With a staff of 420+ across seven UK sites, Ascent Flight Training, as prime contractor for the UK Military Flying Training System (UKMFTS), offers a modern and streamlined flight training solution for the British Royal Air Force, Royal Navy and Army Air Corps. Two of its sites are also NATO Flight Training Europe (NFTE) accredited.
Consolidating all phases of aircrew instruction for the three services, UKMFTS is a partnership between the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) and Ascent Flight Training - a joint venture between Babcock International and Lockheed Martin, the world’s leading provider of military aircrew training.
Designed for deployment in manageable increments, UKMFTS creates efficiencies and eliminates delays, as personnel progress through training - from introductory instruction to training on individual aircraft and ultimately specific aircrew disciplines. Trainees range from pilots and navigators to loadmasters and maintainers.
Ascent designs, develops and delivers the overall training system. Ascent works closely with military colleagues to deliver fast jet, rotary wing, multi-engine and mission aircrew training - including remotely piloted air system operator training. With 110 aircraft and more than 100 simulators, it is supported by Lockheed Martin’s proven training management information system, as well as aircraft platforms and simulators.
With its unique partnership and proven capabilities, Ascent sets new standards for quality, value and efficiency in military aircrew training.
At the same time as the UKMFTS Project Agreement was signed in 2008, Ascent also signed a 25-year Private Finance Initiative (PFI) contract to design, procure, fund and maintain infrastructure, courseware and simulators to deliver part of the Fast Jet Training capability at Royal Air Force (RAF) Valley. The PFI contract used external capital to build the assets and was repaid by the MOD over the operational life of the contract.
Learn more about the ongoing Fast Jet Transformation program, including upgrades to Lockheed Martin simulators, here.
In 2025, Ascent signed an eight-year contract to design, procure and maintain infrastructure, simulators, courseware and aircraft for the Future Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) and Rear Crew Training System (FIRCTS) training requirement at RNAS Culdrose and RAF Cranwell. The contract used conventional funding and will provide additional training capability to the British Royal Air Force and Royal Navy to significantly increase trainee throughput and prepare mission aircrews to engage with emerging technologies and platforms.
Learn more here.
