Israel Using Beechcraft T-6 For Primary Training

Elbit Systems Ltd. announced Tuesday that it was awarded a contract by the Israeli Ministry of Defense for the operation and maintenance of the new Israeli Air Force's Beechcraft T-6 "Effroni" trainer. The contract amount which is not material to Elbit Systems, will be delivered over the course of five years, with an option for an additional five years.

The IAF's new T-6 replaces jet trainer Fouga Magister "Zukit" that has served the IAF's flight school for decades. With the procurement of the new trainer, the Israeli Air Force joins leading air forces in training new pilots using turbo-prop aircraft, considered safer for training purposes and more cost-effective than jet aircraft.

File Photo

Yoram Shmueli, Co-General Manager of Elbit Systems' Aerospace Division, said: "We are extremely proud of this selection, which is yet another link in the chain of IAF projects we have been managing and that consistently rank high in the IAF's quality and performance tests. We have witnessed a growing global trend toward privatization of training operation and management and we hope that our experience and reputation achieved in projects tailored for the IAF, will leverage our position in similar projects worldwide."

Elbit Systems has provided the IAF with maintenance services for its training aircraft and helicopters since 2002.

FMI: www.elbitsystems.com