Update: QinetiQ expands air training ambitions with largest Bundeswehr contract win

UK defence contractor QinetiQ has been awarded a EUR284 million (USD311 million) contract for aerial training services (ATS) for the air force, army, navy, and special forces of the German armed forces (Bundeswehr).

The 10-year contract, with an option to extend to 12 years, is the largest and longest won by QinetiQ's adversarial scenarios training arm, which it calls Threat Representation.

The ATS contract, for slower training aircraft, includes joint terminal attack controller (JTAC) exercises, ‘Red Air' adversary scenarios, close air support (CAS), maritime air operations, ground control intercept training, air traffic control training, and target towing for ground-based air defence (GBAD) systems.

QinetiQ Group's CEO Steve Wadey said the company would deliver “thousands of flight hours of training per year” for the Bundeswehr.

To help deliver the training, QinetiQ will use its fleet of 11 Pilatus PC-9 turboprop training aircraft and four Pilatus PC-12 turboprop utility aircraft.

Target towing

Graham Ollis, managing director of Threat Representation at QinetiQ, told Janes that the PC-9s will be used for short-range GBAD training, using infantry small-arms and vehicle-mounted anti-aircraft systems.

Germany's Bundestag Defence Committee announced in February 2024 that it will replace its Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft guns (SPAAGs), all of which it gave to Ukraine, but a system is yet to be fielded amid criticism of the slow pace of adoption. On 27 February 2024 the Bundeswehr ordered 18 Skyranger 30 air-defence systems mounted on Boxer armoured vehicles, with an option for 30 more. Producer Rheinmetall said the first prototype will be delivered at the end of 2024.