Lockheed Martin Australia, Pilatus and Hawker Pacific have announced an exclusive teaming arrangement to bid for the ADF’s AIR 5428 Pilot Training System tender requirement.
The teaming will be lead by Lockheed Martin and will be marketed under the ‘Team 21’ name. Pilatus will provide its PC-21 aircraft and ground-based training systems, while Hawker Pacific would provide maintenance and logistics support. The arrangement builds on the three companies’s successful operation of the Republic of Singapore Air Force’s Basic Wings Program, centred around the PC-21, which operates from RAAF Base Pearce north of Perth.
“Our team builds on an existing and highly successful relationship between Lockheed Martin and Pilatus Aircraft,” said Lockheed Martin Australia chief executive Raydon Gates. “We have a proven track record of providing a flexible, low-risk solution using the PC-21 aircraft and will leverage this experience to offer a training program that can evolve with mission requirements.”
The Team 21 teaming is the second publicly announced teaming arrangement for AIR 5428, after BAE Systems, Beechcraft and CAE announced their intention to bid for the program last month.
Tenders for AIR 5428 are due to be lodged in mid-February 2014.
