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Beca has been tapped to upgrade the New Zealand Defence Force’s AW109 LUH helicopter simulator and provide through life support, with ongoing assistance from the simulator’s original developers Leonardo and Virtual Simulation Systems (VSS).
According to Beca, the upgrade and support project are essential for the ongoing success and capability of the New Zealand Defence Force’s (NZDF) Rotary Wing Task Force.
With a contract term of 10 years, Andrew Ford, market segment lead – defence and national security at Beca, explained that the companies will ensure quality training is delivered to new pilots on the simulators.
“We are delighted to be supporting the simulator upgrade and the through life capability for the NZDF. We are also excited to continue our partnerships with Leonardo and Virtual Simulation Systems to bring the NZDF training simulation up to date and support the RNZAF and NZDF over the next 10 years of pilot training,” Ford said.
The contract is delivered as a partnership between Beca with Leonardo and Virtual Simulation Systems who originally developed the simulators. The collaboration is expected to deliver international and local expertise to maintain leading helicopter flight training to the NZDF.
Already, Beca has delivered simulator support to the NZDF for 10 years at the Ohakea Air Base, with the new contract enabling a total outsourcing of maintenance “freeing NZDF staff for operational support of the aircraft”.
Leonardo is contracted to deliver technical design work, supply chain and engineering support, and will work with Beca to ensure the successful upgrade of the simulator.
VSS is expected to provide the “crewman simulation technology upgrade including AR/VR elements and engineering support”.
[Related: Beca secures contract extension for Defence estate project ]
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