The Republic of Singapore Air Force is the first export customer for the latest Pilatus PC-21 turboprop trainer, developed to train pilots to front-line fighter level without intermediate training on a jet. Singapore’s new training program also is innovative on another level–under its private-public structure, Lockheed Martin serves as the main contractor, supplying all the infrastructure and leaving only the teaching to the military.
The Singapore Ministry of Defense DSTA (Defense Science and Technology Agency) and Lockheed Martin Simulation, Training and Support Division (LMSTS) signed a contract in late 2006 calling for the latter to provide a 20-year turnkey engineering and logistics support package for pilot and weapons operator training for the Basic Wings Course of the Singapore Air Force. Lockheed Martin selected the Pilatus PC-21 as the backbone of the flight training support program from among four other trainer types. It plans to start training activities this June. The order for Pilatus includes 19 PC-21s scheduled for delivery this year.
