Air Warfare

UK P-8 Poseidons to get Sting Ray Mod 1 torpedoes

1st December 2023

The UK MoD has confirmed the selection of the BAE Systems Sting Ray Mod 1 torpedo as the future torpedo capability for its P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) fleet, alongside the US Navy's Mk54 weapon.

Air Warfare

Royal Air Force Protector UAS takes to UK skies

17th November 2023

The Protector UAS will be fitted with detect-and-avoid capabilities and it is in line to receive certification to fly in non-segregated airspace.

Air Warfare

UK awards $20 million contract to Anduril for avanced force protection solutions

2nd November 2023

The contract awarded to Anduril Industries will explore innovative capabilities for force protection and counter-intrusion, as well as counter-unmanned aircraft system solutions for the RAF and Strategic Command on Permanent Joint Operating Bases.

Air Warfare

UK Protector surveillance UAV begins trials

24th October 2023

A new uncrewed Royal Air Force aircraft, capable of global surveillance operations, will begin trials in the UK this week.

Training

Elbit UK’s Joint Fires Synthetic Trainer delivers nearly 5,000 training hours

21st September 2023

Elbit Systems UK’s Joint Fires Synthetic Trainer (JFST) has officially achieved Initial Operating Capability (IOC).

Air Warfare

Insight: What does the future hold for the Eurofighter Typhoon combat aircraft?

11th September 2023

The Eurofighter Typhoon Tranche 3A has been adopted by Middle Eastern air forces as well as the European partner nations. Shephard Defence Insight analyses its next-generation radar, cockpit technology and future upgrade plans.

Training

DSEI 2023: Inzpire extends training support to Royal Air Force

8th September 2023

Inzpire's Collective Training Division (CTD) has been awarded a two-year contract to provide subject matter expertise support for 20 Squadron’s Qualified Weapons Instructor (Command & Control) Course (QWI (C2)) at RAF Boulmer.

ISR/special mission

Shadow R1 (UK)

Programme Background The RAF is moving forward with an ambitious plan to transform its intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance (ISTAR) force to enable greater ...

Transport/tanker aircraft

A400M (UK)

RAF base at Brize Norton built a new training facility for A400M pilots and crew. The aircraft will look to reach full operation capability by 2022 when ...

AEW&C

E-7 Wedgetail (737) - UK

Programme Background Seeking to replace its six ageing Boeing E-3 Sentry AEW&C;, the British Royal Air Force awarded Boeing a £1.89 billion contract in 2019 covering the ...

Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

Protector RG1 [UK]

Programme Background Programme Goal The programme aims to replace the MQ-9As in the RAF's inventory with the new, improved MQ-9Bs. With MQ-9B delivering a UK Sovereign capability for ...

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 ...

AEW&C

E-7 Wedgetail - UK (Second Order)

Programme Background Seeking to replace its six ageing Boeing E-3 Sentry AEW&C;, the British Royal Air Force awarded Boeing a £1.89 billion contract in 2019 ...

Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

Low-Cost Uncrewed Air Systems (LANCA) Follow-On Project [UK]

Programme Background Project Mosquito Beginning in 2019, the UK's Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), in collaboration with the Royal Air Force (RAF), began the ...

Transport

Command Support Air Transport Recapitalisation (UK)

Programme Background The tender, originally released on 28 October 2021, requires industry bidders to put forward aircraft that can achieve a minimum unrefuelled range of ...

Fighter - multirole

Typhoon Tranche 3A - Qatar

As a part of the agreement to sell Typhoon, the UK is establishing a ‘Joint Operations Squadron’ (to be known as 12 Squadron) with the ...

Military UAS - fixed-wing

Project Mosquito [UK]

Programme Background Inception and Capabilities In 2019, in collaboration with the RAF, the UK's Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) released details of its new UAS ...

Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

FCAS Loyal Wingman [UK]

Programme Background FCAS Loyal Wingman Tim Martin reported for Shephard in December 2021 that the international partners involved in the sixth-generation Future Combat Air System (FCAS)/Tempest programme ...

Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

Bayraktar TB2 - Second Batch (Morocco)

Programme Background Morocco's military modernisation In 2017, Morocco established a five-year plan to modernise the military equipment of its navy, army and airforce to bring ...

Fighter - naval

F-35B UK

The total cost of the currently funded programme as reported through the UK Major Projects Report is expected to be £10.5 billion ($13.5 billion), covering ...

Military helicopters - multirole

New Medium Helicopter (NHM) (UK)

Programme Background NMH Market Interest Day On 11 November 2021, the MoD communicated the requirements of the £1 billion ($1.34 billion) New Medium Helicopter (NMH) ...

Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

Trial Operation Project [Japan]

Programme Background Japanese Coast Guard (JCG) Procurement The JCG was looking to replace its Chinese-made UAVs with MALE UAVs in the JCG PRAS Project. In April ...

EO/IR systems

DJRP

The Digital Joint Reconnaissance Pod (DJRP) is a tactical EO/IR reconnaissance system. It provides simultaneous high resolution and wide field-of-view EO imagery and horizon-to-horizon day/night ...

EO/IR systems

RAPTOR

The Reconnaissance Airborne Pod for Tornado (RAPTOR), based on Raytheon's DB-110, was developed for the UK RAF Tornado GR4s. RAF specifications required target recognition with ...

Air: air combat simulators

Air Combat Training

Boeing has experience in delivering training for fixed-wing air combat platforms including F-15C/E, F-16, F/A-18E/F, EA-18G, F-22 and MV/CV-22.

Air: air combat simulators

Tornado GR4 Synthetic Training Service

Thales provides its Tornado GR4 Synthetic Training Service (TSTS) through its 100%-owned subsidiary, Ace. The service is a complete suite of synthetic training for Tornado ...

Air: fixed-wing flight simulators

FIASTS

Thales, through 100%-owned subsidiary Merlin, is delivering a ‘packaged’ training and maintenance system for RAF aircrew through the FsAST Integrated Aircrew Synthetic Training Service (FIASTS). ...

Air: Displays

Tornado Advanced Radar Dsiplay & Information System (TARDIS)

The Tornado Advanced Radar Display & Information System (TARDIS) is developed by BAE Systems, UK, specifically for the UK's Royal Air Force's (RAF) fleet of ...

Air: transport/tanker simulators

A400M Training

Thales is the principal training provider for the Airbus A400M with a contract to provide FFSs and flat-panel trainers. Four A400M FFS and two flat-panel ...

Air: maintenance simulators

Engineering and Maintenance Training

BAE Systems designs and delivers engineering and maintenance training, with the ability to provide a package to address the needs of all personnel ranging from ...

Military UAS - fixed-wing

LANCA / Mosquito

The Lightweight Affordable Novel Combat Aircraft (LANCA) is a developmental 'Loyal Wingman' UAS that the RAF and Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) hoped would support its crewed ...

ISR/special mission, Trainer

TC-135S/W

The TC-135S and TC-135W are training aircraft developed by Boeing based on the EC-135 to provide crew training for RC-135S Cobra Ball optical and electronic ...

Guided munitions

Paveway

Paveway is a series of laser guidance systems that can be fitted to a wide range of free-fall bombs to create Precision Guided Munitions (PGMs). ...

Air: maintenance simulators

C-17 Globemaster III MTS

TRU Simulation and Training C-17 Maintenance Training System (MTS) supports training needs for this complex computerised aircraft. The MTS provides skill development for more than 1,100 ...

Data links

Datalink (Hawk)

Hawk jet trainers are equipped with a bespoke datalink that allows for synthetic training data to be transmitted to pilots in training. According to news sources, ...

Trainer

Hawk AJT

The Hawk Advanced Jet Trainer (AJT) is the latest version of what is claimed to be the world’s most widely used advanced jet trainer. Almost ...

Air: Helmet-mounted displays

Tornado HMCS

The Tornado Helmet Mounted Cueing System (HMCS) has been developed by BAE Systems for the Tornado GR4 fleet operated by the Royal Air Force (RAF). ...