The procurement was confirmed by the French Defence Procurement Agency (DGA), which oversees military acquisitions. Babcock France was awarded the 17-year “Mentor 2” contract in early 2025 to provide training services based on the new aircraft.
In addition to the aircraft, the contract includes advanced ground-based training tools developed in partnership with French industry. Pilatus will provide simulators, computer-based training systems, and mission planning and debriefing equipment.
France has been using the Pilatus PC-21 for advanced pilot training at Base Aérienne 709 in Cognac-Châteaubernard since 2018. With the introduction of the PC-7 MKX for basic training, the country will now rely exclusively on Pilatus aircraft for all phases of military pilot training.
The PC-7 MKX features a modern cockpit equipped with the Garmin G3000 PRIME avionics suite and a Head-Up Display. This integration provides a seamless transition to more advanced training, ensuring an intuitive learning environment from the earliest training stages.
This marks the first time Garmin has customised its G3000 PRIME avionics to support military pilot training needs. Pilatus and Garmin have combined their expertise to create an advanced, adaptable system designed to enhance efficiency and effectiveness in pilot instruction.
Pilatus CEO Markus Bucher expressed pride in France’s decision to select the PC-7 MKX, highlighting the strong partnership between Pilatus and the French Air and Space Force. He noted that the aircraft’s commonality with the PC-21 and the state-of-the-art training system will ensure cost-effective and high-quality training for future pilots.
Ioannis Papachristofilou, Vice President of Government Aviation at Pilatus, stated that France and the Netherlands will be the first nations to introduce the PC-7 MKX into service. He emphasised the company’s commitment to working closely with Babcock France to achieve the same level of success as with the PC-21.
