UAE purchases 25 Swiss training aircraft

The UAE armed forces signed a contract with the Swiss Pilatus company to purchase 25 basic-training (PC-21) aircraft at cost Dh1.89 billion, worth 520 million Swiss-Francs. The move comes within the framework of developing and modernising the UAE Armed Forces. Chief of Logistics at the UAE Armed Forces Headquarters Staff Major General Pilot Faris Mohammed Ahmed Al Mazrouei, said the contract entitles several training simulators, with all systems and services, to train and qualify pilots to follow up swift developments and to prepare to operate the fourth and the fifth generation aircraft in the future. (PC-21) aircraft will begin importing in the fourth quarter of 2011 and will be continued up to the first quarter of 2012.