Thales and Rheinmetall Defence Electronics have received a €236 million ($303 million) contract to produce simulators for French and German army Eurocopter Tiger combat helicopters. Up to 75% of training hours on the Tiger will be performed in simulators, says Thales.
The nine full mission simulators and nine cockpit procedures trainers will be delivered over six years beginning in 2006, initially to the EFA Franco-German joint training centre in Le Luc, France and subsequently to operational bases in Fritzlar and Roth, Germany and Étain and Pau, France. There is an option for a further 11 devices.
The contract, awarded by joint procurement organisation OCCAR, follows an earlier deal to provide an initial four simulators to the EFA training centre.
In Canada, meanwhile, L-3 MAS has begun construction of a C$45 million ($37 million) training centre in Shearwater, Nova Scotia for the Sikorsky H-92 Cyclone maritime helicopter. The first of 28 H-92s for the Canadian Forces will fly in November 2007 and the training centre will open in April 2008, ahead of helicopter deliveries beginning in November that year.
Part of the Sikorsky-led team awarded the C$5 billion Maritime Helicopter Project last year, L-3 MAS is responsible for providing in-service support and training.
Source: Flight International
