Advancing UK Aerospace, Defence, Security & Space Solutions Worldwide
  • Home
  • /
  • Defence
  • /
  • Babcock to provide French air force training solutions

Defence

Babcock to provide French air force training solutions

Babcock France has been awarded a new 17-year contract for the provision and support of military air training solutions for the French Air and Space Force and French Navy.

Image courtesy Babcock
 
The €795 million contract, awarded by the Direction Générale de l'Armement (DGA) will see student pilots trained on 22 new PC-7 MkX Pilatus aircraft (above) and on 12 training simulators provided by Babcock France at the Salon-de-Provence Air Base before they specialise as either fighter or transport pilots.

Advertisement
ODU RT

 
In addition to the provision of aircraft and simulators, this contract will include through-life support of the aircraft, infrastructure and pilot equipment.
 
The contract will create more than 100 new roles in the Salon-de-Provence and Le Cannet-des-Maures regions including engineers, technicians, project managers and administrators who will help deliver nearly 11,000 flight and 6,500 simulator training hours to approximately 120 students per year.
 
Advertisement
Teledyne

Since 2018, Babcock France has been working alongside the French Air and Space Force to provide modern training systems on flight simulators and 26 existing PC-21 aircraft at Cognac-Châteaubernard Air Base.
 
Babcock’s Chief Executive Aviation & CEO France, Pierre Basquin, said: “The French Air and Space Force and French Navy play leading roles in national and international security. We are delighted to support our customer with their air-based training requirements, further enabling them to focus on delivering critical military aviation needs.
 
“This new long-term contract underpins our strong relationship with the French Air and Space Force and places us as its main capability support partner in fighter pilot training programmes.”

Advertisement
Cranfield University
MoD campaign highlights impact of public interruption to military training

Defence

MoD campaign highlights impact of public interruption to military training

18 July 2025

Soldiers sprinting through a salon, abseiling into gyms and crawling through offices feature in a striking new campaign by the Ministry of Defence (MoD), turning the tables on the issue of public interruptions to military training exercises.

UAS launched munitions set to combat air and ground targets

Defence

UAS launched munitions set to combat air and ground targets

18 July 2025

For the first time, BAE Systems has launched a precision munition from a multi-rotor Uncrewed Air System (UAS) and successfully destroyed both air and ground targets during trials in the US.

UK

Defence

UK's combat air flying demonstrator revealed

17 July 2025

Industry partners, BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce and MBDA UK, together with the Ministry of Defence (MoD), have revealed the design of the UK’s flagship Combat Air Flying Demonstrator, as the aircraft reaches a major milestone, with two thirds of its structural weight now in manufacturing.

Scottish defence dividend investment launched

Defence

Scottish defence dividend investment launched

16 July 2025

Scottish Secretary and Minister for Defence Procurement & Industry have visited HMNB Clyde to launch the multidecade, multibillion-pound Clyde 2070 programme.

Advertisement
Teledyne
Captec to showcase next-gen computing at DSEI

Defence Events

Captec to showcase next-gen computing at DSEI

16 July 2025

As the defence landscape continues to evolve at pace, with technological advances reshaping mission requirements and placing increasing demands on deployed computing systems, computing specialist Captec will be showcasing next-generation computing platforms at DSEI 2025 (9th–12th September 2025, Excel London).

SkyShark takes flight

Defence Security

SkyShark takes flight

16 July 2025

MGI Engineering, a company forged in the fast-paced world of Formula 1, has officially unveiled SkyShark, a next-generation military drone platform designed to transform battlefield operations with speed, precision and UK-built sovereignty.

Advertisement
ODU RT