Draken acquires Cobham Aviation Services
 

On 25 September 2020, Cobham sold its entire Aviation Services UK business to Draken Intl, the largest provider of aggressor and adversary training in the US and now, also quite possibly, the UK.


https://www.investegate.co.uk/cobham...281634213423A/


https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....922c08057.jpeg

Well, Cobhams Teeside squadron have been very busy east of Newcastle these past few days, presumably working with the carrier group.

There were two busy over the North Sea yesterday and there also a group of Hawks also busy at the same time.

Colin

Looks like some exciting times ahead for Cobham. Draken could bring some of their fast jets across to service European/NATO requirements.

I wonder how this will affect the Rotary side of things with the Bell 212 at Middle Wallop, Brunei and the 412 on loan at Boscombe Down?.

And the Cobham Helicopter Academy at Newquay, which is quite a busy operations if the flight tracking sites are anything to go by.

The Falcons are around the south west coast nearly every day as well.

I can only imagine it’s good news.

I wonder if we are going to see a respray for the Cobham jets.

Also the potential might now be here to bring an agile platform into service as Red Air similar to what they’re doing in America.

There seems to be something wrong with this picture - reduce the F-35 buy (and lots of other frontline platforms such as tanks) and, If you are right (indirectly) buy none operational jets.

Hmmm - pilot licensing could be interesting....

I would have thought that an agile platform would be on the UK MAR and operated under the MAA's CFAOS, so no difference to the way in which HHA operate their Hunters. I can only assume that an application for this along with Mil CAMO, DAOS and MAOS Part 145 are in the works.

And I could imagine there could thus be some nervous twitching happening in a hangar at Scampton as a result of this....

Why would there be an issue with licensing? There are plenty of ex-mil jets being flown by civvies.

Draken getting a foothold in the UK could be a great way to get agile red air platforms into Europe to provide representative training for all air forces.

Between that and having to find a new home when Scampton closes. It will be very interesting to see where this now goes.

Doesn't their need to be requirements identified, contracts tendered, that sort of thing?

Aren't the artist formerly known as CAvS (UK) in receipt of a new contract that started this year?

Isn't that an extension of the existing one, so to continue to do the same things e.g. with the Falcon's. Wouldn't bring in Draken to act as Red Air, as has been suggested, move things to a different level?

My understanding is that it is an entirely new single source QDC. Whether it ties them to a specific platform vice training effects who actually knows?

Could HHA cabs become part of the Draken operation I wonder? Does the Hunter have a similar performance to an A4 for instance? Dammit, there's some kit over at Brunty that might be looking for a new home if they are really feeling flush! I know, I know .... :sad:

Yes. The contract is called MSASS and is entirely separate to the previous O2O contract. It’s my understanding that new fighters couldn’t be used as part of this new contract?