UK-based Babcock International and Turkey’s Aselsan have agreed to jointly examine options to support the Royal Air Force’s future electronic warfare training requirements.
The collaboration will focus on a potential Surface Electronic Warfare Threat training capability under the RAF’s Next Generation Operational Training program. The initiative is intended to modernize aircrew training for operations in contested airspace by enabling exposure to advanced air defense and electronic warfare threats without exclusive reliance on live exercises.
The effort reflects the UK’s broader push to prepare forces for high-threat operational environments as potential adversaries continue to deploy increasingly sophisticated air defense and electronic warfare systems.
As part of the study, the companies will assess whether a jointly developed solution could realistically simulate modern Integrated Air Defence Systems, including radar and surface-to-air missile threats. Such a system would allow pilots and mission crews to train against scalable and reconfigurable electronic warfare scenarios.
Babcock will contribute its experience in delivering military training and operational support to UK forces, while Aselsan brings its expertise in electronic warfare technologies. No timelines, funding arrangements, or specific system designs have been disclosed, and any future capability would be subject to UK Ministry of Defence approval.
