05 Mar 25. T-7A trainer production units to arrive in early 2026. Despite revolutionary manufacturing techniques, delivery of the final T-7A Red Hawk trainer will be pushed to the start of 2026. Boeing, manufacturer of the US Air Force’s (USAF) T-7A Red Hawk future trainer aircraft, has revealed that it will begin to deliver the first production units in early 2026. Kirk Schultz, Boeing’s senior director for the Middle East, Africa, and Türkiye, confirmed the new delivery period in an exclusive interview with Airforce Technology at the International Defence Exhibition and Conference (IDEX 2025) in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Known as ‘Milestone C’ in military procurement parlance, this level of delivery denotes the point at which the company will transition from delivering a preliminary aircraft variant designated the Engineering, Manufacturing, and Development (EMD) platform – of which five units have been delivered to the service in the past year – to rolling out the end result, referred to as ‘production and deployment’ (P&D) platforms. Boeing produces and tests the T-7As at its site in St. Louis, Missouri. Currently, the EMD trainers are conducting flight tests at Edwards Air Force Base in California. However, the contractor has recently had to revise plans for Red Hawk. In January 2025, Air Education and Training Command, the oldest major command in the USAF, requested that Boeing provide four Production Representative Test Vehicles (PRTVs) over the next 12 months to increase service confidence in meeting certain safety requirements. Schultz pointed to what he described as the “revolutionary training capabilities” that Boeing and their subcontractor, Saab, tasked with building the aft section, used to produce the trainer aircraft. Digital twin technology – creating a virtual model of the aircraft design – was used to develop, build, and maintain the the T-7A jet trainer. Schultz emphasised that this model-based engineering saved a lot of time in man hours during the construction phase, allowing for Full-Size Determinant Assembly and other precision manufacturing techniques. Digital twin models are used to help detect, prevent, predict, and optimise the physical environment using artificial intelligence, real-time analytics, visualisation, and simulation tools. According to GlobalData intelligence, the sector will surpass $150bn by 2030. (Source: airforce-technology.com)
04 Mar 25. Six allied submarines to join Nato exercise in Italy. Dynamic Manta 25 aims to increase interoperability and proficiency in anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare skills. Agroup of six submarines from allied nations is set to participate in Nato’s premier submarine warfare drill, designated as Exercise Dynamic Manta 25. This exercise is scheduled to occur in the waters off Italy’s coast from 28 February to 14 March 2025. The event will assemble a variety of assets including surface vessels, submarines, and aircraft, along with numerous military personnel. The Mediterranean Sea will serve as the backdrop for this intensive training operation aimed at enhancing and showcasing the collective proficiency in submarine warfare among allies. Nato Commander Submarines US Navy rear admiral Bret Grabbe said: “Exercises like Dynamic Manta help Nato maintain the edge when it comes to anti-submarine warfare.
“By practising coordinated operations against both conventional and advanced undersea threats, Nato continues to demonstrate its commitment to safeguarding the strategic waterways that connect member states.”
For the third time since its inception in 2013, the exercise will also include collaboration with Allied maritime Special Operations Forces (SOF), further strengthening interoperability with this component. A Greek SOF team will execute a landing from an Italian submarine as part of the exercise’s activities. The exercise is also a live event for the Allied Reaction Force 25 (ARF25), aiming to validate the interoperability of ARF25 maritime forces at a tactical level and serve as the LIVEX certification venue for maritime forces designated as the ARF25 Maritime Component Command. This will support the ARF25 certification plan and enhance maritime forces interoperability while implementing the latest Nato concepts and doctrines. Participants include units, sailors, and airmen from nine Nato nations. The submarines are from the navies of France, Greece, Italy, Türkiye, and the US, with Nato Submarine Command exercising operational control as required by the exercise scenario. Maritime patrol aircraft from Canada, Germany, Greece, Portugal, Türkiye, the UK, and the US are set to participate, along with maritime patrol helicopters from France, Italy, and the US. These air assets will be supported by surface ships from Greece, Italy, Spain, Türkiye, and the US. Italy, as the host nation, is providing logistical support through its facilities in Catania and Augusta Harbors, the naval helicopter base in Catania, Naval Air Station Sigonella, and Augusta Naval Base. In 2023, the UK deployed its Poseidon MRA1 maritime patrol aircraft to participate in Nato’s anti-submarine warfare exercise Dynamic Manta 2023. (Source: naval-technology.com)
04 Mar 25. Top Aces Unveils AI-Driven Unmanned Wingman for the ADAIR Industry. Top Aces Corp. (Top Aces), the world’s only commercial operator of F-16 aircraft for advanced air combat training, proudly announces a groundbreaking development in the adversary air (ADAIR) industry. In collaboration with technology partners EpiSci (an Applied Intuition company), Coherent Technical Services Inc. (CTSi) and Seger Aviation LLC, Top Aces has unveiled its proprietary AI-driven autonomous constructive wingman for the Red Air industry. This latest innovation is designed to replicate the flight kinematics and maneuvers of advanced adversary aircraft in a live-virtual-constructive (LVC) training environment.
