20 May 2016

Ascent joint venture awarded contract to train UK military rotary wing pilots

The UK’s Ministry of Defence (MOD) has awarded a contract to deliver the rotary wing element of the UK Military Flying Training System (UKMFTS) to Ascent Flight Training Ltd (Ascent). 

The contract includes the delivery of Airbus H135 and H145 training aircraft, and the installation of new infrastructure and ground-based equipment. Ascent will place sub-contracts with Airbus for aircraft and integrated support, and with Babcock and Lockheed Martin for ground based training, equipment, infrastructure, ICT assets and integrated support. The total revenue value of the rotary wing contract to Babcock will be around £0.4 billion.

Ascent, a 50/50 joint venture between Babcock and Lockheed Martin, is responsible for delivering the UK Military Flying Training System (UKMFTS) through to 2033, in partnership with the MOD.

Babcock’s Chief Executive Peter Rogers said:

“Today’s announcement secures the future of rotary wing flight training for the UK’s Armed Forces. It also marks the placement of contracts by the MOD worth a total of £2.8 billion to deliver all four core training elements of UKMFTS.”

Enquiries

Babcock International Group PLC     020 7355 5300

FTI Consulting     020 3727 1340

Ascent Flight Training Ltd     07590 600643