UK-based Military fighter jet company Aeralis is partnering with SDTS to provide light-fast jet aviation services in France.
Aeralis was founded in 2015 and is developing a family of light military aircraft with a “digital-first” approach to design, development and design.
Aeralis advanced trainer jet features a swept wing design and will provide training for 6th generation fighter aircraft. The basic trainer will be used to train pilots for 3rd or 4th generation combat aircraft and will be powered by a single low-bypass turbofan engine, while the third aircraft would be suitable for acrobatic displays.
The agreement aims to explore offering aircraft service for use in upcoming contracts in French defence operational training and combat air support roles.
The agreement comes at a time of increased UK-France defense collaboration. A framework for future defense cooperation between France and the UK was agreed at a summit between Emmanuel Macron and Rishi Sunak in March.
SDTS provides air service missions for the operational training of armed forces and conducts more than 250 missions per year, including for Red Air missions, where contracted pilots pose as aggressors in air-to-air combat.
Emmanuel Pasqualini, CEO of SDTS said, “This partnership is a great opportunity to develop a solution to meet the vast REDAIR needs of European Forces. The Aeralis fast jet will allow SDTS to enhance its capacities in Commercial Air Training Services thanks to a new, versatile and up-to-date vector.”
Tristan Crawford, founder and CEO of Aeralis said, “We are delighted to have signed this Memorandum of Understanding with SDTS to evaluate opportunities in the light fast jet aviation sector in France, and we value SDTS’ proven track record of providing air service missions for operational training of the armed forces.”
Aeralis’ agreement with SDTS follows a series of partnership announcements including most recently with Japanese aircraft manufacturer ShinMaywa in March. At the end of last year the company announced a £9 million contract with the UK Ministry of Defence on digital aircraft design, engineering and manufacturing.