• Defence Notes

  DoD defies COVID-19 to provide support across Africa

  4th May 2020

  The US DoD is providing ongoing military and medical assistance to its African partners despite the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. Laboratory consumables have been shipped to …

• Defence Helicopter

  US Army counts down to AH-64E V6 operations

  7th May 2020

  The US Army will aim to have the new AH-64E Apache Guardian V6 configuration in service during Q1 2022 following flight training with the first …

• Training

  PLA resumes scheduled recruitment drive

  1st May 2020

  The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has begun recruiting new soldiers in a process which scheduled for Q3 2020 after it was approved by the …

• Land Warfare

  US donates demining equipment to Ecuador

  5th May 2020

  Ecuador will increase its capabilities to protect its citizens against landmines and unexploded ordnance, after the US government donated manual demining and medical equipment. The …

• Air Warfare

  First Japanese Ospreys greet rising sun

  13th May 2020

  The first pair of Bell-Boeing MV-22B Block C Osprey tiltrotor aircraft arrived at long last on Japanese shores via a roll-on roll-off cargo ship on …

• Land Warfare

  Russian S-400 SAMs hit ballistic targets

  9th May 2020

  S-400 Triumf long-range air defence system crews from the Russian Central Military District destroyed simulated enemy ballistic missiles last month during an exercise at the …

• Land Warfare

  Pantsir acquisition reflects broader trend for Serbian air defence

  13th May 2020

  The Serbian military recently unveiled Russian-made Pantsir-S1 (NATO: SA-22 "Greyhound") short-range SAM systems, the last of which arrived in the country in March.  The Pantsir-S1s …

• Special Operations

  Dutch lift lid on Takuba plans

  7th May 2020

  The Netherlands’ Special Operations Command (NLD SOCOM) has disclosed to Shephard its planned contribution to Task Force Takuba - a European Combined Joint Special Operations …

• Air Warfare

  Marshall secures five-year contract with Cameroon Air Force

  5th May 2020

  Marshall Aerospace and Defence have secured a five-year contract to provide aircraft maintenance, technical support and training to Cameroon’s fleet of C-130H aircraft after it …

• Digital Battlespace

  French jets use new RECO-NG pod to target Daesh

  4th May 2020

  The French detachment of Operation Chammal, which is supporting the US Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve, has begun using RECO-NG new generation reconnaissance …

• Air Warfare

  COVID-19 poses practical and strategic questions for US air power

  5th May 2020

  The COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic has changed just about everything, including US air power. The effects are likely to be felt for years, including a downturn …

• Training

  NATO holds live-fire air policing drills over Baltic Sea

  27th April 2020

  NATO has held its Exercise Ramstein Alloy 20-1 air policing drill to train air crews in procedures and coordination between partner air forces. Belgian and …

• Defence Helicopter

  HH-60W completes extreme weather testing

  9th April 2020

  The USAF has completed extreme environment testing for the HH-60W Jolly Green II helicopter at the McKinley Climatic Lab on Eglin AFB, Florida. Testing was concluded …

• Training

  UMS Skeldar teams with 360iSR for UAV training

  21st April 2020

  Rotary-wing UAV platform provider UMS Skeldar has teamed with ISR specialists 360iSR to provide specialist training services to its customers. UMS Skeldar will continue to …

• Training

  USN holds operations with RAN in South China Sea

  22nd April 2020

  The USN Pacific Fleet’s America Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) has held joint training operations with their counterparts in the RAN. Exercises began on 13 April …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Light attack, Trainer

  PC-21 (Project Air 5428) [Australia]

  The new PTS, including aircraft, flight training simulators and learning environments is being acquired from a single capability contractor, Team 21, which consists of Lockheed ...

• Trainer

  PC-21 [Spain]

  Programme Background In January 2020, Pilatus was awarded a contract worth more than €200 million to provide the Spanish Air Force with 24 PC-21 Trainer ...

• Trainer

  Trainer Aircraft (1-12) [Vietnam]

  Programme Background After years of operating Russian-built military equipment, Vietnam is more willing to procure US-supplied equipment following the lifting of the arms embargo in ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  A-29 Super Tucano Afghanistan

  Media reports suggest that with the hourly cost of $1000, the A-29 is a successful platform for counter-insurgency missions. Its operational capability from unprepared airstrips, ...

• Trainer

  T-6 Texan II [Japan]

  Programme Background  In January 2025, Textron Aviation confirmed that the T-6C Texan II was selected as the new trainer aircraft for the Japanese Air Self-Defence ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  Light Attack/Trainer Aircraft - Ghana

  In 2013, the Chief of Ghana Air Force stated that A-29 is their preferred platform and this position was also submitted to the Government. In ...

