► Babcock secures new pilot training contract with the French Armed Forces Commissariat Service

12 February 2026  – Babcock France, the defence company, has secured a new contract from the Armed Forces Commissariat Service to deliver training for pilots of the French Air and Space Force and the French Navy.

Under this agreement, Babcock experts will deliver comprehensive theoretical and hands-on flight training for student pilots, Weapons Systems Officers and simulator instructor trainees.

The contract is structured into two key components:

• Cirrus SR22 flight training at Salon-de-Provence air base, a key hub for early-stage pilot development.
• Grob 120 aircraft at Cognac air base, reinforcing Babcock’s long‑standing role in advanced flight preparation.

Pierre Basquin, Chief Executive Aviation & CEO France, commented: “The Air and Space Force and the French Navy are vital pillars of national and international security. This contract reflects our proven expertise and confirms our capacity to grow in the markets where we already operate. By strengthening our collaboration with the French Armed Forces, we are expanding our local footprint, creating new opportunities, and reinforcing our role as a trusted partner.”

Since 2017, Babcock France has been delivering the modernised training programme for fighter crews in Cognac air base. In 2025, the company expanded its capabilities with the implementation of the Mentor 2 programme, designed to provide and sustain a cutting-edge training platform for both the Air and Space Force and the French Navy at Salon-de-Provence air base.