• Defence Notes

  Singapore Airshow 2018: Saab gets a grip on the region

  8th February 2018

  The Gripen E variant of the multirole fighter is ready for the next test phase that will see external stores loadouts, release tests and ground …

• Land Warfare

  Indian Army buying more BMP-2s, updating tank fleet

  22nd February 2018

  India's Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) approved the acquisition of 156 BMP-2/BMP-2K IFVs on 20 February, which will be licence-produced by the state-owned Ordnance Factory Board …

• Training

  UK MoD signs deal for training support

  8th February 2018

  Smit International has been awarded a seven-year contract to support and supply a range safety and aircrew training vessels to the UK Ministry of Defence …

• Defence Helicopter

  LCH flies with Indian-built AFCS

  1st February 2018

  Hindustan Aeronautics Limited has tested its new Automatic Flight Control System (AFCS) on the Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) technology demonstrator-2, the company announced on 31 …

• Defence Helicopter

  Leonardo files another lawsuit to halt US Army Lakota buy

  31st January 2018

  Airbus Helicopters is warning the Pentagon that its acquisition process is under attack by Italian defence company Leonardo.  The warning came after Leonardo filed another lawsuit …

• Training

  RNN orders upgraded portable DECKsim VR trainer

  7th February 2018

  SEA has received a contract from the Royal Norwegian Navy (RNN) to provide upgraded portable DECKsim virtual reality (VR) trainers. The new man-portable solution will …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Airbus succesfully tests self-flying taxi

  2nd February 2018

  Airbus has successfully conducted the first test flights of the Vahana, an electric, pilotless flying vehicle that it hopes will be able to ferry people …

• Defence Helicopter

  Jordan gets more Black Hawks to bolster defences

  28th January 2018

  The United States delivered another two Black Hawk helicopters to key Arab ally Jordan on 28 January to help protect the kingdom's borders and counter …

• Defence Helicopter

  Airbus fires laser-guided rockets from H145M

  2nd February 2018

  Airbus Helicopters has demonstrated the ability to fire 70mm laser-guided rockets (LGR) from its H145M helicopter, the company announced on 31 January. The firings of …

• Training

  AECOM receives rotary wing training services contract

  22nd January 2018

  AECOM has received a nine-year contract from the US Army to provide rotary wing flight training instructor support services at Fort Rucker, Alabama, the company …

• Training

  Inzpire delivers Exercise Steel Dragon to UK

  6th February 2018

  Inzpire has successfully designed and delivered the first Exercise Steel Dragon of 2018 to the UK military, the company announced on 2 February. The four-week …

• Defence Helicopter

  Thales’ 70mm rockets for Tiger helicopters

  14th February 2018

  The Spanish Army Aviation (FAMET) and the German armed forces have selected Thales rockets to equip their Tiger helicopter fleets, the company announced on 13 …

• Digital Battlespace

  Spain kicks off tactical comms modernisation study

  19th February 2018

  The Spanish MoD has initiated a study to consider the future tactical communications capabilities for both the army and navy, defence sources have disclosed. According …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  MDA to deliver MMUAS to Canadian navy

  15th February 2018

  MDA has signed a contract with Canada’s Department of National Defence (DND) to provide maritime miniature UAS (MMUAS) to the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN), the …

• Training

  HATS programme accepts first students

  22nd January 2018

  The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and the Australian Army have begun training rotary wing crew at a new joint helicopter school as part of the …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military helicopters - light/training

  SW-4

  The SW-4 is aimed at the basic and advanced pilot training, troop transport and ISR missions. Its Polish designation is Puszczyk. The SW-4s are based ...

• 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 ...

• Data links

  Data links | PC-7 MKX [France]

  Babcock International Group announced on 10 January 2025 a new 17-year contract worth $827.9 million to supply the French Air and Space Force and the French ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  Air: Helmet-mounted displays | PC-7 MKX [France]

  Babcock International Group announced on 10 January 2025 a new 17-year contract worth $827.9 million to supply the French Air and Space Force and the French ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | PC-7 MKX [France]

  Babcock International Group announced on 10 January 2025 a new 17-year contract worth $827.9 million to supply the French Air and Space Force and the French ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | PC-7 MKX [France]

  Babcock International Group announced on 10 January 2025 a new 17-year contract worth $827.9 million to supply the French Air and Space Force and the French ...

• 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

  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 ...

• Data links

  Data links | Future Aircrew Training Program [Canada]

  Canada is planning to acquire around 64 fixed-wing trainer aircraft between fixed-wing and helicopter platforms. The Royal Canadian Air Force will renew aircrew training services ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  Air: Helmet-mounted displays | Future Aircrew Training Program [Canada]

  Canada is planning to acquire around 64 fixed-wing trainer aircraft between fixed-wing and helicopter platforms. The Royal Canadian Air Force will renew aircrew training services ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | Future Aircrew Training Program [Canada]

  Canada is planning to acquire around 64 fixed-wing trainer aircraft between fixed-wing and helicopter platforms. The Royal Canadian Air Force will renew aircrew training services ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | Future Aircrew Training Program [Canada]

  Canada is planning to acquire around 64 fixed-wing trainer aircraft between fixed-wing and helicopter platforms. The Royal Canadian Air Force will renew aircrew training services ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Rafale Procurement (1-36) [Qatar]

  According to the Dassault 2018 Annual Report, the company recorded €1.7 billion ($2 billion) from 12 Rafales export order in 2018. This puts the total ...

• 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 ...

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. ...

• Trainer

  T-38 Talon

  Developed by Northrop Grumman, the T-38 Talon is an advanced trainer aircraft introduced into service in 1961. The T-38 has the same basic airframe as ...

• 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 ...