• Defence Notes

  RAF given glimpse of new Poseidon maritime patrol era

  31st October 2019

  A formal UK P-8A Poseidon MRA1 handover ceremony between Boeing and the RAF took place  at the manufacturers assembly facility in Seattle on 29 October, in an …

• Defence Helicopter

  Airbus still hungry for FVL business

  5th November 2019

  Despite missing out on the US Army’s Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) programme, Airbus remains open to playing a role in FVL programmes and would consider …

• Naval Warfare

  IMX 19 kicks off in US 5th Fleet area of operations

  23rd October 2019

  International Maritime Exercise 2019 (IMX 19) has begun in the US 5th Fleet area of operations, the US Navy announced on 21 October. The multinational …

• Naval Warfare

  USS John S McCain repairs complete

  29th October 2019

  US Navy Arleigh Burke class guided-missile destroyer USS John S McCain has completed repairs and accelerated upgrades following a collision in August 2017. The vessel …

• Naval Warfare

  RAAF looks at AI for low-cost SAR

  1st November 2019

  The Royal Australian Air Force’s (RAAF’s) Plan Jericho initiative has introduced an artificial intelligence (AI) prototype called Ai-Search to improve airborne search and rescue (SAR) …

• Digital Battlespace

  SRC selected for US Air Force IMD support services

  28th October 2019

  SRC is to provide intelligence mission data (IMD) support services to the US Air Force’s National Air and Space Intelligence Center (NASIC) under a General …

• Military Logistics

  ST Engineering bags new contracts

  22nd October 2019

  Singapore Technologies Engineering has announced a number of new contracts received by its Aerospace and Electronics sector businesses. Contracts for the company’s aviation manufacturing and …

• Special Operations

  Babcock to offer bid for Australia SOF helicopters

  29th October 2019

  Babcock Australasia has confirmed that it will submit a bid for the Australian Defence Force’s (ADF's) Special Operations Helicopter capability, the company announced on 25 …

• Training

  BISim to launch VBS4

  22nd October 2019

  Bohemia Interactive Simulations (BISim) is set to launch the latest iteration of its highly successful Virtual Battlespace visualisation product, VBS4, planning to unveil the system …

• Defence Notes

  Finland requests ‘improved package’ from HX fighter competitors

  1st November 2019

  The Finnish Defence Forces’ Logistics Command has issued a revised RfQ to HX Fighter Programme (HX-FP) competitors, specifically asking each for an ‘improved package’ from …

• Land Warfare

  Indian Air Force fires BrahMos missile

  25th October 2019

  Indian Air Force has carried out successful firings of the BrahMos surface-to-surface missile at Trak Island in the Andaman Nicobar group of islands, the Indian …

• Naval Warfare

  Bahrain requests Robert G Bradley refurb

  24th October 2019

  Bahrain has requested a programme of work from the US government to refurbish an Oliver Hazard Perry class ship. The vessel, ex US Navy frigate …

• Training

  Great expectations for L-39NG jet trainer

  7th October 2019

  Aero Vodochody Aerospace, the Czech Republic’s largest aviation manufacturer, has confirmed that the development programme of the L-39NG jet trainer and light attack aircraft is …

• Defence Helicopter

  AUSA 2019: Raider X takes to the stage

  16th October 2019

  Sikorsky has officially confirmed that it is offering an enlarged variant of the in-development co-axial S-97 Raider for the US Army’s Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft …

• Land Warfare

  Oshkosh receives Family of Medium Tactical Vehicle FMS contract

  21st October 2019

  Oshkosh Defense has received a Foreign Military Sales contract from the US Army Contracting Command, Warren, Michigan, for the Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTVs), …

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. ...