Babcock and Elbit Systems partner for ‘aggressor air’ programme

Babcock International Group and Elbit Systems Ltd announced today that they have entered into a partnering agreement to pursue the UK Ministry of Defence’s next generation of ‘aggressor air’ capability under the Air Support to Defence Operational Training (ASDOT) programme. The two companies will establish a joint venture in order to provide a successful and effective delivery to the customer.

Roger Hardy, Chief Executive of Babcock’s Aviation sector, said “With an ever dynamic threat environment and the introduction of new MOD capabilities, there is a clear need for a step-change in operational training capability. Our customers need industry partners who can adapt to a changing world by integrating technological advances which maximise synthetic training on live aircraft. Elbit Systems, with its leadership position in providing technologies that deliver representative training effects at reduced cost, is the perfect partner for us.”

Martin Fausset, CEO of Elbit Systems UK said: “ASDOT is a long-term service delivery project, requiring broad and well established aviation capabilities, delivery to multiple UK MOD users and the ability to manage the customer’s most sensitive information. Babcock is the leader in through-life engineering, support and training, trusted to deliver by its customers and together we will provide a step change from what is available in the operational training market today. This will enable the UK’s Armed Forces to train against representative live airborne threats with innovation and flexibility, responding to the changing environment and changing defence requirements.”

The two companies already work together in the operational training and assurance domain, successfully delivering advanced flight training capabilities on time and on budget as part of UKMFTS programme.

Babcock has been a trusted partner to military aviation for more than 100 years. From support to the Royal Air Force from World War I, through to the training, aircraft maintenance and airbase support provided to military aviators across Europe today, they have the longest track record and broadest expertise of any aviation support provider in the UK.

Elbit Systems builds on many years of extensive experience in managing aircraft fleets and training centres in many markets, developing and offering the highly advanced capabilities in aviation training and providing a range of training and simulation systems that enhance force readiness while reducing cost. Through its ground-breaking mission training centres, Elbit Systems orchestrates adversary air training while its equipment is at the heart of operational training for several Air Forces.