“The introduction of a constructive wingman marks a revolutionary achievement and sets a new precedent in the ADAIR industry,” says Russ Quinn, President of Top Aces Corp., a USAF veteran and former Aggressor pilot. “Integrating AI-driven constructive wingmen will enhance the effectiveness of our training programs by adding complexity and mass challenges to Beyond Visual Range (BVR) targeting for our customers, while still providing the unique benefits of training against live, highly maneuverable 4th Generation fighters.”
Top Aces’ constructive wingman was integrated by CTSi into the company’s F-16 Advanced Aggressor Fighters (AAF) through the open architecture Advanced Aggressor Mission System (AAMS), and is powered by EpiSci’s state-of-the-art AI technology. The AAMS Hands-On Throttle and Stick (HOTAS) interface allows Top Aces’ pilots to direct constructive wingman formations and maneuvers, coordinating them with the company’s F-16s to provide additional BVR targeting challenges for 5th Generation fighter pilots. Each wingman is embodied in the training scenario as an adversary Link-16 track, increasing the number of BVR adversaries for compatible training segments at reduced cost.
“Having flown every 4th and 5th Generation fighter, classified prototypes, and demonstrators, I know firsthand the challenges and opportunities AI brings to air combat,” said Dan Javorsek, President of EpiSci. “This is the future of air combat training. Integrating AI-driven wingmen will push the limits of training while preserving the value of live-fly 4th Generation adversaries. We look forward to continuing this important work and delivering best-in-class advanced software capabilities to our men and women in uniform.”
Following the completion of operational testing and evaluation, Top Aces plans to expand its constructive wingman concept, introducing additional constructive training capabilities to its customers. The control, autonomy and interface developments from this innovation will lay the groundwork for the deployment of future unmanned collaborative adversary platforms as part of Top Aces’ industry leading ADAIR training solutions. (Source: ASD Network)
04 Mar 25. Real-time data for real-time feedback: Charles River and ASU awarded funding to support DARPA’s OP TEMPO program, which aims to enhance team training effectiveness. An individual’s preparedness for a task need not always translate into productivity as a member of a team. To understand how the two are related and to develop reliable and objective predictors of team performance, Charles River Analytics is working on a Bio-Behavioral Team Dynamics Measurement System (BioTDMS). The effort is being led by Arizona State University (ASU), through the Global Security Initiative’s Center for Human, Artificial Intelligence, and Robot Teaming. The multidisciplinary team includes John Hopkins University and Georgia Institute of Technology. BioTDMS is funded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) under the OP TEMPO program (Objective Prediction of Team Effectiveness via Models of Performance Outcomes).
ASU Principal Investigator Jamie Gorman states that, “BioTDMS will objectively assess team performance competencies across DoD training domains to support warfighter readiness, adaptability, and recovery. In other words, resilience.” BioTDMS uses behavioral, physiological, and neurophysiological sensors to track biological and social patterns. Proposed biomarkers to be measured include electroencephalogram (EEG), which measures neural activity; functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), which measures brain blood oxygenation as a proxy for neural activity; eye-tracking, respiration, and cardiac information; and verbal communication; among others. To acquire this data, the team will use sensors without unwieldy wiring and attachments, to make them easy for students to adopt during training.
The resultant data might be more complex to interpret, but that is part of the challenge, says Dr. Bethany Bracken, Principal Scientist at Charles River Analytics and Principal Investigator for Charles River’s BioTDMS team. The training exercises will also yield information about the suitability of sensors for various kinds of measurements. “It will be helpful as we collect data to know which sensors may or may not be useful and which correlate better with individual and team performance,” Bracken says. Translating biomarker data into team performance assessments poses an interesting challenge. “Looking for correlation between changes in the different physiological signals and effective team performance is going to be important,” Bracken says. There’s established precedent in evaluating synchrony in EEG signals between team members. “There’s some indication that people whose brains sync up together form teams that are more effective,” Bracken says.
The immediate goal of the multiphase project is to evaluate the effectiveness of training and determine if individuals can be good team members in executing logistical coordination tasks. The project will measure and collect data from individuals—early stages will have four individuals working together as a team—and compile the results to assess the team as a whole. Traditional assessments of team performance record and then aggregate individual scores, which is not always a true and accurate assessment, according to Bracken. In addition, current methods are subjective, and a team member’s readiness score depends solely on the trainer’s judgment. BioTDMS offers an objective alternative that has the added bonus of offering assessments and feedback in real time, not just at the end of training. The tool can be used to evaluate both individual team members and the effectiveness of training modules. All members consistently performing poorly at certain tasks, for example, might warrant revisions to the curricula. The tool also enables trainers to pin down where and how team members can improve. “It’s meant to give the trainers more information so that they can do their jobs better,” Bracken says.
Future phases of the project will focus on developing predictive models for team performance and assessments that can be generalized at scale. Many fields, including medicine and air traffic control, require training as part of a team. “Any situation that has teams coordinating on tasks would make a good commercialization target for BioTDMS,” Bracken says.
