28 Feb 23. Boeing Proposes T-7 Advanced Trainer for Australia’s Future Defence Pilots.
- The new T-7 is an integrated aircraft and simulator system to train pilots.
- Already the trainer program of record for the U.S. Air Force, the T-7 offers Australia further interoperability with a key ally
Boeing [NYSE: BA] is ready to offer its T-7 advanced trainer to Australia to help ensure the mission-readiness of the country’s future defence pilots. The T-7 is a new cost-effective system combining a trainer aircraft with a ground-based simulator to replace older trainers.
The T-7 could be used to train future Australian pilots of F/A-18F Super Hornets, EA-18G Growlers, F-35s and other defence aircraft using live and ‘as real-as-it-gets’ virtual simulation.
The announcement was made during the Avalon 2023 Australian International Airshow, where Boeing brought a T-7 simulator for customer demonstrations.
“The T-7 would fit right into the pilot training and aircraft sustainment our team currently provides for the Australian Defence Force,” said Scott Carpendale, vice president and managing director, Boeing Defence Australia. “Because the U.S. and Australia already have a high degree of interoperability due to flying similar aircraft types, an Australian T-7 could lead to new joint training scenarios between the two countries.”
The T-7’s digital open architecture and reconfigurable cockpit means the trainer/simulator can be updated rapidly for decades to come. (Source: ASD Network)
28 Feb 23. Milskil joins CAE-led Team AUStringer’s bid for AIR 5428 Phase 3. The operational training services provider has joined the CAE-led Team AUStringer’s bid for the Future Air Mission Training System, valued by Defence at $500 m.
Under the agreement, Milskil is expected to provide training development and training delivery to support CAE Australia. It will be joining Leidos and Nova Systems in the bid.
The Future Air Mission Training System is designed to support the training of the Royal Australian Air Force’s future aviators. According to CAE, this includes electronic warfare officers, maritime patrol and response officers, air battle managers, air traffic controllers among other specialists.
According to Matthew Sibree, managing director, Indo-Pacific, CAE Defense & Security, the partnership will strengthen the capabilities of Australia’s future warfighters.
“Milskil is one of Australia’s leading providers in training development and delivery, and we are excited to welcome them to Team AUStringer,” says Sibree.
“The collective capabilities, reputation, and unique strengths contributed by Milskil bolsters the best-in-class solution to train and produce leading-edge RAAF aviators, enhancing their decision making and performance in complex mission environments. Team AUStringer provides the Commonwealth with control of a scalable, reliable, and sustainable training capability delivered by proven expertise and optimised training outcomes.”
Just last year, Defence awarded a $50 m Navy Training Force Platforms and Systems Training contract to CAE Australia for the delivery of essential platform and system training to Royal Australian Navy (RAN) personnel ashore.
The program aims to prepare the RAN for a planned expansion of the workforce to 20,000 personnel by 2040.
Specifically, the project aims to combine training services for the Canberra Class landing helicopter dock (LHD) ships, Hobart Class guided missile destroyers, Supply Class auxiliary oiler replenishment vessels, Huon Class minehunters, and related cross-platform courses.
The projects were previously split into separate contracts, with this new approach tipped to offer new opportunities for innovation and efficiency in training content and delivery.
“Consolidating platform and systems training into a single contract will allow Navy to deliver trained sailors to the fleet faster than ever before, generating a capable, productive, and skilled workforce,” Assistant Minister for Defence Matt Thistlethwaite said.
“The new training model will be flexible and based on-shore, meaning Navy personnel will spend less time away from home and have greater access to training that suits their needs.” (Source: Defence Connect)
27 Feb 23. NAVAF set to conduct multilateral exercise Cutlass Express 2023. CE23 will feature various shore-based and at-sea training drills that will take place along the eastern coast of Africa. Personnel and forces from around 15 countries are set to commence the multinational maritime exercise Cutlass Express 2023 (CE23). Scheduled to start from 5 March, the activity is being conducted by the US Naval Forces Africa (NAVAF) and sponsored by the US Africa Command (AFRICOM).
The newest iteration of Cutlass Express will primarily be carried out in Djibouti, Kenya and Mauritius.
re a series of shore-based and at-sea training activities that will take place along the eastern coast of Africa.
All the training activities undertaken during CE23 will allow the participating forces to exchange information between Maritime Operation Centres to ensure that the multinational forces are capable of deterring sea-based illicit activities.
Participating nations will include the US, Canada, Djibouti, Madagascar, Mozambique, Mauritius, the UK, Japan, Tanzania, Seychelles, France, Kenya, Georgia, Comoros and Greece.
NAVAF maritime headquarters director rear admiral Chase Patrick said: “The relationships and partnerships we build through exercises such as CE23 increase our combined capabilities to respond to maritime threats in waters surrounding Africa.
“By teaching and learning from each other through various scenarios, we are able to bring new ideas and techniques to the table that will lead to a safer, more prosperous environment in Western Indian Ocean.”
Designed to evaluate and hone combined maritime law enforcement tactics, the CE23 aims to bolster the regional security and stability in the Western Indian Ocean.
This year’s exercise is planned to be linked with the US Naval Forces Central Command’s upcoming International Maritime Exercise, allowing all the participants to boost interoperability and global capabilities.
Exercise CE23 is also one of the three NAVAF-hosted regional events that allow the US, East African, European and other international partner nations to jointly address common transnational maritime concerns.
