The UK Ministry of Defence is expected in December to seek expressions of interest from potential suppliers of a new fleet of basic trainers to replace the Royal Air Force's Shorts Tucano T1s. Likely to cover the procurement of 40-50 aircraft, the project will deliver a pivotal element of the formative UK Military Flying Training System (MFTS). Candidates for the deal include the Alenia Aermacchi M-311, Beechcraft T-6 and Pilatus PC-21 - all of which have previously been flight tested by British military personnel - and a possible life-extension and avionics upgrade to the Tucano being pushed by Shorts and Marshall Aerospace.Flightglobal.com
