DefenceTalkThe Royal Air Force has completed the biggest training mission ever undertaken by its Typhoon Force. Exercise Android Preference concluded at RAF Coningsby last week and forms part of the qualified weapons instructor (QWI) course, which is regarded as the pinnacle of qualifications for RAF aircrew. RAF Coningsby Station Commander, Group Captain Johnny Stringer, explained: […]https://www.defencetalk.com/raf-eurofighter-typhoon-force-completes-largest-ever-training-mission-48326/

DefenceTalkDefence Secretary Philip Hammond yesterday published the white paper ‘Reserves in the Future Force 2020: Valuable and Valued’, which sets out the plans to sustain and grow our Reserve Forces to 35,000 across all 3 services by 2018 by revitalizing them, reversing the decline of the recent past, growing their trained strength, and investing an […]https://www.defencetalk.com/reserves-in-the-future-force-2020-48279/

DefenceTalkThe Type 23 frigate is the first Royal Navy ship to be fitted with Artisan – a 3D radar 5 times better than the old version it replaces. Iron Duke left Portsmouth yesterday, Sunday 23 June, to begin an intensive period of sea trials. As part of a £100 million programme, Artisan (advanced radar, target […]https://www.defencetalk.com/iron-duke-back-at-sea-after-major-upgrade-48237/

DefenceTalkBrigadier Duncan Capps has recently completed a tour of duty in Afghanistan where he was Commander Joint Force Support (JFS). He briefed media representatives in MOD Main Building in London about the progress being made processing and redeploying kit and equipment in theatre in readiness for the drawdown of troops in 2014. Redeployment As UK […]https://www.defencetalk.com/redeployment-of-kit-from-afghanistan-48216/

DefenceTalkScanEagle is a maritime reconnaissance asset that can be launched off the back of Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships day or night to gather intelligence and survey the wider area of operations. Built by Insitu, a subsidiary of Boeing Defence UK Limited, the ScanEagle is the first maritime-specific unmanned air system capability to […]https://www.defencetalk.com/royal-navys-new-eye-in-the-sky-48214/

DefenceTalkNew figures published today by UK Trade & Investment’s Defence and Security Organization (UKTI DSO) show that UK defence exports totaled £8.8 billion over the past year, a rise of 62% from 2011 in a global market that grew by 45%. These results mean the UK maintains its position as the second most successful defence […]https://www.defencetalk.com/uk-defence-exports-largest-increase-in-5-years-48208/

DefenceTalkWorking with Lockheed Martin and the UK Ministry of Defence, we have linked simulation facilities across five UK sites to create a common synthetic environment to evaluate F-35 interoperability with other UK military platforms. Linking Air and Maritime A recent trial saw Royal Navy, RAF and US Navy pilots operating the F-35 fighter jet during […]https://www.defencetalk.com/ukus-trials-review-f-35-interoperability-in-a-simulated-maritime-scenario-48193/

DefenceTalkThe head of the Army has warned that any gap between military resources and planned capabilities caused by spending cuts “could become quite dangerous, quite quickly”. Chief of the General Staff General Sir Peter Wall said imposing further efficiencies while the impact of previous deep spending cuts on the armed forces were still being absorbed […]https://www.defencetalk.com/uk-army-chief-warns-against-further-cuts-48122/

DefenceTalkHMS Ark Royal, formerly Britain’s flagship aircraft carrier, sailed out of its home port on Monday to be scrapped in Turkey. Britain, which has always prided itself on its sea power, will have to do without the ability to launch jets at sea until 2020 as it tries to balance its books and two new […]https://www.defencetalk.com/former-uk-aircraft-carrier-towed-to-turkey-for-scrap-47858/

DefenceTalkIsraeli original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) have aggressively marketed these platforms, helping them become the top exporter of UAS platforms, globally. A recent Frost & Sullivan market insight, “Israeli Unmanned Aerial Systems,” finds that Israel’s UAS export revenue totaled $4.62 billion from 2005 to 2012. The top purchaser of these exports […]https://www.defencetalk.com/israel-is-top-global-exporter-of-unmanned-aerial-systems-47839/