• Training

  UK Wildcat helicopter weapons training and digitisation reaches next stage

  8th November 2022

  The Wildcat Integrated Support and Training programme has reached its next stage with implementation of a Weapons Loading System trainer at the Royal Navy's Yeovilton base. The MoD is also experimenting with digitisation of the AW159 Wildcat helicopter.

• Land Warfare

  How the US plans to regain Latin American defence markets from Russia and China

  7th February 2023

  Currently, 13 Latin American states operate Russian military hardware,, while 12 are equipped with Chinese weapon systems.

• Digital Battlespace

  How fiction can prepare us for a disruptive digital future – a conversation (podcast)

  5th December 2022

  In this special episode of the Shephard Defence Podcast, Dr. Keith Dear and August Cole discuss how new technologies are radically altering the national security landscape.

• Air Warfare

  Bell counts down to upgraded CH-146 Griffon first flight in 2023

  3rd October 2022

  Upgraded RCAF CH-146 Griffon helicopters are to be outfitted with better engines and avionics.

• Training

  I/ITSEC 2022: Putting the USAF Pilot Training Next effort to the test

  1st December 2022

  The US Pilot Training Next 2.5 scheme has seemed a great success, but new assessment evaluation results provide hard data.

• Training

  I/ITSEC 2022: MVRsimulation joint fires trainer makes accreditation progress

  1st December 2022

  MVRsimulation's mixed reality (MR) system is designed to provide a quick-deployment capability for joint terminal attack controllers (JTACs) and forward observers.

• Air Warfare

  Belgium closes in on advanced US missiles for fighter jets

  9th November 2022

  The proposed AMRAAM sale to Belgium for F-16 and F-35 fleets would significantly improve the NATO ally's ability to meet current and future challenges in the air.

• Training

  Top Aces aggressor F-16 achieves US Air Force certificate

  25th August 2022

  Military Flight Release status will allow Top Aces to begin using its aggressor F-16 jets to support US Air Force training programmes.

• Training

  Droneshield, xReality partner up for counter-drone training at I/ITSEC 2022

  29th November 2022

  DroneShield will leverage xReality's immersive technology to offer C-UAS training solutions for military markets.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  TB2 UAV conquers another export market with Kuwaiti order

  20th January 2023

  Turkish developer Baykar's best-selling TB2 has chalked up a 28th export customer, with more in the pipeline according to the company.

• Land Warfare

  UK rethinks tank fleet numbers as Challenger 3 project hits critical milestone

  16th February 2023

  Unlike some UK combat vehicle programmes, the Challenger 3 project is on track and on budget, having passed its critical design review earlier this February.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  First production multi-domain Reaper UAV takes to the skies

  6th January 2023

  The upgraded Reaper features enhancements to several key systems.

• Training

  I/ITSEC 2022: Simthetiq gets compatible with Unreal Engine’s latest geo system

  28th November 2022

  Unreal Engine’s virtual geometry system will allow Simthetiq to deploy its 3D models in a visually detailed environment.

• Air Warfare

  Colombia pauses negotiations again on Kfir fleet replacement

  9th January 2023

  Funding problems and an expired government directive mean the Colombian Air Force will have to find ways to keep its ageing IAI Kfir fleet in service for longer.

• Defence Helicopter

  Royal Navy upgrades Merlin helicopters

  5th December 2022

  The Royal Navy's amphibious helicopters have received an improved defensive aid suit and Merlin pilots can now train in a synthetic training environment.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military helicopters - light/training

  Future Aircrew Training Program (Helicopter Procurement) - Canada

  The new procurement will result in one contract covering all the requirements, including maintenance and infrastructure services. Training services are currently provided through two separate ...

• Trainer

  Future Aircrew Training Program (Fixed-wing Aircraft Procurement) - Canada

  Programme Background The new procurement will result in one contract covering all the requirements, including maintenance and infrastructure services. Training services are currently provided through ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  AW101-Norway

  AgustaWestland is also providing initial support and training services, including spares at each of the operating bases and aircrew training. It will then provide performance ...

• Trainer

  Future Lead-In Fighter Training System (Project Air 6002 PH1) - Australia

  Programme Background Requirements The RAAF is seeking a future solution that provides a ‘relevant, adaptable, affordable and safe LIFTS out to 2050’ for training pilots ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-15QA Qatar

  Programme BackgroundOn 17 November 2016, the US State Department announced that it has approved a possible FMS of 72 F-15QA aircraft to Qatar for an ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Future Fighter Capability Project [Canada]

  Programme Background Canada’s defence policy estimates the acquisition of the aircraft, associated equipment and setup to enable entry into service will cost C$15-19 billion ($12.9-14.5 billion). In ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) [Canada]

  Programme Background Programme Inception The Royal Canadian Air Force's (RCAF) Joint Unmanned Surveillance and Target Acquisition System (JUSTAS) project was established to procure a UAS for ...

