Babcock has secured a fresh contract to deliver pilot training services to the French Air and Space Force and Navy, consolidating its position within France’s military aviation training ecosystem.
The contract encompasses academic coursework and live flight instruction for trainee pilots, Weapons Systems Officers, and simulator instructor candidates.
Instruction will be conducted across two strategic air bases, each supporting distinct stages of pilot progression.
At Salon-de-Provence Air Base in southern France, cadets will undertake their foundational flight training on Cirrus SR22 aircraft, designed to build essential flying competencies during the early phases of military aviation education. The base serves as a key gateway for aspiring military aviators.
Training will then move to Cognac Air Base in western France, where students will operate Grob 120 aircraft for advanced preparation ahead of transitioning to operational combat aircraft. Babcock already contributes to fighter aircrew training activities at this location.
Continuing Partnership
The new agreement reinforces Babcock’s long-term engagement in France’s pilot training pipeline.
In a separate contract awarded last year, the French government tasked the company with providing a high-performance jet for training and evaluation missions. An L-39 aircraft will be supplied to the EPNER test pilot school under this arrangement.
The jet will support flight instruction, evaluation missions, and target simulation in cooperation with the French Defense Procurement Agency’s Flight Testing Directorate, the authority responsible for military aircraft testing and certification.
In addition to simulating adversary aircraft, the platform will be used for introductory and refresher flights for test pilots and instructors, as well as hands-on technical training for maintenance personnel involved in flight-test programs.
