• Training

  UK-led NATO battlegroup exercise demonstrates robust military power

  16th May 2023

  Exercise Spring Storm showcases the UK-led NATO Enhanced Forward Presence's robust military capabilities in a multinational exercise, bolstering defence and fostering collective security.

• Land Warfare

  No plans to increase British Army tank fleet as Challenger 3 programme hits milestones

  10th August 2023

  The Challenger 3 MBT has hit key milestones at RBSL's Telford facility, with the programme progressing to prototype building.

• 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.

• Naval Warfare

  Anzac-class frigate to test-fire Sea Ceptor in New Zealand's first naval missile launch in seven years

  15th August 2023

  HMNZS Te Mana is conduct a five-month deployment to test all the new equipment it received during the recent Frigate Systems Upgrade (FSU) project, including a first missile firing since 2016.

• Land Warfare

  As the Ukraine war passes the 18-month mark, how are NATO’s factories meeting the artillery challenge?

  18th September 2023

  NATO is rapidly increasing its supply of equipment to Ukraine in a number of key areas including tube artillery and, crucially, its ammunition. Shephard analyses how the alliance's members are stepping up to this challenge after years of industrial neglect.

• Land Warfare

  Fibrotex develops mobile camouflage systems for US clients

  19th July 2023

  Fibrotex’s camouflage triad will be complete with the development of mobile camouflage systems.

• Training

  Oman-led naval exercise with France, UK, US concludes

  12th May 2023

  Exercise Khunjar Hadd focused on mine countermeasures, explosive ordnance disposal, maritime interdiction, and other combined naval operations.

• Training

  Exosonic begins trials of UAS testbed for supersonic aerial target programme

  26th May 2023

  Exosonic has commenced trials of its EX-3M Trident UAV, a quarter-scale testbed for the EX-3 Revenant supersonic aerial target drone it is developing for the US Air Force.

• Training

  Podcast: The evolving landscape of military simulation and training technologies

  25th April 2023

  This week on the Shephard Defence Podcast, we explore the evolution of military simulation and training technologies, including advancements in cloud computing, networked training, and the increasing use of simulation in response to changing military demands.

• Training

  Dutch Army takes control of new chemical threat simulator

  25th April 2023

  The Royal Netherlands Army has taken control of a new chemical threat simulator from Bagira Systems.

• Training

  IT2EC 2023: Training for multi-domain ops needs a fresh approach to succeed

  25th April 2023

  The complexity of multi-domain operations (MDO) requires a new approach as commanders will no longer be able to rely on their past experience and will need new decision support tools, according to the head of NATO's C2 centre of excellence.

• Air Warfare

  Ukraine lessons: is bringing an attack helicopter to a missile fight too dangerous?

  15th September 2023

  According to multiple OSINT sources, Russian forces have lost possibly as many as 200 rotary-wing aircraft since February 2022. Some of these occurred in early high-profile operations, but most have been attrition casualties during the ongoing fighting. Shephard analyses the nature of these losses, and what lessons NATO attack helicopter operators should draw.

• Air Warfare

  Israel gets 25 more F-35 fighter jets in $3 billion deal financed by US

  4th July 2023

  The new 25 Lockheed Martin F-35 jets will form the third squadron of fifth-generation fighters for the Israeli Air Force.

• Training

  IT2EC 2023: Culture hampering adoption of virtual reality pilot trainers

  26th April 2023

  Portable mixed reality devices aim to augment expensive dome-based full mission simulators in military training but face lobbying and cultural resistance.

• Training

  IDSI and Varjo showcase mixed reality Joint Terminal Attack Controller trainer at IT2EC 2023

  25th April 2023

  A partnership between Varjo and Immersive Display Solutions will see the implementation of XR-3 Focal Edition into existing JTAC training.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• 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 - 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 ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  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 ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  AW169MA

  The support and training element includes integrated logistics support ensuring at least 400 hours flight for each of two training AW169s in 2022 and 2023, 432 hours ...

