TSAMTO, December 7. Top Aces, a pilot training company based in Dorval, Quebec, Canada, has been granted permission to purchase and import up to 29 F-16 fighters withdrawn from the air force of an unnamed state.
Publication Skiesmag.com with reference to the press release of the canadian company reports that it is planned to import 29 aircraft of the Block version.10, which will be upgraded using avionics with an open architecture and offered as a platform to support pilot training for the US DOD, starting in 2021.
Recall that the Israeli publication Globes on November 29 reported on the plans of the Israeli Ministry of defense to sell 29 excess f-16 fighters to Top Aces. So the potential deal is now confirmed.
Sources close to the negotiation process told Globes that the cost of each car is estimated at $ 3-4 million. The negotiations are handled by the Department of international defense cooperation (SIBAT) of the Ministry of defense of Israel.
General Dynamics ' f-16 Fighting Falcon was delivered to Israel in the early 1980s and has been gradually decommissioned over the past decade.
Based in Montreal, Top Aces specializes in purchasing second-hand fighters that are used in training as enemy aircraft. Last year, the company managed to sign a major contract with the US air force.
The company also provides training services for canadian and German air force pilots.
In October 2019, Top Aces was awarded an "indefinite delivery / indefinite quantity" (IDIQ) contract that will allow it to compete with Air USA, Airborne Tactical Advantage Company, Blue Air Training, Coastal Defense, Draken International and Tactical Air Support as part of a major training program for American pilots at 12 US air force bases.
In accordance with the project Contracted Combat Air Force Air Support (CAS CAF) for a total amount of us $ 6.4 billion. The US air force can request aircraft from these seven companies to simulate the actions of a potential enemy. The contract is valid until October 2024 and assumes a flight time of 40 to 50 thousand hours.