• Sealift/replenishment vessels

  Program Icebreakers [Canada]

  Programme Background Requirements The programme aims to replace the heavy and medium icebreakers of the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) that operate in Atlantic Canada, the St. ...

• Military UAS - mini, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  SkyRanger R70 (Ukraine Aid) [Canada]

  Programme Background On 19 February 2024, the Canadian Defence Minister, Bill Blair, announced that the country would donate more than 800 SkyRanger R70 UAVs to ...

• ISR/special mission

  King Air 350ER ISR - Kuwait

  Feb 2018: The US State Department has approved an estimated $259m potential foreign military sale of King Air 350ER intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft ...

• Destroyers

  Canadian Surface Combatant/River Class [Canada]

  Development and Procurement Requirements Fifteen frigates are being procured to replace the Royal Canadian Navy's 12 ageing Halifax-class frigates and the now-retired Iroquois-class destroyers with ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-15EX - USAF (Announced)

  Programme Background The F-15EX will be based on the 2-seat F-15QA (Qatar) configuration upgraded with USAF-only capabilities, including the Eagle Passive Active Warning and Survivability ...

• Military helicopters - light/training

  Bell 505 (Jordan)

  Programme Background Requirement The Jordanian Air Force has a requirement for training helicopters that are to be used in the King Hussein Air College. The country ...

• Submarines: conventional, attack

  Canadian Patrol Submarine Project (CPSP) [Canada]

  Programme Background Requirements The Royal Canadian Navy currently operates four second-hand Victoria-class SSK. They were purchased from the UK in the late 1990s and re-commissioned ...

• Maritime patrol

  P-8 Poseidon [New Zealand]

  Programme Background The Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) will get four new Boeing P-8A Poseidon MPAs to enhance its surveillance capability, with the government ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Trainer

  Phenom 100

  Phenom 100 is a very light jet originally developed for single owner-pilot operation but later gained popularity as a jet trainer aircraft. The platform first ...

• EW test systems

  EWITR

  The EW Instrumented Training Range (EWITR) provides threat radar simulators and master control stations for aircrew training in tactics development using modelling and simulation, and ...

• Air: helicopter flight simulators

  HATS

  In October 2014, the Australian government approved a A$700 million (US$530 million) contract award to Boeing Defence Australia, teamed with Thales Australia, to provide the ...

• 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: transport/tanker simulators

  USAF KC-135 ATS

  The KC-135 Aircrew Training System (ATS) programme delivers initial qualification, requalification, continuation and upgrades training for USAF KC-135 aircrews, including pilots, co-pilots and boom operators. ...

• Air: fixed-wing flight simulators

  USN T-44C Training Services

  In late 2013, CAE USA received a contract to provide the USN with comprehensive T-44C aircrew training services at NAS Corpus Christi, Texas. CAE USA ...

• Trainer

  T-6A/B Texan II

  The T-6 Texan II is a single-engine trainer aircraft, which was developed from the Pilatus PC-9 to meet the training requirements of USAF and USN ...

• Air: transport/tanker simulators

  C-130J MATS

  Lockheed Martin’s C-130J Maintenance and Aircrew Training System (MATS) programme provides a range of training devices and support services including aircrew instruction, operations, contractor logistics ...

• Air: air combat simulators

  HITS-A

  Collins Aerospace is the prime contractor designing and developing the first integrated aircrew training systems for the E-2D, leading the Hawkeye Integrated Training System for ...

• Air: helicopter flight simulators

  Tiger Aircrew Training

  Thales provides Tiger aircrew training solutions for the armed forces in Australia, France and Germany. Thales is currently upgrading the systems under the Tiger aircrew training ...

• Air: fixed-wing flight simulators

  RCAF CC-130J Training Services

  CAE is the prime contractor for the Operational Training Systems Provider (OTSP) programme to support the 17-strong CC-130J fleet in RCAF service. The first OTSP ...

• Air: transport/tanker simulators

  KC-46A ATS

  FlightSafety supports the USAF aircrew training program for the KC-46A Pegasus tanker aircraft. The program delivers a multi-faceted training package to the USAF from design, ...

• Military helicopters - light/training, Military helicopters - multirole

  H135M

  The H135M (formerly known as the EC635 and also designated as H135) is a light utility variant of the EC135 twin-engine, multipurpose 3t helicopter. In ...

• US Navy T-44C training services

  In late 2013, CAE received a contract to provide the USN with comprehensive T-44C aircrew training services at NAS Corpus Christi, Texas. CAE USA is ...

• Air: helicopter flight simulators

  US Army Flight School XXI OFT/RCTD

  L3Harris Technologies is a major subcontractor to CSC on the US Army’s Flight School XXI (FSXXI) programme. L3Harris Technologies has built or is under contract ...