Recent warnings from senior defence leaders have highlighted the importance of readiness and resilience in an increasingly uncertain security environment
While discussions often focus on equipment, platforms and capability, effective defence preparedness also depends on ensuring personnel have the skills to operate, maintain and understand increasingly sophisticated systems.
Against this backdrop, Didactic Services Ltd will use Farnborough International Airshow 2026 (FIA 2026) to highlight the role that hands-on technical training can play in developing the next generation of defence engineers, technicians and specialists.
“As defence organisations seek to strengthen readiness and capability, there is a growing need to ensure technical personnel can develop practical skills before working on operational systems,” says Babak Jahanbani, Managing Director, Didactic Services. “Hands-on training helps bridge the gap between theory and real-world application, particularly as technologies such as radar become increasingly sophisticated.
“Training is often an overlooked part of capability development, but equipment is only as effective as the people operating and maintaining it. Providing access to realistic learning environments is essential if organisations are to develop the technical skills needed for the future.”
Hands-On Training for Complex Defence Technologies
A central focus for the company at this year’s event is its Radar Training System, which has been designed to help training providers develop practical radar skills in a controlled classroom environment. Unlike simulation-only approaches, this system allows learners to interact with genuine radar hardware, providing a deeper understanding of how systems behave in practice.
The training package, manufactured by Festo, enables the study of core radar principles, including pulse radar, continuous wave Doppler, and frequency-modulated continuous wave (FM-CW) technologies. Through carefully designed experiments, trainees can detect and track targets, interpret signals, and explore the impact of noise and clutter, all within a safe, low-power environment suitable for classroom use.
This emphasis on real signal interaction is particularly important in defence training, where understanding system limitations and behaviour under varying conditions is critical. As defence organisations seek to enhance readiness and maintain increasingly complex technologies, the ability to train personnel using realistic equipment becomes an important component of workforce development and operational preparedness. By working with actual radar components such as transmitters, receivers, antennas, and signal processing modules, learners gain practical skills that are directly transferable to operational environments.
The system also incorporates modern digital processing capabilities, allowing trainees to engage with concepts such as signal analysis, data acquisition, and reconfigurable processing. This ensures that training remains relevant to current and future radar technologies.
The need for practical engineering skills extends beyond radar and electronics. Festo Hydraulic Training workstations are designed to teach the fundamental principles of fluid power, an essential area underpinning many defence and aerospace applications, from actuation systems to ground support equipment. The modular design of these workstations enables learners to build, test, and troubleshoot real circuits, developing both theoretical understanding and practical competence. This hands-on approach closely aligns with the needs of training providers seeking to improve learner engagement and retention.
Discuss the future of defence skills development at FIA 2026
FIA 2026 provides an ideal platform for Didactic Services to connect with military training organisations, technical colleges, and defence contractors. The company is particularly interested in engaging with training officers and programme managers responsible for developing the next generation of technical specialists.
As defence organisations respond to growing demands for readiness, resilience and capability, effective training remains a cornerstone of long-term success. Solutions that combine realism, safety, and adaptability, such as those offered by Didactic Services, play a vital role in ensuring personnel are prepared for the complexities of modern systems.
Visitors to the Didactic Services stand (4803) will have the opportunity to explore these training solutions in more detail and discuss how they can be integrated into existing or new training programmes.
For more information, visit www.didacticservices.co.uk
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