Following a competitive tender process, the French Ministry of the Armed Forces and Veterans has selected the consortium formed by SDTS, acting as lead contractor, and Babcock France, in partnership with Top Aces France, to provide « Red Air » air combat training services under a framework agreement.
Awarded through the Armed Forces Commissariat’s Chartering and Transport Platform (PFAT), the agreement covers operational air training missions for the French Air and Space Force, French Navy and French Army. The agreement has an estimated value of €450 million and runs for six years, with the possibility of a further two-year extension.
Under this agreement, the consortium will operate fighter aircraft acting as opposing air forces — “Red Air” — during French units’ training exercises. These tailored missions will provide a credible airborne threat, delivered in conditions as close as possible to real combat and adapted to different training scenarios, with capabilities spanning the full threat spectrum, from low to high end.
This award marks a major milestone in the development of an outsourced Red Air capability in France. The service will cover the entire mission, from planning and briefing through execution, tactical data reporting and debriefing with the units undergoing training.
A French team bringing together leading air services providers
SDTS and Babcock France, together with global Red Air leader Top Aces through its French subsidiary, are combining their operational, technical and industrial expertise within the consortium to deploy a complementary fleet of fighter aircraft suited to the various missions covered by the framework agreement.
Flight operations and aircraft maintenance will be carried out by French personnel: managers, pilots and technicians from SDTS, Babcock France and Top Aces France.
For the most demanding missions, Top Aces’ A-4N Skyhawk Advanced Aggressor Fighters will be equipped with systems capable of simulating the latest-generation airborne threats. These aircraft, together with Top Aces’ Alpha Jets, will be based primarily at Clermont-Ferrand Auvergne Airport, enabling rapid deployment throughout France, close to the units and training areas.
Babcock France will maintain and operate its L-39 aircraft from its Dijon-Bourgogne base. These aircraft will form one component of the consortium’s lower-end threat capability, including training for Joint Terminal Attack Controllers (JTACs) / Forward Air Controllers.
This organisation will enable air assets to be tailored to each mission while minimising ferry flights and maximising flying time devoted to training.
“I am particularly proud of this award, which marks a major milestone for SDTS and for the development of Red Air in France. Since 2015, we have worked alongside the French Armed Forces every day. Together with Babcock France and Top Aces, we are now bringing together expertise, aircraft and proven operational experience in complex missions to provide the Armed Forces with a credible, demanding and sustainable training capability that meets their needs and operational challenges.”
Emmanuel Pasqualini, Managing Director, SDTS.
“We are proud to contribute our expertise to this partnership alongside SDTS and Top Aces. This contract marks a major milestone for Babcock France and reflects the confidence placed in our know-how in delivering operational training for the French Armed Forces.”
Pierre Basquin, Chief Executive Aviation & CEO, Babcock France
“With more than 20 years of experience providing advanced air training services to allied forces, we are proud to put our operational expertise and proven capabilities at the service of the French Armed Forces. Together with our partners SDTS and Babcock France, we will help deliver realistic, demanding training adapted to evolving threats and the forces’ operational readiness requirements.”
Didier Toussaint, President, International Group, Top Aces Inc.
