'Team 21' Will Deliver Aircraft, Simulators, And Long-Term Support

The Australian Defense Force (ADF) has signed a contract for the purchase of 49 PC-21 training aircraft. Under the new contract, “Team 21” – a partnership between Lockheed Martin, Hawker Pacific and Pilatus – will deliver aircraft, simulators, other training equipment and a comprehensive long-term support package.

The Australian Defense Force competitively tendered for a new Pilot Training System under “Project Air 5428”, from which the PC-21 emerged as the winner after a thorough evaluation and contract negotiations. This package will harmonise training across all three services with the PC-21 providing a modern, cost-effective Training System for basic and advanced pilot training.

The PC-21 training system is already operating in Australia. The PC-21 has been in service with the Republic of Singapore Air Force at RAAF Base Pearce in Western Australia since 2008 and is also operated by the Air Forces of Switzerland, the UAE, Saudi-Arabia and Qatar. With this latest order 180 aircraft have been sold and Australia is now the sixth country to revolutionize their pilot training with the PC-21.

The PC-21’s for Australia will be delivered commencing June 2017 and will form the backbone of future pilot training for the Australian Defense Force for the next 25 years.

(Image provided with Pilatus news release)

FMI: www.pilatus.com