Why Pilatus and Lockheed Martin Are Teaming Up

Under the terms of an offset project, Pilatus and Lockheed Martin will partner on the technology and development of avionics and training functionality for its advanced next-generation pilot training system. This will allow Pilatus to provide a bespoke pilot training solution to customers operating the F-35 and other fifth-generation frontline aircraft.

In 2022, Switzerland finalized an agreement to purchase the F-35A. The F-35 is a fifth-generation military jet manufactured by the global security and aerospace company Lockheed Martin, headquartered in the United States. The Swiss government’s purchase of the F-35A is linked to a commitment by Lockheed Martin to implement offset projects in Switzerland equal to 60 percent of the contract value. These projects benefit various sectors of Swiss industry, including aerospace.

Under the offset agreement, Lockheed Martin will provide data and support to Pilatus to develop an advanced next-generation pilot training system, which will offer a training solution tailored to fifth-generation operators, and more specifically, F-35 nations.

Urs Loher, director of the Federal Office for Defence Procurement (armasuisse) underlined: “This industrial cooperation makes a significant contribution to strengthening our security-relevant technology and industry base. It promotes sustainable innovation, technological development and the competitiveness of Swiss industry, which directly benefits national security.”

The offset project received the armasuisse pre-approval early in 2024 and the agreements, including the statement of work, between Lockheed Martin and Pilatus were concluded during last summer.

The equipment and features of the PC-21 are designed to meet the demanding training requirements of the future. The training system design ensures that the PC-21 turboprop trainer provides advanced training covering a wide range of mission types previously reserved exclusively for jet trainers.

System integration is at the heart of the PC-21 cockpit philosophy. Through a powerful embedded training system and with displays and control systems configured to match those of the latest generation of military jet aircraft, the student pilots become familiar with a realistic frontline cockpit environment right from the early phases of training, enabling them to make an efficient transition to the frontline aircraft.