ADF Issues Final Acceptance of Kratos CH-47F Chinook Helicopter Avionics Training System

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (Nasdaq: KTOS), a leading National Security Solutions provider, announced today that the Australian Defence Force has completed all evaluation testing of Kratos’ CH-47F Chinook Avionics Trainer (CAT).

The CAT is part of a $9.4 million contract by Boeing Defence Australia Limited in support of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) that also included two Kratos Maintenance Blended Reconfigurable Aviation Trainers (MBRATs), spares packages and lifecycle support services. The Kratos training systems are stationed at The Army Aviation Training Centre in Oakey, Queensland.

The CAT and MBRATs at Oakey will, for the first time, establish a local CH-47F Chinook maintenance training capability presence for the Australian military, an activity traditionally conducted in the United States.  

The CH-47F CAT is a High Fidelity Hands On Training System (HOTS) that provides full task training through simulation of all avionics systems and aircraft survivability equipment in an integrated configuration within a fully immersive physical environment. The CAT replicates the aircraft interior and exterior environments with a simulation of all line replaceable units along with the required test, measuring, and diagnostic equipment.

The MBRAT is a reconfigurable system designed and built by Kratos to provide avionics maintenance procedures, and remove and install training for multiple rotorcraft platforms, including Chinook and Black Hawk.

Kratos will provide on-site and post-delivery support to both the CAT and MBRAT training systems. Both systems provide high fidelity hands-on, full-task and virtual training through simulation of related CH-47F Chinook avionics systems.

“Kratos has been a leading provider of Chinook training systems to the U.S. Department of Defense for many years and the expansion of those systems to allied forces, such as Australia, reflects our continued international growth,” said Jose Diaz, Senior Vice President of Kratos Training Solutions. “Australia’s future Army Chinook maintenance technicians will now learn their trade using a suite of cutting-edge training devices that combine the Chinook airframe with simulated avionics systems for a virtually immersive training experience.”