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£635 million overhaul for Military Flying Training

MINISTRY OF DEFENCE News Release (102/2008) issued by The Government News Network on 2 June 2008

Navy, RAF and Army flying training will be completely transformed, thanks to a £635m PFI contract with Ascent, a joint venture of Lockheed Martin and VT Group; the first step in a 25 year programme.

Minister for Defence Equipment and Support, Baroness Taylor, said:

"The partnering contract with Ascent brings together MoD and industry skills to deliver a first class flying training capability. It will significantly improve training for Royal Navy, Royal Air Force and Army aircrew by bringing together the current range of fragmented training schemes into one modern and cohesive programme."

Ascent will work with MoD to deliver the UK Military Flight Training System (UKMFTS) designing, delivering and managing ground and flying training across multiple locations in the UK.

The UKMFTS programme will cater for the different training needs of the entire flying element of the UK front-line, ranging from fast-jet pilots and weapons systems operators, through helicopter and multi-engine pilots to all the rear crew personnel. It will encompass all flying training for students following selection up to the point they are ready to fly operational aircraft such as Typhoon, Chinook and C17.

UKMFTS will build on the Armed Services' proud heritage in flying training and delivering first-class training to produce high calibre Royal Navy, Royal Air Force and Army aircrew remains our priority. Flying training will remain focused on equipping our personnel to meet contemporary and future threats.

Working with Ascent we intend to reduce costs and improving overall training times for aircrew and reducing delays between flying courses.

The first step will deliver Fast Jet Pilot training at RAF Valley in Wales, using the HAWK 128 aircraft, and providing the training infrastructure, including classrooms, simulators and aircraft hangars.

Notes to Editors:
1. Appointment of the Ascent as the Training Service Provider (TSP) to work with MoD to incrementally procure and deliver this capability represents the initial step. It also includes the provision of the infrastructure namely the hangars, simulators and classrooms together with programme resourcing.

Ascent will deliver a range of training including:

Elementary Flying Training (EFT)
Basic Flying Training (BFT)
Fast Jet (FJ) Training
Rotary Wing (RW) Training
Multi-Engine (ME) Training
Rear Crew Training

2. The contract contains PFI elements, with Ascent owning and maintaining certain assets and providing training services, infrastructure and some personnel. MoD will maintain the training output requirements and standards whilst providing elements such as airfields, fuel and instructors.

3. The AJT is the first of the packages under the UKMFTS programme under which Ascent will deliver all of the necessary elements for Fast Jet training, including: Full Mission Simulators (FMS), Flight Training Devices (FTD), Desktop Trainers (DTT), Mission Planning Systems (MPS) and Virtual Briefing Rooms (VBR). They will also construct and maintain classrooms, squadron building and hangars to house the Hawk 128 aircraft.

4. The programme will help reinforce the UK's reputation for delivering unequalled flying training and ensure front-line forces will in future train on significantly more capable aircraft and facilities under a more effective and streamlined instruction package.