Thales to provide helicopter training systems to Kuwait

June 20 (UPI) -- Flight and mission training equipment are being supplied by Thales to the Kuwait Air Force and National Guard for Airbus Caracal helicopters, the company announced on Monday.

A total of three simulators -- one Reality H FFMS simulator and two flight procedures and tactical training stations -- are being supplied under a contract from Airbus Helicopters for collective training exercises to prepare pilots and crews for complex missions, such as combat search-and-rescue, Thales said.

"The Reality H simulator produced by Thales is already in service throughout the world and provides helicopter pilots with training in the most complex types of civilian missions," Benoit Plantier, Thales vice president of training and simulation activities, said in a press release.

"By making the military version of Reality H available to the Kuwait armed forces, Thales is providing valuable support to train users on the new helicopters, which are increasingly sophisticated and equipped with high-performance mission systems."

Airbus Helicopters is supplying Kuwait with 30 multi-role Caracal H225M helicopters for combat search-and-rescue, transport and ground support missions.

The Reality H Full Flight Mission Simulator, will provide pilots with training in navigation, instrument flight, equipment failures and emergency procedures.

The ground training stations will provide initial training in flight procedures for new pilots, and tactical training for captains and crews.

Thales said the contract from Airbus Helicopters includes the maintenance of the simulators for at least three years.