force-on-force, urban operations, joint, combined arms ...

• Sea: tactical training

  UAE NTC

  In 2016, CAE was awarded a contract to design and deliver a comprehensive Naval Training Centre (NTC) to the UAE Navy. The UAE NTC will ...

• Land: C2 simulators

  JLCCTC

  The Joint Land Component Constructive Training Capability (JLCCTC) integrates seven command and battle staff training tools into a simulation-based system. JLCCTC will support US Army, ...

• Land: tactical engagement simulators

  ECOSim - Tactics

  The ECOSim (Enhanced Company Operations Simulation) is a company-level training simulation device that teaches leaders how best to deploy troops, UAVs, convoys and other assets. ...

• Land: battle management systems

  KOCATEPE (TACCIS)

  Aselsan KOCATEPE is a battle management system which provides a software-based solution for headquarters staff at the brigade level and above. According to news sources, it ...

• Air: air combat simulators

  ANTares Joint and Combined Tactical Training

  Rheinmetall’s Advanced Network Trainer (ANTares) is designed to support the military needs for joint and combined training with networked and interoperable land-, air- and sea-based ...

• Major networking projects

  JCSS

  The Joint Communication Simulation System (JCSS) provides communications planners and system analysts with the capability to validate support plans, analyse existing and proposed network architectures ...

• Subsystems: software

  OneSAF

  The One Semi-Automated Force (OneSAF) is an open-source, common constructive simulation platform used by the US Army, joint and international communities as well as non-military ...

• Land: C2 simulators

  Joint Warfare Training Center

  This system provides multi-level simulation of joint forces operations (Air Force, Army and Navy) for training of tactical proficiency of divisions', brigades' and battalions' commanding ...

• Air: fixed-wing flight simulators

  Rafale Simulator

  Thales, Sogitec and Dassault Aviation have together developed two pilot training centres to support the training of Rafale fighter pilots. The Saint-Dizier Rafale simulation centre ...

• Subsystems: software

  Simulation

  From physics-based dynamics and intelligent entity behaviours to tactical and operational missions, Presagis simulation software tools address the rigorous challenges of M&S; applications. Its simulation ...

• Subsystems: visual

  Independence IDX 7000 ER

  The IDX 7000 image generator provides real-time image generation for simulation, training and mission rehearsal applications, with up to four video channels per low-profile 1U ...