UK feels Affinity with new fixed-wing trainers fleet

摘要

The UK Ministry of Defence is to replace the bulk of its current fixed-wing training aircraft with three new types, following the selection of a Military Flying Training System (MFTS) programme bid by KBR/Elbit Systems joint venture Affinity. Confirming Affinity as preferred bidder for the requirement on 24 October, the MoD's training system partner for MFTS, Ascent Flight Training, says: "This is a key milestone along the route to a major investment decision." New fleets of Grob Aircraft G120TP, Beechcraft T-6C and Embraer Phenom 100 aircraft are due to be introduced, to respectively deliver elementary, basic and multi-engine training for the Royal Air Force and Royal Navy. An undisclosed number of each type will replace in-service Grob G115 Tutors, Shorts Tucano T1s and leased Beechcraft King Air 200s under the arrangement, which is expected to run through to 2033. Flightglobal's MiliCAS database records a respective 119, 38 and eight of these as being in current active duty, with the G115s provided by Babcock.