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Britain to upgrade military pilot training with $400 million package

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Pictured here: RIVET JOINT Landing at RAF Waddington FIRST BRITISH RIVET JOINT AIRCRAFT DELIVERED TO THE UK The first three RIVET JOINT signals intelligence aircraft has been delivered to the UK ahead of its entry into service with the RAF next year. The aircraft will form part of project AIRSEEKER, which will provide the UK with a world class capability able to provide real time on scene intelligence, surveillance and analysis to forces in the air and on the ground. The Boeing RC-135V/W RIVET JOINT system has a proven track record, having been used by the United Stated Air Force for many years. Since 2011, the RAF’s 51 Squadron have been training and operating alongside their USAF colleagues in preparation for the UK aircraft entering service in late 2014. UK crews have already achieved in excess of 32,000 flying hours and 1800 sorties as part of the US 55th Reconnaissance Wing. For further information contact Royal Air Force Waddington’s Media and Communications Officer (MCO): RAF Waddington MCO Waddington Lincolnshire LN5 9NB Tel 01522 726804 Email: WAD-Station-Enquiries@mod.uk

MILAN — Plagued by retention challenges, the United Kingdom has committed fresh funds to increasing the number of trainees within the Royal Air Force and Navy who can train in new facilities and with novel capabilities.

The scale-up will be enabled by the allocation of a £300 million ($401 million) contract by DE&S, the procurement arm of the Ministry of Defense, to U.K.-based company Ascent Flight Training.

Such an investment will result in a four-fold increase in mission aircrew trainees to 140 per year and equip them with the skills to operate a wide range of aircraft, according to an MoD statement.

The recruits will be taught in new buildings at the Royal Naval Air Station in Culdrose and the Royal Air Force Station near Cranwell using new technology geared towards reducing flight hours and carbon footprint.

The equipment will be delivered by a mix of U.S. and British providers, including Lockheed Martin which will supply state-of-the-art mission simulated environments. Draken International will support the upgraded fleet of Textron King Air 350E Avenger aircraft and the London-based Babcock International Group will build two of the new training complexes.

Such a contract is part of the Future ISTAR and Rear Crew Training System, or FIRCTS, a program implemented by the UK MoD to modernize current training systems for mission aircrew and enhance training capability.

“Once training is complete, mission aircrew will be qualified to operate the latest applicable innovations on platforms such as Merlin Mk2 and Wildcat helicopters, Poseidon MRA1 aircraft, Rivet Join and remotely piloted systems such as the Protector RG Mk1,” the DE&S release said.

The first trainees are expected to be able to use the new training system beginning in 2027.

While the British Armed Forces have been experiencing recruitment challenges for some time, officials have said that some branches are now doing better than others at retaining numbers.

Last month, a report from the UK Defence Journal noted that the Chief of Defence Staff Adm. Sir Tony Radakin informed Members of Parliament that the military was declining at a monthly rate “of about 200 to 300,” but that the Navy has “stabilized” and the Air Force remains “reasonably stable.”

About 

Elisabeth Gosselin-Malo was a Europe correspondent for Defense News. She covers a wide range of topics related to military procurement and international security, and specializes in reporting on the aviation sector. She is based in Milan, Italy.