DE&S, the procurement arm of the MOD, has awarded a £300 million contract to Ascent Flight Training to significantly improve flying training for RAF and Royal Navy trainees, while investing in local communities.  

The massive scaling of this service will result in a four-fold increase in critically important Mission Aircrew trainees to 140 per year, preparing them for the demands of modern worldwide operating environments and equipping them with the skills to operate a large variety of aircraft.  

Rear crew personnel at Royal Naval Air Station (RNAS) Culdrose and Royal Air Force (RAF) Cranwell will be trained in new buildings, using advanced technology and in a safe, cost-effective manner that reduces both flying hours and carbon footprint.  

Around 68 highly skilled workers will also be hired or retained for the duration of the eight-year contract up to 2033 and £180 million spent in the British supply chain with investments in Cornwall, Lincolnshire and Bristol. 

Using new state-of-the-art realistic synthetic and mission simulated environments, new training facilities and equipment, the contract for the Future ISTAR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance) and Rear Crew Training System (FIRCTS) programme will be delivered by Ascent and key suppliers.   

FIRCTS will recapitalise the Culdrose and Cranwell sites with the build and management of two new state-of-the-art training facilities by Babcock International Group. The synthetic and mission simulated environments provided by Lockheed Martin will enable a greater download of live flying and Draken will provide support for the fleet of upgraded Textron King Air 350E Avenger aircraft. Courseware development will take place at Ascent Flight Training in Bristol.  

Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry, Rt Hon Maria Eagle MP said: 

 “This significant investment represents important progress in preparing our Royal Navy and Royal Air Force personnel for the challenges of modern warfare.   

“Not only will this state-of-the-art training ensure our Armed Forces remain at the forefront of military readiness, but it also delivers on our Plan for Change by creating high-quality jobs and strengthening local economies.” 

Transitioning from Rear Crew training (RCS1), the new technology reflects a considerable investment in infrastructure as part of the UK Military Flying Training System (UKMFTS) which is overseen by DE&S. It will deliver the latest advances to trainee aircrew, to meet the growing ISTAR and Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) demands of the military front line.  

The FIRCTS programme reflects a training transformation within the UKMFTS and has been enabled by collaboration between Frontline Commands, DE&S and industry. DE&S has worked hard with industry and military partners to bring next-generation training for aircrew to life, providing enhanced capabilities that strengthen national security and growth.  

Captain Polly Hatchard, UKMFTS Team Leader within DE&S, said:  

“This new flight training contract is a significant step forward for the UK’s Defence capabilities, ensuring that armed forces personnel have access to world-class training resources. The contract reinforces our commitment to providing the highest level of readiness and operational effectiveness whilst creating new jobs across the UK and investing in regional economies.”

FIRCTS is a capability which will ensure the United Kingdom is at the forefront of providing worldclass air power operational capability. Today’s air systems require aircrew who can exploit the electro-magnetic spectrum and assist in decision-making as we seek to outpace adversaries in complex battlespace.  

The RAF Directorate of Flying Training has worked closely with the other stakeholders from the UKMFTS Enterprise to help set the requirements for the FIRCTS programme.  

Air Commodore Rob Caine, RAF Head of Flying Training, said:   

“The introduction of the Future ISTAR and Rear Crew Training System will ensure that we can safely deliver world-class personnel to the front-line to operate in vital roles on our latest aircraft platforms including Poseidon, Rivet Joint and Wedgetail. The investment in the latest training technology and infrastructure at RNAS Culdrose and RAF Cranwell will help us to prepare aircrew to be ready to Fly, Fight and Win in an uncertain world.”  

Once training is complete, Mission Aircrew will be qualified to operate the latest applicable innovations on platforms such as Merlin Mk2 and Wildcat helicopters, RAF Poseidon MRA1 aircraft, Rivet Joint, and remotely piloted air systems such as the Protector RG Mk1.  

Ascent MD, Tim James said: 

“We are so proud to once again be trusted by our UK MOD customers to deliver this innovative training solution across our operations sites in Cornwall and Lincolnshire, directly benefiting our local communities and delivering a critical capability for the UK Armed Forces.”

Ascent continues to build on previous UK MOD contracts. To date, Ascent’s investments in Rear Crew Training in Cornwall have totalled £217m, with an additional £420m invested in Elementary Flying Training and Multi-Engine Pilot Training in Lincolnshire.  

The first trainees will be able to use the new training system in 2027.