Babcock buys PC-7 MkX, L-39 training aircraft
The Pilatus PC-7 MkX has been acquired to fulfil a 17-year training contract for the French Air and Space Force. (Pilatus)
Babcock International has acquired Pilatus PC-7 MkX turboprop and Aero Vodochody L-39 Albatros jet aircraft to boost its France-based training requirements.
The UK defence services company said on 10 January that it has bought 22 new PC-7 MkX to fulfil a new 17-year training contract for France. This announcement followed the news on 19 December 2024 that it had received 11 surplus L-39s to be used by its international fighter pilot training academy at Dijon in eastern France.
“The EUR795 million [USD813 million] contract, awarded by the Direction Générale de l'Armement (DGA) will see student pilots trained on 22 new PC-7 MkX Pilatus aircraft and on 12 training simulators provided by Babcock at the Salon-de-Provence Air Base, before they specialise as either fighter or transport pilots. In addition to the provision of aircraft and simulators, this contract will include the through-life support of the aircraft, infrastructure, and pilot equipment,” Babcock said of the PC-7 MkX buy.
The new PC-7 MkX aircraft will replace 26 existing PC-21 aircraft that Babcock has been using for French Air and Space Force training at Cognac-Chateaubernard Air Base since 2018.
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