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UK military flying training system approaches decade milestone with 110-aircraft fleet
The UK's Military Flying Training System employs 110 aircraft across multiple bases to train pilots, with contract setup continuing through 2033 and evolving plans underway for jet trainer replacements.
The gist
The UK operates a 110-aircraft military pilot training fleet, with plans to refresh jet trainers as the current Hawk T2 nears retirement.
The UK Military Flying Training System (MFTS) remains a cornerstone of tri-service pilot training nearly ten years after its establishment, operating a fleet of 110 aircraft across seven types to instruct new military aviators. Managed by Ascent Flight Training, the contract extends until 2033, underpinned by a mix of private finance and government ownership models. The program trains personnel for the Royal Air Force, Royal Navy, and British Army, utilizing fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft distributed across several RAF stations.
Affinity Flying Training Services, a joint venture of Elbit Systems UK and KBR, supplies key fixed-wing training assets including 23 Grob G120TP Prefect elementary trainers, 14 Beechcraft T-6C Texan IIs for basic training, and five Embraer Phenom 100 light jets serving the multi-engine phase. Since their entry between 2018 and 2019, these aircraft have accumulated over 100,000 flight hours, providing valuable pilot instruction. The Prefects operate mainly from RAF Cranwell with a detachment at RAF Barkston Heath, while the Texan IIs fly out of RAF Valley in Anglesey. The Phenoms remain concentrated at Cranwell.
The increasing throughput of pilot trainees has prompted discussions around expanding the Texan II fleet beyond the current 14 aircraft, which includes an initial batch of ten plus four acquired later. This expansion aims to accommodate increased flying demand as some training phases previously performed on the Hawk T2 jets shift to the turboprops due to the Hawk’s aging airframe. Affinity and Ascent leading figures have confirmed active negotiations with the Ministry of Defence to acquire approximately four additional Texan IIs, citing positive progress in securing funding and acquisition routes.
The Phenom 100 jets have proven highly reliable, flying more hours in recent periods despite some aircraft undergoing heavy maintenance, such as engine and landing gear overhauls scheduled after fixed flight hour intervals. These light jets meet the RAF’s demanding multi-engine training requirements, including formation and low-level flying, without significant military modifications aside from avionics upgrades housed in repurposed galley space. Their high dispatch reliability fosters efficiency in this advanced training stage.
Rotary-wing instruction has also celebrated a milestone, marking ten years of MFTS operations at RAF Shawbury, which primarily uses Airbus Helicopters H135 and H145 variants, known within the military as Jupiter and Juno. Ascent’s involvement extends to operator training for rear-crew and observers using Beechcraft King Air 350 Avengers supporting Royal Navy operations at RNAS Culdrose. This comprehensive approach integrates helicopter and fixed-wing training under a unified system enhancing cross-service pilot readiness.
The iconic Hawk T2 jet trainer fleet, consisting of 28 aircraft, represents the highest-performance segment of the current MFTS. These aircraft are operated from RAF Valley but were not procured under the private finance initiative that covers the rest of the MFTS equipment. As the Hawks approach the end of their operational life, the Ministry of Defence has initiated a competitive process for their replacement through the Jet Training System program. This effort aims to secure a new generation of jet trainers that will also supplant the aging Hawk T1s used by the RAF’s Red Arrows display team.
A financial commitment of £360 million was announced in the UK Defence Investment Plan for recapitalizing jet training assets through the end of the decade. Among potential contenders to supply the new jet trainers are a BAE Systems-led team promoting the T-7A Red Hawk, Korea Aerospace Industries’ T-50, Leonardo’s M-346, and the Turkish Hurjet. The winning platform is expected to be directly acquired by the MoD, which would then contract training services against defined hourly or sortie-based performance metrics.
Industry representatives stress the evolving nature of the MFTS beyond 2033, referring to a conceptual 'MFTS 2.0' that could incorporate more integrated and flexible training models. Discussions include varying acquisition approaches and service delivery frameworks to optimize training effectiveness while maintaining sovereign capabilities and UK industrial involvement. This reflects a step change in the scale and scope of military pilot training adaptation tied to wider defense modernization efforts.
Frequently asked questions
- What aircraft types are used in the UK’s current Military Flying Training System?
- The MFTS fleet includes Grob G120TP Prefects, Beechcraft T-6C Texan IIs, Embraer Phenom 100s, Airbus Helicopters H135 and H145, Beechcraft King Air 350 Avengers, and BAE Systems Hawk T2 jets.
- Why is there a plan to expand the Beechcraft T-6C Texan II fleet?
- The T-6C Texan II fleet expansion is being considered to meet increased pilot training demand as flying activities shift from the ageing Hawk T2 jets, requiring more capacity to train students efficiently.
- What replacement options are being considered for the RAF’s Hawk T2 trainers?
- Contenders for replacing the Hawk T2 include the BAE/Boeing/SAAB T-7A Red Hawk, Korea Aerospace Industries T-50, Leonardo M-346, and the Turkish Aerospace Hurjet, as part of the Jet Training System procurement.
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