Air France Industries KLM Engineering & Maintenance (AFI KLM E&M) has selected Exail to supply a Full Flight Simulator (FFS) for the French Air Force’s E-3F Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft.
The sourcing of this FFS on behalf of the French Air Force falls within the contract awarded to AFI KLM E&M by the French Direction Générale de l’Armement (DGA) for the renovation of the cockpit on the E-3F AWACS strategic aircraft.
This FFS will provide an identical replica of the redesigned E-3F AWACS cockpit, providing the crews from the French Air Force with access to a modern flight simulator that is perfectly adapted to their training needs and challenges, and is available on home soil.
The DGA is set to certify the simulator in late 2025, in conjunction with the cockpit renovation project.
“The AFI KLM E&M teams have been looking after AWACS for over 30 years and have developed a passion for this work, without ever losing sight of the operational challenges faced by an aircraft of this type,” said Anne Brachet, EVP Air France-KLM Engineering & Maintenance. “The cockpit renovation is a strategic goal for our customer, and along with Exail we’re putting our expertise to work for the pilots of the French Air and Space Force, from training through to operations.”
“We’d like to thank the DGA and AFI KLM E&M for choosing our unique expertise and experience, developed over more than 25 years in the field of flight simulation,” said Dominique Giannoni, CEO of Exail. “Landing this contract guarantees sustained activity for the Exail teams in Lannion over the coming three years, and we’re proud to be supporting the French Air and Space Force with this new, cutting-edge simulator.”