“We’re really excited to work with the researchers at Arizona State University who are established in the field of objective team assessment and to collect data from military personnel, the real people doing the real training,” Bracken adds.
More information about Charles River Analytics’ BioTDMS and the firm’s other health and medical capabilities can be found at cra.com.
04 Mar 25. General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) achieved another major milestone in the development of Unmanned Combat Air Vehicles (UCAVs) by flying U.S. government-provided autonomy software aboard a company-owned MQ-20 Avenger®. The demonstration was part of the Air Force Test Center’s all-domain test series called Orange Flag 25-1, which took place February 19-21 at Edwards Air Force Base, California. The demonstration included the use of a government-provided Pilot Vehicle Interface (PVI), showcasing GA-ASI’s commitment to advancing its UCAV ecosystem through collaboration with partners and government entities and integrating cutting-edge technologies. Avenger is a jet-powered UAS used extensively by GA-ASI as a test bed for future Autonomous Collaborative Platforms. GA-ASI also demonstrated the ability to rapidly swap between autonomy systems midflight over Proliferated Low Earth Orbit (PLEO) satellites utilizing an autonomy product from Shield AI. Orange Flag 25-1 is part of the larger Orange Flag Evaluation and Demonstration Event series. This event brought together various stakeholders to test and validate advanced aerospace technologies in realistic operational scenarios. The government-provided autonomy software – known as a reference autonomy stack – was integrated into the GA-ASI Avenger and demonstrated autonomous flight operation capabilities focused on conducting air-to-air engagements. The government-provided PVI enabled seamless control and monitoring of the autonomy stack, highlighting the interoperability and flexibility of GA-ASI’s UCAV ecosystem. The Shield AI stack demonstrated autonomy skills for safe administrative phases of flight. What the flights proved was that GA-ASI aircraft can quickly go from company-written software, to government-provided, to other vendors’ software as needed. This reinforces that the new generations of GA-ASI’s UCAVs can seamlessly get upgrades as fast as developers finish them. Just as a mobile phone can get new and better features with each update, so too can new UCAVs get more capable and more versatile.
“This demonstration marks a significant achievement in our ongoing efforts to operationalize autonomy for UCAVs,” said GA-ASI Vice President of Advanced Programs Michael Atwood. “Flying the government reference autonomy stack at Orange Flag 25-1 and utilizing the government-provided PVI underscores our commitment to delivering robust and adaptable autonomy solutions for the warfighter. We especially appreciate and salute the support we received from the 309th Software Engineering Group.”
The successful flight at Orange Flag 25-1 further validates GA-ASI’s dedication to maturing its open standards-based autonomy software ecosystem. By adhering to government-owned and maintained standards, GA-ASI ensures rapid integration of best-of-breed capabilities from third-party providers, enhancing the overall operational effectiveness of UCAV platforms. GA-ASI continues to demonstrate its commitment to advancing autonomy for UCAVs through a series of flight tests and collaborations with government and industry partners. These efforts are aimed at developing an autonomy infrastructure that enables rapid integration and validation of tactical software applications while maintaining safety of flight and providing warfighters with the most advanced capabilities possible. GA-ASI has been selected by the U.S. Air Force to build and fly the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA).
28 Feb 25. Spanish Air and Space Force picks GMV for orbital mechanics simulator. The contract extends GMV’s involvement to include training and development at various educational institutions. GMV has been selected by the Spanish Air and Space Force to deliver an orbital mechanics simulator for advanced space surveillance, command, and control training. The contract has been awarded by the service through its Logistics Support Command’s Directorate-General of Procurement. Space operations have become a pivotal aspect of the military sphere, with armed forces increasingly reliant on satellite systems for communication, location, and monitoring. This shift is highlighted by the renaming of the Air and Space Force in 2022 and the establishment of the Space Command in 2023, which includes Spain’s Space Surveillance and Operations Center (COVE). Since its inception in 2019, the COVE has been enhancing its capabilities and space situational awareness tools, with its operational workforce expanding annually. GMV has supported the centre by supplying software tools and assisting in international space cooperation exercises, such as Global Sentinel. As per the terms of the contract, GMV is also tasked with providing maintenance services and user training. In 2020, the Spanish Ministry of Defense entrusted GMV with a €2.7m ($2.81m) contract to develop, deploy, and maintain the Space Situational Awareness and Control System for the COVE. The latest contract extends GMV’s involvement to include training and development at various educational institutions and for personnel from units and organisations engaged in space operations, particularly at the COVE. The simulator is scheduled to be operational by late 2025 and will serve as a training and operational resource for Air and Space Force personnel from 2026. Given the project timelines and the need for specific features, the simulator will be based on GMV’s commercial software for space surveillance systems Ecosstm. It is already in use at centres such as the German military’s space surveillance system and GMV’s commercial space surveillance operations centre. This comes after Spanish Defence Minister Margarita Robles visited the Space Command (MESPA), created by merging the Aerospace Observation Systems Center (CESAEROB) and the COVE, in January 2024. (Source: airforce-technology.com)