Lockheed Martin, Pilatus Aircraft team for AIR 5428
A new team is in the running for the Australian Defence Force’s AIR 5428 pilot training system (PTS) programme, with the announcement that Lockheed Martin and Pilatus Aircraft will team to compete for the contract.
The consortium, known as Team 21, will be supported by Hawker Pacific, and will draw on its experience in providing the Pilot Training Basic Wings Course to the Republic of Singapore Air Force. The team is in the seventh year of a 20 year performance-based contract for that programme.
Air 5428 will provide the Australian Air Force, Army and Navy with a new fixed wing PTS. The system will provide platforms for flight screening and cover all facets of undergraduate pilot training from basic flying up to entry into air force Lead-In Fighter and Operational Conversion Units.
Raydon Gates, chief executive, Lockheed Martin Australia, said: ‘Our team builds on an existing and highly successful relationship between Lockheed Martin and Pilatus Aircraft. 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 programme that can evolve with mission requirements.’
Markus Bucher, chief executive officer, Pilatus, added: ‘It became very clear after a thorough review of potential partners that the existing alignment of Lockheed Martin, Pilatus and Hawker Pacific would deliver the best overall customer outcome, not only for the Australian Defence Force, but also for on-going operational budgets and taxpayers, to deliver best value for money.’
In September BAE Systems announced that it will team with industry partners CAE and Beechcraft to develop a potential solution for the programme.
You may also like
More from Defence Notes
-
![Ukraine leads the way on battlefield use of directed energy weapons]()
Ukraine leads the way on battlefield use of directed energy weapons
Increased drone use in Ukraine and in Middle Eastern conflicts has created a strong impetus to develop laser and radio-frequency firepower as exploration of direct-energy technology intensifies.
-
![Saudi Arabia eyes large procurement spend as it boosts 2025 defence budget to $78 billion]()
Saudi Arabia eyes large procurement spend as it boosts 2025 defence budget to $78 billion
The new figure is an increase from US$75.8 billion in 2024 and showcases the country’s focus on its Saudi Vision 2030 to achieve a diversified and sustainable economy, reducing the Kingdom’s dependency on oil.
-
![Broad demand for land and technology equipment boosts defence companies’ financial results]()
Broad demand for land and technology equipment boosts defence companies’ financial results
Financial reporting season for the calendar year of 2024 has continued to show substantial growth for defence companies as countries across the world, particularly those in Europe, open the chequebook.
-
![EU commits to increased defence spending and boosting capability]()
EU commits to increased defence spending and boosting capability
There has been increased pressure from the second-term Trump administration in the US, as there was in the first term, for increased defence spending from non-US NATO countries, a move which is noted by Europe as already occurring.
-
![Can the Trump administration overcome the Pentagon's multiple capability integration issues?]()
Can the Trump administration overcome the Pentagon's multiple capability integration issues?
Better integration of systems and sensors across the branches will be critical to ensuring deterrence and readiness.
-
![Trump enters the White House promising into bring the US military to a “golden age”]()
Trump enters the White House promising into bring the US military to a “golden age”
The returning US president also reiterated a commitment to supply the services with “made-in-America” capabilities and to end conflicts worldwide.
