Defence has entered into a contract with Hawker Pacific as prime contractor for the delivery of a substantially upgraded version of the Air Combat Officer Training System.
Minister for Defence Christopher Pyne said the new system will be another significant advancement in mission aircrew training.
“The next generation system comprises both ground training consoles and airborne mission aircrew training equipment and will enable the RAAF to train mission aircrew through to December 2024,” Minister Pyne said.
Hawker Pacific has in turn contracted with Australian SME Cirrus Real Time Processing Systems, who originally developed a prototype Air Combat Officer Training System and which has since been extensively upgraded through close collaboration between Cirrus and the RAAF’s instructors at No1 Flying Training School.
“The original system came into operational service with the RAAF in 2011 and has been used both within the B300 King Air training aircraft of No 32 Squadron and within ground based training facilities at No 1 Flying Training School,” Minister Pyne said.
Hawker Pacific maintains facilities in South-East Asia, Australia, NZ, and the Middle East, whilst Cirrus Real Time Processing Systems is active in the development, supply and support of sensor, simulation and communications systems.