Babcock has won a new contract to provide pilot training services for the French Air and Space Force and the French Navy, further strengthening its role within France’s military flight-training framework.
The agreement covers both classroom-based instruction and practical flight training for student pilots, Weapons Systems Officers, and simulator instructor trainees.
Training will take place at two major French air bases, each responsible for a different phase of the pilot training pipeline.
At Salon-de-Provence Air Base in southern France, trainees will begin their initial flight instruction using Cirrus SR22 aircraft. These aircraft are employed for early-stage pilot development, focusing on foundational flying skills. The base serves as a primary entry point for military aviation training in France.
Subsequently, at Cognac Air Base in western France, trainees will advance to Grob 120 aircraft for more complex training before transitioning to front-line military platforms. Babcock already plays a role in supporting fighter-crew training operations at this site.
Recent Agreements
This latest contract continues Babcock’s established involvement in France’s pilot training system.
In the previous year, French authorities selected the company to supply a high-performance jet for training and evaluation roles. Under that agreement, an L-39 aircraft will be delivered to the EPNER test pilot school.
The aircraft will support instructional activities, flight assessments, and target-simulation missions for the French Defense Procurement Agency’s Flight Testing Directorate, which oversees military flight testing and certification.
Beyond adversary simulation, the jet will also be used for initial and recurrent training flights for test pilots and instructors, as well as practical training for maintenance crews engaged in flight-test operations.
