US naval aviation and ground-air integration training is set to receive a boost after AIRO’s training division secured a contract to support Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC) and flight training programs.
Coastal Defense, a subsidiary of AIRO Group Holdings, has been awarded a $1.9-million, one-year contract by the US Navy to provide training support services aimed at enhancing the realism and execution of naval flight and JTAC exercises.
These programs play a vital role in ensuring that aircrews and JTAC personnel can coordinate close air support missions safely and effectively, particularly in complex operational environments where precise communication and strict adherence to joint procedures are critical.
Under the agreement, Coastal Defense will deliver specialized support services designed to improve exercise fidelity and align training scenarios with current operational requirements. Chris Levy, Senior Vice President and General Manager of AIRO’s Training Division, said the company remains committed to delivering scalable, high-fidelity solutions that enhance readiness and address the evolving demands of naval aviation.
The contract forms part of a wider US Navy initiative to modernize and expand training capabilities. In 2023, Australia’s Ryan Aerospace secured a $28-million contract to provide 50 advanced extended reality flight simulators, following an earlier 2021 deal covering fighter and helicopter simulators.
That same year, CAE USA received a contract to upgrade P-8A Poseidon operational flight trainers, strengthening anti-submarine warfare and maritime patrol training with advanced simulation tailored to emerging threats in the Pacific and Atlantic regions.
More recently, in August 2025, the Navy awarded HII’s Mission Technologies a multiple-award contract valued at up to $267 million to supply training products and services, including learning management systems and related tools.
