Thales to Support RAAF Wedgetail Training

(February 2, 2010) -- Thales Australia has signed a five-year agreement with Boeing Defence Australia to provide through life maintenance and engineering support for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) Operational Flight Trainer (OFT).

Developed by Thales in Australia and the UK, the Wedgetail OFT combines a range of state-of-the-art technologies to provide flight performance, air-to-air refuelling, flight deck and pilot tactical training capabilities.


Located at RAAF Base Williamtown, New South Wales, the OFT is a key component of the RAAF's Wedgetail AEW&C pilot training program, which will commence in early 2010.

Managed by Boeing Defence Australia, the Thales-designed and built, motion-based OFT provides realistic and high-quality simulated flight crew operations, and will be the sole Wedgetail pilot training device for the RAAF.

Chris Jenkins, Managing Director of Thales Australia, said: "Thales is pleased to be involved in the Wedgetail program for the RAAF, and the contract with Boeing Defence Australia will ensure Thales's AEW&C support continues on from delivering the OFT in 2006 to securing simulator availability during critical RAAF pilot training periods. This contract strengthens Thales Australia's longstanding partnership and close working relationship with Boeing Defence Australia and the RAAF.",/p>

For John Duddy, Boeing Defence Australia Vice President and Managing Director, the RAAF Wedgetail AEW&C pilot training program will benefit from Thales's through-life support.

"As Thales is the original equipment manufacturer of the Wedgetail OFT, Boeing Defence Australia is confident Thales's in-depth simulator knowledge and maintenance experience will benefit the RAAF and its pilots, and further strengthen the close working relationship between Boeing and Thales," Duddy said.

Source : Thales Group (Paris: HO.PA)