Aircraft To Be Proposed For The U.K. MoD Air Support To Defense Operational Training Program

QinetiQ, Thales and Textron AirLand have announced a collaboration that will bid for the UK Ministry of Defense’s upcoming Air Support to Defense Operational Training (ASDOT) program.

The three companies’ CEOs met at Farnborough International Airshow today to announce the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) setting the foundation for the bid.

The operational training activities that will comprise the ASDOT program are currently fulfilled by a number of providers, both military and civilian. This team will propose an innovative, cost effective, technologically advanced reliable managed service using the Textron AirLand Scorpion jet equipped with Thales and QinetiQ sensors to provide a broad spectrum of training for all three armed services. The competitive contract, expected to be awarded in September 2018 with a service delivery start in Jan 2020, is anticipated to be worth up to £1.2 billion (approx $1.6 billion) over 15 years.

QinetiQ will offer the safe operation of a highly capable and flexible mixed fleet of Scorpion and other platforms – including maintenance and provision of pilots. Its proposal will include integration of sensors and jamming pods into the aerial fleet and certification of the aircraft to ensure compliance with military air worthiness regulations. The solution will include provision for the introduction of synthetic operational training and airborne aerial target capabilities.

“Our test and evaluation pedigree makes us ideally placed to introduce the highly capable Scorpion for use in the ASDOT program." said Steve Wadey, QinetiQ CEO. "Our people are experts in cost effective aircraft operation, providing significant savings to the MOD while offering the highest standard of support to UK defence operational training. Collaborative working of this nature is vital within the aerospace and defence industries, and I believe this partnership puts us all in a strong position to succeed.”

“Through this unique partnership with QinetiQ and Textron and the complementary expertise within our respective fields, we have the opportunity to offer all three armed services the most effective, cutting edge technology coupled with world leading training and services expertise," said Victor Chavez, Thales UK CEO. "The UK Ministry of Defense will be able to benefit from the collaboration of technologies and knowledge to deliver important long-term Air Operational Training services.”

Textron AirLand will offer its Scorpion jet, selected by QinetiQ and Thales after a comprehensive analysis of over 50 aircraft. This selection was based on the aircraft’s multi-mission capability, combined with unparalleled acquisition and operating costs and a dispatch reliability rating exceeding 98 percent.

“The Scorpion jet provides the multi-role capability and performance necessary to perform the ASDOT program missions at a fraction of the acquisition and operating costs compared to any other aircraft in its class." said Scott Donnelly, Textron’s Chairman and CEO. "Textron is confident this team will provide the platform and support necessary to carry out vital military training missions. We look forward to strengthening our relationship with these industry-leading companies as we compete for the ASDOT program."

(Top image provided with Textron news release. [L-R] Steve Wadey, CEO QinetiQ; Scott Donnelly, Chairman and CEO, Textron; Victor Chavez, CEO Thales UK; and Sir Steven Dalton, Senior Air Advisor to Textron AirLand. Airplane pictured in file photos)

FMI: www.Textron.com