Air Power 2017

INDUSTRY PERSPECTIVE

WEBSITEdefense.txtav.com

Tom Hammoor
President, Textron Aviation Defense

WHAT SORT OF PARTNERSHIP
DOES TEXTRON AVIATION
DEFENSE ENJOY WITH THE RAF
AND AFFINITY?
Textron Aviation Defense has a long-
standing relationship with the United
Kingdom’s (UK’s) Ministry of Defence
(MOD) and Royal Air Force (RAF), and has
developed a strong partnership with
Affinity Flying Training Services – a joint
venture between Elbit Systems and KBR
(Kellogg, Brown and Root). The partnership
will deliver services in support of the UK
MOD’s Military Flying Training System
(UKMFTS) programme. As the RAF takes
delivery of the Textron T-6C Texan II in
2018, they will also receive a broad array
of engineering services, parts support
and maintenance training. In addition,
on-site Field Service Representatives
will equip maintenance personnel with
technical expertise. The UKMFTS contract
further solidifies the relationship between
the MOD, RAF and Textron Aviation
Defense, ensuring the next generation
of military pilots is trained on a proven,
reliable and highly capable solution

that better replicates the aircraft used

by the RAF’s front-line commands.

HOW IMPORTANT IS THE

UKMFTS CONTRACT TO

TEXTRON AVIATION DEFENSE?

The UKMFTS contract enables Textron

Aviation Defense to further its commitment

to the UK’s defence capabilities and world-

class military flight training. The T-6C Texan II

is an affordable, highly reliable military flight

trainer that replicates today’s high-tech

front-line aircraft with its integrated glass

cockpit, Head-Up Display (HUD), Up-

Front Control Panel (UFCP), three colour

Multi-Function Displays (MFD), Hands-On

Throttle and Stick (HOTAS), state-of-the-

art avionics suite and advanced synthetic

air-to-air and air-to-ground weapons. As

such, it delivers training capabilities ideally

suited for meeting the full spectrum of

requirements from basic introductory flight

training to advanced mission training.

The UKMFTS contract strengthens our

support for the regeneration of the UK

carrier strike capability and its cadre of

aircrew and maintainers as the F-35B

Lightning II works towards achieving

initial operational capability in 2018.

WHAT BENEFITS DOES THE

T-6C TEXAN II BRING TO THE

UKMFTS PROGRAMME?

The Textron Aviation Defense heritage

of producing exceptional aircraft at

extremely competitive prices, delivering

proven reliability and achieving

unparalleled support and readiness metrics

is acknowledged worldwide. Currently,

nearly 1,000 T-6 trainer aircraft are in

service providing more than three million

flight hours of initial training for all fixed-

wing pilots, navigators and weapons

systems operators in the US military and

for more than 20 nations around the globe.

Textron Aviation Defense’s ability to equip

the UK and other nations with this proven

and highly capable solution will ensure

the success of the UKMFTS programme as

it meets current and future RAF training

needs and ensures future international

security and integrated coalition operations

through its front-line commands.

HOW IMPORTANT IS THE

RECENT EASA CERTIFICATION

OF THE T-6C?

Achieving EASA certification for the T-6C

supports the progression of our contract

with UKMFTS and expands opportunities

to deliver a proven military training

platform to the European market. The T-6C’s

PARTNERS IN TRAINING THE

NEXT GENERATION OF PILOTS

highly capable training platform – further

enhanced by Textron Aviation Defense’s

exceptional product support – equips

our customers with a superior solution

for a wide range of mission needs.

HOW WILL TEXTRON AVIATION

DEFENSE NURTURE ITS

RELATIONSHIP WITH THE RAF

IN THE FUTURE?

As RAF training needs evolve in support

of its front-line commands and the

regeneration of the UK carrier strike

capability, Textron Aviation Defense

will deliver aircraft platforms and

capabilities that ensure optimum

affordability, readiness and reliability.

“Nearly 1,000 T-6

trainer aircraft

are in service”