Bristol-based light jet company AERALIS has announced a memorandum of understanding with Babcock France to explore the operation of flexible aircraft ‘as a service’ enabled by the design of AERALIS’s unique modular aircraft system.
The agreement seeks to outline the value of a transformational delivery operating model for making different AERALIS aircraft configurations available to air forces as a service, including how this could support future flexible and affordable combat air support and training constructs ready for 5th and 6th generation Combat Air.
AERALIS and Babcock will look to develop flexible solutions compatible with a number of current and future operational requirements, including using Babcock’s existing pedigree in both the UK and France to offer a clear response in support of March’s UK France Joint Leaders’ Declaration concerning Anglo-French interoperability of future air systems.
Babcock France is currently under contract with the French MOD to deliver both Advanced and Lead-in training assets, including aircraft and simulation. In this field, Babcock partners with Dassault Aviation in France to provide a complete system to the French Air Force delivering world-class training to upcoming jet pilots and weapons systems officers. Babcock is also a lead partner in Ascent flight training, delivering flying training to pilots and air crew to the three services of the UK armed forces.
The list of AERALIS partners has continued to grow and this comes after an agreement was signed with France-based RED Air provider STDS in April this year complementing AERALIS’s existing agreements with both AirTanker and Ascent flight training, further strengthening AERALIS’ market position in Europe.
Babcock Chief Executive Aviation and France Chief Executive Officer, Pierre Basquin said:
“Innovation is key for Babcock, due to the nature of the critical and challenging operations we are delivering to our customers. Working with Aeralis, an agile partner with a strong vision for “out of the box” solutions, will help us to find the best platform for the future military flight training opportunities we have in Aviation”.
AERALIS’s founder & CEO Tristan Crawford commented:
“AERALIS is delighted to have signed this Memorandum of Understanding with Babcock to explore a highly innovative aircraft service offering in the light fast jet aviation sector. Babcock is set to become an important partner as part of developing AERALIS’s exciting service offering across multiple opportunities in the defence aviation market.”
Shame we aren’t buying any at the moment
There’s nothing to buy as it stands – this is still very much at the design stage. We’re a good few years from a flying demonstrator/prototype.
So France has privatised areas of its flight training too….interesting.
There is this article on french training.
https://www.key.aero/article/what-it-takes-fly-rafale-french-air-and-space-force#:~:text=Pilots%20first%20pass%20a%20familiarisation,also%20ground%2Dattack%20training%20missions.
Another article on babcock looks like they can provide 40% of the training.