Babcock Wins French Military Pilot Training Contract
Babcock secures French military pilot training contract to provide theoretical and flight instruction for student pilots, weapons systems officers, and simulator instructors, reinforcing its role in French military aviation training.
Contract Details And Scope
British defence and aerospace firm Babcock France has been awarded a new pilot training contract by the French Armed Forces Commissariat Service to support both the French Air and Space Force and the French Navy.
Under the agreement, Babcock will deliver classroom instruction and hands-on flight training for student pilots, weapons systems officers, and personnel training to instruct on simulators.
Training will take place using light aircraft at key French air bases. At Salon-de-Provence Air Base, Babcock will use Cirrus SR22 aircraft for early stage pilot instruction, while advanced training will build on experience with Grob 120 trainers at Cognac Air Base.
Pierre Basquin, Chief Executive aviation and CEO France at Babcock, said the award reflects the company’s established expertise in aviation training and expands its role within French military aviation support.
Context Within Broader French Training Modernization
This latest contract builds on Babcock’s long-term involvement in French military pilot education. Over the past year, Babcock France won a major 17-year Mentor 2 contract to modernize initial pilot training using 22 Pilatus PC-7 MKX aircraft and deliver advanced flight simulation systems at Salon-de-Provence.
Under Mentor 2, advanced simulators supplied by French firm Exail are part of the training pipeline, integrating mixed-reality technology to enhance realism and reduce training times.
France’s Direction Générale de l’Armement announced the Mentor 2 award in January 2025, aiming to centralize early pilot instruction and take advantage of modern aircraft and simulator technology.
Strategic Importance
The new Babcock training contract aligns with ongoing efforts by the French Armed Forces to update and expand their military aviation training systems. Reinforcing pilot and weapons systems officer education supports France’s broader readiness and interoperability goals within NATO and international missions.
By combining classroom work, light aircraft training, and advanced simulators, the contract reflects a comprehensive approach to developing military aviators able to operate modern platforms. Babcock’s role as a key training partner underscores the importance of industry expertise in sustaining long-term defense preparedness.
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