More student pilots will be able to train for the UK armed forces than ever before, after a £175M contract uplift was signed, providing further capacity in training, including new aircraft and infrastructure upgrades.

This is a significant milestone for the UK Military Flying Training System (UKMFTS), which provides flying training to the military pilots of the future. Upon graduation, these pilots will be qualified to operate the UK’s most advanced combat aircraft such as the F-35 Lightning and Typhoon.

This latest contract was awarded by Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S), to Ascent Flight Training which currently delivers the service provision for UKMFTS. The contract includes delivery of four new Texan T6 aircraft, which arrived at RAF Valley in November 2020, a new static flight simulator, nine Texan mission planning systems, and additional infrastructure facilities at RAF Valley including briefing rooms, classroom extensions and rooms for the new IT equipment.

The UKMFTS Basic Flying Training (BFT) course, through this upgrade, will increase capacity in the training system, enabling a greater throughput of students from a maximum of 36 per year to 53 per year, from 2024 onwards.

RAF Valley in Anglesey, North Wales will benefit from this investment as new long-term jobs will be created, including an additional 11 flying instructors and 9 engineering roles.

Commodore Mark Langrill, UKMFTS Head at DE&S, said:

“This contract award is a major achievement by the UKMFTS Delivery Team, in collaboration with our industry colleagues. This second significant uplift to the training system follows on from the Rotary Wing training amendment awarded in December 2019. The additional Fixed Wing capacity provided will enable Fast Jet pilots of the future to train in a ‘state of the art’ facility with modern aircraft and synthetic training devices before proceeding to the Hawk Advanced Jet Training pipeline.”

Affinity Flight Training, Babcock International and Lockheed Martin, the supply chain which support the delivery of flying training for the MOD, will benefit from the new contract.

Babcock will undertake the additional infrastructure works, Lockheed Martin will provide the additional simulator capacity, and Affinity will provide and maintain the additional 4 Texan aircraft in line with the existing fleet.

Air Commodore Andy Martin, Air Capability Senior Responsible Owner for UKMFTS, said:

“I am delighted that the UK armed forces are set to benefit from a greater throughput of student pilots through UKMFTS, thanks to this important new contract. We are continuing to invest in UKMFTS, not just by increasing capacity, but also by providing our students with world-leading training aircraft and innovative learning equipment. This investment will create a high-class calibre of pilot who will have the skills and knowledge needed to serve our armed forces for years to come.”