(Source: naval-technology.com)
28 Feb 23. US NAVCENT commences eighth edition of IMX exercise. IMX 23 will be linked to the US NAVAF’s multilateral exercise Cutlass Express 2023. The US Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) has announced the beginning of International Maritime Exercise (IMX) 2023 in Bahrain’s capital city Manama.
IMX 2023 is one of the largest exercises in the Middle East. This marks the eighth edition of the IMX since its establishment in 2012.
The exercise started on 26 February and will continue until 16 March.
The latest iteration of IMX will also be linked to the US Naval Forces Africa’s (NAVAF) multilateral exercise Cutlass Express (CE) 2023.
The opening ceremony of exercise CE23 is scheduled to be held in Djibouti on 5 March. It will conclude on 17 March.
The integrated activity involves the participation of nearly 50 partner nations and international organisations.
It includes Bahrain, the Netherlands, Canada, Qatar, Pakistan and Oman, among other nations.
Around 7,000 military personnel, a total of 35 naval vessels and more than 30 uncrewed and artificial intelligence (AI) systems will also be deployed in support of this event.
The combined effort is expected to eliminate the regional limitations and boost the overall combined capabilities of the participating countries.
During the exercise, the participating nations will undertake a series of training activities and missions in the Arabian Sea, Arabian Gulf, Indian Ocean, Gulf of Oman and the Red Sea, and around the East African coastal regions.
The drills have been designed to primarily focus on five main areas, including maritime security, mine countermeasures, combined command and control, uncrewed systems and AI integration and global health.
The previous edition of the IMX was also held in conjunction with Cutlass Express and involved the participation of 9,000 personnel, 80 uncrewed systems and 50 ships. (Source: naval-technology.com)
28 Feb 23. British Army completes Winter Camp exercise in Estonia. Winter Camp was the last exercise scheduled under Nato’s eFP Battlegroup Estonia Rotation 11. The British Army has recently completed a two-week long exercise, named Winter Camp, in Estonia, as part of the UK-led Nato Battlegroup.
This was the last exercise scheduled under Nato’s enhanced Forward Presence (eFP) Battlegroup Estonia Rotation 11, which was led by the British Army’s King’s Royal Hussars (KRH).
The training activity saw the participation of 30 Challenger 2 main battle tanks (MBT) from the UK, a Leopard 2 tank squadron from Denmark, and forces from France and Estonia.
It saw multinational troops train in extreme cold weather conditions, which provided them with an opportunity to showcase their combined arms skills and capabilities.
The UK has been deploying its Warrior infantry fighting vehicles, and Challenger 2 tanks attached to an armoured battlegroup, for the rotational tasks in Estonia since 2017.
The six-month rotating deployments, also referred as Operation Cabrit, are based in the Estonian town Tapa.
Operation Cabrit commander colonel Dai Bevan said: “Exercise Winter Camp has been necessarily demanding and complex. It is the cementing of the eFP Battlegroup’s cold weather credentials.”
Following the completion of Winter Camp, KRH will now hand over eFP Battlegroup responsibility to the Queen’s Royal Hussars (QRH), one of the senior armoured regiments in the UK Army.
The QRH also operate Challenger 2 MBTs.
KRH commanding officer lieutenant colonel Will Hodgkinson said: “The ability to field three squadrons of MBTs, two of which are equipped with Challenger 2, has given eFP Battlegroup a real edge.”
The British Army is now working to acquire Challenger 3 MBT, for which the critical design review has already been approved ahead of the pre-determined schedule.
This capability is expected to deliver high lethality and survivability to Nato armoured forces until 2040. (Source: army-technology.com)
27 Feb 23. IAF to participate in exercise Cobra Warrior 23 in UK. The deployed assets from India include five Mirage 2000, two C-17 and one Ilyushin Il-78 tanker aircraft. Around 145 personnel from the Indian Air Force (IAF) have been deployed to take part in the multinational exercise Cobra Warrior 2023 in the UK.
This information was shared by the Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) in a media release on 26 February.
The latest iteration of Cobra Warrior is being held between 6 and 24 March at the Royal Air Force’s Waddington Air Force Base in Lincolnshire, UK.
The participating air assets and contingent have already departed from Air Force Station Jamnagar in Gujarat, India.
The deployed assets from the IAF include two C-17 Globemaster III strategic airlift transport aircraft, five Mirage 2000 fighter jets, and one Ilyushin Il-78 in-flight refuelling tanker aircraft.
Apart from India, the exercise will involve the participation of aircraft and forces from the US, Sweden, South Africa, Finland and Singapore.
The exercise will allow the participating air forces to practise and learn through diverse fighter aircraft engagements, as well as exchange each other’s best operational practices and tactics.
In a separate announcement on 25 February, the MoD revealed that the IAF is participating in another multilateral exercise, named Desert Flag VIII, which has already commenced in the UAE.
An IAF’s contingent comprising 110 aircrew members, along with different aircraft, has been deployed to the Al Dhafra airbase in the UAE for this exercise.
Participating aircraft from India include two C-17 Globemaster III and five light combat aircraft (LCA) Tejas.
This also marks the first time LCA Tejas will operate outside of India for an international exercise.
Scheduled to be held between 27 February and 17 March, the exercise further involves the participation of forces from the UAE, Spain, Australia, the UK, the Republic of Korea, the US, Bahrain, Morocco, Kuwait and France. (Source: airforce-technology.com)