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Ascent is a joint venture of Lockheed Martin and VT Group, and is working with the Ministry of Defence to provide military flight training to the UK Armed Forces for the next 25 years. Through Lockheed Martin and VT Group, Ascent offers extensive experience in meeting the demands of customers and working with them to achieve the output they require.
The UK Military Flying Training System (UKMFTS) provides comprehensive training to all (new) UK military aircrew across the Royal Navy, the Royal Air Force and the Army Air Corps. The programme covers students in the period following aircrew selection up to the point when they are ready to fly in their operational aircraft.
Ascent’s selection as the UKMFTS Training System Partner follows a unique contractual approach using partnering to harness the collective skills of both industry and the MoD. Ascent will work with the MoD throughout the life of the programme, designing, delivering and managing ground and flying training across multiple locations in the UK.
Under the scheme, the MoD will maintain the training output requirements and standards whilst providing elements such as airfields, fuel and instructors. Ascent’s role is to design the overall system and deliver the training capability, simultaneously delivering Lockheed Martin’s proven Training Management Information System and procuring aircraft platforms and simulators.
VT Group plc is a leading defence and civil contractor and currently runs the Tucano logistics and maintenance programme and the Light Aircraft Flying Training programme for the RAF. In total VT already supports nearly a third of the UK’s existing military flying training. VT Group will utilise its position as one of the UK’s leading military training organisations to help deliver the UKMFTS.
Lockheed Martin is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. For the UKMFTS programme, Lockheed Martin will draw on the expertise of its Simulation, Training and Support (STS) business, whose UK-based team developed and support the UK’s Combined Arms Tactical Trainer, the world’s largest networked trainer. Lockheed Martin STS trains more than 20,000 aircrews globally, and was recently awarded a 20-year contract with the Republic of Singapore Air Force to provide flight training for their pilot candidates.
Together as Ascent
As Ascent, Lockheed Martin and VT will bring together the complementary skills and relevant experience necessary to deliver the highest level of training possible for the MoD.
Our core values at Ascent are Partnership, Flexibility, Commitment, Excellence and a Passion for People. These ideals guide our staff and define our business, aligning our people, our Company and our MoD partner in a common vision.
Ascent’s vision is to provide, deliver and acquire a complete flying training environment which will form the benchmark for tri-service aircrew military training systems, and will be achieved whilst reducing overall costs, introducing an integrated training system focused on the student and harmonising the elements of learning into a cohesive package. Over the life of the UKMFTS programme, Ascent will strive to provide a benchmark holistic system for the 21st Century that is cost-effective, flexible and adaptable.
During the Contract’s 25-year period of performance, it is anticipated that the following multiple training projects will be contracted under the Prime Contract/programme:
- Advanced Jet Training (AJT)
- Rear Crew Training (WSO, Observers, WSOps and Acmn)
- Basic Flying Training
- Multi- Engine Pilot Training (RAF & AAC)
- Elementary Flying Training
- Rotary Wing Training
The AJT is the first of the Training Service Enabler (TSE) packages under the UKMFTS programme. This Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) is established under Ascent Flight Training to issue and manage all of the subcontracts necessary to fulfill the AJT requirements to include two Full Mission Simulators (FMS), six Flight Training Devices (FTD), ten Desktop Trainers (DTT), four Mission Planning Systems (MPS), four Virtual Briefing Rooms (VBR), four Electronic Classrooms and the subsequent 25 years of maintenance/life cycle support for the training equipment. There are also subcontracts for the construction and maintenance of a flight hangar to house potentially twenty-eight Hawk 128 aircraft.
