South Korea’s Air Force has signed a partnership with QinetiQ to provide advanced training for its aviators at the Empire Test Pilots’ School (ETPS) in the UK. Established in the 1940s, ETPS is a Ministry of Defence institution specializing in training military test pilots and flight test crews for both fixed-wing and rotary-wing platforms. Operated by QinetiQ in Wiltshire, England, the school has trained more than 1,500 personnel from 32 countries.
Under the agreement, two pilots and two engineers from South Korea will participate in a six-month training program covering experimental flight testing, development trials, and systems evaluation. The course integrates classroom learning with practical exercises to build technical proficiency, strengthen analytical thinking, and enhance the ability to interpret and present test data.
According to QinetiQ, the program may also include training on new aircraft platforms and collaborative opportunities with UK forces, NATO members, and other international partners. The selected aviators will begin their initial training phase in South Korea before continuing their instruction in the UK.
