Affinity Flying Training Services has selected IFS to support aircraft maintenance and enterprise resource planning (ERP) it is carrying out as part of £1.1bn UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) investment into the modernisation of Fixed Wing military flight training.
The agreement with IFS, including licences, is valued at close to £1.2m for the first six years of the 18-year contract Affinity secured from the MoD in February this year.
Under the £500m contract, Affinity will support the UK Military Flight Training System (UKMFTS) programme by providing new aircraft types, as well as maintenance and support.
IFS Applications 9 and the IFS Managed Cloud solution will provide Affinity with maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) and ERP software for the business.
IFS’ solution allows Affinity to streamline the maintenance of aircraft and to focus on training the future generation of military aircraft pilots.
Commenting on the deal, IFS aerospace and defence industry director Graham Grose said: "By using the solution, Affinity can maintain the aircraft and prepare future UK aircrew for duty, as well as making sure strict airworthiness and safety standards are met alongside the running of the business from day to day with traditional finance, HR and procurement."
Affinity, an Elbit Systems and Kellogg Brown & Root joint venture, will replace existing Mo D fleets with 38 modern training aircraft as well as simulators and classroom learning for aircrew across the Royal Air Force, Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm, and Army Air Corps.
The contract will also see Affinity designing, delivering, and managing Fixed Wing training service until 2033. It is expected to create close to 200 new jobs across training bases in the UK.
