Australia taps BAE for training

CANBERRA, Australia, April 8 (UPI)

Australia's Department of Defense says it has given BAE Systems Australia a contract for aviation technical training services.

The contract is for five years and worth nearly $111 million.

"This contract means that BAE Systems Australia will train about 900 students annually at the RAAF School of Technical Training at RAAF Base Wagga, NSW (state of New South Wales)," said Minister for Defense Materiel Dr. Mike Kelly. "The contract is for initial training for technicians and maintainers for all aviation-related trades, and a range of postgraduate courses, for aircraft and helicopters operated by Army, Navy and Air Force."

Kelly said the new contract gives BAE with a high level of autonomy and responsibility for the delivery of the training that will be introduced in a "contemporary" training environment supported by modern training systems.

BAE Systems Australia has sub-contracted the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology and Pennant Pty Ltd in support of the work, the Defense Department said, but no additional details were given.