Britain may not be able to train enough fighter pilots

The issues stem from a series of failings in a £3.2 billion contract with Ascent, a consortium of the British company Babcock International and the US company Lockheed Martin, signed by the Labour government in 2008.

Ascent was contracted to provide training to 250 aircrew a year, including 150 pilots to specialise on Typhoon fast jets and Apache attack helicopters. The report suggests that training material provided by Ascent were not fit for purpose, meaning MOD military experts had to help re write them. The company relied on ex-military staff who’s knowledge was seen to be out of date, and there were concerns that Ascent’s managers were showing “corporate and individual behaviours that undermined its partnering abilities”, which lead to the replacement of senior managers in 2011.

So far the MOD has struggled to impose fines under the contract for Ascent failing to meet responsibilities.

Philip Dunne, minister for defence procurement, said: “The programme had a difficult start.

“We are now on a much firmer footing and moving forward to deliver flight training for aircrew, more rapidly and efficiently, with greater flexibility to adapt to new platforms.

“I welcome the latest NAO report. It is an extremely useful piece of work that ensures we are moving in the right direction, and that the capability we are delivering will provide value for money to the UK taxpayer.”

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