VSE-Westar to support Iraqi flight school

VSE Corp. and Westar Aerospace and Defense Group Inc. will support a flight training school for the new Iraqi Air Force under a new deal.

VSE Corp. and Westar Aerospace and Defense Group Inc. will support a flight training school for the new Iraqi Air Force under a three-year, $62 million contract.

The award was made under the Communications Electronic Command Rapid Response task order from the Army Security Assistance Management Organization.

The goal of the program is to train, to U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force standards, 50 students per year in rotary-wing and 50 students per year in fixed-wing aircraft.

Westar is a subsidiary of McLean, Va.-based QinetiQ North America. VSE is the task leader and Westar is the primary subcontractor. Westar will lead the training of Iraqi Armed Forces personnel on fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft.

Fixed-wing training will include classroom instruction and flight simulator training. Rotary-wing training will include classroom instruction, flight simulator training and flight training in Jet Ranger, Huey II and Mi-17 helicopters.

VSE is based in Arlington, Va., and Westar is located in St. Louis.