PARIS — Aircraft company Dassault has teamed up with Babcock to create a joint venture to help train French Air Force fighter pilots on the PC-21 turboprop, with the latter holding the leading role.
"Babcock France and Dassault Aviation have signed a partnership which would initially materialize in the delivery of the French (Formation Modernisée et Entraînement Différencié des Equipages de Chasse) training contract with the creation of a joint company under the leadership of Babcock France," the two companies said Thursday in a joint statement.
An 11-year contract covers supply of new PC-21 training aircraft, computer-aided simulators and modernized training facilities at the Cognac Air Base, southwest France, the companies said. The Air Force will train the fighter crews.
"We are delighted that our French company will be working as a key support partner on this major French defense contract," said Archie Bethel, chief executive of Babcock International Group. "It is also a great satisfaction to engage a partnership with such a recognized aviation leader as Dassault."
Eric Trappier, Dassault chairman and chief executive, said: "With this program, we are very proud to keep on our enduring participation to the training of the French fighter pilots."
The French subsidiary of the British Babcock company was awarded on Dec. 30 a tender held by the Direction Générale de l’Armement arms procurement office for the supply of 17 PC-21 single-engine trainers for the Air Force under the FOMEDEC contract.
