The Australian Defense Force (ADF) has signed a contract to purchase 49 PC-21s for the training role. Under the new contract, “Team 21”, a partnership between Lockheed Martin, Hawker Pacific and Pilatus, will deliver aircraft, simulators, and other pilot training equipment and a long-term package.
The Australian Defense Force has launched a tender for a new Pilot Training System, called “Air Project 5428”, of which the PC-21 was the winner after in-depth evaluation and negotiations. all three necessary services, which includes a modern low-cost training system for basic and advanced pilot training.
“We are delighted that after 28 years of the Pilatus PC-9, Australia has chosen to endorse our reputation for delivering a training system with this new contract. I am equally happy that “Team 21″ won the business against all international competitors and that, in the final round, the Australian Defense Force chose the Pilatus PC-21 over all other aircraft,” said Oscar J. Schwenk, President of Pilate.
The first PC-21s for Australia will be delivered in early June 2017, and will be the mainstay of pilot training for the next 25 years in the Australian Defense Force. Australia is now the sixth country to contain orders for the military use of the PC-21.
