The RAAF just announced that BFTS will be relocated to RAAF Base East Sale, and that Lockheed Martin have taken over from BAE Systems.
The Minister for Defence, the Honourable Kevin Andrews MP is joined by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence, the Honourable Darren Chester MP and the Chief of Air Force, Air Marshal Leo Davies, AO, CSC at RAAF Base East Sale to announce that Lockheed Martin Australia has been selected by Defence as the preferred tenderer for the new Australian Defence Force Pilot Training System, subject to satisfactory contract negotiations.
As part of the AIR5428 Pilot Training System project, the PC-21 will replace Air Force’s current PC-9/A and CT-4B aircraft, and will be based at RAAF Base East Sale in Victoria and RAAF Base Pearce in Western Australia. Although the Pilatus PC-21 is a key element of the pilot training system, it is only one part of the pilot training system. The new system, with an advanced aircraft, state of the art simulation, and an electronic learning environment, will be able to train more people faster and to a higher standard.
The new system will ensure undergraduate pilots develop the necessary knowledge and skills prior to progressing onto advanced military aircraft such as the F-35A Joint Strike Fighter, Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter, and MRH-90 helicopter. The first two PC-21 aircraft will arrive in Australia in mid 2017.
Exciting news!