• Air Warfare

  US Air Force fighter unit transitions to aggressor squadron

  17th May 2023

  The 926th Wing's 706th Fighter Squadron has been redesignated as the 706th Aggressor Squadron, enhancing Nellis Air Force Base's air combat training capabilities.

• Digital Battlespace

  SOF Week 2023: How Collaborative Autonomy can revolutionise multi-domain missions

  10th May 2023

  USSOCOM is betting on meshed networking technology to enable a single operator to control multiple swarming uncrewed systems across air, land and sea.

• Training

  India trains fighter pilots in buddy-buddy refuelling as aerial tanker shortage hits home

  2nd May 2023

  Poor serviceability rates of India's Ilyushin Il-78 tanker aircraft mean fighter pilots are training using buddy-buddy refuelling between fast jets.

• Air Warfare

  Indonesia invests in Mirages to plug a fighter shortfall

  16th June 2023

  Indonesia's air force goes back in time to acquire ex-French, ex-Qatari Mirage fighter jets.

• Training

  Lockheed Martin wins contract for F-16 training and sustainment

  23rd March 2023

  Lockheed Martin has been awarded a $25 million contract to provide F-16 operational capability and maintenance training for international partner nations.

• Defence Helicopter

  Sikorsky awaits UK New Medium Helicopter requirements to unveil production plans, explores new X2 design

  2nd June 2023

  Sikorsky has yet to reveal its production plans for its UK New Medium Helicopter contender while industry anxiously anticipate the release of critical acquisition targets. The company also continues the exploration of its X helicopter concept for the international market.

• Land Warfare

  Netherlands selects Elbit to meet rocket artillery requirement

  20th May 2023

  Elbit Systems will supply 20 truck-mounted PULS artillery rocket launchers to the Royal Netherlands Army over the next five years.

• Special Operations

  SOF Week 2023: US Air Force Special Operations Command interview (video)

  11th May 2023

  The commander of US Air Force Special Operations Command talks to the SOF Week show daily.

• Special Operations

  SOF Week 2023: Commander, Special Operations Command - Korea interview

  11th May 2023

  The Commander of Special Operations Command - Korea provides an update at SOF Week 2023.

• Land Warfare

  Finland signs deal for up to 161 CAVS armoured vehicles

  6th June 2023

  Finland has signed a firm contract for 91 Patria 6x6 Common Armoured Vehicle Systems (CAVS) vehicles, with an option to acquire 70 more.

• Land Warfare

  Finland signs deal for up to 161 CAVS armoured vehicles

  6th June 2023

  Finland has signed a firm contract for 91 Patria 6x6 Common Armoured Vehicle Systems (CAVS) vehicles, with an option to acquire 70 more.

• Air Warfare

  Raytheon launches RAIVEN, an AI-enabled threat identification system

  25th April 2023

  Raytheon has launched a new intelligent EO/IR capability, RAIVEN, that uses artificial intelligence to allow pilots to identify threats faster and more accurately.

• Defence Notes

  Lawmakers to provide nearly $700 million in extra funds for US Army ground vehicle programmes

  16th June 2023

  The House Armed Services Committee has proposed allocating additional resources to the Abrams, Stryker, Bradley and PIM programmes and reducing the budget of the OMFV effort.

• Land Warfare

  Hensoldt sends more air defence radars to Ukraine

  19th May 2023

  Hensoldt has been contracted to supply six additional air defence radar units to Ukraine.

• Training

  Varjo-Aechelon partnership on US Air Force training programme continues run of success for Finnish company

  24th March 2023

  Aechelon and Varjo are collaborating to provide mixed reality (MR) technology for the USAF's 31st Combat Training Squadron to enhance readiness to combat evolving threats.

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 ...