Military aircraft contract specialist Draken Europe has been awarded a six-year contract by the UK’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) to provide Agressor aircraft for training the Royal Air Force (RAF).
Bournemouth Airport based Draken will provide a squadron of L-159E Honey Badger aircraft that will simulate airborne threats as part of the Interim Red Air Aggressor Training Service (IRAATS) program. A role previously carried out using Hawk T1s.
Paul Armstrong, CEO at Draken Europe said: “Draken Europe has been trusted by the UK Government to deliver the world’s most technologically advanced operational readiness training to the RAF and the Royal Navy for many years. Our team takes very seriously the nationally significant role that they have training military personnel from the UK and its strategic allies, providing a range of multi-platform effects using next-generation technologies”,
The aircraft will operate out of Teesside International Airport (MME/EGNV) from July 2022.
Armstrong added: “We’re proud to be bringing an entirely new capability to the UK defence sector – especially so at a time when geo-political events have brought into sharp relief the need for our armed forces personnel to be trained effectively to defend themselves from attack.”
The last in-house aggressor aircraft used by the RAF was retired last month with the disbanding of 100 Squadron and the retirement of the Hawk T1.