BAE Systems Australia has offered some details on its Project AIR 5428 Pilot training System bid, tenders for which closed on March 31.
The company has teamed with CAE Australia and Beechcraft to offer a solution based around the Beech T-6C aircraft.
“We’ve drawn on decades of global military flight training experience to develop a solution focused solely on producing the very best military aviators at a location of the ADF’s choosing,” BAE Systems Australia general manager aviation solutions, John Quaife said in a statement. “Supported by the world’s most proven, cost-effective primary aviation training aircraft in the T-6C, our integrated pilot training system balances the latest training technology with basic competencies. It provides the flexibility to address learning shortfalls and will better prepare graduates for Lead-In Fighter training than ever before.”
“The T-6C has amassed more than two million flying hours, which means ADF training will not be compromised by emergent airworthiness issues,” Mr Quaife said, adding that the BAE-led team brought together a combined track record in military flight training, project management and mission systems sustainment. “We are a strong, complementary team that understands the Australian environment and training requirements of the ADF.”
The BAE-led teaming is up against the ‘Team 21’ bid from Lockheed Martin, Pilatus and Hawker Pacific which is offering the Pilatus PC-21 in a proposal based on the Republic of Singapore Air Force’s Basic Wings Course at RAAF Pearce.
