Canada's Discovery Air Defence Services reports it has helped provide aggressor and dissimilar combat training to the German Air Force.

The training in Germany involved the flying of two company A-4N Skyhawks in the first-ever German Air Force Eurofighter Fighter Weapons Instructor Course.

"These missions mark an important achievement in our German program," said Rolf Brandt, senior program manager – German Operations, DA Defence. "The Luftwaffe has placed their trust in Discovery Air Defence to deliver professionally operated, highly-representative adversaries to train Germany's elite Eurofighter pilots in advanced fighter weapons skills and tactics."

"We are really pleased to be a key contributor to the success of the new Luftwaffe Eurofighter fighter weapons training program," added Daniel Gibeau, chief operating officer, DA Defence. "Our modernized Skyhawks flown by highly-seasoned pilots continue to provide positive training outcomes for the German military."

DA Defence said it began providing airborne training services for the German military last year, delivering air combat training and combat support for the German military at home and on deployment.

DA Defence is a global provider of specialty aviation services. Together with its U.S. subsidiary Top Aces, it claims have the world's largest privately-held, operating fleet of combat aircraft for training purposes.

HAL, Saab to continue talks on upgrading Tejas fighters
New Delhi (UPI) Apr 15, 2016 - A Saab team is reportedly traveling to India next week to continue talks with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited for the upgrade of locally produced Tejas fighters.

Tejas is a light combat multi-role jet fighter being manufactured by HAL and will replace the country's MiG aircraft. The fourth of 120 Tejas planes on order is scheduled to be delivered to the Indian Air Force in June, according to a report by the Press Trust of India.

"India needs about 300 aircraft of the Light Combat Aircraft type," the news agency quoted a defense source. "Saab's Gripen is a good fighter jet and hence exploratory talks are on to see if they can be a technical collaborator for the upgraded Tejas."

The Indian Defense Ministry has set 2018 as a deadline for making the first upgraded Tejas.

The upgrading of Tejas fighters would involve more than 40 modifications. Among them would be the addition of Active Electrically Scanned Array Radar and a Unified Electronic Warfare Suite. The upgraded aircraft would also feature midair refueling capability and the use of long-range missiles.