English
Key defense industry players join forces to bring advanced air combat training to Northwestern Europe
ROTTERDAM, November 30, 2023 – World-leading contracted adversary air (ADAIR) and Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC) training provider, Top Aces, and Dutch defense company, AEC Skyline, signed a teaming agreement today during the “NIDV Exhibition Defense & Security” (NEDS) tradeshow in Rotterdam, NL. By combining service offerings, both companies aim to collaborate on the joint provision of advanced ADAIR and JTAC training in Belgium, the Netherlands and the Nordic countries.
This partnership comes at a time when NATO allies are experiencing a rapidly increasing demand for bespoke ADAIR training for their 4th and 5th Generation fighter forces. In an insecure world, the replication of near-peer adversaries has become even more essential for combat readiness.
The cooperation between both companies began earlier in 2023 when AEC Skyline sub-contracted Top Aces for JTAC training in support of the Netherlands military, fulfilling a growing need for realistic and affordable training in this specialized domain. The two organizations also participated in the major multinational aerial exercise “Frisian Flag” led by the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) in October, where the F-35 played a role within the Blue Force.
Renowned for its premium contracted defense training solutions to the U.S. Department of Defense, the Canadian Department of National Defense, and the German Bundeswehr, among others, Top Aces fields a large fleet of high-performance aircraft including the F-16, A-4, Alpha Jet, Learjet 35, PC-9 and OV-10 turbo props, and more. Its Advanced Aggressor Fighters are equipped with AESA radar, Helmet Mounted Cueing Systems (HMCS), Infra-Red Search and Track (IRST), and a multitude of other high-end capabilities. Top Aces’ offering greatly complements the existing contracted air training provided by AEC Skyline via the Learjet 36A, GA8 Airvan and the upgraded L-39 Albatros aircraft.
“We are very pleased to join forces with Top Aces. The goal of this partnership is to accelerate and augment the quality of training for F-35 operators in Northwestern Europe” stated Mr. Stef Have, CEO and Managing Director, AEC Skyline. “This agreement will combine our company's extensive knowledge, network and relationships within the regional aerospace and defense industry, along with Top Aces' significant resources, assets and expertise – thereby addressing the evolving contracted air training needs in this European region."
Mr. Didier Toussaint, Group President, Top Aces Inc., continued: “We’re excited to partner with AEC Skyline, a key player in Europe’s defense training industry. Together, we look forward to elevating the standard of contracted air combat training by providing the most threat-representative experience for our modern fighter forces.”
About Top Aces
With more than 120,000 accident-free flight hours, Top Aces Inc. and its subsidiaries (including Top Aces Corp. and Blue Air Training Corp.) provide advanced ADAIR and JTAC technology and training to the world’s leading armed forces. It has the largest fleet of commercially operated fighter aircraft in active service and is the world’s only commercial owner/operator of the F-16. Top Aces’ mission-critical training enhances the operational readiness of combat forces by delivering real-world experience while creating significant cost efficiencies and extending the lifecycle of military aircraft fleets. For more information, please visit www.topaces.com.
About AEC Skyline
Founded in 1991, AEC Skyline provides advanced contract air and C4ISR services and products. Serving a wide range of customers including the Netherlands MoD and the United States Air Forces in Europe (USAFE), the company offers close air support, electronic warfare, ADAIR training and target towing combined with remote sensing and calibration and testing.
AEC Skyline's critical data solutions division supports digitization efforts by the Netherlands and other countries' armed forces and public security organizations by means of its high-end communications and networks, data and analytics solutions. It also offers extensive systems integration expertise and consultancy. In addition, AEC Skyline represents some of the world's leading C4ISR OEMs including Haivision, Juggernaut.Case, L3Harris Broadband Communications Systems, Myriad Technologies and Persistent Systems. For more information, please visit www.aec-skyline.com.
Media Contacts:
Erin Black
Communications Manager, Top Aces
+1 (514) 867-0886
Pieter Bastiaans
Marketing Communications Manager, AEC Skyline
+31 (0)76 2055 030
