Light Attack and Advanced Training

The U.S. Air Force has selected a small company to develop an unmanned, fighter-like aircraft that can be used for training combat pilots.

The surprise decision follows the appearance of the jet trainer at last year’s Dubai Airshow, and would make the UAE the first Middle Eastern customer for the platform.

Turkish Aerospace has secured a type certificate for a new version of the company’s Hurkus turboprop trainer.

Startup’s ATARS is also fielding international interest.

The U.S. Navy is open to forming a joint program with the U.S. Air Force for the Tactical Surrogate Aircraft, and basing the platform on a common derivative of a future training jet to replace the Boeing/BAE Systems T-45 Goshawk.

Another advanced jet trainer type has joined's Qatar's already highly varied and expanding fleet.

China’s J-20 stealth fighter carrying PL-15 long-range air-to-air missiles poses many challenges for the U.S. Air Force, not least in providing realistic training against it.

The first of the Canadian-based company’s F-16As configured as an Advanced Aggressor Fighter (AAF) completed an initial test flight on Jan. 19.

Pandemic-related parts shortages and other supply chain issues have set the U.S. Air Force’s T-7 Red Hawk schedule back about seven months, but Boeing believes it can gain back some of that time as the shortage issues recede and tests continue on built aircraft.

Over the next decade, countries around the globe will need 3,787 new aircraft, opportunities worth $135 billion to aerospace companies.

One pilot was killed and two others injured Nov. 19 when two U.S. Air Force T-38C Talon trainer aircraft collided with each other on the runway at Laughlin AFB, Texas.

Korea Aerospace Industries has secured a $360 million maintenance and flight support deal for the Iraqi Air Force T-50IQ lead-in trainer aircraft.

The Affinity Flying Training Services consortium has been awarded a £65 million ($88 million) contract to operate an additional four Beechcraft T-6 Texan II turboprop training aircraft for the UK’s Military Flying Training System.

Korean Aerospace Industries is planning to offer its FA-50 Golden Eagle jet trainer for an upcoming tender in Slovakia, South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration says.

The UK defense ministry has put out an urgent call to industry for an adversary air service to support the Royal Air Force’s air combat aircraft.

The Japan Air Self Defense Force has opted to participate in the International Flight Training School in Italy and will be sending its pilots for advanced-level fighter training.

The U.S. Air Force’s potential Advanced Tactical Trainer, recently announced in a request for information, is expected to serve as a bridge for pilots graduating from initial training in a T-38, or eventually a Boeing-Saab T-7, before entering the cockpit of an operational fighter.

In an echo of a proposed new U.S. Air Force acquisition program, the U.S. Navy is also now interested in buying a new fleet of advanced training jets to give frontline fighter pilots more training opportunities in a cheaper aircraft.

The propeller-driven trainer and light-attack aircraft is designed to replace South Korea's KT-1.

A path to a more productive pilot training system for the U.S. Air Force may require buying hundreds of the proposed new Advanced Tactical Trainers, which suddenly appeared in an Oct. 12 request for information released by Air Combat Command.

The service has taken the lead on defeating small drones, looking at near-term acquisition and long-term development.

The Swedish Air Force will begin to introduce the new-model Gripen E fighter to a frontline squadron beginning in 2025.

The Spanish Air Force has begun its first training flights with its new Pilatus PC-21 turboprop trainers.

The aft airframe was shipped on Sept.10 from Linkoping, Sweden to Boeing’s plant in St. Louis, where it arrived a few days later.

Czech aircraft manufacturer Aero Vodochody has a new CEO following the purchase of the company by a Hungarian businessman. Viktor Sotona, formerly the managing director of Czech multilateration technology company ERA, takes over from Dieter John as of Sept. 30 as part of the change in ownership.