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.