• 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 ...

• Trainer

  T-54A Multi-Engine Training System (METS) (USA)

  Programme Background Multi-Engine Training System is a USN programme to replace the ageing T-44C Pegasus fleet and modernize multi-engine aircraft training. Multi-Engine Training System provides ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  T-2E Replacement - Greece

  The average unit cost is estimated to be around $12 million based on the Czech Republic's $48.5 million deal for the purchase of four L-39NG ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-15QA Qatar Follow-On

  According to the media reports, Qatar signed a $12 billion initial deal with the US for the procurement of F-15QAs in June 2017. In December ...

• 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 ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  CH-47F Chinook-UAE

  The proposed deal also includes air worthiness support; spare and repair parts; communications equipment; personnel training and training equipment; site surveys; tool and test equipment; ground ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  AH-64E Apache-Morocco

  Morocco has placed a request with the US government for AH-64E Apache attack helicopters. On 20 November 2019, it was announced that the US State ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  AH-64E Apache-Morocco Follow-On

  Morocco has placed a request with the US government for AH-64E Apache attack helicopters. On 20 November 2019, it was announced that the US State ...

• Military helicopters - light/training

  TH-73 Advanced Helicopter Training System - AHTS (TH-57 Replacement)

  Contenders for the competition included the Leonardo single engine TH-119 – a military variant of the AW119Kx – and Bell’s newly upgraded single engine 407GXi. ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Training Services

  Leonardo Helicopters specialises in offering a complete range of professional aviation training services available throughout the life of the aircraft. These services start from an ...

• Subsystems: software

  Global Teach

  Global Teach training management systems provide support for educational processes. Inovex’s military-adapted training management system oversees training processes from planning to controlling, independently from the ...

• Instructor and Operator Training

  Meggitt provides a range of training courses including: basic training to provide students instruction in the operation and basic maintenance of the SAT, FATS L7 ...

• Land: infantry weapon simulators

  Small Arms Trainer

  Meggitt manufactures the FATS line of simulators used by the US Army, USMC, USAF, USN, USCG, British Army, Australian Army and other military and government ...

• Training Services

  Boeing’s training systems and services provide a full range of training activities, including mission planning systems; aircrew and maintenance training devices; training centres; and training ...

• 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

  Flight Training for Pilots

  Saab is able to support an organisation with services and training media for all stages of flight training, including ab-initio and medical G-force training, as ...

• Air: air combat simulators

  Collective Training

  Boeing has delivered and operates three USAF F-15C Mission Training Centers (MTCs), three F-15E MTCs and three F-16 MTCs. The F-22 platform was added into ...

• Land: vehicle simulators

  Embedded Training

  BAE Systems uses embedded training technology in its Bradley A3 Virtual Range Demonstrator. Operators and commanders can train while in the vehicle using an onboard ...

• Land: vehicle simulators

  Virtual Training

  RUAG’s virtual simulation units provide training for commanders, gunners and/or vehicle drivers. The configuration of the units is flexible. They allow individual as well as ...

• Land: vehicle simulators

  AFV Training

  Thales provides armoured vehicle, gunnery and driving simulators to a number of armies. For example, the French Army has been supplied with 33 Leclerc MBT ...

• Subsystems: software

  Training Software

  Courseware is the basis of Meggitt Training Systems’ military simulation training systems and is provided in CGI, marksmanship and judgemental video formats. Standard packages are ...

• Collective Training

  Boeing has been delivering Distributed Mission Operations (DMO) expertise since 1997 and is at the forefront of defining, developing and deploying distributed, joint and coalition ...

• Training Services

  Oshkosh Defense provides military forces with expert-level training for vehicle operators and mechanics on all Oshkosh vehicles and technologies. Training can be conducted at the ...

• Training Services

  As well as supplying training centres, RUAG can provide customers with personnel to operate the equipment and conduct the training courses. The company offers associated ...