Lockheed Martin has awarded CAE UK a contract worth more than C$24 million ($23.4 million) to design and manufacture two full-mission simulators to prepare students for operations with the UK Royal Air Force's future fleet of 28 BAE Systems Hawk 128 advanced jet trainers. Further options for maintenance and support services could double the project's value, says CAE.
One of the first deals to have been signed under the UK Ministry of Defence's recently contracted Military Flying Training System (MFTS) programme, the simulator agreement will provide equipment for use in a purpose-built training facility at RAF Valley in north Wales. The Lockheed Martin UK/VT joint venture Ascent in early June signed the MFTS training system partner deal, under which it will assist the MoD in running its aircrew training activities for the British Army, RAF and the UK Royal Navy.
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To be produced at CAE UK's Burgess Hill site in West Sussex and using CAE Medallion-6000 image generators, the two devices will be delivered to RAF Valley in mid-2010, when the Hawk 128 is also expected to achieve its in-service date. First deliveries of the new AJT type are scheduled to take place in August 2008, however.
"The UK's MFTS programme is a long-term PFI [private finance initiative] that will provide a number of simulation equipment opportunities over the next 25 years," says CAE UK managing director Nic Anderson.
Source: Flight International
