PARIS – Pilatus has received orders worth more than 300 million Swiss francs ($293 million) for 21 PC-21s, with France buying 17 of the turboprop training aircraft, the Swiss aircraft manufacturer said today.





"The contract signed on Dec. 30, 2016, by the French Air Force is with Babcock Mission Critical Services France (BMCSF), with Pilatus as a sub-contractor, in which role our PC-21 and other ground-based training material will contribute to completion of the overall contract," Pilatus said in a statement. British firm Qinetiq and Jordan each acquired two of the training aircraft.





A selection of the Swiss turboprop plane came after a fiercely fought French competition which drew rival offers of jet trainers, namely the M-345 High Efficiency Trainer from Italian firm Leonardo and L-39 Next Generation from Czech rival Aero Vodochody.





Future French fighter pilots will train on the PC-21 before flying the Alpha Jet trainer and then the Rafale fighter, Pilatus said.





A French off-the-shelf purchase of a foreign turboprop plane signaled a decision to avoid the cost of developing and building a new Dassault jet trainer which would eventually succeed the Alpha Jet fleet.





The PC-21s for Qinetiq will be equipped with modified flight instruments to allow training of flight test engineers and test pilots at the company's Empire Test Pilots' School, a training center for British and foreign clients, Pilatus said.





Jordan's order for two PC-21s brings the total purchase to 10 units, and reflects the taking up of two under option. A first delivery is due mid-2017, Pilatus said.