Authored by Colonel (Ret.) Viktor Kevliuk, former Head of Division at the Joint Operative HQ of the Armed Forces of Ukraine; Major (Ret.) Marvin Ybanez, former Pilot and Head of the Air Force Capability Building Department in the Philippine Air Force; and Mark Kuzmenko, Consultant for the Defence, Demining and Dual-Use Practice at DataDriven - this paper explores one of the most pressing questions in modern military aviation: should UAV operators be trained as pilots, technicians, or warfighters? Drawing on real-world experience and international comparisons, the authors consider how nations are redefining training, standards, and operational readiness for the unmanned era.

As military aviation enters a new era of complexity and multi-domain integration, pilot training must evolve to meet the challenges of tomorrow. In this exclusive presentation, Air Vice-Marshal ‘Cab’ Townsend outlines the Royal Air Force’s forward-looking approach to preparing the next generation of pilots. Drawing on operational experience and the latest advances in training methodology, Townsend explores how emerging technologies, data-centric instruction, and international collaboration are reshaping how aircrew are developed — from the classroom to the cockpit.

The Military Flight Training conference unites air force leaders, government representatives, and industry experts to shape the next generation of aircrew capability. As a sponsor, you’ll gain direct access to decision-makers driving training transformation and technology adoption worldwide. Download the prospectus to explore tailored opportunities that elevate your brand and connect you with the global military flight training community.

Our 2026 Military Flight Training Interactive Market Report provides a clear, data-driven view of the global training landscape. It has been designed as a fully accessible and interactive resource, bringing together market analysis, capability developments, procurement priorities, and insights from senior military leaders to help organisations benchmark their programmes against international peers.

Take a look at our report today to better identify opportunities, anticipate challenges, and make informed, strategically aligned investment choices.

Air forces worldwide are grappling with pilot shortages, rapid technological evolution, and increasingly complex operational demands. The introduction of fifth-generation aircraft such as the F-35 is reshaping how nations approach pilot development. For Major General Christian Oppliger, recently appointed Commander of the Swiss Air Force, this transition represents both a technological leap and a complete rethink of how aircrews are trained, equipped, and retained.

In this interview ahead of Defence iQ’s Military Flight Training 2026 Conference, Major General Oppliger discusses the challenges and opportunities of integrating fifth-generation aircraft into Switzerland’s Air Force, balancing live and virtual training, and ensuring pilots are ready to meet the demands of future warfare.

Our Military Flight Training 2026 market report provides defence and industry professionals with a focused, data-driven overview of the fast-evolving global training landscape. Drawing on a combination of market analysis, capability assessments, procurement trends, and programme updates from key regions, the report highlights where investment is accelerating, which technologies are reshaping training pipelines, and how air forces are adapting to new operational demands.

By distilling the most relevant insights from selected high-priority markets, this report enables decision-makers, solution providers, and strategists to benchmark their plans, identify emerging opportunities, and understand the trajectory of pilot training transformation through 2030. It is a practical tool designed to support informed planning, competitive positioning, and long-term capability development in an increasingly contested and technologically complex environment.

Would you like to know who you could meet at Military Flight Training (31st March – 2nd April 2026 | Hotel & Conference Center Sempachersee, Switzerland)?

We’ve compiled an early snapshot of confirmed attendees, including representatives from BAE Systems, the Air Force, Leonardo, the Polish Air Force, the Royal Australian Air Force, the Swiss Air Force, and many more, from over 30 countries. This year, we are expecting more than 400 senior officers and practitioners to join us.

In preparation for the modernisation programmes set to culminate in 2035, the Canadian Airforce, more specifically the 2 Canadian Air Division, is endeavouring to best prepare its training for the arrival of the next generation of Aircraft. To delve into this topic, we were privileged to interview Commander Brigadier General John Alexander. Here, he covers:

• 2CAD modernisation efforts
• Success factors of the Canadian Military Flight Training
• Key differentiators of 2CAD versus other allies
  

Several nations have developed or are developing 4.5th, 5th, or even 6th-generation fighters and the next generation of military helicopters and transports. The shift in capabilities afforded by the new generation of aircraft, combined with other challenges, such as budget constraints and pilot retention, have dramatically affected the Military Flight Training sector. Perhaps most radically, near-peer competition has put additional strains on global air forces to ensure their pilots can face opposing forces with comparable capabilities. Taking notes of these trends and forecasting the markets will be essential for developing partnerships between industry and the forces, and with this in mind, we are offering this market report, which covers:

• The most important and valuable programmes globally
• Trends which each continent is following
• Spending forecasts in military flight training
  

In this bespoke piece, Colonel Timothy E. Beers covers the state-of-play of the Air Force Agency for Modeling and Simulation (AFAMS). As an agency that champions multi-domain training and readiness through modelling and simulation, they operate at the very cutting edge of M&S concepts and technologies by encouraging innovation to meet future operational needs. This interview covers:

• the immediate plans of the agency
• how to best engage with them at MFT
• a taster of what he will cover at MFT
  

Joachim Hofbauer gives a first-hand interview on the NATO Flight Training Europe (NFTE). The multinational initiative essentially brings a new way to train aircrews. Described as the “New Kid On the Block”, the initiative has the potential to revolutionise training through the creation of a “google flights” like capability for managing multinational aircrew training from its inception to its end. The piece delves into to the current state-of-play, opportunities, and challenges relating to the programme.