Pilatus will dispatch two PC-21 turboprops to the UK in May for evaluation within the basic trainer portion of the Military Flying Training System (MFTS) competition.
Pilatus managing director of strategic products Kevin Smith says the Swiss manufacturer has been invited to a flight test by the UK Defence Procurement Agency, which last year assessed the Aermacchi M311 and Raytheon T-6B. All three manufacturers expect the UK to select a basic trainer by mid-2007 for delivery from 2009. BAE Systems has already won the advanced jet trainer (AJT) part of MFTS with its Hawk 128.
Raytheon’s T-6B was on display at the show along with the PC-21, M311 and Embraer EMB-314 Super Tucano.
Aermacchi says the M311 jet is only competing in the UK and Singapore. It expects the UK to require about 50-60 aircraft and Singapore about 20.
Raytheon vice president of government business Jim Smith says the T-6B is also competing in Israel and Turkey and he expects 300 basic trainers will be acquired worldwide over the next three to five years.
After Asian Aerospace, the Super Tucano flew to Thailand – where the air force wants to replace its Rockwell OV-10 fleet and the navy is looking for a new trainer – and will fly on to the United Arab Emirates, which is also evaluating the PC-21.
Source: Flight International
