VT/Lockheed consortium wins MoD training programme worth up to £6bn
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The rapidly diversifying VT Group has announced the strengthening of its position as one of the UK’s leading military training organisations following the announcement that its Ascent 50-50 Joint Venture with Lockheed Martin has signed a contract for the UK Military Flying Training System (UKMFTS).
The 25-year programme will make Ascent the Ministry of Defence’s Training System Partner (TSP) to provide comprehensive training to all UK military air crew for the Royal Navy, Royal Air Force and Army Air Corps. This will range from fast jet pilots and weapons systems operators to rotary and multi-engine pilots and all rear crew disciplines.
The total programme value is estimated to be worth up to £6 billion over the 25 years with initial contract value around £600 million to Ascent. Additional capabilities will be added incrementally over the life of the programme.
Ascent will start by carrying out a training needs analysis and providing a Ground Based Training Environment (GBTE) for the Hawk 128 Advanced Jet Trainer (pictured) at RAF Valley. This will include sub contracting VT Support Services to project manage the construction of new facilities, while VT Communications will also provide related ICT infrastructure.
VT Group Chief Executive Paul Lester commented: “UKMFTS is a major programme for VT and extremely important for UK military air crew. It also consolidates our position as one of the MoD’s leading partners in defence support services.”
The defence and support services company, once known primarily for shipbuilding, now derives more than 80 per cent of its revenues from non-manufacturing activities.