• Military UAS - small

  ScanEagle [Bahrain]

  Background Training According to US State Department Foreign Military Training data, in 2018, eight Royal Bahrain Air Force (RBAF) personnel took part in training courses to operate ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-16V [Slovakia]

  Background FMS approval Earlier in April 2018, the US State Department announced that it has approved a possible FMS deal of 14 F-16V aircraft for ...

• Trainer

  Basic Trainer Aircraft - Sweden

  Programme Background Swedish Defence Material Administration (FMV) announced a request for tender for the procurement of basic trainer aircraft on the eAvrop online portal on ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Multirole fighters [Botswana]

  Programme Background Botswana is seeking to acquire a new multirole fighter to fulfil a gap left by the nations outdated fleet of F-5 aircraft. According to ...

• Transport

  Dornier Do-228 (Additional Aircraft) [India]

  Programme Background: On 10 March 2023, India’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced the procurement of six additional Dornier 228 aircraft for the Indian Air Force. ...

• Military helicopters - light/training

  UH-72B [US Army]

  Background UH-72A replacement The 2026 order comes as preparations are underway to remove 220 older UH-72A models from initial pilot entry training. The UH-72B is ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  NH90 TTH [Qatar]

  Background Contract timeline In 2018, the contract for Qatar's NH90 fleet was signed. This contract also included 12 H125 training helicopters, detailed in a separate ...

• Military helicopters - maritime

  NH90 NFH [Qatar]

  Background Contract timeline In 2018, the contract for Qatar's NH90 fleet was signed. This contract also included 12 H125 training helicopters, detailed in a separate ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  AW-149 [Poland]

  Background Requirement In 2020, Poland announced the launch of the Perkoz programme to acquire 32 support helicopters to replace its fleet of Mi-2 aircraft stationed ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Air: fixed-wing flight simulators

  T-1 Jayhawk

  FlightSafety operates and maintains T-1 training devices as part of its CLS contract. Air Education and Training Command uses these high-fidelity simulators and part-task trainers ...

• Air: fixed-wing flight simulators

  TH22 helicopter training device

  The TH22 is a piston rotary-wing training simulator with a single-engine piston and dual-control cockpit trainer based on the Robinson R22. Its combination of ergonomics, ...

• Air: fixed-wing flight simulators

  Integrated Training Systems

  IAI provides a range of integrated training packages to support pilot training and meet the requirements of complex battle scenarios. 

• Air: helicopter flight simulators

  UH-60 Black Hawk Training Devices

  FlightSafety offers UH-60A/L pilot training on their Black Hawk Level D simulator at West Palm Beach, Florida. The UH-60A/L pilot training features the company’s exclusive ...

• Air: fixed-wing flight simulators

  C-2A OFT

  The C-2A OFT replicates the physical and performance characteristics of the C-2A carrier-qualified cargo aircraft. The OFT includes a functional cockpit mock-up surrounded by a ...

• Air: UAV simulators

  IM3PUT

  Corsair’s Integrated Multi-Mission Multi-Platform UAS Trainer (IM3PUT) is a reconfigurable, ITAR-safe generic UAS pilot and sensor training system. Pilot and sensor operator stations function off ...

• Air: fixed-wing flight simulators

  F-35 Training System

  BAE Systems is involved in F-35 Lightning II Training System design and sustainment, working with prime contractor Lockheed Martin. BAE Systems leads the instructional systems ...

• Air: fixed-wing flight simulators

  Aviator FTD

  L3Harris Technologies' Aviator Flight Training Device (FTD) line has a type-specific flight deck, offering the form, fit, feel and function of the actual aircraft. The ...

• 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 ...

• Air: air combat simulators

  German Air Force Tornado Simulators

  CAE has designed and manufactured all Tornado combat and aircraft flight simulators for the German Air Force and continues to provide upgrades and on-site training ...

• Air: helicopter flight simulators

  Motion Cueing System

  Frasca's Motion Cueing System is a compact motion system designed to increase pilot training efficiency by providing vestibular and proprioceptive feedback. This results in realistic motion ...

• Land: fire support simulators

  I-FACT

  Meggitt's Indirect Fire Forward Air Control Trainer (I-FACT) supports training for forward observers, naval gunfire observers, fire support planning and joint tactical close air support. ...

• 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: fixed-wing flight simulators

  ATS

  The Aircrew Training Simulator (ATS) is a reconfigurable suite built to train student navigators and full aircrews. ATS supports mission planning, execution and debrief training ...

• Air: fixed-wing flight simulators

  Royal New Zealand Air Force T-6C GBTS

  CAE was contracted in 2014 by Beechcraft to develop and support a comprehensive T-6C Ground-Based Training System (GBTS) for the Royal New Zealand Air Force. ...