Thales-QinetiQ Select Scorpion for UK Training Bid
FARNBOROUGH, England — Thales and QinetiQ have signed an agreement granting them exclusive use of the Textron AirLand Scorpion jet for the UK’s upcoming Air Support to Defence Operational Training (ASDOT).
It’s a big step for the Scorpion jet, which has gone almost three years without securing a customer. If Thales and QinetiQ can win the competition, between 10 and 25 Scorpion jets would be required, according to Bill Anderson, Textron AirLand president. Under the memorandum of understanding signed Tuesday at the Farnborough International Airshow, QinetiQ will provide synthetic training, integration and air worthiness certification, as well as handle maintenance for the Scorpion fleet. Thales will help with simulation work and provide sensors, while Textron will provide the physical jets.
The exact requirements for ASDOT are unclear to the public, but it is part of a wider attempt by the British Ministry of Defence (MoD) to consolidate the number of training programs it has, while emphasizing synthetic training to keep costs and hours down on its fleets of aircraft. A key part of ASDOT seems to be aggressor, or “red air,” aircraft services. It also appears to have an electronic warfare training element involved. The contract is planned for a September 2018 award, with a service start date of Jan. 1, 2020. The companies anticipate the contract to be worth up to £1.2 billion (US $1.6 billion) over 15 years.............
