Pilatus PC-7 MKX Order Book Spans France, Netherlands and Belgium

Three European air forces have chosen the Swiss-built PC-7 MKX trainer, and the first Dutch aircraft has flown. But Pilatus’ own tally of French aircraft doesn’t match the number Paris announced.

Three European air forces have selected the Pilatus PC-7 MKX basic trainer, and the first aircraft for the Netherlands flew in Switzerland last month, according to the manufacturer and Dutch defense officials.

Pilatus Aircraft Ltd lists France, the Netherlands and Belgium as PC-7 MKX customers in its 2025 annual report, which the Swiss company released with its March 3 financial results.

The Netherlands Ministry of Defence said the first Dutch aircraft flew at Pilatus in Switzerland on Sept. 7. Dutch deliveries remain planned for 2027.

Why the PC-7 MKX orders matter

All three countries plan to use the PC-7 MKX for elementary pilot training, the first flying stage before students move on to more advanced military aircraft. The Dutch ministry says its current trainers are nearing the end of their technical service lives.

The size of the combined order depends on which document is used. National announcements put the French fleet at 22 aircraft, which, with eight for the Netherlands and 18 for Belgium, adds up to 48. Pilatus’ own March 2025 announcement of the French deal also cited 22 aircraft.

Pilatus’ newer annual report, however, credits France with 23 aircraft and counts 49 sold across the three customers. Neither the annual report nor the results release explains the one-aircraft difference.

The figures describe aircraft under contract. They are not an audited count of undelivered airplanes.

France: Largest fleet, run by a contractor

The French deal is the biggest of the three. France’s Ministry of the Armed Forces said in a Jan. 10, 2025, statement that the Direction générale de l’armement, France’s defense procurement agency, notified the Mentor 2 contract to train French Air and Space Force and French Navy pilots to Babcock International France Aviation on Dec. 31, 2024.

The ministry said the program will base 22 aircraft and 12 Exail-developed flight simulators at Salon-de-Provence in southern France.

Under the plan, the PC-7 MKX replaces the Grob 120A fleet at Cognac and the Cirrus SR20 fleet at Salon-de-Provence. The ministry said the change consolidates elementary instruction at a single site and increases the use of simulation.

Babcock International Group valued its award at €795 million over 17 years. The company said the contract covers providing the aircraft and simulators, as well as through-life support for the aircraft, infrastructure and pilot equipment.

Babcock projected nearly 11,000 flight hours and 6,500 simulator hours a year for about 120 students. It also forecast more than 100 new jobs in the Salon-de-Provence and Le Cannet-des-Maures regions. Those figures were January 2025 projections, not operating results.

In a March 5, 2025, announcement, Pilatus scheduled French deliveries for 2027.

FlightGlobal, an aviation trade publication, reported Wednesday that the first French PC-7 MKX made its first flight in Switzerland on Oct. 9. That flight could not be independently confirmed as of Thursday.

Netherlands: Launch customer, first to fly

The Netherlands has the smallest order, eight aircraft and four simulators. The Dutch ministry said two contracts were signed with Pilatus at Woensdrecht Air Base on Feb. 7, 2025.

One covers the aircraft, simulators and learning equipment. The other covers maintenance for the first five years.

Pilatus identifies the Royal Netherlands Air Force as the launch customer for the PC-7 MKX training system.

According to the ministry’s September forecast, the first aircraft will enter Dutch service in May 2027. The complete package of aircraft, simulators and learning equipment is due by September 2027.

The Dutch program also has a U.S. link. The ministry says elementary training prepares students for later F-35, transport-aircraft or helicopter instruction, including fighter follow-on training in the United States.

Belgium: 18 aircraft and a 20-year service deal

Belgium is the most recent customer. A Nov. 7, 2025, announcement on the official website of Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken set a budget of about €40 million a year. The aircraft will replace the Marchetti SF-260 trainers that Belgium has flown for more than 55 years, the announcement said.

Under the terms, Belgian Defense requires at least 15 aircraft to be available each day for a flight plan of up to 6,000 hours a year.

On Nov. 27, 2025, Pilatus announced that Belgium had selected 18 aircraft under a 20-year service contract. The company called Belgium the third European air force to select the PC-7 MKX and described the deal as an integrated training-and-support package.

Pilatus said initial Belgian deliveries are planned for 2027, with training to start in 2028. Infrastructure, simulators and instructor familiarization must come first, the company said.

The package also includes new and upgraded facilities at Beauvechain Air Base, known in Dutch as Bevekom, built with Sabena Engineering and AG Real Estate, according to Pilatus.

The three countries structured their contracts differently. The French and Belgian figures cover service packages and annual budgets, not the price of individual aircraft, so they cannot be compared as unit costs.

PC-7 MKX specifications

Pilatus’ March 2025 French announcement describes Garmin G3000 PRIME avionics and a head-up display in the cockpit.

On its PC-7 MKX product page, Pilatus lists a maximum operating speed of 300 knots indicated airspeed and a climb rate of 2,675 feet per minute. The company rates the airframe for load factors of +7.0 g and -3.5 g.

Pilatus names Pratt & Whitney Canada as the engine supplier.